🇨🇳 3 Week China Itinerary: Complete Route and Budget for backpacking

🧭 3 Week China Itinerary and Budget: Our Complete Independent Travel Guide

Planning to travel around China without a tour? In this post, we’ll show you exactly how we organized our 23-day trip through China, including the must-see destinations we visited, our full travel budget, useful tips, and recommendations based on real experience.

This itinerary takes you through incredible cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo, and Shanghai — blending culture, nature, ancient history, and stunning landscapes.

✈️ Can you travel around China without a tour?

Absolutely. While China may seem like a challenging destination — due to the language barrier, long distances, or the unique local systems — with the right planning, it becomes an unforgettable trip. We’ll soon share more guides with helpful advice on how to organize your own trip to China.

📍 Full 3 Week China Itinerary (Day by Day)

💡 Scroll to the end of the post for the detailed travel budget.

 

🗓 Day 1: Day 1: Madrid – Shenzhen – Beijing

We flew from Madrid to Shenzhen, our first stop in China before reaching our final destination: Beijing.

We chose Hainan Airlines, and the experience was quite positive. They provided us with an amenities kit (eye mask, compression socks, earplugs, toothbrush, blanket, and pillow), two full meals, snacks, and unlimited drinks throughout the flight.

We landed in Shenzhen at 5:40 a.m., where we had to go through immigration and passport control. As of 2025, many nationalities can travel visa-free to China for stays under 30 days, which made the process smoother. Even though our connecting flight to Beijing was also with Hainan, we had to collect our luggage and check it in again — but everything was quick and easy. Chinese airports are impressively well-organized.

Our second flight departed at 9:00 a.m., and we were served a full breakfast on board.

🗓 Day 2: Arrival in Beijing and First Walks

We landed in Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) at 11:30 a.m. This airport is older than others in the country, so it took a while to collect our luggage and exit. While it’s possible to reach the city by metro, after traveling for 19 hours, we chose to take a DiDi (China’s version of Uber), which was both convenient and affordable.

We stayed in a beautiful area near the popular Nanluoguxiang hutong. The word hutong literally means “alley,” and refers to the narrow traditional lanes of Beijing, lined with historic courtyard houses known as siheyuan. Wandering these alleys feels like stepping back in time — low houses, wooden doors, red lanterns… Today, this area has become quite touristy, full of cafes, restaurants, and little shops, but it’s absolutely worth exploring at a slow pace.

🗓 Day 3: Beijing – Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square & Qianmen Street

We woke up early to start the day strong with a visit to the Forbidden City. We took a DiDi to the Donghuamen Gate, which is one of the closest drop-off points for cars. From there, we walked along the outer wall to the Meridian Gate, the main entrance to the palace.

🎟️ Tickets can be booked online one week in advance through the official website or via the WeChat mini program. For foreign tourists, it’s also possible to buy tickets at the entrance ticket office.

After exploring the Forbidden City, we headed to Jingshan Park, located just behind the north gate. Climbing up the central hill is absolutely worth it — it offers one of the best panoramic views of the entire imperial complex, especially on clear days.

Next, we visited the Temple of Heaven, a vast complex surrounded by green areas. The name can be misleading — it’s not just a temple, but a series of impressive sites within a large park. This is where emperors used to pray for good harvests.

In the afternoon, we visited Tiananmen Square, just in time to watch the flag-lowering ceremony. We recommend arriving early to get a good spot, as security checks are very strict and lines can be long.

To end the day, we had dinner on Qianmen Street, one of the oldest and most iconic pedestrian avenues in Beijing. You’ll find a blend of traditional Chinese shops, modern cafés, and international chains. It was the perfect spot to try one of Beijing’s most famous dishes: Peking Duck.

🗓 Day 4: Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section) & Summer Palace

At 6:00 AM, we took a DiDi to visit one of the highlights of the entire trip: the Great Wall of China.

