14-Day China Itinerary: Shanghai Start with Indian Flavors

Day 1: Arrival & Shanghai Exploration

Morning: Arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city centre. After settling in, enjoy a quick coffee at a local café while planning the day's route.

Afternoon: Stroll along The Bund to admire the iconic skyline and have a flavorful lunch at Maharaja Indian Restaurant, known for its butter chicken and naan.

Evening: Walk down Nanjing Road for shopping and street sights, then dine at Nawab for a taste of authentic South Indian dosas.

Day 2: Shanghai Culture & Cuisine

Morning: Visit the historic Yu Garden and its surrounding Old City, then sample dim sum at a nearby tea house.

Afternoon: Explore the modern art scene at the Power Station of Art and stop for a lunch of spicy Punjabi dishes at Punjab Grill.

Evening: Experience the vibrant nightlife of Xintiandi and enjoy a fusion dinner at Bombay Bistro, blending Chinese and Indian flavors.

Day 3: Suzhou Day Trip

Morning: Take a high‑speed train to Suzhou (≈30 min) and wander through the elegant Humble Administrator’s Garden.

Afternoon: Cruise on the historic Grand Canal, then indulge in a lunch of tandoori chicken at Shalimar Indian Kitchen near the train station.

Evening: Return to Shanghai; relax with a walk along the Huangpu River and sip tea at a riverside tea house.

Day 4: Hangzhou Scenic Escape

Morning: Depart early for Hangzhou (≈1 hour by train) and visit the breathtaking West Lake, taking a boat ride to the three pagodas.

Afternoon: Explore the historic Lingyin Temple and enjoy a vegetarian Indian thali at Namaste Café near the lake.

Evening:

Stroll through the bustling He Fang Street market before returning to Shanghai for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Shanghai to Nanjing

Morning: Check out and board a high‑speed train to Nanjing (≈1.5 hr). Check into your hotel near the city centre.

Afternoon: Visit the solemn Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and then savour a lunch of biryani at Hyderabad House.

Evening: Walk along the historic Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) area, sampling street‑food snacks and ending the night with a sweet lassi at Shahi.

Day 6: Nanjing to Xi'an

Morning: Travel by train to Xi'an (≈4 hr). After arrival, settle into a boutique hotel within the Muslim Quarter.

Afternoon: Explore the ancient City Wall on a rented bike and enjoy a hearty lunch of butter chicken at Chennai Palace.

Evening: Wander the vibrant Muslim Quarter, tasting local snacks and ending with a fragrant chai at Masala House.

Day 7: Terracotta Warriors & Xi'an Highlights

Morning: Take a guided tour of the world‑famous Terracotta Army, marveling at the thousands of life‑size statues.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a lunch of naan‑filled dumplings at Rajasthan Restaurant, then visit the imposing Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Evening: Enjoy a cultural show of Tang dynasty music, followed by dinner at Gandhi’s Kitchen featuring a fusion of Shaanxi and Indian flavors.

Day 8: Xi'an to Chengdu

Morning: Fly to Chengdu (≈2 hr). Check into a hotel near Tianfu Square.

Afternoon: Visit the People’s Park and sip tea while watching locals practice tai chi. Lunch at Masala Garden offers classic Punjabi dishes.

Evening: Experience the lively Jinli Ancient Street and dine at Delhi Darbar, famous for its fiery Sichuan‑Indian fusion curries.

Day 9: Chengdu Panda Sanctuary

Morning: Travel to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to watch pandas munch bamboo.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a leisurely lunch of biryani and kebabs at Bombay Spice, then explore the Wuhou Shrine.

Evening: Sample Sichuan hot pot with an Indian twist at Spice Route Hot Pot, pairing it with mango lassi.

Day 10: Chengdu to Guilin

Morning: Fly to Guilin (≈2 hr). Check into a hotel overlooking the Li River.

Afternoon: Take a leisurely cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo, admiring karst scenery, then enjoy a riverside lunch of tandoori fish at Riverside Indian Café.

