China rewards the curious. In the craggy river gorges of Chongqing, neon and mist mingle above skyscapes that feel part sci‑fi, part Song dynasty scroll. West in Chengdu, time stretches: tea steam curls from bamboo chairs while pandas amble through bamboo groves and simmering hotpots perfume the alleys.

North in Hunan, Zhangjiajie’s quartz-sandstone pillars rise like stone sentinels—the inspiration for Avatar’s floating mountains. Then Xi’an, cradle of dynasties, unveils the Terracotta Army, market-labyrinths of cumin-scented lamb skewers, and stories from the Silk Road. Finally Beijing delivers imperial scale—Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall unfurling across mountains.

Expect world-class high-speed trains, affordable domestic flights, and a cuisine tour de force: hotpot, mapo tofu, hand-pulled biangbiang noodles, and Beijing roast duck. Book major sites (like the Forbidden City) ahead, carry your passport for trains and attractions, and bring an appetite—Sichuan spice tastes like travel’s true north.

Chongqing

Chongqing is China’s “mountain city,” stacked in layers where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. By day, cable cars fly above the water; by night, Hongya Cave glows like a lantern-lit cliff village. It’s also a pilgrimage for hotpot lovers—numbing peppercorns, deep red broth, and laughter around the table.

Top draws include the glitzy skyline around Jiefangbei, the stilted halls of Hongya Cave, the riverfront theater of Chaotianmen Dock, and day trips to UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings or the Wulong Karst bridges and sinkholes.

Days 1–4: Skyline, hotpot, and UNESCO wonders

• Day 1: Arrival + riverfront first impressions — Land at CKG. Check in, then stroll Jiefangbei to Hongya Cave at dusk for the city’s famous night lights. Slurp a bowl of xiaomian (Chongqing small noodles) at a neighborhood stall; try “red-oil” style for a proper heat handshake.
• Day 2: Old-meets-new city highlights — Ride the Yangtze River Cableway, pop by the Three Gorges Museum, and wander Ciqikou Ancient Town for brick kilns, snack alleys, and tea houses. After dark, take a guided night tour to see Hongya Cave, Qiansimen Bridge, and skyline lookouts.
• Day 3: Wulong Karst day trip — Venture to Wulong for natural bridges, giant sinkholes, and limestone caverns. The walkways and viewpoints deliver those “tiny human, vast earth” photos.
• Day 4: Dazu Rock Carvings + local bites — Explore intricate 9th–13th century Buddhist carvings at Baodingshan. Back in town, graze through a food tour to decode local snacks and street eats.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Chongqing or compare hotels on Hotels.com Chongqing. Look near Jiefangbei or Jiangbeizui for skyline views and easy metro access.

Eat & drink: Book a classic hotpot at “Qi Lao Si” for buttery or spicy broth with tripe, duck blood, and crisp lotus root; try “old oil” bases if you like robust aromatics. Hunt down suantangyu (sour fish soup) along Nanbin Road. For breakfast, grab youpo noodles or xiaomian at a mom-and-pop noodle shop; for coffee, check out local roasters near Guanyinqiao and Manner Coffee outposts downtown.

Curated activities:

• Private Chongqing Illuminated Night Tour

  

  See Qiansimen Bridge and Hongya Cave glowing like a movie set, with river views and photo stops.
• Chongqing Private Day Tour to Wulong Karst National Geology Park

  

  UNESCO-listed stone bridges and sinkholes with a private guide and driver.
• Dazu Rock Carvings Private Full Day Tour

  

  Marvel at narrative stone panels detailing Buddhist cosmology and daily life.
• 3 HR Chongqing Food Tour

  

  A tasty primer on local noodles, skewers, and snacks in maze-like streets.

Getting there and onward: Search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Chongqing to Chengdu high-speed trains run ~1.5–2h, ~$22–$35—book via Trip.com Trains. Aim for a morning departure on Day 5.

Chengdu

Chengdu is the soft power of Sichuan: pandas, tea pavilions, and a culinary culture that balances fire with fragrance. In People’s Park, ear-cleaners ply a centuries-old trade while mahjong tiles click like castanets.

Between the Panda Base, the Leshan Giant Buddha, Wenshu Monastery, and atmospheric Kuan-Zhai Alleys, you’ll taste living tradition—and some of China’s best food.

Days 5–9: Pandas, tea culture, and Sichuan flavors

• Day 5: Arrival + teahouse time — Check in and decompress at People’s Park’s Heming Teahouse; order jasmine or zhucha green tea and watch the city exhale. Dinner: classic chuanchuan (skewers) simmered in peppercorn-studded broth near Yulin.
• Day 6: Panda morning + old streets — Visit the Panda Research Base early to see breakfast antics, then wander Kuan-Zhai Alleys for courtyard mansions, snack stands, and calligraphy shops.
• Day 7: Leshan Buddha day trip — See the world’s largest stone Buddha carved into a riverside cliff; choose a boat view to grasp the full scale.
• Day 8: Cooking and markets — Take a cooking class to master mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, or hongyou chaoshou (wontons in chili oil) after a guided spice-market walk.
• Day 9: Monasteries + hotpot — Linger at Wenshu Monastery for vegetarian fare and incense gardens. At night, share Chengdu-style hotpot—milder than Chongqing but still a riot of aroma.