We chose the Mutianyu section, which is one of the best-preserved and less crowded areas — although it’s becoming increasingly popular among international travelers.

Originally built in the 6th century and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (15th century), this section runs through forested mountains and offers some of the most scenic views. It’s a great alternative to Badaling if you want to avoid big crowds without venturing too far from Beijing.

We took the cable car up to Tower 14, and from there we hiked along the wall all the way to Tower 20. The views were absolutely breathtaking — though the walk is intense and definitely not ideal if you’re afraid of heights or not in decent shape.

We then continued downhill toward Tower 4, where we took the famous toboggan ride back down — a super fun and unique experience we highly recommend!

Around 1:30 PM, we headed back to Beijing to visit another must-see: the Summer Palace, one of China’s best-preserved imperial gardens. It’s a peaceful retreat after a long day of walking (though keep in mind that the palace grounds are vast and require a good amount of walking too). It was originally built in the 18th century as a summer retreat for the imperial family.

Unfortunately, during our visit, some major landmarks like Suzhou Street and the Tower of Buddhist Incense were under renovation — something to keep in mind when planning.

🗓 Day 5: Pingyao

Early in the morning, we hopped on a high-speed train to Pingyao, a walled city dating back to the Ming Dynasty that remains almost perfectly preserved. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There’s a combo ticket that gives access to several attractions inside the city. We visited the Government Office, Rishengchang Bank, Xietongqing Bank, the Public Security Museum (which includes old prison cells), the City God Temple, and parts of the ancient city wall.

On Saturdays, there’s usually a light show projected onto the South Gate wall — but sadly, it was canceled due to bad weather during our visit.

🗓 Day 6: Xi’an – Muslim Quarter and Old City

We started the day by catching another high-speed train, this time to Xi’an, a city full of contrasts that’s well worth a stop on any China itinerary.

As a former imperial capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road, Xi’an has a rich blend of Han, Arab, and Persian cultures. We focused on exploring the walled old town, which still preserves a unique and charming atmosphere.

Our accommodation was located in the heart of the Muslim Quarter, a lively area full of history and street food. We visited the Great Mosque of Xi’an, the Gao Family Mansion, and took a peaceful walk along the city wall at sunset. Due to a heatwave warning, we took it easy and stayed indoors during the hottest hours of the day.

🗓 Day 7: Xi’an – Terracotta Warriors, Drum & Bell Towers, and Datang Everbright City

We woke up early to visit what many call the eighth wonder of the world: the Terracotta Army. It’s estimated that over 8,000 life-size statues — including soldiers, horses, archers, and chariots — were buried to guard the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. He was the founder of the Qin Dynasty and the unifier of the Chinese empire in the 3rd century BCE.

The site includes three excavation pits, a museum, and a second area where you’ll find the emperor’s mausoleum, several tombs, and various exhibitions. Many people don’t realize that the ticket also includes access to this second section, so make sure not to skip it.

Try to arrive as early as possible, as it gets extremely crowded throughout the day.

Due to another orange heatwave alert, we rested at the hotel before heading back out in the evening.

We visited the Drum and Bell Towers — you can buy a combo ticket to see both — and then took a DiDi to the Datang Everbright City, a massive Tang-style avenue filled with lights, street food stalls, shops, and live performances like dancing, storytelling, and theatre. At the end of the street, you’ll find the famous Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.

Want to check more about our stay in Xi’an? Check our dedicated travel guide!

🗓 Days 8–11: Chongqing, a Surprising Gem

We said goodbye to Xi’an and traveled to a city we had been especially excited to explore: Chongqing.

With over 32 million people, Chongqing is considered the most populated city in the world, and its size is comparable to the entire country of Austria. It was once part of Sichuan province but is now an independent administrative region.

In recent years, Chongqing has gone viral on social media, leading to a surge in tourism.

We spent four days in the city, originally planning to visit the Wulong National Park on one of them. However, a typhoon hit, all trains were canceled, and we had to skip it.

