The Ultimate 3-Week China Itinerary (Budget: $1500)

SilkRoadSam

I've traveled to China 7 times and finally perfected a 3-week route that hits the highlights without rushing. Budget breakdown included!

Week 1: The Golden Triangle (7 days)
- Days 1-3: Beijing – Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven
- Days 4-5: Xi'an – Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, bike on city wall
- Days 6-7: Shanghai – The Bund, Yu Garden, acrobatics show

Week 2: Off the Beaten Path (7 days)
- Days 8-10: Zhangjiajie – Those floating mountains from Avatar!
- Days 11-12: Chengdu – Pandas, hot pot, Leshan Giant Buddha
- Days 13-14: Guilin/Yangshuo – Li River cruise, karst mountain biking

Week 3: The South (7 days)
- Days 15-17: Hong Kong – Victoria Peak, Temple Street night market, Disneyland
- Days 18-20: Yunnan province – Lijiang old town, Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Day 21: Return to Beijing for departure

Budget breakdown (per person):
- Internal transport (trains + 2 flights): $400
- Mid-range hotels/hostels ($25/night): $525
- Food ($15/day): $315
- Entrance fees ($10/day): $210
- Total: around $1450-1600

When to go:** April-May or September-October (avoid summer heat and crowds)

Before you go:
- Book high-speed train tickets 2 weeks ahead via Trip.com
- Download offline maps for each city (Maps.me works without internet)
- Print hotel confirmations – immigration sometimes asks

Has anyone done a similar route? Suggestions for improvement?