Australia to China: 3-Week Itinerary & Costs

I’ll be straight with you — my first trip to China from Australia was a disaster of my own making. I landed in Beijing after a 12-hour flight from Sydney, thought I could “just figure out” the internet situation when I got there, and spent the first afternoon wandering around Wangfujing unable to message my family, check Google Maps, or call the hotel. I’d been to Bali six times, backpacked Europe twice, and thought I knew how travel worked. China humbled me in about 45 minutes.

I’ve been back five times since then, and I’ve learned exactly how to do this trip properly — especially if you’re an Australian who loves nature and wants to see the real China, not just the skyscrapers and shopping malls. This itinerary is built around China’s best natural landscapes with enough city time to get the full picture.

Contents

• Before You Go: The Aussie Pre-Trip Checklist
• The 21-Day Nature Route Overview
• Shanghai: The Soft Landing (Days 1–2)
• Guilin & Yangshuo: Karst Paradise (Days 3–6)
• Zhangjiajie: The Avatar Mountains (Days 7–10)
• Chengdu: Pandas and Sichuan Fire (Days 11–13)
• Xi’an: Where China’s History Lives (Days 14–16)
• Beijing: The Grand Finale (Days 17–20)
• How Much Does This Trip Cost?
• Culture Shocks Aussies Should Know
• FAQ
• The 24-Day Extended Route
• Ready to Plan Your Trip?

Before You Go: The Aussie Pre-Trip Checklist

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Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my first trip. Do all of these before you leave Australia.

Your passport and visa. Australian passport holders get 30-day visa-free travel to China until at least December 2026. That means no application, no trip to the embassy in Canberra or Sydney, no visa fee. Just make sure your passport has at least six months validity and two blank pages. This alone saves you about $150-200 AUD and a month of paperwork.

Get a VPN and install it at home. This is the mistake I made on my first trip and it cost me a full afternoon. Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Netflix — all blocked inside China. If you don’t have a VPN installed before you leave, you won’t be able to download one when you’re there. I use Astrill — about $20 AUD a month and it’s worked reliably across five trips. For more detail on how the internet works here, see my complete Internet in China guide.

Download these apps before you fly:

• Alipay — this is your wallet in China. Link your Australian Visa or Mastercard. You’ll scan QR codes to pay for everything from a $3 bowl of noodles to a $70 train ticket. Here’s my full guide to setting up WeChat Pay and Alipay.
• WeChat — essential for messaging hotels, tour guides, and the contact at your homestay in Yangshuo.
• Trip.com — the English version works perfectly for booking trains and hotels. I book all my high-speed rail tickets here.
• Google Translate — download the Chinese language pack for offline use. The camera translation feature is lifesaver for menus.
• Airalo or Trip.com eSIM — China data plans from about $6 AUD for 1GB. Having internet from the moment you land saves all the stress I went through. Read my complete China eSIM guide for a breakdown of the best options.

Bring a power adapter. China uses the same two-flat-pin plug as Australia and New Zealand. No adapter needed for your phone charger. But check your laptop charger — some three-pin Australian plugs have a different earth pin arrangement and won’t fit.

Pack light on cash. You’ll want about $150-200 AUD worth of RMB for emergencies and street vendors. Everything else is paid by scanning a QR code. ATMs at the airport dispense RMB against Australian debit cards — look for the UnionPay logo. For a full breakdown of what to bring, check my China packing list.

Get travel insurance. Don’t skip this. A policy from Cover-More or Southern Cross Travel Insurance costs about $80-120 AUD for three weeks. China’s healthcare is cheap compared to Australia but a decent policy covers cancellation, lost luggage, and medical evacuation if things go sideways. Read my China travel safety guide for a complete rundown on staying safe on the road.

The weather reality check. China has real seasons — unlike most of Australia. If you’re going in July-August (our winter holidays), Beijing and Shanghai are 35°C with 80% humidity. If you’re going in December-January (our summer), Beijing is -5°C and Zhangjiajie is cold and foggy. The sweet spot for this nature route is September-October or April-May — 18-25°C, low humidity, clear skies.