Chongqing is full of fascinating places to explore. Here are some of our favorites:

• The famous Kuixing Building, where you think you’re on the ground floor but are actually on the 22nd.
• Liziba Station, where the monorail runs through a residential building.
• The creative art district TestBed 2.
• The peaceful Luohan Temple.
• Baixiangju Building, with its panoramic view of the Yangtze River cable car.
• The old neighborhood of Shibati.
• The historic village of Ciqikou.
• The massive architectural complex Raffles City.

We also ventured into lesser-known neighborhoods, as our Chongqing itinerary was focused heavily on street photography. You can check more about this unique city in our dedicated Chongqing travel guide.

🗓 Day 12: Zhangjiajie and Tianmen Mountain – or the Great Chinese Waterpark 😅

As we mentioned in our Chongqing itinerary, a typhoon had already disrupted our plans to visit Wulong. Well, apparently the storm wasn’t done with us yet — it decided to follow us across China 😅.

Our original train to Zhangjiajie was cancelled, which forced us to rework the route and book a high-speed train with a transfer in Huaihua. We were a bit stressed because we had tickets to visit Tianmen Mountain, and the last admission was at 4:00 PM. Luckily, Chinese trains are remarkably punctual, and we made it just in time.

We had booked a hotel just a 5-minute walk from the cable car station, which made things easier.

Unfortunately, the weather was truly awful. Our hike turned into something more like a water park adventure. It rained nonstop, the wind picked up as we ascended the mountain in the cable car, and visibility was basically zero. Once at the top, most of the trails were closed. We only managed to catch a glimpse of the Heaven’s Gate, but the famous stairway was closed off — no climbing or descending allowed.

I’m sure the place is breathtaking on a clear day, but we couldn’t enjoy it at all 🥲.

We ended the day with a relaxed walk through the local streets of Zhangjiajie, where we found a cozy little restaurant run by a sweet elderly couple. It was a warm and comforting way to wrap up an otherwise soggy adventure.

🗓 Day 13 – Wulingyuan: A Forced Rest Day

This day didn’t go as planned. We were really looking forward to exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — the iconic “Avatar mountains” — but the typhoon had other plans, and the park was completely shut down for safety reasons. (And rightly so — the next day we saw some of the damage it had caused.)

We were honestly quite frustrated and disappointed. After months of carefully planning this 3 week China itinerary, it was tough to accept that we wouldn’t be able to follow it entirely. Still, we tried to stay positive: we rested, did laundry 😂, reorganized the route for the following days, and took time to recharge our energy.

On the bright side, we ended up having one of the best meals of the entire trip at a tiny family-run restaurant in the local area of Wulingyuan.

We stayed at a hostel just a few minutes from the park’s entrance, and the hosts were amazing — they speak perfect English and helped us book our tickets in advance. The area also has a fantastic night market full of cheap and delicious street food. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

🔁 Sometimes trips don’t go perfectly — and that’s part of the adventure too

🗓 Day 14 – Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar Mountains)

It was finally time to visit the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Since we could only explore it for one day, we had to completely rework our route to fit in as many highlights as possible. It was going to be a long and intense day, with no time to waste.

By 7:00 we were already inside the park, and our first stop was the Bailong Elevator, which takes you up to the area that connects to Yuanjiajie (where the iconic “Avatar mountains” are). Unfortunately, the road linking the two areas was still closed due to the typhoon damage, so we had no choice but to take the elevator right back down.

Next, we hopped on a shuttle bus to the Golden Whip Stream, a two-hour hiking trail along a river where we saw lots of cheeky macaques. (Be careful with snacks — they’ll try to steal them!) The hike ends at the so-called “Oxygen Square,” a place known for having some of the highest levels of negative oxygen ions in all of China. So yes, “fresh air” here is very literal.

