Back in March I took a long-awaited trip to China, a country that had been sitting on my bucket list for years. What I experienced was a journey that blended ancient wonders, buzzing cities, unforgettable food, and a bit of unexpected adventure. If you're thinking about travelling to China from the UK, here’s a personal take on the perfect two week itinerary with a bonus Bangkok stopover to finish things off.
Xian
Night Skyline
Bund
China
City Strret
I started my journey in Beijing, arriving jet lagged but buzzing with excitement. Over four nights I tried to soak up as much of the city’s deep history as possible. Tiananmen Square was my first real taste of Beijing's scale, vast, atmospheric and steeped in political and cultural significance.
From there I wandered through the Forbidden City, which genuinely lives up to its name. The architecture, colours and size were overwhelming in the best way.
But my favourite part? Hands down, the Great Wall of China. I visited one of the quieter sections which meant I could take in the views without too many crowds, just me, the crisp spring air and miles of winding wall disappearing into the mountains.
Next I hopped on a high speed train to Xi’an, a brilliant experience in itself. The journey was smooth, scenic and impressively fast.
Xi’an was smaller and more laid back, but full of charm. The highlight was of course the Terracotta Warriors, rows upon rows of life sized soldiers that felt like something out of a film set. Seeing them in person is hard to put into words but it’s something I’ll never forget.
Back in the city I spent hours wandering through the Muslim Quarter, packed with food stalls, markets and a lively buzz. I tried snacks I couldn’t even name, some delicious, some very spicy, and it gave me a completely different flavour of Chinese culture.
A short flight later I landed in Shanghai and the contrast hit me immediately. Gone were the historic courtyards and noodle stands. Instead I found neon lights, luxury shops and a skyline that felt like something from a sci fi film.
I loved walking along the Bund at night, watching the Pudong skyline light up across the river. I also took a Huangpu River cruise which gave me a great perspective of the city and some cracking photo ops.
In between the sights I explored Yu Garden, strolled the French Concession and just enjoyed the city's non stop energy. Shanghai felt like the perfect full stop to the China part of my trip, modern, confident and still layered with history if you knew where to look.
On the way home I decided to break up the journey with a few days in Bangkok and I’m so glad I did. It was warmer, more chaotic and totally different from China.
I cruised along the Chao Phraya River, visited temples and spent a solid chunk of time just eating everything in sight from spicy pad Thai to mango sticky rice. The contrast made it the perfect way to unwind after two weeks of big sightseeing.
This route worked brilliantly for me as a first time visitor to China. It ticked off the country’s greatest hits from the Great Wall and Terracotta Army to Shanghai’s skyline and kept the pace exciting but manageable. I stayed in comfortable four star hotels throughout, with transfers included, and joined small guided tours for most of the key attractions. Everything was incredibly well organised and ran like clockwork.
Getting a visa before travel was simple, and although I was slightly nervous about the language barrier, it really wasn’t a problem. Local guides and drivers were always on hand to help, which made everything from check-ins to day tours smooth and stress free. The only place I found slightly trickier was Beijing when eating out at more local spots, but even then it became part of the adventure — a few attempts at Mandarin and a lot of pointing made for some fun dinner experiences.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip that I’d absolutely recommend. China completely exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to go back and explore more of this incredible country.
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Please find a small selection of our tailor made China package holidays. If your perfect holiday does not appear please call us to help you design it.
13 Nights from £4520pp
11 Nights from £3265pp
14 Nights from £3530pp
6 Nights from £2095pp
12 Nights from £2409pp
17 Nights from £4590pp
At TripsBeyond there are a number of ways you can contact us meaning that all you have to do is choose the option which is most convenient to you.
0800 270 0009
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Enquire
At TripsBeyond there are a number of ways you can contact us meaning that all you have to do is choose the option which is most convenient to you.
0800 270 0009
Make An Enquiry
Request A Callback
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