The 21-Day Nature Route Overview

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This route is designed for Australians who want to see China’s landscapes, not just its cities. You’ll fly into Shanghai (cheapest and most connected from Australia), work your way south and west through China’s most dramatic natural scenery, then finish in Beijing for the heavy-hitting cultural sites.

Getting from Australia. Direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Shanghai (China Eastern, Qantas) run from about $500-800 AUD return if you book 6-8 weeks ahead. China Southern via Guangzhou can be cheaper ($400-600) but adds a connection. The Sydney-Shanghai flight is about 11 hours — roughly the same as flying to Japan, shorter than flying to London.

Getting between cities. China’s high-speed rail network is the best in the world — it puts our V/Line and NSW TrainLink to absolute shame. Second-class seats are comfortable, have more legroom than Qantas economy, and cost $30-80 AUD per leg. My complete high-speed rail guide covers how to book tickets, which stations to use, and what to expect on board. For the Shanghai-Guilin leg, I recommend flying — it’s only 2.5 hours versus 10 hours on the train.

Shanghai: The Soft Landing (Days 1–2)

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Why start here. Direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne land at Shanghai Pudong. Qantas flies Sydney-Shanghai from about $650 return, China Eastern from $500. It’s the easiest gateway into China from Australia and Shanghai is the most international city in the country — perfect for getting your bearings.

Where I stay. Base yourself near People’s Square or along Nanjing Road — central, well-connected, and walkable to the Bund. Mid-range hotels run $50-80 AUD/night. I’ve stayed at the Holiday Inn on Nanjing Road three times ($65/night) for the location — you can walk to the Bund in 15 minutes.

Day 1: Arrive and survive. Your flight lands at Pudong around 6-7am. Take the Maglev train to Longyang Road station — $8 AUD for 7 minutes at 430km/h. It’s faster than anything on the Australian rail network and a ridiculous welcome to China.

Force yourself to stay awake until at least 8pm local time. Walk the Bund in the afternoon — colonial buildings on one side, futuristic Pudong skyline on the other. Grab xiao long bao (soup dumplings) near Yu Garden — about $5 AUD for a basket of eight.

Day 2: Old and new Shanghai. Start at Yu Garden ($4 AUD entry) — a Ming dynasty garden hidden inside the old city. Then walk to the Shanghai Museum on People’s Square — free entry and a world-class collection of ancient Chinese art. It’s closed on Mondays, like most Chinese museums.

Evening: walk through the French Concession — tree-lined streets, art deco buildings, and the best coffee in Shanghai. A good dinner at a local Shanghainese restaurant runs $10-15 AUD per person. Order the red-braised pork (hong shao rou).

Getting to Guilin. Next morning, fly from Shanghai to Guilin — about 2.5 hours, $80-120 AUD on China Eastern or Air China. The train takes 10 hours and costs $60 — save time, take the flight.

Guilin & Yangshuo: Karst Paradise (Days 3–6)

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This is where the nature part of the trip really starts. Guilin’s limestone karst landscape is the most photographed scenery in China, and Yangshuo (an hour south) is where you actually experience it.

Day 3: Guilin. Fly into Guilin in the morning. The city itself is fine — not spectacular — but the Li River and the Elephant Trunk Hill (entry $6 AUD) are worth a few hours. Take a bus or Didi from Guilin to Yangshuo (1 hour, $10-15 AUD) in the afternoon.

Where I stay in Yangshuo. Stay in the West Street area for convenience or rent a place in the countryside for the full experience. I stayed at a farm stay near Moon Hill on my last trip — $30 AUD/night for a room overlooking rice paddies with the karst peaks in the background. Mid-range hotels on West Street run $40-60.

