A deeper first-time route with breathing room: classic history plus pandas or landscapes, ending in Shanghai.
Split your trip into four blocks: Beijing (history + Great Wall), Xi’an (archaeology), Chengdu or Guilin (signature experience), and Shanghai (modern contrast + easy day trips).
Use this as a backbone and tailor the pace to your travel style.
Choose Chengdu for pandas and food; choose Guilin/Yangshuo for scenery and a slower nature break.
Add recovery mornings, avoid late-night transfers, and keep at least one flexible block per city.