After a quick rest, we took the cable car up to Huangshi Village, one of the most breathtaking spots in Zhangjiajie. There’s a saying: If you visit Zhangjiajie but skip Huangshi Village, it’s like you haven’t visited at all. The full hike at the top takes around two hours and is well worth it for the panoramic views. There’s also a shorter loop, but the longer one is far more rewarding.

Our next stop was the Yangjiajie scenic area, which we reached via another cable car. Most of the trails here were closed due to safety concerns, so we grabbed a quick lunch and then started walking toward Yuanjiajie, one of the main highlights of the park.

The real challenge came after Yuanjiajie — the road back to Bailong was shut, and no shuttles were running. We noticed a few people heading down on foot, so we decided to follow. That’s when we witnessed firsthand the damage left by the typhoon: broken roads, landslides, fallen rocks… Thankfully, we managed to reach Bailong safely and took it back down to the base of the park.

Time was running out, so we made our way to the Ten Mile Gallery and took the little scenic train to the end, then walked back.

In total, our Zhangjiajie adventure lasted 11 hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most people spread this visit across two days at a slower pace, but we were determined to fit it all in — even if that meant exhaustion by the end.

🗓 Day 15: Furong

Just a 30-minute bullet train ride from Zhangjiajie lies one of the most beautiful villages in China: Furong. Its name means Hibiscus Flower, although many people still refer to it by its former name, Wangcun.

Most travelers visit Furong on a quick day trip, but we chose to spend the night there so we could enjoy the magical night views of the illuminated village. The owner of our hotel kindly picked us up from the train station and even helped us buy discounted entrance tickets to the scenic area.

This stop was one of the most charming surprises of our 3 week China itinerary.

🗓 Day 16: Fenghuang

This day was dedicated to exploring Fenghuang, another contender for the most beautiful town in China. With its wooden stilt houses hanging over the river and its narrow cobbled streets, it felt like we had stepped into a postcard.

We strolled along the riverbanks, crossed ancient stone bridges, and soaked in the incredible vibe as night fell — the bars filled with live music, giving the town a lively yet cozy atmosphere.

We decided not to buy the combo ticket that gives access to various paid attractions around town, and instead just explored at our own pace.

🗓 Day 17: Longji Rice Terraces

We got up early for what would be one of the most challenging travel days of the entire trip. Getting from Fenghuang to the Longji Rice Terraces isn’t easy, and most tourists opt for a simple day trip from Guilin. But we wanted to spend the night there to see the sunrise over the terraces, and it was so worth it.

Here’s how we did it:

• First, we took a 1.5-hour bus to Huaihua. The driver kindly told us exactly where to get off.
• Then we waited about 30 minutes for a second bus to Guilin, which took another 3.5 hours. We got off at the Longji highway intersection.
• From there, we were supposed to catch a third local bus to the rice terraces, but we decided to book a DiDi instead, which dropped us off at the entrance of the scenic area.

Once we had our tickets, we called another DiDi to take us up to our guesthouse in Tiantou village, a remote settlement of the Yao ethnic minority. To be honest, I must’ve booked the most remote hotel in the region, but the views made the effort completely worth it.

‼️ If you’re planning to reach the Longji Rice Terraces from Fenghuang, we strongly recommend spending at least 2 nights in the area. It’s quite the journey, and rushing it would really take away from the experience.

Once settled in, we went on a short hike up the terraces to watch the sunset, even though it was a bit cloudy that evening.

🗓 Day 18: Longji Rice Terraces & Transfer to Yangshuo

For this part of our trip, we hired a local guide, as the area is more remote and not well connected by public transport. Our itinerary was packed and photography-focused, so having someone to optimize the route made all the difference.

The guide picked us up from our hotel in Tiantou and took us to explore several spots across the Longji Rice Terraces: we visited Dazhai village and the Thousand Layer Terraces viewpoint, followed by the scenic spots of Nine Dragons and Five Tigers and Seven Stars Around the Moon in the Ping’An area.

