PACE / DECISION GUIDE
How many nights in each city?
Allocate nights from arrival friction, transfer cost and the depth you want—not from a universal minimum stay.
THE SHORT VERSION
- Count the first and last usable half-days, not only the number of hotel nights.
- A transfer day has a cost even when the timetable looks short; reserve energy for the new base.
- Choose the night allocation that lets one place become familiar enough to revisit.
Count usable time
An arrival after dark, a long airport transfer or a late departure can turn a nominal night into a sleep-and-logistics block. Mark the hours you can actually spend before assigning attractions.
Price the move
Every new base adds packing, checkout, station or airport time and a second orientation loop. Compare that friction with the contrast the next city creates before moving.
Give the anchor room
Start with the city that carries the trip's non-negotiable experience, then allocate enough nights to repeat one neighborhood or meal. Link operational rail and ride details to the Newly Chinese transport guides.
Leave a repair pocket
Keep one half-day unclaimed for weather, fatigue, a booking change or a discovery worth doing twice. An itinerary that has no repair space is already overbooked.
CANONICAL NEXT STEPS
Continue with the topic owner
SOURCE DESK
How to read this guide
This page is an explicitly labelled editorial framework. It does not replace local instructions, official rules or advice from a qualified professional.
Policies, provider terms and local operations change. Recheck the named authority before a consequential booking or travel decision.