China in 14 Days: The Family Signature Itinerary from Sydney
China can feel like a big undertaking for a family trip, but the right route makes all the difference. This 14-day plan connects Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai without unnecessary backtracking. It balances China’s major sights with pandas, local food, high-speed trains and enough breathing room to keep the children—and the adults—happy.
Flights from Sydney
Book this as a multi-city ticket: Sydney to Beijing, then Shanghai to Sydney. Air China currently operates a nonstop Sydney–Beijing service, while China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines operate nonstop Shanghai–Sydney services. Flying into Beijing and home from Shanghai saves an entire day of backtracking. Exact departure times change seasonally, so confirm the schedule before booking.
Where to Stay for Easy Access
Beijing: Wangfujing or Dongcheng is the most convenient base for the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, restaurants and metro connections. We recommend Novotel Beijing Peace, particularly for families wanting a reliable international hotel in a central location.
Xi’an: Stay near the Bell Tower or inside the City Wall so evening food streets and major attractions remain easy to reach. Novotel Xi’an The Bell Tower is our preferred central option.
Chengdu: Tianfu Square or People’s Park provides good metro access while keeping you close to teahouses, shops and restaurants. Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre offers a comfortable base with a little more character.
Shanghai: Huaihai Road, People’s Square or the edge of Xintiandi works best for families. We like Ascott Huai Hai Road Shanghai because its apartment-style rooms offer more space and useful facilities for a longer stay.
Always confirm the room’s bed configuration before booking—Chinese family rooms do not necessarily accommodate four people in the way Australian families might expect.
Day 1 – Depart Sydney
Depart Sydney Airport on the evening nonstop flight to Beijing. Allow at least three hours for check-in and immigration, then settle in for the overnight journey. Have dinner at the airport or on board and carry a few familiar snacks for the children.
Day 2 – Arrive in Beijing
Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport in the early morning and take a pre-booked private transfer or official airport taxi to Wangfujing. After checking in—or leaving your bags—keep the first day easy with a walk along Wangfujing Street and the nearby shopping lanes. For dinner, order dumplings, hand-pulled noodles and stir-fried seasonal vegetables at a casual local restaurant near the hotel.
Stay: Novotel Beijing Peace.
Day 3 – Temple of Heaven and Old Beijing
Start at the Temple of Heaven, where the open parkland gives children space to move while parents take in one of Beijing’s most elegant historical sites. Continue by taxi or metro to Qianmen Street and explore the neighbouring Dashilar lanes. Try Beijing-style zhajiangmian for lunch, followed by shaomai dumplings at Duyichu for dinner.
Stay: Novotel Beijing Peace.
Day 4 – Forbidden City and Hutongs
Begin with a short walk around Shichahai and its traditional hutong neighbourhoods before travelling to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Finish at Jingshan Park for the classic view across the palace rooftops. Book Forbidden City tickets in advance using the passport details of every traveller. Dinner should be Beijing roast duck at Siji Minfu; reserve ahead or arrive early.
Stay: Novotel Beijing Peace.
Day 5 – Mutianyu Great Wall
Travel by pre-booked private car to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, around 1½–2 hours from central Beijing. Mutianyu is a good family choice because it has cable-car access and is generally easier to manage than more strenuous sections. Eat a farmhouse-style lunch near the entrance, then return to Beijing for a relaxed noodle or dumpling dinner close to the hotel.
Stay: Novotel Beijing Peace.
Day 6 – Summer Palace and Olympic Park
Spend the morning at the Summer Palace, allowing time for the lakeside paths, Long Corridor and palace gardens. In the afternoon, visit the Olympic Park to see the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube before returning to Wangfujing. For dinner, try Xibei Youmian Village for northwestern Chinese dishes such as lamb skewers, oat noodles and flatbreads.
Stay: Novotel Beijing Peace.
Day 7 – High-Speed Train to Xi’an
Take a taxi or private transfer to Beijing West Railway Station and board a high-speed train to Xi’an North. The journey usually takes around 4–6 hours, making rail the easiest family option between the two cities. Beijing–Xi’an train guide. From Xi’an North, take the metro or a taxi to the Bell Tower area. Spend the evening around the Bell and Drum Towers, then sample roujiamo, grilled lamb skewers and biangbiang noodles in the Muslim Quarter.
Stay: Novotel Xi’an The Bell Tower.
