58 days in China Itinerary

Dominated by an extraordinary, UNESCO-protected red and white palace complex sprawling up the mountainside, Chengde remains a summer resort fit for royalty.

Chengde is known for historic sites, outdoors, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: get outside with Eight Outer Temples in The Bishu Villa, see the interesting displays at Museum of Summer Resort, steep yourself in history at Eight Outer Temples, and take in the spiritual surroundings of Shuxiang Temple.

For more things to do, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Chengde online trip maker.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Chengde is an approximately 17-hour train ride. You can also do a combination of flight and car; or drive. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Luanping County.

To find maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Luanping County tour itinerary builder tool.

Drive from Chengde to Luanping County in 1.5 hours. On the 9th (Wed), you're off to Beijing.

As the political and cultural capital of China, Beijing stands at the heart of Chinese history, buzzing with the energy of its high population density and centuries of importance.

Beijing is known for historic sites, sightseeing, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: get to know the fascinating history of Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), take an in-depth tour of The Palace Museum, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Dong Yue Miao (Dongyue Temple), and contemplate the long history of Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling).

For more things to do, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, use the Beijing tour itinerary planning tool.

Do a combination of taxi and bus from Luanping County to Beijing in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of taxi and train. September in Beijing sees daily highs of 80°F and lows of 59°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Sun) early enough to fly to Datong.

The old city of Datong has an interesting and complicated history of development, sacking, and rebuilding.

Step out of Datong to go to Hunyuan County and see Mount Hengshan Scenic Spot, which is approximately 1h 20 min away. There's much more to do: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si), admire the striking features of Ying Xian Wooden Pagoda, see the interesting displays at Chinese Sculpture Museum, and browse the collection at Nine Dragon Screen Ticket Office.

To find reviews, more things to do, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Datong road trip app.

You can take a bus from Beijing to Datong in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a train; or drive. On the 23rd (Wed), you're off to Wutai County.

Tourism in Wutai County focuses on the World Heritage-listed mountain of the same name.

Get out of town with these interesting Wutai County side-trips: Dai County (Yanmenguan Pass & Great Wall-Yanmenguan Section). There's still lots to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Longquan Temple and take in the awesome beauty at Wutai Shan (Five Terrace Mountain).

To see more things to do, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Wutai County travel route planner.

Getting from Datong to Wutai County by combination of train and taxi takes about 5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of train and taxi; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Zhengding County.

Kick off your visit on the 27th (Sun): make a trip to Shijiazhuang Plant Garden and then don't miss a visit to Longxing Temple. Here are some ideas for day two: cool off at Water park of Shijiazhuang.

To see other places to visit, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Zhengding County tour itinerary builder tool.

Traveling by car from Wutai County to Zhengding County takes 3 hours. Expect a daytime high around 80°F in September, and nighttime lows around 60°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 28th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Taiyuan.

An industrial and cultural hub of northern China with a population of more than 4 million, Taiyuan boasts a long and storied history that now seems somewhat overshadowed by the city modern facade.

Start off your visit on the 29th (Tue): see the interesting displays at Shanxi Museum, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Twin Pagoda Temple (Shuangta si), and then stroll around Yingze Park. On the 30th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: admire the striking features of Mengshan Mountain Buddha and then steep yourself in history at Chang Family Compound.

To see maps, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, use the Taiyuan road trip planning website.

You can drive from Zhengding County to Taiyuan in 3 hours. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Zhengding County in September; daily highs in Taiyuan reach 75°F and lows reach 54°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Pingyao County.

An ancient walled city, Pingyao County can trace its history back around 2,700 years, and has been designated a World Heritage Site.

Start off your visit on the 1st (Thu): don't miss a visit to Weitaihou Ticket No, then contemplate the long history of Rishengchang Former Bank, and then steep yourself in history at Ping Yao Gu Cheng. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the striking features of Wang's Family Compound (Wang Jia Dayuan) and then admire the landmark architecture of Qiao's Family Compound (Qiao Jia Dayuan).

For ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Pingyao County online travel route planner.

Getting from Taiyuan to Pingyao County by train takes about 2 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train; or take a bus. In September in Pingyao County, expect temperatures between 75°F during the day and 54°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Fri) so you can take a train to Xi'an.

Historians often describe Xi'an, capital city for over a dozen dynasties, as the birthplace of Chinese civilization.

Xi'an is known for museums, historic sites, and sightseeing. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take an in-depth tour of The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, delve into the distant past at Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang), contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Xi'an Mosque, and explore the world behind art at Tang Bo Art Museum.

Ask Klarna Trips to suggest an itinerary and make planning a trip to Xi'an fast, fun, and easy.

You can take a train from Pingyao County to Xi'an in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Pingyao County in October, Xi'an is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 48°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Tue) so you can fly to Lanzhou.

Once a major stop-off on the ancient Silk Road trading route, Lanzhou today acts as an important place to rest up for Silk Road tourists and trekkers.

Change things up with a short trip to Bingling Temple Grottoes in Tianshui (about 4h 15 min away). Next up on the itinerary: take an in-depth tour of Gansu Provincial Museum, take in the awesome beauty at White Pagoda Mountain (Baita), walk around Binhe Park of Lanzhou, and make a trip to Lanzhou Shuiche Park.

To see ratings, maps, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Lanzhou trip itinerary builder tool.

Traveling by train from Xi'an to Lanzhou takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a train; or drive. Traveling from Xi'an in October, things will get slightly colder in Lanzhou: highs are around 57°F and lows about 35°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sat) so you can fly to Jiayuguan.

The city of Jiayuguan has become particularly well known as the location of the Jiayu Pass, the best preserved and biggest of the passes of the Great Wall of China.

Jiayuguan is known for historic sites, sightseeing, and nature. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: delve into the distant past at Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area, admire the striking features of The First Strategic Post, steep yourself in history at East Barbican and West Barbican, and don't miss a visit to Great Wall at Jiayuguan Pass.

To find photos, maps, more things to do, and tourist information, read Jiayuguan driving holiday site.

Take a train from Lanzhou to Jiayuguan in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a train; or drive. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Dunhuang.

Once a vital stop-off on the Silk Road trade route, Dunhuang today offers travelers of all persuasions a place to rest in the middle of the desert.

Dunhuang is known for nature, historic sites, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: contemplate the long history of Mogao Caves, get engrossed in the history at Dunhuang Folk Museum, explore the ancient world of Yumen Pass, and explore the striking landscape of Yadan National Geological Park.

To find photos, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, read Dunhuang trip planner.

Traveling by bus from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Sun) to allow time to fly to Urumqi.

As one of China's fastest-growing cities, Urumqi is a melting pot of international people and cultures set against a mountainous backdrop.

Go for a jaunt from Urumqi to Fukang to see Mt. Tianshan and Tianchi Lake Scenic Resort about 1h 30 min away. There's lots more to do: see the interesting displays at Xinjiang Regional Museum (Qu Bowuguan), take in breathtaking views at Tianshan Grand Canyon, walk around Red Mountain, and get great views at Heavenly Lake of Tianshan.

To find photos, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Urumqi road trip tool.

You can take a train from Dunhuang to Urumqi in 11 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 58°F in October, and nighttime lows around 41°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight to Kashgar.

Kashi remains a melting pot of Central Asian cultures and boasts one of the most important Islamic old towns in the region.

Kashgar is known for historic sites, nature, and shopping. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Oytagh Glacier Park, pause for some photo ops at Hongqilafu Mountain Boundary Marker, take in the spiritual surroundings of Abakh Hoja Tomb, and explore the different monuments and memorials at Appak Hoja Mosleum.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, reviews, and tourist information, use the Kashgar online trip itinerary maker.

Take a bus from Urumqi to Kashgar in 14 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus; or drive. In October, Kashgar is somewhat warmer than Urumqi - with highs of 67°F and lows of 47°F. On the 30th (Fri), you'll travel back home.