Evening: Explore the lively West Street market and dine at Spice of India, featuring a selection of vegetarian thalis.

Day 11: Yangshuo Adventure

Morning: Rent a bicycle to ride through the countryside, passing rice paddies and limestone hills.

Afternoon: Stop for a picnic lunch of Indian samosas and chutney at a scenic vista, then try rock climbing with a local guide.

Evening: Return to Guilin for a sunset dinner on a river cruise, featuring a fusion menu from Namaste River Grill.

Day 12: Guilin to Guangzhou

Morning: Take a high‑speed train to Guangzhou (≈3 hr). Check into a hotel in the Canton Tower district.

Afternoon: Visit the iconic Canton Tower and enjoy panoramic city views, then have lunch at Delhi Delight with their famous paneer tikka.

Evening: Explore the bustling Beijing Road Pedestrian Street and savor street‑style Indian snacks at Chaat Corner.

Day 13: Guangzhou Culture & Cuisine

Morning: Tour the historic Chen Clan Academy, a masterpiece of Lingnan architecture.

Afternoon: Indulge in a seafood‑laden Indian feast at Malabar Coast, blending Cantonese and Indian spices.

Evening: Relax at the Pearl River promenade and enjoy a nightcap of mango lassi at Tea & Spice Lounge.

Day 14: Return to Shanghai & Departure

Morning: Fly back to Shanghai (≈2 hr) and store luggage at the hotel.

Afternoon: Do last‑minute shopping at Shanghai Mall and have a farewell lunch at India Palace, revisiting your favourite dishes.

Evening: Transfer to Pudong Airport for your departure, taking home memories of Chinese landmarks and Indian flavors.

Time and Cost Estimates

• The Bund – 2 hrs – $15
• Maharaja Indian Restaurant – 1.5 hrs – $25
• Nawab – 1.5 hrs – $20
• Yu Garden – 2 hrs – $12
• Punjab Grill – 1 hr – $22
• Power Station of Art – 2 hrs – $10
• Bombay Bistro – 1.5 hrs – $30
• Humble Administrator’s Garden (Suzhou) – 2 hrs – $10
• Shalimar Indian Kitchen – 1 hr – $18
• West Lake (Hangzhou) – 3 hrs – $15
• Namaste Café – 1 hr – $20
• He Fang Street – 2 hrs – $0 (shopping)
• Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall – 2 hrs – $8
• Hyderabad House – 1.5 hrs – $22
• Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) – 2 hrs – $10
• Shahi (Lassi Bar) – 1 hr – $8
• City Wall (Xi’an) – 2 hrs – $12
• Chennai Palace – 1 hr – $20
• Terracotta Army – 4 hrs – $30
• Rajasthan Restaurant – 1 hr – $18
• Gandhi’s Kitchen – 1.5 hrs – $25
• People’s Park (Chengdu) – 1 hr – $5
• Masala Garden – 1 hr – $18
• Jinli Ancient Street – 2 hrs – $0
• Delhi Darbar – 1.5 hrs – $28
• Giant Panda Base – 3 hrs – $20
• Bombay Spice – 1 hr – $22
• Spice Route Hot Pot – 2 hrs – $30
• Li River Cruise – 3 hrs – $40
• Riverside Indian Café – 1 hr – $20
• Spice of India – 1.5 hrs – $25
• Canton Tower – 2 hrs – $25
• Delhi Delight – 1 hr – $22
• Chaat Corner – 1 hr – $10
• Chen Clan Academy – 2 hrs – $10
• Malabar Coast – 2 hrs – $35
• Tea & Spice Lounge – 1 hr – $12
• India Palace (Shanghai) – 1 hr – $25
• Total Estimated Cost – $710

Tips

To extend the trip, add an extra day in Chengdu for a Sichuan cooking class or a visit to Leshan Giant Buddha. If you need to shorten the itinerary, combine the Guilin and Yangshuo sections into a single day and skip the separate Guangzhou day, flying directly from Chengdu back to Shanghai.