From Temples to Tea: Exploring the Spirit of China | China Travel Itinerary

Trip Length: 14 Days / 13 Nights

Trip Type: Tea & Culture — Cities, Heritage, Nature

Best For: Cultural explorers, families, seekers, photographers

Best Seasons: Spring (Mar–May) & Autumn (Sep–Nov) for clear skies and mild temps

Getting Around: High‑speed trains (primary) + local metro/taxis/transfersTheme: Respect for history and culture — history humbles

✨ Introduction – The Story Behind the Journey

China is a conversation between dynasties and tomorrow — incense curling through temple courtyards, bullet trains threading mountains, tea served as a gentle ceremony of welcome. Greg has visited many times and lived here twice while studying Mandarin, deepening our respect for the country’s history, language, and everyday rhythms.

This China travel itinerary blends legendary sites with tea gardens, local meals, and quiet moments — a balanced immersion where craft and culture meet.

Trip Overview | China Travel Itinerary

Destinations / Flow: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin / Yangshuo → Hangzhou (Longjing Tea) → Shanghai

Journey Pace: Balanced exploration with built‑in reflection

Highlights: Great Wall at sunrise, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven tai chi, Terracotta Army, Chengdu teahouses & pandas, Li River karst, village cycling, Longjing tea ceremony, Shanghai’s Bund & lanes

🗺️ Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Destination / Title	Theme
1	Arrive Beijing – Courtyards & First Tea	Land & Orient
2	Beijing – Forbidden City, Jingshan, Hutongs	Empire & Everyday
3	Beijing – Great Wall (Mutianyu) & Temple of Heaven	Perspective & Practice
4	Beijing → Xi’an (HSR) – Muslim Quarter Night Walk	Tracks & Tastes
5	Xi’an – Terracotta Army & City Wall Ride	Legacy & Motion
6	Xi’an → Chengdu (HSR) – People’s Park Teahouse	Leisure & Listening
7	Chengdu – Panda Base & Wenshu Monastery	Care & Quiet
8	Chengdu → Guilin (HSR) – Two Rivers Four Lakes	Transit & Twilight
9	Guilin → Yangshuo – Li River & Village Cycling	Karst & Flow
10	Yangshuo – Yulong River & Cooking Class	Fields & Flavors
11	Yangshuo / Guilin → Hangzhou (HSR) – West Lake	Poetry & Pines
12	Hangzhou – Longjing Tea Terraces & Lingyin	Tea & Temple
13	Hangzhou → Shanghai (HSR) – Bund & Lanes	Light & Lines
14	Shanghai – Museums, French Concession, Depart	Synthesis & Send‑off

🌞 Day-by-Day Journey

Day 1 – Land & Orient: Arrive Beijing

Settle into a courtyard (siheyuan)‑style boutique stay if possible. Evening stroll through nearby hutongs; first cup of jasmine or pu‑erh tea; early night.

Day 2 – Empire & Everyday: Forbidden City, Jingshan, Hutongs

Enter the Forbidden City in the morning (arrive early). Climb Jingshan Park for a rooftop view of imperial roofs. Afternoon hutong wander with a small tea tasting.

Day 3 – Perspective & Practice: Great Wall & Temple of Heaven

Pre‑dawn transfer to Mutianyu for a quieter Great Wall walk. Return to the city for a late‑day visit to the Temple of Heaven — watch or join tai chi on the lawns.

Day 4 – Tracks & Tastes: Beijing → Xi’an (High‑Speed Train ~4.5–6h)

Board the HSR; arrive Xi’an. Evening street‑food stroll in the Muslim Quarter; taste hand‑pulled noodles and cumin kebabs.

Day 5 – Legacy & Motion: Terracotta Army & City Wall

Morning at the Terracotta Warriors. Afternoon bike ride atop Xi’an’s ancient city wall. Optional calligraphy stop near the Forest of Steles.

