📜 Introduction.

Nǐ hǎo! I have decided to kick off the Itineraries series on my travel blog with a post about my latest trip: 1 month in China. This was also one of the most challenging yet most fascinating journeys I have ever undertaken, thus deserves my very first post.

Despite various unforeseen events and mishaps along the way, I managed to stick to almost the entire itinerary I had planned and do (almost) all the activities on my bucket list. In order to spend 1 month in China, I stayed in each city for about 3-4 days. I travelled by high-speed train, ate everything from street food to more renowned restaurants, and sometimes left-overs from the hotel breakfast buffet to save money.

For this trip, I tried to keep costs down, especially for accommodation, transport and food, but without giving up on comfort, visits to major sites, and a few little treats.

In this itinerary of 1 month in China you will find the list of cities and places visited, the expenses incurred, and a personal account of my experience. You will also find useful tips regarding documentation, insurance, the best time to visit, and much more.

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📅 The Complete Day-By-Day Programme.

The itinerary I followed is organised hour by hour for each day. I took into account the opening times of museums and attractions, as well as train schedules for travelling between cities. I recommend reading my post How to Plan the Perfect Trip for useful tips on how to create your own itinerary.

During my 1 month in China trip, I tried to see as much as possible in each destination without staying too longin the same place. On some days, I even visited two different cities: for example, on day 7, I spent the morning in Xi’an and, after the train journey, I visited Chengdu, where I stayed for a few days.

China is a vast and incredibly rich country: one lifetime wouldn’t be enough to explore it all. With a bit of patience, solid planning, and plenty of energy, this itinerary of 1 month China will let you explore many areas in a fairly comprehensive way, admire its wonders, and still leave room for extra activities.

Click on the city names to view the full, detailed itinerary.

Beijing (4 days).

• Day 1: Arrival and check-in
• Day 2: Visit to the Great Wall and the 798 Art District
• Day 3: Visit to the Lama Temple and the Summer Palace, plus an evening theatre show
• Day 4: Visit to the Temple of Heaven, Hutongs, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City (plus overnight train to Luoyang)

Luoyang and Xi’an (3 days).

• Day 5: Visit to Guanlin Temple and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang (plus train to Xi’an)
• Day 6: Visit to the Terracotta Army, Qinglong Temple, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and night fountain light show
• Day 7: Visit to Xi’an Ancient City Wall and the Great Mosque (plus train to Chengdu)

Chengdu (3 days).

• Day 7: Visit to Renmin Park and Kuan Zhai Alley
• Day 8: Visit to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Jinli Ancient Street
• Day 9: Visit to the Panda Research Base and Dujiangyan Dam

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong (3 days).

• Day 10: Visit to Songpan Ancient City and Tibetan dinner in Jiuzhaigou
• Day 11: Visit to Jiuzhaigou National Park
• Day 12: Visit to Huanglong National Park (plus train to Chongqing)

Chongqing (4 days).

• Day 12: Arrival and visit to Raffle City at night
• Day 13: Visit to Arhat Temple, Hongyadong, Jiefangbei Square, People’s Liberation Monument and Kuixinglou Square, and Sunset Cruise on Yangtze River
• Day 14: Day-trip to Ciqikou Old Town and hotpot dinner at PipaYuan
• Day 15: Train observation at Liziba Station and walk in Eling Park (plus train to Zhangjiajie)

Zhangjiajie (3 days).

• Day 15: Arrival and dinner
• Day 16: Climb the Tianmen Mountain and its Stairway to Heaven, visit the72 Strange Buildings
• Day 17: Visit to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Guilin (3 days).

• Day 18: Visit to the Sun and Moon Pagodas
• Day 19: Visit to the Longji Rice Terraces
• Day 20: Bamboo rafting experience and visit to the nearby villages

Nanchang (2 days).

• Day 21: Visit to the Fishtail Sponge Park and the Pavilion of Prince Teng
• Day 22: Ferris wheel ride at the Star of Nanchang (plus train to Shangrao)

Wangxian Valley (2 days).