By mid-afternoon, we started making our way to Yangshuo, the next stop on our 3 week China itinerary. Before dropping us off at our hotel, our guide took us to a hidden hill near Putao, where we enjoyed a peaceful and scenic sunset away from the crowds.

🗓 Day 19: Yangshuo, Xingping & Putao

This was one of the most intense (and rewarding!) photography days of our entire trip.

Our guide picked us up at 3:30 to catch the sunrise on the Li River in Xingping, where we had a photo session with a traditional cormorant fisherman — one of the most iconic scenes in southern China.

Around 6:30 we hiked up Xianggong Hill, a postcard-perfect viewpoint offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the Li River winding through the karst mountains. Afterward, we stopped by a local market in Putao and tried the famous Guilin rice noodles for breakfast.

By 10:00 we were back at the hotel for a nap, some food, and a quick dip in the pool.

In the afternoon, our guide picked us up again at 4:00 PM. We had originally planned to visit Wuzhi Hill, but due to poor lighting conditions, we changed plans and explored Xingping Old Town instead — home to the famous 20-yuan banknote view.

To wrap up the day, we spent the evening wandering around West Street, Yangshuo’s vibrant pedestrian zone filled with shops, food stalls, and music.

🗓 Day 20: Guilin, Tangbei, Yulong River & Scenic Spots Around Yangshuo

Another early morning! This time, we drove to the Zhuangyuan Bridge in Guilin for a sunrise photo shoot with a local farmer and his water buffalo. Unfortunately, it rained the entire time, which made photography quite a challenge, but it was still a beautiful experience.

Next, we visited the picturesque village of Tangbei, known for its peaceful rice fields and stunning reflections of the surrounding mountains — truly a hidden gem.

At 10:00 AM, we returned to the hotel and said goodbye to our guide. After a short rest, we rented a scooter to explore the area on our own.

We visited several scenic areas around Yangshuo, including:

• Ten Mile Gallery
• The Yulong River docks
• Shuangliu Yiduting rice fields
• Jianlongqiao area
• The iconic Fuli Bridge

It was a perfect way to enjoy the countryside at our own pace and make the most of the freedom that comes with independent travel in China.

🗓 Day 21: Daxu Ancient Town, Guilin Tea Institute & Guilin City Center

Although our guide from Yangshuo wasn’t available that day, he kindly sent his brother-in-law — a driver and local guide — to take us around before our evening flight to Shanghai. We had initially considered doing the route on our own by DiDi or train, but carrying our heavy backpacks from place to place made that idea totally impractical.

Our first stop was Daxu Ancient Town, one of the best-preserved historic towns in the region. With a history spanning over 2,000 years, Daxu flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when it served as a major trading hub on the Li River.

We had lunch there at a very local eatery — the kind of place where the food is simple, cheap, and absolutely delicious.

After lunch, we continued to the Guilin Tea Science and Research Institute, the only provincial-level organization dedicated to tea research in Guangxi. Located at the foot of Yao Mountain, the institute offers a tour through its tea plantations, where we learned about different types of tea, how they’re cultivated, and the harvest process. The visit ended with a traditional tea ceremony and tasting, and of course, we bought some tea to bring home.

Our final stop before heading to the airport was downtown Guilin, where we visited some of the city’s top landmarks:

• The Sun and Moon Pagodas, beautifully reflected in the water
• Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin’s most iconic natural formation
• A stroll along Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, a lively shopping avenue where we picked up some souvenirs
• And a quick walk through the charming East-West Alley, a cultural district with a traditional-style design

Late at night, we arrived at the airport for our flight to the final stop of our 3 week China itinerary: Shanghai.

🗓 Day 22: Exploring Shanghai

We set an early alarm and hit the ground running — we had a packed schedule and not a lot of time to spare.

We started the day at Xingguang Photography Mall, a lesser-known gem in Shanghai entirely dedicated to photography gear. Whether you’re into vintage film or modern mirrorless, you can score some amazing deals on both new and second-hand equipment — definitely worth a visit if you’re into photography.

