14 days · Solo female
7 Days in China — Solo Female Travel (Beijing · Chengdu · Leshan · Yangshuo · Shanghai)
Seven days across five destinations covering imperial history, pandas, giant Buddhas, karst rivers, and a modern megalopolis. This itinerary moves fast — it's a sampler trip requiring trains and flights but rewards with extraordinary range. This preview covers the first 7 days of a 14-day trip — claim it to build the full itinerary with Voyaige.
Built for solo female spending 14 days in China (Beijing, Chengdu, Leshan, Mt. Emei, Yangshuo, Shanghai)
Budget Estimate
$665
~$95/day for 14 days · USD
Before You Go
Apply for a China tourist visa (L-visa) at least 3–4 weeks before departure; required for most non-Chinese passport holders.
Purchase a VPN (ExpressVPN or Astrill recommended) and install it before landing — you cannot download it inside China.
Get a China-compatible eSIM (Airalo, Saily, or China Unicom international) before departure for mobile data without firewall restrictions.
Set up Alipay International with a foreign credit card linked before arrival; WeChat Pay also works for foreigners now via foreign cards.
Book the Impression Liu Sanjie show in Yangshuo in advance online as it sells out, especially in peak season.
Good to Know
Alipay's international version accepts Visa/Mastercard — load it before arrival and it covers 95% of daily payments including street food.
A VPN must be downloaded before entering China; once inside, the App Store and Google Play are blocked without one already running.
Didi (China's Uber) works with a foreign phone number and Alipay; it's the safest solo ride option in any city.
Translate key phrases into offline Google Translate or Pleco before arrival — rural areas like Emei and Leshan have near-zero English signage.
High-speed rail (HSR) is always preferable to flying for trips under 4 hours; no airport hassle and city-center to city-center.
Solo female travelers are generally very safe in Chinese cities; still use your standard solo judgment in rural night settings.
Screenshot your accommodation addresses in Chinese characters — show the screen to taxi or Didi drivers instead of speaking the address.
Day by Day
Beijing: Imperial Core
Tiananmen Square & Gate
Walk the vast square at opening hour before crowds arrive.
FreeForbidden City (Palace Museum)
Enter through Meridian Gate; follow the central axis north to Jingshan.
¥60 (~$8)Jingshan Park
Climb the hilltop pavilion for the best rooftop view of the Forbidden City.
¥2 (~$0.30)Nanluoguxiang Hutong Walk
Explore this well-preserved hutong lane packed with local shops and cafes.
FreeDrum Tower Area
Climb Drum Tower and catch the 5:30 PM drum performance.
¥30 (~$4)Houhai Lake Evening Walk
Stroll the bar-lined lake shore; skip the overpriced bars, enjoy the atmosphere.
FreeWhere to eat
Street stall near Tiananmen
Jianbing (egg crepe) for ¥8
Beihai Park area restaurants
Zhajiangmian noodles, local staple
Kaorouji, Houhai
Grilled lamb; riverside outdoor seating
Beijing: Great Wall at Mutianyu
Bus 916 + shuttle to Mutianyu
Take Bus 916 from Dongzhimen then local minibus; arrives around 10 AM.
¥35 (~$5) totalMutianyu Great Wall
Ride the cable car up; walk the restored eastern section away from crowds.
¥65 cable car + ¥35 entry (~$14)Toboggan descent
Slide down the metal luge track — fastest and most fun way down.
¥100 (~$14)Return to Beijing & Temple of Heaven
Catch afternoon light in the park; watch locals do tai chi and kite flying.
¥30 (~$4)Wangfujing Night Snack Street
Browse exotic street snacks; scorpions are a tourist photo op, not mandatory eating.
¥20–50 (~$3–7)Where to eat
Hotel or hostel
Eat early before 7:30 AM departure
Mutianyu village restaurants
Basic noodles and dumplings, ¥30–50
Da Dong Roast Duck, Dongcheng
Book same-day walk-in; splurge meal
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Fly to Chengdu: Pandas & Hotpot
Beijing to Chengdu flight
Early flight (~2.5 hrs); book aisle seat for speed through Chengdu Shuangliu Airport.
¥400–700 (~$55–100)Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Arrive before 11 AM — pandas are most active in morning feeding hours.
¥55 (~$8)Check into hostel, Kuanzhai Alley area
Drop bags and orient yourself in Chengdu's historic alley district.
¥100–180/night (~$14–25)Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys)
Walk both alleys for Qing-dynasty architecture and artisan snack stalls.
FreeWenshu Monastery
Chan Buddhist temple with active worshippers; serene contrast to the touristy alleys.
