10 Days Family Trip China Itinerary

A 10-day family trip to China — if it’s your family’s first time visiting, how would you plan it? The answer would definitely be to visit places that children love, while also including experiences that adults look forward to. For example, strolling along the Great Wall, savoring Beijing roast duck, and enjoying a nighttime kung fu or Peking opera performance; in Xi'an, after marveling at the Terracotta Warriors, you can try making your own clay soldier and watch a shadow puppet show, or learn to make dumplings; in Chengdu, seeing the giant pandas is a must, along with joining a cooking class, watching the world-famous face-changing performance, and experiencing local life at a traditional tea house; hiking through the Longji Rice Terraces, making bamboo tube rice, cycling in Yangshuo, and trying rock climbing or cave exploration are also wonderful activities to include.

10 Days Family Trip China Itinerary to Beijing Xian and Chengdu

Beijing: The 10-day itinerary includes 4 nights in Beijing with visits to the Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, a traditional hutong tour by rickshaw, a Peking opera face painting experience, and an evening Kung Fu or Peking opera show.

Xian: It then continues with 2 nights in Xi'an, featuring the Terracotta Warriors, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter, Gao Family Mansion, a shadow puppet show, and the Grand Tang Dynasty Everbright City.

Chengdu: The journey concludes with 3 nights in Chengdu, including visits to the Giant Panda Base, tea drinking at People's Park, the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, the Wide and Narrow Alleys, the Sanxingdui Museum, Mount Qingcheng, and the Leshan Giant Buddha, as well as an evening face-changing performance.

Local cuisine: Throughout the trip, you will enjoy local culinary specialties, such as Beijing's Peking duck, lamb hotpot, and zhajiang noodles; Xi'an’s hand-pulled oil-splashed noodles, roujiamo (known as the "Chinese hamburger"), cold skin noodles (liangpi), and lamb stew with flatbread (yangrou paomo); and Chengdu’s mapo tofu, spicy beef slices (fuqi feipian), and twice-cooked pork (huiguorou).

Luxury hotels: accommodation will be in centrally located five-star hotels, such as those in Beijing's Wangfujing area, Wyndham Grand Xi’an South or Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel in Xi'an, and The St. Regis Chengdu in the Chunxi Road area.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport. Private transfer to a centrally located five-star hotel in the Wangfujing area (e.g., Park Plaza Wangfujing, Waldorf Astoria, or The Ritz-Carlton). Rest and adjust to the time difference; in the evening, enjoy a leisurely stroll along Wangfujing Street.

Day 2: Beijing

Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City. After lunch, ride a rickshaw through Beijing’s historic hutongs and visit a traditional courtyard house (Siheyuan). Participate in a Peking Opera face painting workshop, where children can create their own unique masks. Stay in Five-star hotels in the Wangfujing area (Park Plaza Wangfujing, Waldorf Astoria, The Ritz-Carlton).

Day 3: Beijing

Travel to the Mutianyu Great Wall (including round-trip cable car rides, family-friendly). Enjoy a local farmhouse meal at the foot of the Great Wall. Afternoon: Return to the city for rest. Watch a thrilling Kung Fu show or a traditional Peking Opera performance (based on family preference).

Day 4: Beijing

Visit the Temple of Heaven Park, where you can see locals practicing Tai Chi and dancing. After your lunch, tour the Summer Palace, with an optional boat ride on Kunming Lake. Evening: Indulge in a traditional Beijing Roast Duck dinner.

Day 5: Beijing – Xi'an by train/flight

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Arrive in Xi'an and check in at a centrally located five-star hotel (e.g., Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel or Wyndham Grand Xi'an South). Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and stroll through the vibrant Great Tang All Day Mall. Evening: Free time or optional night walk to enjoy the colorful light shows.

Day 6: Xi'an

Explore the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors Museum. Join a family-friendly clay workshop to craft your own "Terracotta Soldier." Visit Gao's Grand Courtyard and watch a traditional shadow puppet show. Wander through the bustling Muslim Quarter and enjoy a food tour featuring specialties like lamb paomo, roujiamo, and biangbiang noodles.