Day 4: Li River bamboo rafting. This is the main event. A bamboo raft on the Li River from Yangdi to Xingping ($40 AUD per person) floats through the same scenery that’s on the 20 RMB note. The karst peaks rise straight out of the water, water buffalo graze on the banks, and it’s dead quiet except for the motor on the raft.

Day 5: Bike through the countryside. Rent an e-bike ($10-15 AUD for the day) and ride through the Yangshuo countryside. The route from West Street to Moon Hill and through the 十里画廊 (Ten Mile Gallery) is about 15km of flat, scenic riding. Stop at Moon Hill — climb the 800 steps to the arch for a view that’ll make you forget every training montage you’ve ever seen.

Day 6: Rock climbing or just floating. Yangshuo is one of the world’s best rock climbing destinations (who knew?). If that’s your thing, book a half-day climbing session for $50-80 AUD. If not, take a cooking class ($25 AUD) or just float on an inner tube down the Yulong River. I did the inner tube thing and it was the most relaxed I’ve been in years.

Getting to Zhangjiajie. Take the high-speed train from Guilin to Zhangjiajie — about 3 hours, $35-40 AUD second class. Book it on Trip.com a few days ahead.

Zhangjiajie: The Avatar Mountains (Days 7–10)

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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the reason you came to China. These are the quartz-sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar, and they’re even more mind-blowing in person. The park is massive — give it three full days minimum. I’ve written a complete Zhangjiajie travel guide with everything you need to plan the trip.

Day 7: Arrive and get oriented. The high-speed train from Guilin pulls into Zhangjiajie West Station. From here, take a Didi to the Wulingyuan entrance area ($8-10 AUD) — that’s where most of the park action is. Don’t stay in Zhangjiajie city centre (it’s 40 minutes from the park entrance).

Where I stay in Zhangjiajie. Hotels near the Wulingyuan entrance are cheap — $25-40 AUD/night for a comfortable mid-range spot. I stayed at the Pullman Zhangjiajie once ($100 AUD/night, splurge) and at a local guesthouse for $30 AUD — both were fine. The guesthouse owner made me map out my route on a paper map, which saved me hours of wrong turns.

Day 8: Yuanjiajie — the Avatar Hallelujah Mountains. Take the park bus from Wulingyuan entrance to the Bailong Elevator — the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, built into the side of a cliff. Yes, it’s a tourist gimmick. Yes, you should do it. The elevator rises 330m in under two minutes and the view as you emerge above the pillar tops is genuinely breathtaking.

At the top, walk the Yuanjiajie loop — this is where the famous “Avatar” pillar photos are taken. The First Bridge Under Heaven is a natural rock arch connecting two peaks. The whole loop takes about 2 hours at a relaxed pace.

Afternoon: walk across the Yangjiajie area — fewer tourists, more dramatic scenery.

Day 9: Tianzi Mountain and the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. Start at Tianzi Mountain (take the cable car up, $12 AUD). The view from the top platform — dozens of sandstone pillars emerging from the cloud layer — is the single most spectacular thing I’ve seen in China. If you’re lucky and the weather is clear, you’ll get the classic postcard shot.

Afternoon: head to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge ($25 AUD entry). It’s 430m long, suspended 300m above the canyon floor. If you’re not scared of heights, walk it and look down. If you are scared of heights, walk it and look straight ahead — you’ll still feel it. I’m not great with heights and I managed it. By focusing very hard on the opposite side of the bridge.

Day 10: Tianmen Mountain. Take a Didi to Tianmen Mountain ($5 AUD from Wulingyuan). The Tianmen Mountain Cableway is the longest in the world (7.5km) and the ride up is an experience in itself. At the top, walk the Glass Skywalk (a cliffside glass path — narrower and scarier than the Grand Canyon bridge) and climb the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate — a massive natural arch in the mountain.

Pro tip: go on a clear day. Tianmen Mountain is often foggy and you won’t see a thing. Check the weather forecast before booking this leg.

