Ten days in China is a useful planning framework for a focused journey, not a promise that every major destination will fit. Two possibilities are Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai and Beijing–Suzhou–Hangzhou–Shanghai. The first puts imperial history and archaeology at the centre; the second pairs Beijing with the garden and lake landscapes of eastern China.
This guide explains what distinguishes those routes and provides two suggested allocations. The allocations are RobinGO ASIA’s editorial planning examples, not official transport schedules or the day-by-day programme of a product. Cultural information is supported by the official sources linked below. Sources checked on 24 September 2026.
What does “ten days” mean?
Count from arrival in China to departure if you want to compare time on the ground. If your allowance is ten calendar days away from the UK, international travel also has to fit inside it. Write down each flight’s local arrival and departure date before dividing the remaining time among cities.
Next, count nights and transfers. A day that includes checking out, crossing a city, taking a train and reaching the next hotel is not a full sightseeing day. For the examples below, day one is arrival in China and day ten is departure: there are nine overnight stays.
Route A: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai
This is our suggested choice when seeing both the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army is central to your trip. It uses three overnight bases.
| Days | Base and nights | Planning focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Beijing: four nights | Arrival, a Great Wall day, imperial sights and space for local exploration. |
| 5–7 | Xi’an: three nights | Transfer on day five; allow a separate block for the Terracotta Army and time for the city. |
| 8–10 | Shanghai: two nights | Transfer on day eight, city time on day nine and departure on day ten. |
The historical contrast is substantial. UNESCO describes the Great Wall as a defence system developed over different periods, not a single structure built at one moment. The Forbidden City represents a different expression of imperial power: the palace complex was the seat of Ming and Qing rule. A visit to a particular Wall section and a visit to the palace should therefore be understood as two distinct experiences. Sources: UNESCO: The Great Wall and UNESCO: Imperial Palaces.
Near Xi’an, the Terracotta Army belongs to the mausoleum complex of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. UNESCO records its discovery in 1974 and its relationship to the emperor’s funerary complex. This is archaeology associated with an imperial tomb, rather than another palace visit. UNESCO: Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Our editorial advice is to choose this route if that archaeological contrast matters more to you than adding gardens and lakes. If the Terracotta Army is a must-see, do not substitute a route that omits Xi’an merely because both trips are described as China highlights.
Route B: Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai
This example suits an interest in landscape design alongside Beijing’s major sights. It adds an overnight base, so it involves more packing and hotel changes than Route A.
| Days | Base and nights | Planning focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Beijing: four nights | Arrival, city sights and a dedicated Great Wall excursion. |
| 5–6 | Suzhou: two nights | Transfer on day five; reserve day six for selected gardens and the city. |
| 7–8 | Hangzhou: two nights | Transfer on day seven; time for West Lake without scheduling every hour. |
| 9–10 | Shanghai: one night | Transfer on day nine and departure on day ten; limited Shanghai time. |
That final point is a real trade-off. If you want a full Shanghai sightseeing day, move an earlier night or extend the trip. The four-city label does not automatically give equal time to each place.
Suzhou’s World Heritage property comprises nine classical gardens, not every garden in the city. UNESCO explains their use of water, rocks, plants and buildings to suggest a larger natural world inside a limited space. Choosing one or two named gardens and looking closely at their composition can be more rewarding than collecting a long list of stops. Verify which garden a tour actually includes. UNESCO: Classical Gardens of Suzhou.
West Lake is a cultural landscape, not simply a scenic body of water. UNESCO recognises the relationship between its lake, surrounding hills, religious buildings, gardens and deliberately composed views, as well as its influence on landscape design. That makes Hangzhou a meaningful complement to Suzhou: one explores enclosed garden design, the other a broader lake landscape. UNESCO: West Lake Cultural Landscape.
Check transport before fixing the sightseeing order
Use China Railway’s official 12306 service to check trains for your actual dates and station pair. Do not assume a journey time from an old blog applies to every train, or that a city has only one station. The English registration form requests passport details; use the correct travel document information and follow the booking service’s current instructions. 12306 registration.
For either route, our planning recommendation is to reserve transfer time before adding optional sightseeing. Confirm attraction admission arrangements through the attraction’s own booking channel or the tour organiser. A sample itinerary is not a reservation, and a World Heritage listing does not specify what your tour ticket covers.
How these examples relate to RobinGO ASIA tours
The eight-day Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai product follows the three destinations in Route A, but its published programme has a different duration. It should not be read as the nine-night example above.
The ten-day Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai product visits the destinations in Route B. Its actual schedule, travel-day counting, accommodation and inclusions are those stated on the product and booking confirmation, not this illustrative allocation.
Questions to settle before choosing
- Is the Terracotta Army essential, or are gardens and West Lake the stronger draw?
- Does your available time include international flights?
- Would you prefer three overnight bases or accept four?
- How much usable time remains in Shanghai?
- Which named attractions, transport services and meals are included?
If you are still deciding on duration, see our first-trip duration guide. To plan around fixed dates, send us your travel dates, must-see sights and preferred pace. We can discuss the route before you commit to flights or extra stops.