Where to stay: See curated stays on VRBO Chengdu or browse Hotels.com Chengdu. Base around Jinjiang or Wuhou for teahouses, alleyways, and metro lines.

Eat & drink: Book “Chen Mapo Tofu” (est. 1862) for the archetype of numbing-spicy tofu; try Dan Dan noodles and kou shui ji (mouthwatering chicken). Hotpot standouts include “Shu Jiu Xiang” for buttery splits with mushroom broth. Breakfast like a local with youtiao (fried dough) and soy milk; sip tieguanyin or jasmine in a bamboo chair and let time slow.

Curated activities:

• Private Half-Day Chengdu Panda Breeding Center Tour

  

  Go early for playful cubs and bamboo brunch.
• Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats

  

  Hidden eateries, unlimited local drinks, and backstreet flavors.
• All Inclusive Private Trip to Chengdu Giant Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

  

  Efficient pairing of the region’s two icons.
• Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

  

  Learn to balance chili heat with citrusy Sichuan pepper.

Next leg: Chengdu to Zhangjiajie is smoothest by flight (~1.5h; ~$85–$160). Compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Morning departure on Day 10 keeps your afternoon free in Wulingyuan.

Zhangjiajie

Welcome to nature’s stone forest. Zhangjiajie’s needle-like pillars and glass walkways deliver mind-bending perspectives, from the Bailong Elevator to Tianmen Mountain’s 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate.

Base in Wulingyuan for quick park access, then mix epic viewpoints with quiet streams like Golden Whip Brook. Evenings bring Tujia cuisine—hearty, smoky, and perfect after long hikes.

Days 10–13: Avatar peaks, glass bridges, and Heaven’s Gate

• Day 10: Arrival + Wulingyuan stroll — Check in, collect park tickets, and stretch your legs along the brooks near the park gate. Dinner: Tujia “San Xiaguo” (three-ingredient claypot) and smoked pork with mountain greens.
• Day 11: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Ride the Bailong Elevator, hike around Yuanjiajie for Hallelujah Mountain views, and shuttle to Tianzi Mountain’s panoramas. Aim for sunset light on the stone spires.
• Day 12: Grand Canyon Glass Bridge + Yellow Dragon Cave — Walk the world-famous glass span suspended over a verdant gorge, then venture into karst caverns draped in stalactites.
• Day 13: Tianmen Mountain — Take the world’s longest cable car, test your nerve on glass skywalks, and climb the 999 steps to the natural rock arch known as Heaven’s Gate.

Where to stay: Search cabins and apartments on VRBO Zhangjiajie or hotels on Hotels.com Zhangjiajie. Staying in Wulingyuan (Wujiayu) shortens your morning transfers.

Eat & drink: Order tuotuo rou (Tujia-style braised pork), wild mushroom stews, and river fish with chili. Breakfast on youcha (roasted rice “oil tea”) and sweet rice cakes from market stalls. For coffee, look to small cafés near Wulingyuan entrance streets catering to hikers—perfect for a pre-cable-car espresso.

Curated activities:

• 3-Day Private Zhangjiajie Discovery Tour with Glass Bridge

  

  A compact way to thread the greatest hits: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi, Glass Bridge, and Tianmen.
• 1-Day Private Tour to Tianmen Mountain & Glass Walk

  

  Cable cars, cliff-hugging paths, and skywalks with hair-raising views.
• 1-Day Private Zhangjiajie Tour to Avatar Mountain & Glass Bridge

  

  Ideal if you want a single, photogenic blockbuster day.

Next leg: Fly Zhangjiajie–Xi’an (~1h50; ~$90–$170) when available, or connect via Changsha if needed. Check Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com for morning departures on Day 14.

Xi’an

Thirteen dynasties left their seal on Xi’an: city walls broad enough to cycle, stele forests of calligraphy, and the Terracotta Army—thousands of life-size warriors guarding an eternal emperor. In the Muslim Quarter, cumin, sesame, and chili perfuse the lanes.

It’s a city to savor slowly: Tang-era pagodas at dusk, bamboo steamers puffing with tangbao, and lantern-lit streets where the Silk Road once began.

Days 14–16: Terracotta Warriors, city walls, and street eats

• Day 14: Arrival + Muslim Quarter — Settle in then head to the Drum and Bell Towers area. Snack your way through the Muslim Quarter: roujiamo (spiced beef or lamb “burger”), biangbiang noodles with chili and vinegar, and pomegranate juice. Try “Jia San” for soup dumplings and “First Noodle Under the Sun” for hefty biangbiang ribbons.
• Day 15: Terracotta Army + city walls — Visit the Terracotta Warriors in the morning for fewer crowds; linger at Pit 1’s vast hall for the best view of infantry ranks. Back in town, rent bikes atop the Ming-era City Wall for sunset circuits.
• Day 16: Pagodas + Shaanxi flavors — Climb the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda precincts, then explore the Shaanxi History Museum’s bronzes and Tang ceramics. Dinner: try hand-pulled liangpi (cold noodles), yangrou paomo (crumbled flatbread in mutton broth), and chili-slicked potato shreds.