Getting to Chengdu. Take the high-speed train from Zhangjiajie West to Chengdu East — about 6 hours, $50-60 AUD. It’s a long ride but the scenery as you cross from Hunan into Sichuan is worth it.

Chengdu: Pandas and Sichuan Fire (Days 11–13)

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Chengdu is the most relaxed big city in China. After the intensity of Zhangjiajie’s vertical landscapes, this is where you catch your breath, eat some of the best food on the planet, and meet the pandas.

Day 11: Arrive and eat. The train from Zhangjiajie arrives at Chengdu East Station. Check into a hotel near Chunxi Road or the Taikoo Li area — central, walkable, and surrounded by good food. Hotels run $40-70 AUD/night.

Evening: Sichuan hotpot. I’m not going to recommend a specific restaurant because honestly, anywhere in Chengdu with a queue outside is going to be excellent. The broth comes in two options — mild (which is still spicy) and “I hate myself” (which is astronomically spicy). Order the beef tripe, lotus root, and tofu skin. Drink the cold tea they bring you. It helps.

Day 12: Giant Panda Research Base. Go early — the base opens at 7:30am and the pandas are most active in the morning before it gets hot. Entry is $15 AUD. Spend three hours watching pandas eat bamboo, pandas sleep, and panda cubs do absolutely nothing except be the cutest things on earth.

Afternoon: wander the Jinli Ancient Street — a reconstructed Qing dynasty street with snack stalls, souvenir shops, and a surprisingly good teahouse.

Evening: Sichuan Opera ($12-18 AUD) with the famous face-changing performance. It’s touristy but genuinely impressive — the performers change masks in a fraction of a second and you can’t figure out how they do it.

Day 13: Le Shan Giant Buddha. Take a bus or Didi (1.5 hours, $15 AUD) to see the Leshan Giant Buddha — a 71m tall stone Buddha carved into a cliff face. It’s the largest stone Buddha in the world and it’s been sitting there since the Tang Dynasty. The walk down the side of the cliff gives you a sense of just how massive it is. Entry is $10 AUD.

Return to Chengdu in the evening for one last hotpot dinner.

Getting to Xi’an. High-speed train from Chengdu East to Xi’an — about 3.5 hours, $40-45 AUD second class.

Xi’an: Where China’s History Lives (Days 14–16)

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Xi’an is the ancient capital, the start of the Silk Road, and home to the most famous archaeological discovery of the 20th century.

Day 14: Arrive and walk the City Wall. Check into a hotel near the South Gate (Yongningmen) — $25-45 AUD/night for mid-range. Rent a bicycle ($7 AUD) and ride the full 14km circumference of the City Wall ($8 AUD entry). It takes about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace and the views of old Xi’an inside the wall versus modern Xi’an outside are fascinating.

Evening: Muslim Quarter — this is Xi’an’s food soul. Grilled lamb skewers at $0.80 AUD each, hand-pulled noodles at $3 AUD, and pomegranate juice freshly squeezed. Go hungry.

Day 15: The Terracotta Army. The Terracotta Army museum is about 90 minutes east of Xi’an. Take bus Route 5 (游5) from Xi’an Railway Station — $2 AUD, runs every 30 minutes. Get there for 8:30am opening to beat the crowds. Entry is $20 AUD.

Three pits have been excavated. Pit 1 is the one you’ve seen in photos — hundreds of life-sized soldiers in battle formation. The sheer scale of it hits you when you walk in. Hire an official guide at the entrance for about $25 AUD — worth it for the context.

Day 16: Xi’an deep dive. Visit the Shaanxi History Museum (free but book three days ahead on WeChat). In the afternoon, explore the Drum Tower and Bell Tower combined ticket ($9 AUD). Or just eat your way through the Muslim Quarter one more time — I usually choose the latter.

Getting to Beijing. High-speed train from Xi’an North to Beijing West — about 4.5 hours, $60-65 AUD second class.

Beijing: The Grand Finale (Days 17–20)

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Beijing is huge, chaotic, and absolutely essential. Four days minimum. If you’re short on time, my Beijing-Shanghai 7-day itinerary is built for first-timers.

