Day 1: Exploring the blend of historic and futuristic architecture in China's largest city.
not mentioned
not mentioned
afternoon
2 hours
1
The Bund
Accessible via Metro Line 2 or 10 to East Nanjing Road Station
Riverside promenade featuring European architecture facing a futuristic skyline.
Free
Tips: Visit during the day for architecture and night for lights.
Food Recommendations:
- Soup dumplings
- Jianbing
- Hand-pulled noodles
- Meat skewers
evening
2 hours
2
East Nanjing Road
Walk from The Bund
Bustling pedestrian street with shops and a robot barista.
Variable
Tips: Try the coffee served by a robot barista.
Day 2: Visiting a classical Chinese garden oasis within the bustling city.
not mentioned
not mentioned
afternoon
2 hours
1
Yu Garden
Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden Station
Classical garden with traditional architecture and ponds.
Moderate
Tips: Stay for the evening when the lights come on.
evening
2 hours
2
Yu Garden Night Market
Located adjacent to the gardens
Stunning night market with illuminated traditional buildings.
Variable
Tips: Great place for photography at night.
Day 4: Ascending the Yellow Mountains to explore granite peaks and valleys.
not mentioned
Misty and foggy
morning
4 hours
1
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) Ascent
Take the cable car up the mountain
Cable car ride up and hiking the back mountain.
High (tickets + stay)
Tips: The back side is significantly quieter than the front.
evening
Overnight
2
Baiyun Hotel
Located on the mountain summit
Staying overnight at the top of the mountain.
Expensive
Tips: Staying overnight allows you to experience the mountain without day crowds.
Day 6: Exploring a fairytale-like valley village built into the cliffs.
not mentioned
Sunny
07:00
4 hours
1
Wangxian Valley
Explore the valley on foot
Walking along cliffside stairs and viewing traditional architecture.
Moderate
Tips: Enter right at 7 AM opening to have the place to yourself.
evening
3 hours
2
Wangxian Night Light Show
Central square area
Spectacular light show illuminating the cliffside buildings.
Free
Tips: The evening is when the crowds arrive for the lights.
Day 7: Viewing golden rice terraces before the harvest season.
October
Cloudy and misty
afternoon
Overnight
1
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel to the terraces region
Endless rolling hills of golden rice terraces.
Moderate
Tips: Visit in October for the golden color before harvest.
Day 8: Bamboo rafting and scootering through karst mountain landscapes.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Book a raft from the dock
Peaceful rafting down the river surrounded by karst mountains.
Moderate
Tips: A must-do activity in Yangshuo.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Ten Mile Gallery
Rent an e-scooter to ride the route
Scenic route through the countryside and mountains.
Low
Tips: Rent an electric scooter for the best experience.
Day 9: Sunrise views and exploring historic riverside towns.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Xianggong Mountain Sunrise
Take a small ferry across river before dawn
Breathtaking sunrise view over the karst peaks.
Moderate
Tips: Go well before dawn.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Xingping Ancient Town
Travel from Yangshuo to Xingping
Historic town near the 20 Yuan banknote viewpoint.
Low
Tips: Hike Mount Laozhai for a rewarding sunset.
Day 10: Climbing steps to Heaven's Gate and walking cliffside paths.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
5 hours
1
Tianmen Mountain
Cable car up, 7 escalators to top
Famous for 999 steps, Heaven's Gate, and glass skywalks.
High
Tips: Shoe covers required for glass walkway.
Day 11: Visiting the Avatar mountains and towering sandstone pillars.
not mentioned
Sunny and hazy
morning
4 hours
1
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Yuanjiajie)
326m glass elevator ride
Home to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and natural bridge.
High
Tips: Expect crowds at the main viewpoints.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Tianzi Mountain
Shuttle bus within the park
Sweeping views of pillar forests.
Included in park ticket
Tips: Great for sunset views.
Day 12: Exploring quieter peaks and a scenic stream valley.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
3 hours
1
Huangshi Village
Cable car ascent
Underrated section with stunning pillars and monkeys.
Included in park ticket
Tips: Watch out for the many monkeys.
afternoon
2 hours
2
Golden Whip Stream
Flat walking trail
Serene walking path along a clear stream in the valley.
Free
Tips: Relaxing walk looking up at the pillars.
Day 13: Experiencing the cyber-punk city of lights and spicy food.
not mentioned
not mentioned
evening
2 hours
1
Hongyadong
Central city location
Multi-level stilted building complex lit up at night.
Free
Tips: Best viewed at night.
Food Recommendations:
- Sichuan Hot Pot
Day 14: Wandering through a famous ancient town with wooden architecture.
not mentioned
Sunny
evening
3 hours
1
Lijiang Old Town
Pedestrian only area
Historic lanes, wooden buildings, and canals.
Free
Tips: The city comes alive at night.
Food Recommendations:
- Noodle soup
Day 15: Visiting scenic pools and quieter ancient towns nearby.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Black Dragon Pool
North of Old Town
Park with a famous view of the snow mountain reflection.
Moderate
Tips: Go when water is still for the reflection.
Day 16: High altitude adventure to a glacier and turquoise lakes.
not mentioned
Sunny with clouds
morning
2 hours
1
Blue Moon Valley
Park shuttle bus
Turquoise terraced lakes at the mountain base.
Included in park fee
Tips: Go early to beat crowds.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park
Highest cableway
Cable car to 4680m to see the glacier.
High
Tips: Buy portable oxygen canisters due to thin air.
