First: eligibility and international gateways
Check official entry information for your passport, purpose, route and intended stay. Ordinary entry and transit arrangements are different. Then compare international arrival and departure gateways. An attractive domestic route is not yet a trip if it forces an awkward return to the starting airport. Read change and cancellation conditions before buying a fare.
Second: nights and intercity journeys
Choose the accommodation areas and the number of nights in each base. Compare current intercity trains or flights by complete journey time, including local transfers. Keep a travel block between distant bases. Only then choose individual hotels that fit the route. A beautiful property at the wrong end of a city can make every day harder.
Third: limited or timed admission
Confirm important attractions through their current official booking information. In a history-focused route, palace or archaeological admission may matter more than an optional evening view. Leave a street-walking day beside a reservation day so you can swap them. Do not interpret a third-party photograph or an old itinerary as proof that the entry slot you need is available.
Last: the extras
Add restaurants, observation decks and workshops only when they fit the places you are already visiting. Check a workshop’s language, duration and full price before committing. If a new purchase requires another long cross-city transfer, decide whether it is worth replacing something else. Keep all confirmation notes together: what you bought, which date it covers, what is included and where you must arrive. The right sequence can save more effort than hunting for a slightly cheaper optional ticket.
Keep a practical guide with you.
Our concise English PDFs include usable routes, planning decisions and reference details. For a route shaped around your dates and interests, explore the custom planning service.
China: 14 days PDF · $9 ↗China arrival toolkit PDF · $9 ↗Explore custom planning ↗Source desk
- National Immigration Administration: current entry and transit guidance
- China Railway: official passenger and ticket guidance
- Palace Museum information
- Terracotta Army: official ticket guidance
Checked 12 October 2026. Route choices and pacing advice are China Sideways editorial recommendations. Recheck current booking, venue, transport and entry information for your dates.