Day 17: Arrive and Tiananmen. The train from Xi’an arrives at Beijing West Station. Base yourself near Qianmen or Wangfujing — walking distance to the Forbidden City. Hotels run $55-100 AUD/night.

Evening: walk through Tiananmen Square (free, bring your passport for security). It’s politically heavy but historically essential.

Day 18: The Forbidden City. Book your tickets online at least 7 days in advance on Trip.com — they sell out fast. Entry is $10 AUD for the main complex. The Forbidden City is the world’s largest palace complex — 800 buildings, 600 years of history. Block out the full morning. Closed on Mondays.

Afternoon: walk through Jingshan Park ($1 AUD entry) north of the Forbidden City for the iconic rooftop view of the palace complex. Then wander the hutongs around Shichahai Lake.

Evening: Peking duck. Go to Sijie Minfu near Qianmen or Dongsi Shishao near the Lama Temple. A full duck with pancakes is about $20-25 AUD — enough for two.

Day 19: The Great Wall. For a first-time visitor, Mutianyu is the right choice. It’s closer to Beijing (90 minutes), beautifully restored, and has a toboggan slide down. Here’s how to do it independently:

• Book a Didi for the full day — about $90-110 AUD round trip with the driver waiting
• Or take the Beijing Tourist Bus from Dongzhimen — $25 AUD round trip
• Entry: $8 AUD
• Cable car up: $14 AUD one way
• The toboggan slide down: $12 AUD and absolutely worth it

Go early. The 8am crowd is light. By 11am the tour groups arrive. Bring water.

Day 20: Temple of Heaven and last day. Start at the Temple of Heaven ($4 AUD entry for the compound) at 7am when the park fills with locals practising tai chi and singing opera. Then visit 798 Art District — a former electronics factory turned arts precinct that would fit right into Fitzroy or Newtown.

Final evening: one last Peking duck dinner or a wander through Wangfujing Night Market for the spectacle (scorpions on sticks, anyone?).

Day 21: Fly home. Direct flights from Beijing to Sydney or Melbourne run about $500-800 AUD return if you booked ahead. Air China and Qantas fly direct Beijing-Sydney. Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) is newer and more efficient than the older Capital Airport (PEK) — check which one your flight uses.

How Much Does This Trip Cost an Australian Traveller?

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Here’s a realistic mid-range budget for 21 days, excluding your international flight. For a full breakdown at every budget level, see my China travel budget guide.

Add your international flight: $500-800 AUD if you book Sydney or Melbourne to Shanghai 6-8 weeks ahead.

Full trip total: $2,390-3,740 AUD per person for a comfortable mid-range 21-day trip.

A few real data points: I met a couple from Brisbane on this exact route who spent about $4,500 AUD total for two people ($2,250 each) including flights, staying in nice guesthouses and eating well. A solo traveller from Melbourne I ran into at Zhangjiajie was doing it for about $60 AUD/day staying in hostels. China is genuinely affordable for Australians — a meal that costs $25 in Sydney costs $5-6 in Guilin.

Culture Shocks Aussies Should Know

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I’ve been to China five times and I still get surprised. Here’s what catches most Australians off guard:

The internet is completely different. You already know Google, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are blocked. What surprised me is how much everyday life depends on Chinese apps. You’ll scan a QR code to pay for fruit, use WeChat to message your hotel, and navigate with Baidu Maps because Google Maps doesn’t work. Download everything before you leave Australia.

The queuing is… flexible. At a busy attraction entrance, it’s less a line and more a friendly scrum. It’s not rudeness — it’s just a different approach to crowd flow. Push forward politely and you’ll be fine. If you wait for someone to wave you ahead, you’ll be waiting all day.

