Best of China with Avatar Mountains – Self-Launched

Arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Take the Maglev train (¥55 / ~£6) to Longyang Road, then Metro Line 2 into the city centre. Check into your hostel in the Jing'an or People's Square area — both well-connected and central. Spend the evening strolling the neon-lit Nanjing Road pedestrian street and grab street food for dinner. Pick up a local SIM card at the airport (China Unicom or China Mobile, ~£8) and set up a VPN before you land — essential for accessing Google Maps, WhatsApp, etc. Download WeChat and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay for cashless payments.

🚌Maglev + Metro from airport to city centre (~£7 total)

🛏Bed in a dorm at a hostel such as Captain Hostel or The Marvel Hotel Hostel, People's Square area (~£14–18/night)

• →Maglev train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road (~£6)
• →Metro Line 2 into city centre (~£0.50)
• →Stroll Nanjing Road pedestrian street (free)
• →Pick up a local SIM card at the airport (~£8)

A full day exploring Shanghai's unmissable landmarks, all accessible by Metro. Start at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square (free, book timed entry online) for world-class bronzes, jades, and paintings. Walk to Yu Garden and browse the surrounding Yuyuan Market — haggle hard. Spend the afternoon in the Former French Concession, wandering tree-lined streets and boutique cafés. As the sun sets, head to the Bund for the iconic Huangpu River skyline view. Round off the evening at the observation deck of Shanghai Tower (ticket ~£17 booked via GetYourGuide) for breathtaking 360° views. Optional: book a Shanghai acrobatic show evening ticket via Klook (~£20).

🚌Shanghai Metro day pass (~£3)

🛏Same hostel as Day 1 (~£14–18/night)

• →Shanghai Museum – free entry (timed slot booking recommended)
• →Yu Garden – entrance ~£6 (book via GetYourGuide or at the gate)
• →Browse Yuyuan Market (free to wander)
• →Stroll the Former French Concession (free)
• →Walk the Bund at sunset (free)
• →Shanghai Tower observation deck – ~£17 (book via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Shanghai acrobatic show via Klook (~£20)

Take an early morning coach from Shanghai Hongqiao Long-Distance Bus Station to Xitang Ancient Town (~1.5 hrs, ~£5). Explore the 1,700-year-old canal town's covered corridors, stone bridges, and riverside teahouses. A canal boat ride through the waterways costs around £3 and is a highlight. Return to Shanghai by afternoon bus in time to catch your evening flight to Zhangjiajie (Hehua Airport). Book domestic flights independently via Trip.com or Skyscanner — budget around £45–70 one-way. Check into a guesthouse near Wulingyuan Scenic Area entrance.

🚌Bus to/from Xitang (~£10 return) + domestic flight to Zhangjiajie (~£55 est.)

🛏Guesthouse near Wulingyuan Scenic Area, e.g. Panda International Youth Hostel (~£12–16/night)

• →Coach from Shanghai Hongqiao to Xitang (~£5 each way)
• →Xitang Ancient Town entrance fee (~£7)
• →Canal boat ride in Xitang (~£3)
• →Evening flight Shanghai to Zhangjiajie via Trip.com (~£45–70)

Buy a 2-day Wulingyuan Scenic Area pass at the gate (~£28) — this covers the Bailong Elevator, shuttle buses, and entry to all zones. Take a shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator (the world's tallest outdoor lift, 326m), ascend to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, and walk among the towering sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains. Hike or take a shuttle to Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve to see First Bridge Under the Sun, Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers, and Imperial Brush Peak. Descend by cable car from Tianzi Mountain. Walk Ten-mile Gallery in the late afternoon — an easy flat trail with the best pillar scenery. Wear comfortable shoes; terrain is uneven.

🚌Local shuttle buses within the park (included in scenic area pass)

🛏Same guesthouse near Wulingyuan (~£12–16/night)

• →Wulingyuan Scenic Area 2-day pass (~£28, covers elevator & shuttle buses)
• →Bailong Elevator ascent to Yuanjiajie (included in pass)
• →Shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain Natural Reserve (included in pass)
• →View First Bridge Under the Sun, Fairy Maiden Presenting Flowers, Imperial Brush Peak (included)
• →Cable car descent from Tianzi Mountain (included in pass)
• →Stroll Ten-mile Gallery (included in pass)

Start early with a boat ride on Baofeng Lake (~£10, bookable at the gate) — serene waters surrounded by karst mountains, best visited before the crowds arrive. Then head to Tianmen Mountain: buy a combined cable car and scenic area ticket (~£30) for the world's longest cable car journey (7,455m, ~30 mins each way) with jaw-dropping views of sheer cliffs and forested peaks. Explore the glass-floored Coiling Dragon Cliff walkway. Catch an afternoon bus or taxi to Zhangjiajie Railway Station and take a high-speed train or overnight sleeper to Xi'an (book via 12go.asia or Trip.com, ~£35–55). Arrive in Xi'an evening/night.

🚌Taxi to Zhangjiajie station (~£8) + high-speed or overnight train to Xi'an (~£45 est.)