Day 8 – Terracotta Warriors and Xi’an City Wall
Use a private driver or organised small-group tour for the Terracotta Warriors, approximately one hour from central Xi’an. Returning with the same driver is much simpler than arranging separate local transport. After lunch, walk or cycle a manageable section of Xi’an’s City Wall. Finish with a dumpling banquet at De Fa Chang, close to the Bell Tower.
Stay: Novotel Xi’an The Bell Tower.
Day 9 – Train to Chengdu
Take the high-speed train from Xi’an North to Chengdu East, usually a 3–4½-hour trip. Xi’an–Chengdu train information. After checking in, spend a gentle afternoon at People’s Park, where families can watch locals play mahjong and enjoy tea beside the water. Try Chengdu snacks such as wontons, dan dan noodles and sweet glutinous-rice treats for dinner.
Stay: Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre.
Day 10 – Chengdu Panda Base
Arrive at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding when it opens, as the pandas are generally more active in the cooler morning hours. Book tickets in advance and use a taxi or ride-hailing car for the simplest journey. Continue to Wenshu Monastery for a vegetarian lunch, then have Sichuan hotpot for dinner—ask for a divided pot so children can use the mild broth. End with the Sichuan Opera and face-changing show at Shu Feng Ya Yun.
Stay: Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre.
Day 11 – Dujiangyan Day Trip
Take a private car or train to Dujiangyan to see the ancient irrigation system and walk through Guanxian Ancient Town. This makes a good change of pace after several city days and adds mountain scenery without committing to a long hike. Return to Chengdu in the late afternoon and visit Taikoo Li. For dinner, order mapo tofu, kung pao chicken and twice-cooked pork at Ma Wang Zi, requesting reduced spice where needed.
Stay: Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre.
Day 12 – Fly to Shanghai
Fly from Chengdu to Shanghai, preferably into Hongqiao Airport because it is closer to the city centre than Pudong. Take a taxi or pre-booked transfer to the hotel and leave the afternoon free for Nanjing Road and the Bund. Try xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao, followed by Shanghainese comfort food such as braised pork and scallion noodles at Shanghai Grandmother.
Stay: Ascott Huai Hai Road Shanghai.
Day 13 – Old Shanghai and the Skyline
Visit Yu Garden and the surrounding Old City early, before the busiest crowds arrive. Have lunch at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant and order xiaolongbao, noodles and vegetable dishes to share. Cross the river by metro or ferry to Lujiazui for the Shanghai Tower observation deck, then finish with dinner at Din Tai Fung or another family-friendly restaurant inside one of the major shopping centres.
Stay: Ascott Huai Hai Road Shanghai.
Day 14 – Shanghai Disneyland and Evening Departure
If your international flight leaves late at night—or the following morning—use the final day for Shanghai Disneyland. Prioritise Zootopia, Pirates of the Caribbean, TRON and Soaring Over the Horizon, using the official app to monitor waiting times. Eat inside the park for convenience or have an early dinner at Disneytown before travelling by private transfer to Pudong Airport. If flight timing is tight, move Disneyland to Day 13 and use Day 14 for the Shanghai Natural History Museum and People’s Square instead.
Travey Club Insights
The strength of this itinerary is its direction: Beijing to Xi’an, Xi’an to Chengdu and Chengdu to Shanghai, with no need to retrace your steps. Book the trip as a Sydney–Beijing and Shanghai–Sydney multi-city ticket, use high-speed trains for the shorter intercity sectors, and fly only when the distance makes rail impractical.
Reserve the Forbidden City, Great Wall transport, panda base, Terracotta Warriors and Disneyland before travelling. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay, carry the hotel addresses in Chinese and keep every family member’s passport accessible on train days. Most importantly, leave some room in the schedule for an afternoon tea, an early night or another plate of dumplings—that flexibility is what keeps a family trip enjoyable.
Travey Club is a private travel design studio specializing in bespoke, self-guided journeys tailored to your individual tastes, lifestyle, budget, and schedule. We craft refined, highly personalized travel blueprints that combine curated experiences, seamless routing, insider knowledge, and meticulous day-by-day structure — empowering you to explore independently with confidence and ease. Rather than booking hotels or tours, we design each element of your journey with precision and intention, allowing you to reserve directly while experiencing a thoughtfully orchestrated, self-guided adventure created exclusively around you.
Look at our 14-Day China Itinerary : Travey Club