It’s safer than any Australian city. I’m not exaggerating. I’ve walked through Beijing parks at midnight, taken the Shanghai metro at 11pm, and left my phone on a restaurant table while I went to the counter. I’ve never had anything stolen. Violent crime against tourists is almost unheard of. The biggest actual danger is traffic — look both ways twice, even on pedestrian crossings. Chinese drivers do not stop for zebra crossings.

Public spitting is normal. You’ll see it everywhere — older men spitting on the street, in parks, on the train platform. It’s culturally normal here in a way it isn’t back home. You get used to it.

Toilet paper is BYO. Public toilets across China — even relatively modern ones — often don’t have toilet paper. Carry a small pack of tissues everywhere. I learned this the hard way at a rest stop between Guilin and Yangshuo and I still haven’t recovered.

The weather is extreme. Australians are used to heat but the humidity in Shanghai and Guilin in summer is oppressive — it’s Cairns-level moisture. Beijing in winter is colder than anywhere in Australia gets. Pack accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I need to speak Mandarin? Not for this route. Major tourist attractions, hotels, and transport hubs have English signage. The big challenge is menus — use Google Translate’s camera function or look for restaurants with picture menus. I’ve travelled this route three times without speaking any Chinese beyond “thank you” (xiè xie).

Can I use my Australian bank card? Australian debit and credit cards work at most ATMs (look for the UnionPay logo). For everyday payments, link your Australian Visa or Mastercard to Alipay before you leave. It takes five minutes in the app and lets you pay everywhere. Tap-and-go isn’t a thing in China — it’s all QR codes.

Is China safe for a solo traveller? Extremely. China is one of the safest countries I’ve ever travelled in — comparable to Japan or Singapore. Women travellers I’ve spoken with on the road report feeling safer in Chinese cities than in Sydney or Melbourne at night. The main risks are traffic and food hygiene, not crime.

How bad is the jet lag from Australia? China is 2-3 hours behind Australian Eastern Time (AEST is UTC+10, China is UTC+8). Sydney-Shanghai is only a 2-hour time difference — barely noticeable. Melbourne-Shanghai same. It’s easier than flying to Europe by a long shot.

What about the tap water? Can I drink it? No. Drink bottled water. Your hotel will provide two free bottles daily. Buy more at any convenience store for about $0.30 AUD per 1.5-litre bottle. Also avoid ice in drinks from street stalls.

Do I need any vaccinations? No specific vaccinations are required for China, but routine vaccines (hepatitis A and B, typhoid) are recommended. Check with your GP or a Travel Doctor clinic 6-8 weeks before you go.

The 24-Day Extended Route: Add Yunnan

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If you have time for an extra three days, add Yunnan province between Guilin and Zhangjiajie. This is the most underrated nature destination in China:

Days 6-8: Kunming and Dali. Fly from Guilin to Kunming (1.5 hours, $50-80 AUD). Kunming is called the “Spring City” for a reason — year-round mild weather. Take the high-speed train to Dali (2 hours, $15 AUD) and spend two days cycling around Erhai Lake with the Cangshan mountains as your backdrop. Dali’s old town is a mix of Bai minority culture, hippie cafes, and spectacular scenery.

From Dali, fly to Zhangjiajie via Kunming or take the high-speed train via Guiyang (6 hours, $60 AUD).

Extended route budget add-on: About $300-400 AUD extra for the Yunnan leg including the flight from Guilin.

Ready to Plan Your Trip?

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I’ve done this exact route (minus the Yunnan extension — that one’s still on my list) and it’s the best way to see China’s natural side as an Australian traveller. The key is preparation: get your VPN and Alipay set up before you leave, book your Forbidden City tickets early, and don’t try to cram in more cities than this itinerary allows.

The single best piece of advice I can give: book your flights from Australia at least six weeks ahead. The Sydney-Shanghai route can be had for $500-600 AUD if you’re flexible on dates. China Southern via Guangzhou is often the cheapest option.

If you’ve got questions about a specific part of this route — which airline to take from your city, whether to swap a destination, or how to handle the apps — I’ve made enough mistakes that I can probably help.