• Day 23: Night visit to the Valley
• Day 24: Day visit to the Valley

Shanghai (5 days).

• Day 25: Visit to Lujiazui Discrict and Shanghai Tower
• Day 26: Day trip to Suzhou and Pub Crawl
• Day 27: Visit to the Former French Concession and food tour
• Day 28: Acupuncture treatment, explore People’s Square, The Bund, and Nanjing Road
• Day 29: Visit to Shanghai Old Street, Yuyuan Old Street and Yu Garden. Then, return flight

💸 What’s the budget for 1 month in China?

It depends. It depends on what kind of traveller you are and what sort of experience you’re looking for. Totally low-cost, luxury hotels, or a mix of indulgence and savings?

It’s also worth considering eating habits, transport preferences, whether you rely on tour operators or plan everything yourself, plus the season and departure city.

For example, I set off from Bari on 21 July 2025 and chose a long two-day stopover in Baku, Azerbaijan (read also my post 2 Days in Baku: The City of Wind and Fire). I then had another layover of several hours in Ürümqi, a Muslim-majority Chinese city that, unfortunately (as explained in my post 4 days in Beijing) I couldn’t visit. I left with a one-way ticket because, due to work and a contract renewal, I wasn’t sure whether I’d stay three weeks or longer, but even booking the return with little advance, I managed to keep the total for both flights to around €1000.

Below, you’ll find a summary of all my expenses, split into main categories. Some costs I consider more important (such as the total price of accommodation) are specified; others (like food, water, shopping, etc.) are approximate. I’ve also included pre-departure expenses, namely items I had to buy before leaving that were necessary for the trip. For more, have a look at my posts related to travel essentials for luggages, self-care, electronic devices and other useful items.

💼 Pre-departure expenses = €290

• Probiotics, vitamins, omega 3 = €85
• Typhoid vaccine = €35
• Insulated bag, rucksack, backpack, waist bag = €135
• Cigarettes = €35

📑 Various bookings = €2,330

• Outbound flight = €570
• Return flight = €460
• Insurance plus extension = €200
• Accommodation = €660
• Trains = €385
• VPN and Chinese eSIM = €55

🚕 Expenses during the trip = €595

• Taxis = €160
• Metro = €35
• Tourist buses and extra cable cars = €150
• Restaurants, water, snacks and take-away food = €250

💅 Shopping, souvenirs and treatments = €820

• Shopping and souvenirs = €440
• Acupuncture = €160
• Manicure and pedicure = €65
• Tattoo = €75
• Foot massage = €10
• Photoshoot = €70

🎭 Activities and Tickets = €700

• Leisure activities and tours = €400
• Entrance fees and attraction tickets = €300

🔢 Total = approx. €4,750

🎀 My Experience.

Even though I’m used to travelling and being away from loved ones for long stretches, China really put me to the test.

The language barrier was the biggest hurdle: very few people speak English, and those who do, they usually have a very basic level. Even ordering a coffee or checking in at a hotel became tricky without a translation app.

Everything depends on your phone (payments, communication, transport, even ordering in restaurants) and was, at times, frustrating. The risk of running out of battery, losing your phone, or the internet not working caused me a fair bit of anxiety.

Although I am solo traveller, I often felt lonely. There are very few tourists, and every time I met one, we gladly stopped, surprised and happy, to have a quick chat or grab a coffee together. China is not a “social backpacker” type of travel; it’s more intimate, reflective, almost introspective.

The low number of tourists (especially from the West) leads foreigners to attract curiosity and be constantly stared by locals. I was indeed frequently stopped in the street or interrupted at restaurants to take photos with children or group selfies. At first it seemed funny, but it soon started to make me feel a little uncomfortable.

From a budget perspective, China is very affordable for food, water, and transport (taxis included). The higher costs are attraction tickets, which generally range from €20-€35, plus any additional buses, shuttles, or cable cars.

