This 7-10 day itinerary covers three of China’s most exciting cities—Chengdu (pandas & spicy food), Chongqing (mountain metropolis & hotpot), and Xi’an (ancient capital & Terracotta Warriors). Whether you love history, food, or unique urban adventures, this trip has it all!
Quick Summary
✅ Best for: Foodies, history lovers, panda fans
⏳ Recommended Trip Length: 7-10 days
🚄 Transport: High-speed trains connect all three cities (4-5 hrs between each).
🌶️ Food Theme: Sichuan & Shaanxi cuisine (spicy, savory, unforgettable!)
Chengdu (3 Days) – Pandas & Sichuan Spice
Why Visit?
- 🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Research Base – See baby pandas up close!
- 🌶️ Sichuan cuisine – Spicy hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles.
- 🏯 Ancient streets & teahouses – Relax like a local.
Top Attractions
- Chengdu Panda Base – Go early (7:30 AM) to see active pandas.
- Wenshu Monastery – Peaceful Buddhist temple with a great vegetarian restaurant.
- Jinli Ancient Street – Snack alley with Sichuan treats.
- People’s Park – Drink tea, watch locals dance, and try ear cleaning (!).
- Sichuan Opera (Shufeng Yayun) – Face-changing performances.
Food Must-Tries
- Hotpot – Try Chuanchuan Xiang (串串香) or Haidilao (海底捞).
- Mapo Tofu – Spicy, numbing tofu dish.
- Dan Dan Noodles – Peanut-sesame noodles.
- Lung King Heen (龙抄手) – Famous dumplings.
Day Trips
- Leshan Giant Buddha (2 hrs away) – The world’s largest stone Buddha.
- Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyan – Scenic Taoist mountain & ancient irrigation system.
Chongqing (2-3 Days) – Mountain City & Hotpot Heaven
Why Visit?
- 🏙️ Ultra-modern skyscrapers built on steep hills.
- 🚠 Unique transport – Monorails through buildings, Yangtze River cable car.
- 🌶️ Chongqing Hotpot – The spiciest in China!
Top Attractions
- Hongya Cave (洪崖洞) – Stilted night market with glowing lights (like Spirited Away!).
- Yangtze River Cable Car – Stunning city views.
- Ciqikou Ancient Town – Touristy but charming old streets.
- Chongqing Zoo – See rare South China tigers.
- Three Gorges Museum – Learn about Yangtze River history.
Food Must-Tries
- Chongqing Hotpot (重庆火锅) – Try Xiaolongkan (小龙坎) or Dezhuang (德庄).
- Spicy Grilled Fish (烤鱼) – Flavorful and fiery.
- Sour & Spicy Noodles (酸辣粉) – Street food favorite.
Day Trips
- Wulong Karst (2.5 hrs) – Dramatic cliffs (Transformers 4 filming spot).
- Dazu Rock Carvings (2 hrs) – UNESCO-listed Buddhist sculptures.
Xi’an (2-3 Days) – Ancient Capital & Terracotta Army
Why Visit?
- ⚔️ Terracotta Warriors – One of the world’s greatest archaeological finds.
- 🏮 Muslim Quarter – Bustling food streets with 1,000+ years of history.
- 🏯 Ancient City Wall – Bike atop a 600-year-old fortress.
Top Attractions
- Terracotta Warriors – Hire an English guide to understand the history.
- Xi’an City Wall – Rent a bike for sunset views.
- Muslim Quarter – Try roujiamo (Chinese burger), biangbiang noodles, and persimmon cakes.
- Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – Iconic Tang Dynasty tower.
- Shaanxi History Museum – Free entry (book in advance!).
Food Must-Tries
- Roujiamo (肉夹馍) – Xi’an’s famous “Chinese burger.”
- Biangbiang Noodles (裤带面) – Thick, hand-pulled noodles.
- Yangrou Paomo (羊肉泡馍) – Lamb soup with crumbled bread.
Day Trips
- Hua Mountain (1.5 hrs) – One of China’s most dangerous hikes (plank walk!).
- Hanyang Mausoleum – Lesser-known but impressive underground tomb.
Transport Between Cities
- Chengdu → Chongqing: 1.5 hrs by high-speed train (best option).
- Chongqing → Xi’an: 5 hrs by train (or 2-hr flight).
- Xi’an → Chengdu: 4 hrs by train.
Essential Travel Tips
- VPN Needed: Google, WhatsApp, Instagram blocked—get ExpressVPN/Astrill.
- Cashless Payments: Use Alipay TourPass or WeChat Pay.
- Language: Few English speakers—Google Translate helps.
Final Itinerary Suggestions
7-Day Fast-Paced Trip
- Day 1-3: Chengdu (pandas, hotpot, teahouses)
- Day 4-5: Chongqing (hotpot, Hongya Cave, cable car)
- Day 6-7: Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter)
10-Day Relaxed Trip
- Add Leshan Giant Buddha (Chengdu), Wulong Karst (Chongqing), and Hua Mountain (Xi’an).
Final Thoughts
This Chengdu-Chongqing-Xi’an route is perfect for travelers who want pandas, history, spicy food, and urban adventures. Each city offers something unique, and the high-speed trains make travel easy.
Ready to explore? 🐼🌶️🏯