Day 7: Xi'an – Chengdu by train/flight

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. Arrive in Chengdu and check in at a luxury hotel near Chunxi Road (e.g., The St. Regis Chengdu, Niccolo Chengdu, or the IFS Residences). Explore the charming Wide and Narrow Alleys (Kuan Zhai Xiangzi). Enjoy a Sichuan opera performance with the famous face-changing show (recommended venues: Jinli Theater or Shu Feng Ya Yun).

Day 8: Chengdu

Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see adorable pandas up close. Relax with a cup of tea at People’s Park and experience local leisure life, then tour Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Free time for shopping at Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li.

Day 9: Chengdu Surroundings

Explore the incredible Sanxingdui Museum and learn about the mysterious ancient Shu civilization. Hike the front mountain trails of Qingcheng Mountain, a sacred Taoist site (family-friendly paths). Return to Chengdu for a restful night.

Day 10: Leshan Day Trip – Departure

Visit Leshan to see the world’s largest stone Buddha (boat cruise available for a panoramic view). Return to Chengdu and transfer to the airport based on your flight schedule, ending your unforgettable family journey through China.

10 Days Family Itinerary to Beijing Guilin/Yangshuo/Longji and Chengdu

Beijing: A 10-day itinerary includes 3 nights in Beijing, visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, a hutong rickshaw ride, Peking Opera face painting, and either a kung fu show or a Peking Opera performance.

Guilin Area: Then 1 night in Guilin and 2 nights in Yangshuo, featuring activities such as cycling, rock climbing or abseiling, learning kung fu, caving, or enjoying water activities during summer like paddle-boarding and diving into the river.

Chengdu: After that, 2 nights in Chengdu, including visits to see the giant pandas, drinking tea at People's Park, visiting the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Kuanzhai Alley, the Sanxingdui Museum, and watching a face-changing performance.

The itinerary also highlights tasting local specialties, such as Beijing's roast duck, mutton hot pot, and zhajiang noodles; and Guilin's famous foods like rice noodles, stuffed river snails, stuffed bitter melon, fish sashimi, and oil tea with traditional accompaniments.

Accommodation will be arranged in centrally located five-star hotels, such as a hotel near Wangfujing in Beijing, the Sheraton or Shangri-La Hotel in Guilin, the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat or Banyan Tree Yangshuo, the Baike Hotel in Longsheng, and the St. Regis Hotel near Chunxi Road in Chengdu.

10 Days Family Trip Itinerary to Shanghai Zhangjiajie Yangshuo and Hong Kong

Shanghai: A 10-day itinerary including 3 nights in Shanghai, covering the city's highlights and a visit to Disneyland, as well as an excursion to the Xitang Water Town with a boat ride. The plan also includes a nighttime Huangpu River cruise and watching the ERA Acrobatic Show.

Yangshuo: Spend 2 nights in Yangshuo, with activities such as cycling, rock climbing or abseiling, kung fu lessons, caving, or — in the summer — water activities like paddleboarding and cliff jumping in the river.

Zhangjiajie: Then, 2 nights in Zhangjiajie, visiting Tianmen Mountain and the key scenic areas of Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Tianzi Mountain.

The journey will also highlight local culinary specialties, such as Shanghai’s xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), braised pork belly, and white-cut chicken; Yangshuo’s rice noodles, stuffed river snails, stuffed bitter melon, fish sashimi, oil tea, and traditional snacks served with oil tea; and Zhangjiajie’s local flavors like "Sanxia Guo" (three-delicacy hot pot), Tujia-style cured meats, and chicken stewed with rock fungus.

The accommodation features top five-star hotels in prime locations: along the Bund or Nanjing Road in Shanghai, Mountain Retreat or Banyan Tree in Yangshuo, the best available hotels in Zhangjiajie, and a seaside hotel in Hong Kong.