Distances are huge: almost every attraction involves 1.5–2 km of walking through large areas with parks, restaurants, and stalls before reaching the actual point of interest. Everything is vast, hectic, and crowded, but incredibly well organised. Queues can look endless, yet people are efficient and things move quickly.

All in all, it was a fantastic, rather challenging, journey. The month I spent in China gave me the chance to see extraordinary places, to push my limits, and to connect with a culture and a way of life completely different from my own.

💡 Travel Tips.

📄 Documents and Visa.

As an Italian citizen, I was allowed to enter in China visa‑free for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit. Only a passport with at least six months’ validity is required. However, always check official guidance and refer to your Embassy before departure to confirm current rules.

🏥 Health and Travel Insurance.

For travel insurance, this time I chose HeyMondo as I needed a budget‑friendly policy with extendable cover and broad protection. I took out an initial Premium policy (21 July–10 August, €133), then extended it to 20 August (€60), for a total of around €200. I didn’t do anything risky, but having insurance gave me real peace of mind.

Furthermore, I also packed essential medicines, painkillers, and a few antibiotics, and began taking daily probiotics, and vitamins about a week before departure to help my body adapt to climate and dietary changes. Then, I continued this routine throughout the trip and even after returning home. Check out my post Travel Essentials: Medicines and Supplements for the complete list.

As I’d already travelled in Asia two years earlier, my GP advised a typhoid jab only was enough. Always seek personalised medical advice from your doctor.

Fiinally, to stay healthy during your trip, stick to bottled water, choose restaurants and food stalls popular with locals, and keep a reliable mosquito repellent on hand (like this one). Much of China is lush and green, with parks and forests surrounding many points of interest, so being prepared will help you enjoy your visit worry-free.

📱 Internet and Must‑Have Apps.

Many platforms and social networks are blocked in mainland China, including Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. Before the departure, I set up NordVPN and puchased a Mainland China/Hong Kong/Macau eSim on Trip.com as I own two phones: a Xiaomi with the VPN for practical tasks, and an iPhone with the eSIM for photos, Instagram posting and hotspot.

WeChat and Alipay are fundamental apps in China for payments, messaging and booking taxis, buses and food everywhere. You can install them before the departure. However, it might happen that you are requested to be verified by another WeChat user in order to create your profile.

🚋 Getting Around.

The high‑speed rail network is excellent. Train tickets can be booked via Trip.com, ChinaHighlights or the official website 12306. Metro rides are cheap (about €0.50 on average), with easy machine purchases, QR code payment via Alipay/WeChat, or a contactless card. Taxis typically cost €2–€3 for short hops.

To get around on foot or by public transport, I used Amap, which is very accurate and always up to date. Keep in mind that Google Maps doesn’t work in China.

💳 Payments and Currency.

You can pay almost everywhere with WeChat and Alipay, but still, carry some cash (CNY) as backup. Note that some international card transactions may incur around 3% fees above ¥200.

🌞 When to go to China.

I travelled in late July and…wouldn’t do it again. Expect intense heat (40–42°C) and crowds from early morning.

If possible, opt for spring or early autumn and avoid Chinese New Year, Labour Day (1 May) and the October Golden Week.

🚔 Safety.

China feels extremely safe, with visible police, cameras and checks. Expect passport control and metal detectors at stations and major sights. Moreover, security checks your bags and may ask to open bottles to inspect liquid contents.

✅ Pros and Cons.

🎈 Conclusion.

Spending 1 month in China was a journey that pushed my limits and, at the same time, gifted me with unforgettable memories.

It wasn’t an easy experience, but that’s exactly what made it authentic and transformative. If you love adventure and discovery, and you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone, China will surprise you and change you a little bit forever.

I’ll end with a small advice for anyone planning a similar trip: start in Shanghai for a more gradual, less overwhelming cultural shift than Beijing. Shanghai felt more international to me, with slightly more foreign visitors and a decent share of English speaker

💬 And you? Have you ever been to China or are planning a visit there? Tell me about it in the comments below!

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