12 cities · minimum windows, not wishlists
City trips that fit your layover window
Twelve cities where long-haul flights stop, each with a route, a transfer plan, and the minimum layover it needs. For Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an there are in-depth plans hour by hour.
Browse by city
- North China
Beijing
Great Wall, imperial sights, first-time China
Window: 10+ hours recommended: the airport is far from the center
- Southwest China
Chengdu
Giant pandas, teahouses, Sichuan food
Window: 10+ hours: the panda base is outside the center
- Southwest China
Chongqing
Cyberpunk skyline, dramatic hillside geography, hotpot
Window: 8+ hours: the city center is a straightforward metro ride from CKG
- South China
Guangzhou
Cantonese food, relaxed pace, warm weather
Window: 8+ hours for a solid taste
- South China
Guilin
Karst mountains, Li River scenery, the classic China landscape
Window: 10+ hours: the airport is out of town and the scenery needs time
- East China
Hangzhou
West Lake, tea culture, temples: one hour from Shanghai by train
Window: 8–10 hours: West Lake is the draw, and the city is compact
- East China
Nanjing
Ming history, city walls, one hour from Shanghai by rail
Window: 8–10 hours: the airport is about 40–50 minutes out
- East Coast
Qingdao
German architecture, beer culture, seaside walks
Window: 8+ hours: the city center is a straightforward metro ride
- East China
Shanghai
First-time layovers, skyline views, food
Window: 8–10 hours minimum for a solid taste
- South China
Shenzhen
Modern skyline, tech markets, easy Hong Kong border access
Window: 8+ hours: the airport is close to the city by metro
- Northwest China
Xi’an
Terracotta Army, city wall, Silk Road history
Window: 10+ hours: the Terracotta Army is an hour outside town
- Southeast Coast
Xiamen
Colonial island charm, seafood, relaxed pace
Window: 8+ hours: the island is close to the airport
Layover itineraries by window
Detailed 6, 8, 12, and 24-hour plans for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi’an, each built around the return-to-airport buffer rather than the most sights.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Things to Do in Guangzhou on a Layover: 6, 8, 10, 12 or 24 HoursThe best things to do in Guangzhou on a layover, window by window: how to get in from Baiyun Airport, the 6, 8, 10 and 12-hour plans hour by hour, why to eat dim sum first, and when a layover tour is worth it.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Things to Do in Shanghai on a Layover: 6, 8, 12 or 24 HoursThe best things to do in Shanghai on a layover, by window: how much city time a 6, 8, 12 or 24-hour stop really gives you from PVG or SHA, the Maglev timings, and when a layover tour is worth it.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Things to Do in Beijing on a Layover: 6, 8, 12, and 24-Hour PlansThe best things to do in Beijing on a layover at PEK or PKX, transfer times, what fits in each window, whether the Great Wall is possible, and the mistakes that eat your day.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Things to Do in Chengdu on a Layover: Pandas in 6, 8, 12, and 24 HoursThe best things to do in Chengdu on a layover, from the giant pandas to what the Tianfu Airport transfer costs you, with realistic plans for each window.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Xi’an Layover: Terracotta Army in 6, 8, 12, and 24 HoursCan you see the Terracotta Army on a layover? The honest timing math for Xi’an, plus what to do with each layover window and how to book tickets.