FreeSichuan Hotpot dinner experience
Solo hotpot is fine — order individual pot; specify mild unless you want the heat.
¥80–120 (~$11–17)Where to eat
Beijing airport or hotel
Grab before 6 AM departure
Panda Base canteen or nearby
Quick noodles; don't linger long
Haidilao or local hotpot, Jinjiang
Haidilao has English menus
Leshan Giant Buddha & Mt. Emei Base
Chengdu to Leshan by high-speed train
HSR from Chengdu East takes ~40 min; taxis to Giant Buddha from Leshan station.
¥34 (~$5)Leshan Giant Buddha
Take the boat tour first for the full-scale view, then walk the cliffside stairs down.
¥90 entry + ¥70 boat (~$22)Leshan old town walk
Wander Leshan's riverside streets; try bo bo ji (skewered cold dishes).
Free / ¥20 snacksBus to Mt. Emei base (Baoguo Temple)
Bus from Leshan to Emei Town takes ~40 min; check in at guesthouse near Baoguo.
¥10–15 bus (~$2)Baoguo Temple Evening Visit
Active monastery at mountain base; attend evening prayers if timing allows.
¥8 (~$1)Where to eat
Chengdu hostel area
Eat before 7 AM departure
Leshan Old Town street food
Bo bo ji skewers, ¥0.50 each
Guesthouse restaurant, Baoguo
Simple Sichuan home cooking
Mt. Emei Summit & Fly to Yangshuo
Mt. Emei cable car to Golden Summit
Take shuttle bus from Baoguo to Leidongping, then cable car up to 3,077m summit.
¥30 shuttle + ¥65 cable car (~$13)Golden Summit (Jinding)
Sunrise at the gilded Huazang Temple with cloud-sea views if weather cooperates.
Included in ¥160 park entryDescend and return to Chengdu
Take cable car down and shuttle back; HSR to Chengdu then taxi to airport.
¥10–35 transport (~$5)Fly Chengdu to Guilin, transfer to Yangshuo
Flight ~1.5 hrs; take bus or shared van from Guilin Airport directly to Yangshuo.
Flight ¥300–600 + ¥45 bus (~$50–90)West Street (Xi Jie) Evening Stroll
Yangshuo's backpacker hub; pick up maps, grab beer, meet other travelers.
FreeWhere to eat
Guesthouse or summit vendors
Summit instant noodles are ¥15, eat early
Chengdu airport or train station
Transit day; grab and go
West Street, Yangshuo
Beer fish is the local specialty
Yangshuo: Li River, Karst Cycling & Night Show
Bicycle rental and karst valley ride
Rent a bike (¥20/day) and cycle Moon Hill and farmland roads through karst peaks.
¥20 bike rental (~$3)Moon Hill Hike
30-minute climb to the natural arch with panoramic views of rice paddies.
¥15 (~$2)Yulong River Bamboo Rafting
Short raft ride on the quieter Yulong River; far less crowded than the Li River.
¥120–150 (~$17–21)Return to town, rest and refresh
Return bikes; shower at guesthouse before evening plans.
FreeImpression Liu Sanjie Light Show
Zhang Yimou's outdoor spectacle using the Li River and karst peaks as stage.
¥188–338 (~$26–47)Where to eat
Guesthouse or West Street cafe
Western or congee options available
Countryside farmhouse near Moon Hill
Point-and-order; ¥30–50 total
Under One Roof or local restaurant, West Street
Beer fish and bamboo rice
Yangshuo to Shanghai: Urban Finale
Morning Li River walk or market
Walk Yangshuo's local produce market before catching transport to Guilin.
FreeBus to Guilin, fly to Shanghai
Bus to Guilin Airport (~1.5 hrs); flight to Shanghai Pudong ~2 hrs.
¥45 bus + ¥400–700 flight (~$60–100)The Bund riverside walk
Arrive on the Puxi side; walk the Bund waterfront facing Pudong's skyline.
FreeFormer French Concession exploration
Walk Wukang Road and Anfu Road for art deco mansions, boutiques, and cafes.
FreeXintiandi food and drinks
Renovated Shikumen-style district perfect for a final evening meal or cocktail.
¥80–150 (~$11–21)Huangpu River Night Cruise
Short 1-hour cruise showing both the Bund and Pudong skyline illuminated.
¥100–150 (~$14–21)Where to eat
West Street, Yangshuo
Eat before 9 AM departure
Airport or grab-and-go
Transit day; keep it light
Xintiandi or nearby, Shanghai
Xiaolongbao at nearby Din Tai Fung
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