🛏Budget hostel in Xi'an Muslim Quarter area, e.g. Han Tang Inn or 7 Days Inn (~£12–16/night)

• →Baofeng Lake boat ride (~£10)
• →Tianmen Mountain cable car + scenic area ticket (~£30)
• →Glass walkway on Coiling Dragon Cliff (included in ticket)
• →Train/sleeper to Xi'an via Trip.com (~£35–55)

Take Bus 307 or Tourism Bus 5 from Xi'an train station directly to the Terracotta Warriors Museum (~40 mins, ~£1). Buy your entrance ticket at the gate (~£18) and spend 3–4 hours exploring the three excavation pits — Pit 1 is the showstopper. Hire an audio guide (~£4) for context. Return to the city by bus in the afternoon. Spend the late afternoon in the Muslim Quarter: stroll along Beiyuanmen Street, taste local specialities — roujiamo (meat burger), lamb skewers, and pomegranate juice — all for a few pounds. Visit the Drum Tower (ticket ~£5) for city views. Optional: Tang Dynasty Show evening tickets available via Klook (~£25).

🚌Bus to/from Terracotta Warriors (~£2 return) + Metro within city (~£2)

🛏Same Xi'an hostel (~£12–16/night)

• →Bus 307 to Terracotta Warriors Museum (~£1 each way)
• →Terracotta Warriors entrance ticket (~£18)
• →Audio guide at the museum (~£4)
• →Explore Muslim Quarter (free to wander)
• →Street food in Muslim Quarter – roujiamo, lamb skewers (~£5–8)
• →Drum Tower entrance (~£5)
• →Optional: Tang Dynasty Show via Klook (~£25)

Start your last Xi'an morning with a Tai Chi session in Xingqing Park (free, join locals at dawn) — a fantastic cultural experience. Then head to the Ancient City Wall: rent a bicycle at the South Gate rental point (~£5/hr) and cycle the full 14km circuit atop the Ming-Dynasty walls for sweeping views of the old and new city. Allow 1.5–2 hours. Check out and take the Xi'an Metro to Xi'an North High-Speed Railway Station. Board a G-train to Beijing West (~5–6 hrs, ~£55–70 in second class — book in advance via Trip.com). Arrive in Beijing evening and check in near Gulou/Drum Tower or Qianmen — great areas for first-timers.

🚌Metro to Xi'an North station (~£1) + High-speed train to Beijing (~£60 est.)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Qianmen or Gulou, e.g. Beijing Downtown Backpackers or Leo Hostel (~£14–18/night)

• →Tai Chi practice in Xingqing Park with locals at dawn (free)
• →Bicycle rental on Ancient City Wall (~£5/hr)
• →Ancient City Wall entrance ticket (~£12)
• →G-train Xi'an North to Beijing West (~£60 est., book via Trip.com)

Rise early to reach Tiananmen Square at opening (free entry, ID/passport required for security). View the Great Hall of the People and Mao Zedong's Mausoleum from the square. Enter the Forbidden City directly from Tiananmen's north gate — book your timed entry ticket online in advance via the Palace Museum's official website (~£12) as same-day tickets regularly sell out. Spend 3 hours exploring the 180-acre palace complex and Palace Museum collections. In the afternoon, take the Metro to Xiyuan station and walk to the Summer Palace (~£6 entry). Wander the Long Corridor, Kunming Lake, and the Marble Boat. Optional: book a Kung Fu Show evening ticket via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£20–30).

🚌Beijing Metro day pass (~£3)

🛏Same Beijing hostel (~£14–18/night)

• →Tiananmen Square (free, bring passport for security)
• →Forbidden City / Palace Museum timed entry (~£12, book online in advance at pm.cn)
• →Summer Palace entrance (~£6)
• →Stroll the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake (included in Summer Palace ticket)
• →Optional: Kung Fu Show via Klook (~£20–30)

Head to the Temple of Heaven early (Metro Line 5 to Tiantandongmen, ticket ~£5 for all-areas pass) — arrive before 9am to watch elderly locals doing morning tai chi, ballroom dancing, and opera. Spend 1.5 hours exploring the iconic circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Then take a public bus or arrange a minibus from Dongzhimen Transport Hub to Mutianyu Great Wall (~1.5 hrs, ~£5 return on shared bus). Buy a combined cable car up + toboggan down ticket (~£18) and walk the 1.4-mile restored section with 22 watchtowers. Far less crowded than Badaling and arguably more scenic. Return to Beijing by 5pm. Celebrate your last full evening with Peking duck at a local restaurant (~£12–15pp).

🚌Metro + public bus to/from Mutianyu (~£8 total)

🛏Same Beijing hostel (~£14–18/night)

• →Temple of Heaven all-areas entrance (~£5)
• →Watch morning tai chi and local activities in Temple of Heaven Park (free within park)
• →Public bus to Mutianyu Great Wall from Dongzhimen (~£5 return)
• →Mutianyu cable car up + toboggan down ticket (~£18)
• →Walk 1.4-mile Mutianyu section with 22 watchtowers
• →Peking duck dinner in the evening (~£12–15)

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast at a local baozi (steamed bun) shop near your hostel — a great last taste of authentic Beijing for under £2. Depending on your flight time, consider a quick walk through the Nanluoguxiang hutong alley neighbourhood for last-minute souvenirs and photos. Take the Airport Express from Dongzhimen station to Beijing Capital Airport (~£4.50, 17 mins) or a taxi/DiDi to Beijing Daxing Airport if required. Allow plenty of time — Beijing airport security and check-in can be slow.

🚌Airport Express from Dongzhimen to Beijing Capital (~£4.50)

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Final breakfast at a local baozi shop (~£2)
• →Stroll Nanluoguxiang hutong alley for souvenirs (free to walk)
• →Airport Express train to Beijing Capital Airport (~£4.50)