China in 10 days: the first-timer route our guides would plan for their own friends

Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai: four cities, three high-speed trains, one flight, and the Great Wall on day two.

Days 1–3, Beijing. Land, walk the hutongs and eat duck. Day two is the Great Wall at Mutianyu with an early start. Day three is the Forbidden City at opening, Jingshan, and the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Evening train to Xi'an (4.5 hours) or fly.

Days 4–5, Xi'an. The Terracotta Army in the morning, the city wall by bike in the late afternoon, the Muslim Quarter for dinner. Day five: the history museum and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then the afternoon train to Chengdu (3–4 hours).

Days 6–7, Chengdu. Pandas at opening on day six, then Leshan or a tea-house afternoon and Sichuan opera. Day seven: hotpot, the lanes, and the evening flight to Shanghai (2.5 hours).

Days 8–10, Shanghai. The Bund and the Old Town, the French Concession, and a day trip to Suzhou's gardens or Hangzhou's West Lake by train. Fly home from Pudong, or carry on to Hong Kong.

Swaps. Guilin instead of Chengdu for landscape over food; Chongqing added between Xi'an and Chengdu if you have two more days; Zhangjiajie if you are a hiker.