Day 1: Exploring the blend of historic and futuristic architecture in China's largest city.
not mentioned
not mentioned
afternoon
2 hours
1
The Bund
Accessible via Metro Line 2 or 10 to East Nanjing Road Station
Riverside promenade featuring European architecture facing a futuristic skyline.
Free
Tips: Visit during the day for architecture and night for lights.
Food Recommendations:
- Soup dumplings
- Jianbing
- Hand-pulled noodles
- Meat skewers
evening
2 hours
2
East Nanjing Road
Walk from The Bund
Bustling pedestrian street with shops and a robot barista.
Variable
Tips: Try the coffee served by a robot barista.
Day 2: Visiting a classical Chinese garden oasis within the bustling city.
not mentioned
not mentioned
afternoon
2 hours
1
Yu Garden
Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden Station
Classical garden with traditional architecture and ponds.
Moderate
Tips: Stay for the evening when the lights come on.
evening
2 hours
2
Yu Garden Night Market
Located adjacent to the gardens
Stunning night market with illuminated traditional buildings.
Variable
Tips: Great place for photography at night.
Day 4: Ascending the Yellow Mountains to explore granite peaks and valleys.
not mentioned
Misty and foggy
morning
4 hours
1
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) Ascent
Take the cable car up the mountain
Cable car ride up and hiking the back mountain.
High (tickets + stay)
Tips: The back side is significantly quieter than the front.
evening
Overnight
2
Baiyun Hotel
Located on the mountain summit
Staying overnight at the top of the mountain.
Expensive
Tips: Staying overnight allows you to experience the mountain without day crowds.
Day 6: Exploring a fairytale-like valley village built into the cliffs.
not mentioned
Sunny
07:00
4 hours
1
Wangxian Valley
Explore the valley on foot
Walking along cliffside stairs and viewing traditional architecture.
Moderate
Tips: Enter right at 7 AM opening to have the place to yourself.
evening
3 hours
2
Wangxian Night Light Show
Central square area
Spectacular light show illuminating the cliffside buildings.
Free
Tips: The evening is when the crowds arrive for the lights.
Day 7: Viewing golden rice terraces before the harvest season.
October
Cloudy and misty
afternoon
Overnight
1
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel to the terraces region
Endless rolling hills of golden rice terraces.
Moderate
Tips: Visit in October for the golden color before harvest.
Day 8: Bamboo rafting and scootering through karst mountain landscapes.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Book a raft from the dock
Peaceful rafting down the river surrounded by karst mountains.
Moderate
Tips: A must-do activity in Yangshuo.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Ten Mile Gallery
Rent an e-scooter to ride the route
Scenic route through the countryside and mountains.
Low
Tips: Rent an electric scooter for the best experience.
Day 9: Sunrise views and exploring historic riverside towns.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Xianggong Mountain Sunrise
Take a small ferry across river before dawn
Breathtaking sunrise view over the karst peaks.
Moderate
Tips: Go well before dawn.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Xingping Ancient Town
Travel from Yangshuo to Xingping
Historic town near the 20 Yuan banknote viewpoint.
Low
Tips: Hike Mount Laozhai for a rewarding sunset.
Day 10: Climbing steps to Heaven's Gate and walking cliffside paths.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
5 hours
1
Tianmen Mountain
Cable car up, 7 escalators to top
Famous for 999 steps, Heaven's Gate, and glass skywalks.
High
Tips: Shoe covers required for glass walkway.
Day 11: Visiting the Avatar mountains and towering sandstone pillars.
not mentioned
Sunny and hazy
morning
4 hours
1
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Yuanjiajie)
326m glass elevator ride
Home to the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain and natural bridge.
High
Tips: Expect crowds at the main viewpoints.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Tianzi Mountain
Shuttle bus within the park
Sweeping views of pillar forests.
Included in park ticket
Tips: Great for sunset views.
Day 12: Exploring quieter peaks and a scenic stream valley.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
3 hours
1
Huangshi Village
Cable car ascent
Underrated section with stunning pillars and monkeys.
Included in park ticket
Tips: Watch out for the many monkeys.
afternoon
2 hours
2
Golden Whip Stream
Flat walking trail
Serene walking path along a clear stream in the valley.
Free
Tips: Relaxing walk looking up at the pillars.
Day 13: Experiencing the cyber-punk city of lights and spicy food.
not mentioned
not mentioned
evening
2 hours
1
Hongyadong
Central city location
Multi-level stilted building complex lit up at night.
Free
Tips: Best viewed at night.
Food Recommendations:
- Sichuan Hot Pot
Day 14: Wandering through a famous ancient town with wooden architecture.
not mentioned
Sunny
evening
3 hours
1
Lijiang Old Town
Pedestrian only area
Historic lanes, wooden buildings, and canals.
Free
Tips: The city comes alive at night.
Food Recommendations:
- Noodle soup
Day 15: Visiting scenic pools and quieter ancient towns nearby.
not mentioned
Sunny
morning
2 hours
1
Black Dragon Pool
North of Old Town
Park with a famous view of the snow mountain reflection.
Moderate
Tips: Go when water is still for the reflection.
Day 16: High altitude adventure to a glacier and turquoise lakes.
not mentioned
Sunny with clouds
morning
2 hours
1
Blue Moon Valley
Park shuttle bus
Turquoise terraced lakes at the mountain base.
Included in park fee
Tips: Go early to beat crowds.
afternoon
3 hours
2
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park
Highest cableway
Cable car to 4680m to see the glacier.
High
Tips: Buy portable oxygen canisters due to thin air.
