Beijing, Xi’an and the north
Wall, Warriors, ice festivals and imperial cities — the northern circuit, planned properly.
The northern triangle is where most first trips start: Beijing for the imperial set-pieces, Xi’an for the Terracotta Army, Pingyao for a walled town you can sleep inside. The distances are shorter than they look on a map, and almost every leg now takes a bullet train instead of a night bus.
What actually decides the quality of this circuit is order and season. Harbin in January and Dunhuang in July are both unforgettable and both require planning that nothing else on the trip does.
Beijing: How To Arrive, Where To Sleep, And How Many Days It Deserves
Arrive at the right airport, sleep inside the Second Ring Road, and give the Wall its own day.
Xi’an: The Wall, The Warriors, And How Many Days It Takes
Warriors before 09:00, the wall at sunset, three days covers it comfortably.
Harbin In Winter: Ice Festival Prices And How To Stay Warm
Two nights, three if you ski. Everything else is a matter of layers.
Pingyao: A Walled Ming City You Can Sleep Inside
Stay inside the walls, buy the through-ticket once, and walk the full circuit at dusk.
Luoyang: Longmen Grottoes And The Peony Two Weeks
One and a half days, or two if you come for the peonies in late April.
The Great Wall: Badaling, Mutianyu Or Jinshanling?
Badaling for ease, Mutianyu for most people, Jinshanling for anyone who has already done the wall once.
3 Days in Beijing: The Order That Saves You Half A Day
One day on the central axis, one on the Wall, one in the south. No backtracking.
2 Days in Xi’an: The Buried Army East, The Walls In Town
Sights east on day one, everything within the walls on day two.
5 Days In Beijing: Beyond The Imperial Centre
Five days means you can group the north of the city on separate days and stop commuting.
4 Days In Xi’an: Terracotta Army Plus The Things People Skip
The Warriors deserve a morning, not a day — which is why the rest fits in four.
Beijing To Xi’an: 4h30 By Train, And The Station Trap
Book to Xi’an North, then ride metro line 2 straight into the walled city.
Xi’an To Chengdu: Three Hours Through The Qinling Mountains
Three hours, ¥263.50, and the best mountain scenery of any Chinese high-speed route.
Xi’an To Shanghai: Train Or Plane, And What Each Really Costs
Fly when your time is short. Take the train when you want the day, not the airport.
Harbin To Beijing: Night Sleeper Or High-Speed Day Train?
Sleeper down if you can sleep on trains; high-speed if you cannot.