The Ultimate 18 Day Itinerary to Visit China

China is a must visit for all globetrotters, as the fourth largest country by size and largest population in the world. Keep in mind when planing your visit to China is that you might need a visa and if you to visit Hong Kong, you will need a two-entry visa. Of course you cannot see all that China has to offer in under three weeks, but this 18-day itinerary will give you a glimpse of all the diverse beauty China has to offer.

The Complete China Travel Itinerary Map:

What to do in China in 18 Days:

Two Days in Hong Kong

Our first stop in our China itinerary was two days in Hong Kong. We visited the Aberdeen harbor, known for its delicious floating restaurants. Then we took a bus towards the Repulse Bay, one of the most famous beach in Hong Kong.

While we were there we went to Victoria Peak, where you can enjoy an amazing 360 degree view of almost the whole territory and can see as far away as the islands of the South China Sea. Then we went back to downtown HK to explore the modern city.

Other places to visit in Hong Kong: Pho Lin Monastery, Clock tower, Man Mo temple, Lamma Island, Wong Tai Sin Temple, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.

➳ Find all: Hotels in Hong Kong

Three days in Guangzhou

The next day we took a ferry to Guangzhou. While on the ferry you can enjoy an amazing view of the South China Sea. We arrived in the Ping Zhou harbor in Guangzhou and went straight to the Family Chen Temple. Our next stop was Huacheng square, where you can see the TV Tower and finally the Qingping Market.

Other places to visit: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Baiyun Mountain, Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Guangxiao temple, Canton Tower (beautiful at night),  and my favorite, South China Botanical Garden.

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Two days in Guilin

We flew to Guilin, a must visit destination while in China. The first attraction we visited in Guilin was Reed Flute Cave, an amazing limestone cave decorated with colorful lights.

The next day we took a cruise along the Li Juang River. We ate on the boat and went out to explore Guilin. We visited the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Seven-Star Cave and the Longsheng Rice Terrace. Guilin is an amazing little town in the mountains. We spent the night there and enjoyed a fabulous show outdoors; the theatre was the beautiful landscape at night.

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Five days in Shanghai

The next day we took another flight to Shanghai. We recommend staying in Shanghai for at least 5 days, as it is a big city with plenty to offer. We visited the Yuyuan garden and the Jade Buddha Temple and finally the boardwalk of the city. Shanghai has an amazing market, it is a really tall building with tons of shops (shuk style but fancy) and the Jing’an Temple.

Other places to visit:  Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, City God Temple of Shanghai and Lu Yun Park.

➳ Find all: Hotels in Shanghai

Six days in Beijing

We started with the Forbidden City and then went on to Tian An Men Square and the Summer Palace.

The next day we went to the Temple of Heaven, Beijing National Aquatics Center and the Beijing National Stadium, both cool architectural buildings.

Finally, the next day we visited the Great Wall of China, completing our world wind 18-day itinerary across China.

➳ Find all: Hotels in Beijing

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