Where to stay: Compare guesthouses and hotels on VRBO Xi’an and Hotels.com Xi’an. Stay inside or just south of the City Wall for easy access to towers, museums, and food streets.

Eat & drink: Breakfast on hulu tou (beef offal soup) at a traditional shop near Sajinqiao, or go sweet with sesame paste buns. Coffee culture is growing—look for specialty cafés around Shuyuanmen and near the Small Wild Goose Pagoda arts zone.

Optional Viator tie-ins if visiting Xi’an as a day trip from another base:

• Beijing to Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors by Bullet Train (round trip)

  

  A good reference if you later tweak the route.
• Xi'an in One Day from Chengdu

  

  For travelers who prefer a hub-and-spoke approach.

Next leg: Xi’an to Beijing by high-speed train takes ~4.5–6h, ~$75–$120 in 2nd class—book via Trip.com Trains. Morning train on Day 17 lands you downtown by early afternoon.

Beijing

Imperial Beijing is grand yet intimate: vermilion gates and marble balustrades, but also hutongs where steam rises from griddles and bicycles whisper down lanes. The Great Wall snakes across serrated hills, and the Forbidden City anchors five centuries of empire.

Mix must-sees—Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace—with food-fueled hutong wanders and a day on the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Days 17–20: Palaces, hutongs, and the Great Wall

• Day 17: Tiananmen + Forbidden City — Start in the vast expanse of Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City. Timed tickets are required; the Viator ticket option below is a simple way to lock this in. Evening: roast duck feast.
• Day 18: Mutianyu Great Wall — Choose an early departure to beat crowds. Cable car up, toboggan down for fun, then a village lunch with farm vegetables and local trout.
• Day 19: Temple of Heaven + hutongs — Watch dawn tai chi at the Temple of Heaven Park, then roam hutongs near Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying. Evening: a hutong food and craft beer walk.
• Day 20: Summer Palace + art time — Glide along Kunming Lake by dragon boat and walk the Long Corridor’s painted panels. If time allows, end at 798 Art District’s galleries and cafes before departure.

Where to stay:

• Design-forward luxury in Sanlitun: The Opposite House
• Classic five-star near Wangfujing: The Peninsula Beijing
• Excellent value with a rooftop pool: New World Beijing Hotel
• Reliable midrange by Wangfujing: Novotel Beijing Peace
• Budget traveler favorite near Qianmen: 365 Inn Beijing or the hostel listing at 365 Inn Beijing Qianmen
• Or search broadly on VRBO Beijing or Hotels.com Beijing.

Eat & drink: For roast duck: “Siji Minfu” is beloved for crisp skin and balanced sweetness; “Da Dong” pushes creative sides and leaner duck. In hutongs, look for hand-pulled noodles, sesame shaobing, and bubbling lamb hotpot in winter. Craft beer fans should try Great Leap Brewing or Jing-A for Beijing-style ales.

Curated activities:

• All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

  

  A single, expertly paced day covering Beijing’s crown jewels.
• Private Tour to Mutianyu: Cable Up & Toboggan Down

  

  Family-friendly fun with forested wall vistas.
• Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour

  

  Local-only eateries and microbrews in atmospheric lanes.
• Forbidden City Ticket Booking (with optional guide)

  

  Simplify the real-name, timed-entry process.

Breakfasts & coffee: Start with jiānbing (savory crepes) stuffed with herbs and crisp crackers; try soy milk and steamed buns near your hotel. Hutong cafés like Metal Hands and micro-roasters around Wudaoying serve proper pour-overs for a mellow morning.

Practical Transport Timeline (20 Days)

• Days 1–4: Chongqing. Arrive via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Day 5 (AM): High-speed train to Chengdu, ~1.5–2h, ~$22–$35 via Trip.com Trains.
• Day 10 (AM): Flight to Zhangjiajie, ~1.5h, ~$85–$160. Check Trip.com Flights.
• Day 14 (AM): Flight to Xi’an, ~1h50, ~$90–$170 on Trip.com Flights.
• Day 17 (AM): High-speed train to Beijing, ~4.5–6h, ~$75–$120 via Trip.com Trains.

Money & tips: Most payments are cashless; foreign cards increasingly work in mobile wallets. Always carry your passport for trains and major sights. Book Forbidden City and peak Wall days ahead (use the Viator ticket and tour links above for simplicity). For intercity travel, morning departures keep afternoons open for exploring.

Twenty days takes you from river-lit Chongqing nights to Chengdu’s tea-scented afternoons, through Zhangjiajie’s otherworldly peaks, past the armies of Xi’an, and onto the ramparts of the Great Wall. It’s a journey stitched by great meals, smooth trains, and stories you’ll tell for years.