Apply templates by number of days: how to schedule for 7 days, 10 days, 14 days, 21 days

First, calculate one thing clearly: effective days

10 days of vacation ≠ 10 days of itinerary. Transoceanic flights usually take 1–2 days (including jet lag recovery), and the landing day and return day are basically unusable. So: Effective days = Total days − 3. 10 days of vacation ≈ 7 effective days, which is the starting point for all templates.

7 days (effective 4–5 days): One region, two cities

• North China: Beijing 4 days, Chengde 1 day
• East China: Shanghai 2 days, Suzhou 1 day, Hangzhou 2 days
• Shaanxi: Xi'an 4 days, Huashan 1 day
• Sichuan & Chongqing: Chengdu 3 days, Dujiangyan & Qingcheng Mountain 1 day, Leshan & Emei 1 day
• Yunnan: Kunming 1 day, Dali 2 days, Lijiang 2 days

Rule: 7 days should not cross climate zones or altitude zones. Don’t think about covering Beijing and Yunnan in 7 days.

10 days (effective 7 days): In-depth of one region, or two neighboring regions

• Hexi Corridor: Lanzhou—Zhangye—Jiayuguan—Dunhuang (classic, 7 days just right)
• Middle Silk Road: Xi'an 3 days, Tianshui 1 day, Lanzhou 1 day, Zhangye & Dunhuang 2 days
• Western Sichuan loop: Chengdu—Siguniang Mountain—Danba—Daocheng Yading (7–8 days)
• Jiangnan & Huangshan: Shanghai—Hangzhou—Wuzhen—Huangshan—Nanjing
• Yunnan Grand Loop: Kunming—Dali—Lijiang—Shangri-La

14 days (effective 11 days): Two regions, or a complete loop of a large region

• North Xinjiang Grand Loop: Urumqi—Keketuohai—Kanas—Hemu—Sailimu Lake—Ili
• Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop: Xining—Ta'er Monastery—Qinghai Lake—Chaka—Delingha—Dachaidan—Dunhuang—Zhangye
• Sichuan & Yunnan: Chengdu—Daocheng Yading—Shangri-La—Lijiang—Dali
• North China Silk Road: Beijing 4 days → Fly to Xi'an 3 days → Lanzhou and Dunhuang 4 days
• Tibet: Lhasa 3 days Nyingchi 3 days Shigatse 3 days Namtso 1 day

21 Days (Effective 18 Days): Can do a true long-distance trip

• Full Silk Road: Xi'an—Tianshui—Lanzhou—Zhangye—Jiayuguan—Dunhuang—Turpan—Urumqi—Kashgar
• Southwest Grand Loop: Chengdu—Jiuzhaigou—Chengdu—Daocheng Yading—Lijiang—Dali—Kunming
• East, Central, and North China: Shanghai—Hangzhou—Huangshan—Wuhan—Xi'an—Beijing
• Deep Tibet and Nepal Border: Lhasa—Shigatse—Mount Everest—Namtso—Nyingchi

General Recommendations

• Arrange a "half day rest" every 5—6 days: laundry, catch up on sleep, process photos. If not done on a long trip, you may break down starting day 8.
• Altitude and climate should transition gradually: don't go from 3600 meters today to sea level tomorrow and then up to 4000 meters.
• Place shopping and city leisure in the later part: when energy declines, cities are more friendly than mountains.