21 Days in China 2026 - A Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
21 Days in China 2026 - A Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Notable moments
- 01:43 Fresh Beef & Green Onion Pancakes
A street vendor in Shanghai prepares fresh beef and green onion pancakes, spreading oil on dough before cooking them on a large flat griddle and baking them inside an oven. The freshly made hot pancake cost around $2 USD (17 RMB) and became a daily favorite breakfast during the trip.
West Nanjing Road, Shanghai - 03:02 Tian'an Qianshu 1000 Trees Architecture
The futuristic Tian'an Qianshu complex in Shanghai features hundreds of concrete structural columns topped with live trees and greenery along Suzhou Creek. Inspired by the Ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the multi-tiered building resembles a lush vertical forest rising above the modern urban cityscape.
Tian'an Qianshu, Shanghai - 04:10 Visiting Jing'an Temple
Visitors enter Jing'an Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple located amidst Shanghai's high-rise modern skyscrapers. The temple features golden tiled roofs, massive bronze incense burners, and carved stone staircases, accessible for a 50 RMB ($7.40 USD) entrance fee.
Jing'an Temple, Shanghai - 05:48 Night View of Pudong Skyline
The famous Bund promenade along the Huangpu River offers an expansive view of the illuminated Pudong skyline at night, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower. Bright LED light displays and passing river cruise boats create a vibrant nighttime spectacle across the water.
The Bund, Shanghai - 06:40 Exploring Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town
Visitors take a 1 to 1.5 hour subway journey from central Shanghai to Zhujiajiao, a traditional water town often called the Venice of Shanghai. The historic town features narrow canals, stone arch bridges, wooden tea houses, and traditional wooden boats drifting along the waterways.
Zhujiajiao, Shanghai - 12:45 Exploring 1933 Old Millfun
The 1933 Old Millfun is an architectural landmark originally constructed as an industrial abattoir in Shanghai's Hongkou District. Constructed with maze-like concrete corridors, interlocking skybridges, and spiral ramps, the Art Deco building has been repurposed into a creative hub housing cafes, shops, and design studios.
1933 Old Millfun, Shanghai - 17:03 Sesame Noodles at Weixiangzhai
Diners enjoy a bowl of traditional Shanghai sesame noodles drizzled with rich peanut-sesame sauce and chili oil at Weixiangzhai. This popular Michelin-recommended local noodle shop offers quick, flavorful meals for just 14 RMB ($2 USD).
Weixiangzhai, Shanghai - 22:21 Hongqiao Park Red Skywalk
Visitors walk along an elevated bright red skywalk winding over four kilometers through the forested hills and lake area of Hongqiao Park in Shenzhen. Entry to the park is free, offering elevated panoramic views over the surrounding green landscape and city skyline.
Hongqiao Park, Shenzhen - 24:41 Shantou Huiji Beef Hot Pot
A table is spread with thinly sliced cuts of fresh beef cooked directly at the table in boiling hot pot broth at Shantou Huiji Beef Shop in Shenzhen. Diners dip the freshly cooked meat and vegetables into customized sesame and chili dipping sauces.
Shenzhen, China - 34:48 Architecture of Shenzhen Library
The interior of Shenzhen Library features massive open-plan reading terraces, multi-story glass curtain walls, and wooden column structures. The modern public space allows visitors to read and study while looking out over Central Walk and Lianhuashan Park.
Shenzhen Library, Shenzhen - 36:05 Free Sky Observation Deck View
Visitors take an elevator up to the Free Sky Observation Deck on the 116th floor of the Ping An Finance Centre, the 5th tallest building in the world. The glass-floored viewing platform provides 360-degree views across Shenzhen's nighttime skyline and light-filled city grids.
Ping An Finance Centre, Shenzhen - 42:18 Walking Elingzhan Bridge Skywalk
Pedestrians stroll along the elevated Elingzhan Bridge Skywalk, a winding walkway built high into the hills above Chongqing. From the viewpoint, visitors can look down upon the famous Line 2 metro train passing through a residential building and sweeping views of the Jialing River.
Chongqing, China - 45:20 Wulong Karst Three Natural Bridges
Hikers travel through the massive limestone canyons and immense natural stone arches of Wulong Karst Geological Park in Chongqing. The trail leads down via a giant glass elevator into the canyon floor where the historic Tianfu Posthouse sits tucked under towering cliff faces.
Wulong Karst National Geology Park, Chongqing - 52:14 Chongqing Two Rivers Night Cruise
Passengers board a 45-minute riverboat cruise at night to view Chongqing's lit-up skyline and the glowing 11-story Hongyadong stilted building complex from the water. The cruise ticket costs around $20 USD and provides clear views of illuminated bridges and waterfront skyscrapers.
Hongya Dong, Chongqing - 55:54 Air-raid Shelter Hot Pot
Diners sit inside arched underground concrete tunnels at Air-raid Shelter Old Hot Pot in Chongqing, eating spicy hot pot broth in a repurposed wartime bomb shelter. The subterranean restaurant serves traditional Chongqing-style hot pot meals with a variety of meats and broths for around $25 USD.
Chongqing, China - 59:30 Great Mosque of Xi'an
Visitors explore the quiet courtyards and traditional Chinese-style architecture of the Great Mosque of Xi'an, founded over 1,200 years ago during the Tang Dynasty. The serene complex blends traditional pagoda-style wooden structures, stone archways, and Arabic calligraphic inscriptions.
Great Mosque of Xi'an, Xi'an - 60:56 Cycling on Xi'an City Wall
Visitors rent bicycles for $7 USD to ride along the top of the 14-kilometer ancient Xi'an City Wall, one of China's best-preserved fortification systems. The wide stone ramparts offer elevated views of Xi'an's inner old town, surrounding moats, and city gates.
Xi'an City Wall, Xi'an - 65:45 Huaqing Palace & Mount Lishan Cable Car
Visitors explore the gardens, hot spring pools, and traditional pavilions at Huaqing Palace at the base of Mount Lishan near Xi'an. A scenic cable car ($9 USD return) takes passengers up the foggy mountain slopes to view temples nestled among the trees.
Huaqing Palace, Xi'an - 74:21 Jingshan Park Sunset View
Hikers take a 10-minute climb up the hill in Jingshan Park directly behind the Forbidden City for an entry fee of $1.50 USD. From the pavilion summit, visitors take in panoramic views of the red-walled, golden-tiled roofs of the Imperial Palace as the sun sets over Beijing.
Jingshan Park, Beijing - 75:44 Mutianyu Great Wall Experience
Travelers visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, riding an open-air cable chairlift up the green mountain ridge. The historic stone wall stretches across the surrounding peaks with ancient watchtowers, offering options to walk along the battlements or slide down via toboggan.
Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing - 79:41 Temple of Heaven Park Visit
Tourists visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests inside Temple of Heaven Park, entering through the South Gate to see the Echo Wall and imperial ceremonial grounds. The triple-gabled circular wooden temple with its iconic blue-tiled roof was built in 1420 without the use of nails.
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
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