Day 6 – Leisure & Listening: Xi’an → Chengdu (HSR ~3–4h)

Arrive Chengdu; sit at a bamboo‑chair teahouse in People’s Park. Listen to mahjong tiles, sip green tea, feel the city exhale.

Day 7 – Care & Quiet: Pandas & Wenshu Monastery

Early visit to the Chengdu Research Base for pandas (beat crowds). Vegetarian lunch near Wenshu Monastery; incense, courtyards, and calm. Optional Sichuan opera face‑changing show at night.

Day 8 – Transit & Twilight: Chengdu → Guilin (HSR; day travel)

High‑speed rail day to Guilin (connections common). Evening lakeside loop (Two Rivers Four Lakes) with bridges lit softly.

Day 9 – Karst & Flow: Guilin → Yangshuo (Li River)

Boat or transfer along the Li River to Yangshuo. Afternoon village cycling on quiet lanes between karst peaks; sunset view from a low hill.

Day 10 – Fields & Flavors: Yulong River & Cooking Class

Optional bamboo raft on the Yulong River (water levels permitting). Afternoon farm‑to‑table cooking class; tea tasting in a village courtyard.

Day 11 – Poetry & Pines: Yangshuo / Guilin → Hangzhou (HSR ~6–7h)

Train to Hangzhou; sunset on West Lake — willows, pagodas, and boats in silhouette.

Day 12 – Tea & Temple: Longjing & Lingyin

Walk through Longjing (Dragon Well) tea terraces; learn picking and pan‑firing. Guided tea ceremony. Afternoon at Lingyin Temple's grottoes and halls.

Day 13 – Light & Lines: Hangzhou → Shanghai (HSR ~1h)

Arrive Shanghai; riverside walk along the Bund facing the skyline. Explore lilongs and back lanes; evening dumplings.

Day 14 – Synthesis & Send‑off: French Concession & Departure

Morning museum (Shanghai Museum or Power Station of Art). Tree‑lined French Concession amble; final tea stop. Depart with a wider sense of time and place.

🌿 Local Wisdom & Connection

Tea as Welcome: Accept tea when offered; drink slowly — it’s conversation, not a beverage.

Eat Where Locals Eat: Small, busy spots usually mean fresh and flavorful. Point, smile, and try something new.

Temple Etiquette: Modest clothing; move quietly; step aside for worshippers.

Morning Rhythm: Join park life — tai chi, dancing, calligraphy on pavement with water brushes.

Language: A few Mandarin phrases + a smile open doors; patience goes far.

🏡 Where to Stay (by vibe)

Beijing: Courtyard boutique near hutongs

Xi’an: Small hotel inside the old walls

Chengdu: Design hotel near People’s Park or Wenshu

Yangshuo: Riverside lodge or village guesthouse

Hangzhou: Boutique stay near West Lake or tea fields

Shanghai: Heritage apartment in the French Concession

🚄 Getting Around & Key Rail Legs (approx.)

Beijing → Xi’an: 4.5–6h (HSR)

Xi’an → Chengdu: 3–4h (HSR)

Chengdu → Guilin: ~7–9h with connections (HSR)

Guilin/Yangshuo → Hangzhou: ~6–7h (HSR)

Hangzhou → Shanghai: ~1h (HSR)

Within cities: Metro networks are efficient; use taxis or rides for late evenings.

🎒 Packing with Intention

Modest layers for temples and varied climates; comfortable walking shoes; lightweight rain shell; refillable bottle; small daypack; travel chopsticks; journal and pen.

🌅 Reflection & Closing

Across walls and waterways, markets and monasteries, China reminds us: history humbles, craft endures, and tea slows time enough for meaning to arrive. Carry home a deeper respect — and the quiet practice of pausing before you sip.

Live Wild. Create With Intention. Tell Stories That Matter.

A pre‑traveled, pre‑curated journey by Harmony in the Wild — Greg & Jena Pomeroy.