China backpacker trail

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   

   Beijing

   China · Daily budget ~$107

   Beijing pairs imperial history with modern technology and social innovation. Within the ring roads, historical architecture and alleyways coexist with the capital's orderly urban grid.

   Beijing →to Shanghai

   Train~$67

2. 02

   

   Shanghai

   China · Daily budget ~$47

   Shanghai is China's most developed city and a global center for finance and fashion. Historic shikumen and Art Deco buildings sit alongside the Huangpu River's older Puxi and high-rise Pudong.

   Shanghai →to Xi'an

   Transport details are not recorded.

3. 03

   

   Xi'an

   China · Daily budget ~$37

   Xi'an blends ancient charm with modern development. The Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, museums, and temples anchor its historical appeal.

   Xi'an →to Chengdu

   Transport details are not recorded.

4. 04

   

   Chengdu

   China · Daily budget ~$37

   Chengdu is Sichuan's capital, known for its giant panda research base. Its relaxed culture, green spaces, and nightlife give the city an easygoing urban rhythm.

   Chengdu →to Chongqing

   Transport details are not recorded.

5. 05

   

   Chongqing

   China · Daily budget ~$43

   Chongqing is a steep, neon-lit river city built around spicy food, cheap transit, and dramatic night views. Use the metro, cableway, and escalators to navigate the hills, then branch out toward Dazu or the Three Gorges.

   Chongqing →to Kunming

   Transport details are not recorded.

6. 06

   

   Kunming

   China · Daily budget ~$42

   Yunnan's capital combines a mild high-altitude climate with strong domestic and Southeast Asian transport links. It works well as a base for lakes, karst scenery, minority-culture sites, and southern Yunnan towns.

   Kunming →to Dali

   Train~4 h~$18

7. 07

   

   Dali

   China · Daily budget ~$27

   Dali combines a Ming-dynasty old town, Bai culture, Cangshan mountains, and Erhai Lake. Cheap accommodation and street food make it a useful base for nearby villages and temples.

   Dali →to Lijiang

   Train~3 h~$12

8. 08

   

   Lijiang

   China · Daily budget ~$40

   This UNESCO World Heritage city centers Naxi culture around canals, cobbled streets, and traditional wooden houses. It also offers a slower base for mountain excursions, village visits, and highland lakes.

   Lijiang →to Shangrila

   Bus~4 h~$12

9. 09

   

   Shangrila

   China · Daily budget ~$79

   Shangri-La brings Tibetan architecture, monasteries, high-altitude grasslands, and yak-butter-tea culture to a 3,200 m mountain setting. Allow time to acclimatize before monastery visits, lake trips, or treks.

   Shangrila →to Yangshuo

   Transport details are not recorded.

10. 10

    

    Yangshuo

    China · Daily budget ~$56

    Yangshuo is a karst-and-river base for cycling, climbing, bamboo rafting, and countryside walks. Stay alert to touts and inflated tourist pricing while using Guilin as the main rail and flight gateway.

    Yangshuo →to Guilin

    Bus~1 h 45 min~$6

11. 11

    

    Guilin

    China · Daily budget ~$41

    Guilin is the hub for exploring the surrounding area's karst terrain, limestone mountains eroded into fantastic shapes. It is among the most scenic areas in China and a top tourist destination for both Chinese travellers and international backpackers.

    Guilin →to Longsheng

    Bus~2 h~$5.78

12. 12

    

    Longsheng

    China · Daily budget ~$70

    Layered rice paddies cover mountain slopes shaped by Zhuang and Yao communities. Easy-to-moderate hikes pass traditional timber houses, minority dress, and village settlements.

    Longsheng →to Zhangjiajie

    Transport details are not recorded.

13. 13

    Zhangjiajie

    China · Daily budget ~$86

    Zhangjiajie is a base for sandstone pillars, misty forests, cableway rides, and multi-day park walks. Split time between Wulingyuan and Tianmen Mountain, and carry food because park dining is costly.

    Zhangjiajie →to Fenghuang

    Bus~3 h~$11

14. 14

    

    Fenghuang

    China · Daily budget ~$50

    Fenghuang is a riverside historic town lined with Ming and Qing architecture. Its literary and artistic heritage, plus everyday waterway life along the Tuojiang, gives walks through the old town a lived-in feel.

    Fenghuang →to Pingyao

    Transport details are not recorded.

15. 15

    

    Pingyao

    China · Daily budget ~$35

    Pingyao's compact walled old town preserves cobbled Ming and Qing streets and an atmosphere that feels like a period film. Its small scale makes it easy to explore on foot while historic banks, temples, and manor compounds add depth.

    Pingyao →to Datong

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    

    Datong

    China · Daily budget ~$41

    Datong combines low prices and many attractions with fewer tourists than Beijing and Xi'an. It suits travelers looking for a quieter, culture-focused base in North China.

    Datong →to Luoyang

    Transport details are not recorded.

17. 17

    Luoyang

    China · Daily budget ~$53

    Luoyang served as capital for nine ruling dynasties. Its Silk Road and Grand Canal history opens a route into ancient Chinese civilization.

    Luoyang →to Hangzhou

    Transport details are not recorded.

18. 18

    

    Hangzhou

    China · Daily budget ~$42

    Hangzhou is known for West Lake, historical heritage, classical gardens, temples, and tea culture. Its modern tech scene adds a contemporary layer to the former Southern Song capital.

    Hangzhou →to Suzhou

    Train~2 h~$12

19. 19

    

    Suzhou

    China · Daily budget ~$39

    Suzhou is a historically significant Chinese city. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Wu and grew into a major non-capital city by the early 19th century.

    Suzhou →to Hong Kong

    Transport details are not recorded.

20. 20

    

    Hong Kong

    Hong Kong · Daily budget ~$123

    Hong Kong blends Chinese identity with visible British colonial heritage. Its Special Administrative Region status and Western-style freedoms give the city a distinct character for travelers.

    Hong Kong →to Macau

    Bus~$5.24

21. 21

    

    Macau

    Macau · Daily budget ~$78

    Macau layers Portuguese colonial history and Chinese-language life with legal casinos and a distinctive food culture. The old city’s Portuguese-looking streets and Chinese signage reward slow wandering.

    Macau →to Ulaanbaatar

    Transport details are not recorded.

22. 22

    

    Ulaanbaatar

    Mongolia · Daily budget ~$42

    Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s cultural, economic, and transportation hub, home to roughly half of the country’s 1.6 million residents. Central guesthouses and landmark-based navigation make it a practical starting point for a wider Mongolia itinerary.

    Ulaanbaatar →to Karakorum

    Bus~$18

23. 23

    

    Karakorum

    Mongolia · Daily budget ~$43

    Karakorum brings Mongol Empire history, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and immersive ger camps together on the steppe. The UNESCO-listed ruins and Erdene Zuu Monastery make it a focused base for historic sites and countryside excursions.