INSPIRATION · ROUTE GUIDE
Where to Go in China: 7 Curated Itineraries for Every Type of Traveller
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China is vast, diverse, and impossible to experience in a single trip. Beyond megacities like Beijing and Shanghai lie ancient Silk Road desert outposts, misty quartzite mountain spires, coastal diaspora ports, and tropical island beaches.
Here is how to select your ideal itinerary — and how RÖAM’s seven curated China route packs break down the journey.
1. The First-Timer Route: Past & Future (Route 01)
Route 01: Past & Future — 17 Nights · Beijing · Great Wall · Aranya · Nanjing · Suzhou · Hangzhou · Shanghai
The definitive introduction to China. Highlights include Beijing’s Imperial Forbidden City, quiet unrestored Great Wall watchtowers at dawn, water towns in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and Shanghai’s futuristic skyline. It also features Aranya — the coastal design utopia named one of TIME Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places”.
Best For: First-time visitors, history buffs, city explorers.
2. The Nature & Landscape Route: Above the Clouds (Route 02)
Route 02: Above the Clouds — 13 Nights · Chengdu · Chongqing · Zhangjiajie · Fenghuang · Changsha
From giant pandas in Chengdu and cyber-city nightscapes in Chongqing to Zhangjiajie’s soaring sandstone peaks (the inspiration for Avatar) and Fenghuang’s ancient riverside stilt houses.
Best For: Nature lovers, photographers, dramatic scenery seekers.
3. The History & Culture Route: The Silk Road (Route 03)
Route 03: The Silk Road — 12 Nights · Xi’an · Lanzhou · Zhangye · Jiayuguan · Dunhuang
Follow the ancient trade corridor through the Hexi Corridor. Marvel at Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, the vibrant Rainbow Mountains of Zhangye, Ming Dynasty fortresses at Jiayuguan, and the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves of Dunhuang.
Best For: History enthusiasts, cultural travellers, photographers.
4. The Tropical Escape: Island Time (Route 04)
Route 04: Island Time — 6 Nights · Haikou · Sanya
Experience Hainan Island — China’s tropical paradise. Combine historical Qilou arcade street food in Haikou with turquoise ocean waters and pristine beaches in Sanya.
Best For: Beach relaxation, sun seekers, short tropical breaks.
5. The Short Break: Coast Escape (Route 05)
Route 05: Coast Escape — 6 Nights · Qingdao · Laoshan
Blend European-influenced seaside architecture and craft beer history in Qingdao with coastal hikes along Laoshan — one of China’s most sacred Taoist mountains.
Best For: Short trips, seafood lovers, outdoor hikers.
6. The Adventure Route: The Wild West (Route 06)
Route 06: The Wild West — 8 Nights · Urumqi · Turpan · Kashgar
Cross Xinjiang’s legendary landscapes. Explore Urumqi’s Grand Bazaar, Turpan’s desert oasis depression 154m below sea level, and Kashgar’s ancient Islamic Silk Road old city at the foot of the Pamir Mountains.
Best For: Adventurous travellers seeking off-the-beaten-path regions.
7. The Foodie Route: The Diaspora Coast (Route 07)
Route 07: The Diaspora Coast — 15 Nights · Guangzhou · Kaiping · Foshan · Shenzhen · Chaozhou · Shantou · Xiamen
Trace the culinary heartlands of Cantonese, Teochew, and Fujianese food. Discover UNESCO watchtowers in Kaiping paddy fields, traditional gongfu tea culture in Chaozhou, and car-free Gulangyu Island in Xiamen.
Best For: Food lovers, culture enthusiasts, heritage travellers.
Each RÖAM Route Pack contains complete day-by-day plans, vetted hotels, bilingual address cards for taxi drivers, and the 13-page Chinese Digital Kit free.