Morning: Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport and transfer to your downtown hotel. Take a brief rest and enjoy a welcome tea at the lobby.
Afternoon: Walk to the historic Forbidden City, exploring the ancient imperial palaces and the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Evening: Stroll through the vibrant Wangfujing street market, sampling local snack stalls and buying souvenirs.
Find HotelsMorning: Visit the iconic Great Wall (Mutianyu section) and walk along the restored watchtowers for panoramic views.
Afternoon: Return to the city for a visit to the expansive Temple of Heaven, where locals practice tai chi.
Evening: Enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner in a historic courtyard restaurant.
Find HotelsMorning: Explore the bustling Hutong neighborhoods by rickshaw, discovering hidden courtyards.
Afternoon: Visit the expansive Summer Palace and take a boat ride on Kunming Lake.
Evening: Watch a colorful Peking opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre.
Find HotelsMorning: Transfer to the airport and fly to Xi’an, checking in to a city-center boutique hotel.
Afternoon: Walk along the historic Muslim Quarter, tasting the famous lamb skewers.
Evening: Enjoy a lantern-lit dinner near the ancient Ancient City Wall.
Find HotelsMorning: Journey to the world‑famous Terracotta Army site and explore the massive underground army.
Afternoon: Visit the **Big Wild Goose Pagoda** for its serene gardens and Buddhist heritage.
Evening: Sample Xi’an's local cuisine at a restaurant near the south gate, featuring biang biang noodles.
Find Hotels ****Morning:**** Board a high‑speed train to Chengdu, enjoying scenic views of the countryside as you travel.
**Afternoon:**** Arrive in Chengdu and check into a boutique **Guan River View hotel**.
**Evening:**** Stroll through the **People’s Park** and sip tea at the renowned **Wenshu Monastery**. Find Hotels
Morning: Visit the world‑famous **Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding**, watch infant pandas at play.
Afternoon: Explore the lively **Jinli Ancient Street**, tasting Sichuan hot‑pot and buying handicrafts.
Evening: Experience a traditional **Sichuan opera** with dazzling facial changes.
Find HotelsMorning: Fly to Guilin, check in to a riverside inn near the **Li River**.
Afternoon: Cruise on the **Li River**, admiring the karst landscape and passing fisherman on bamboo rafts.
Evening: Wander the **Night Market** in Gulangyu, tasting local 桂林米粉.
Find HotelsMorning: Bike the **Li River** path to **Yangshuo**, marveling at emerald hills.
Afternoon:**** Explore **West Street**, visiting art galleries and tea houses.
Evening:**** Watch the spectacular **Impression Liu Sanjie** outdoor cinema show.
Find HotelsMorning:**** Take a morning train to Shanghai, checking in to a centrally located hotel.
Afternoon:**** Wander **The Bund** for spectacular skyline views.
Evening:**** Dine in the **French Concession** with its historic European architecture.
Find Hotels**Morning:**** Explore the **Yu Garden**, a classical Chinese garden of tranquility.
**Afternoon:****Visit the **Shanghai Museum**, highlighting ancient Chinese artifacts.
**Evening:**** Take a twilight river cruise on the **Huangpu River** to see illuminated towers.
Find Hotels**Morning:**** Travel to Hangzhou by high‑speed train, check in to a lake-view hotel.
**Afternoon:**** Walk the **West Lake** pathways and enjoy a tea ceremony at **Lóngguì Pavilion**.
**Evening:**** Cruise the lake as sunsets turn the water orange; dinner on a floating restaurant.
Find Hotels**Morning:**** Relax with a Chinese kung fu class by the lake or stroll the **Fenghuang** street market.
**Afternoon:**** Return to Shanghai with a short flight, allowing any final shopping.
Find Hotels**Morning:**** Pack and check out; travel to Shanghai Pudong Airport for departing flight.
Find HotelsYou can extend the trip by adding a day in both Xi'an to explore the ancient city wall or a day in Shanghai to visit the modern **Shanghai Tower**. To shorten the itinerary, consider flying directly from Beijing to Guangzhou and flying back from Shanghai, which saves 1–2 days of travel and reduces accommodation costs by about €200‑€300, staying comfortably within the €3,000 budget.