From there, we walked to Tianzifang, a charming neighborhood in the French Concession. It’s a laid-back area filled with cozy cafés, boutique shops, and souvenir stores — perfect for a relaxed morning stroll.

Next up was Xintiandi, one of Shanghai’s trendiest districts. This upscale pedestrian zone is full of design cafés, art galleries, and fashion boutiques. Honestly, if someone had told us we were in Paris or Milan, we’d have believed them — the atmosphere felt completely Western.

Later, we made our way to Nanjing Road, one of the most famous shopping streets in China, where we spent the afternoon browsing shops, malls, and grabbing snacks.

At sunset, we headed to the North Bund, a quieter alternative to the main waterfront that offers one of the most stunning views of the Shanghai skyline — highly recommended.

We ended the day with dinner and a stroll around the Yuyuan Garden shopping area, a beautifully lit space that blends traditional Chinese architecture with modern shops.

🗓 Day 23: Final day in Shanghai & bonus layover in Chongqing

Our final morning in China was spent doing some last-minute shopping around Shanghai’s shopping malls before heading to Pudong Airport aboard the Maglev train — one of the fastest in the world, and a fun way to end the trip.

But our 3 week China itinerary still had one last surprise in store: a 6.5-hour layover in Chongqing.

Once again, our domestic flight landed ahead of schedule. We quickly booked a guesthouse near the airport to drop off our backpacks and take a fast shower — the airport lockers close at 11 PM, so this was our best move.

Refreshed, we grabbed a DiDi to the Qiansimen Bridge, where we soaked in one last jaw-dropping view of Chongqing’s cyberpunk skyline. We crossed the bridge on foot, grabbed a final bubble tea, and made one last visit to Lawson convenience store, our MVP during the trip.

It was just a couple of hours, but the perfect final chapter to an unforgettable adventure.

At midnight, we returned to the guesthouse, picked up our backpacks, and the host arranged a private transfer to the airport. Time to fly home — but with our hearts full of memories.

💶 Budget for Our 23-Day Trip to China

China is an incredibly affordable destination if you plan ahead and organize your trip well. Below you’ll find our detailed budget per person, based on a 23-day independent travel itinerary. We combined high-speed trains, buses, DiDi rides (Chinese Uber), domestic flights, budget accommodations, entrance tickets, and local meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks).

All prices are rounded and calculated in euros (€), updated as of July 2025.

Category	Estimated cost (€/person)
✈️ International flights	550 €
🛫 Domestic flights	75 €
🚄 Bullet trains	195 €
🚌​ Other transport (Bus)	30 €
🚕​ DiDi	120 €
🏨 Hotels	320 €
🍜 Food	250 €
🎟️ Entrance tickets	240 €
⛩️​ Tours and private guides	180 €
🩺​ Travel insurance	65 €
💰 Total estimated cost	~ 2025€

Even though it may sound like a lot, traveling in China for 3 weeks for around €2,000 — including absolutely everything — is a great deal, especially compared to other destinations. Plus, the quality of accommodations, the efficiency of transportation, and the overall safety make it well worth every cent. We also had some unexpected expenses due to the typhoon, so if we did our original plan, it would had been even cheaper.

🌏 Final Thoughts on Our Trip to China: A Journey That Leaves a Mark

Traveling through China for 23 days has been one of the most intense and rewarding experiences we’ve ever had. From the grandeur of the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors to the glowing alleys of Fenghuang, the surreal landscapes of Zhangjiajie, and the futuristic buzz of Chongqing — every place offered a different story and a brand-new emotion.

It was a demanding trip in terms of logistics and energy, and while not everything went according to plan, every single minute was worth it. We truly hope this itinerary helps you plan your own adventure and discover a country that doesn’t just impress — it transforms you.

📩 Have questions, need help planning your China itinerary, or want to share your own experience? Leave us a comment below — we’d love to hear from you!

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