Routes

Already strung together.

Six itineraries with the long travel days left visible. If you would rather invent your own order, the notebook will tell you how the cities connect.

• 10 days · One long train day

  The first circuit 初巡回

  Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai — the route that teaches the rail map, the document checks, and three completely different dinners.

  September–November, or April–May

  1. 

     Beijing

  2. 

     Xi'an

  3. 

     Shanghai

• 6 days · Unhurried

  Water towns 江南水程

  Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou on short hops. Gardens, a lake, and enough train rides to feel easy rather than epic.

  March–April, or October

  1. 

     Shanghai

  2. 

     Suzhou

  3. 

     Hangzhou

• 9 days · Moderate, one flight

  Chili and cloud 辣与云

  Chengdu's teahouses, Chongqing's cliffs, then a short flight to Zhangjiajie's pillars. Three textures of the interior.

  April–June, or September–October

  1. 

     Chengdu

  2. 

     Chongqing

  3. 

     Zhangjiajie

• 7 days · Moderate, one flight

  Two kinds of time 两座时间

  Xi'an's warriors and Dunhuang's caves. Ancient China at two speeds, with a flight across a lot of empty land between them.

  May–June, or September–October

  1. 

     Xi'an

  2. 

     Dunhuang

• 6 days · Unhurried

  The southern table 南方的桌子

  Guangzhou's morning tea and Xiamen's coast. A warm-weather route, or a winter escape, built around meals and one ferry.

  November–March

  1. 

     Guangzhou

  2. 

     Xiamen

• 7 days · Moderate

  Ice and the capital 冰与城

  Harbin's festival cold, then Beijing's clearer winter. For people who own real coats and do not mind early sunsets.

  Late December–February

  1. 

     Harbin

  2. 

     Beijing