10 days: Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai
First China trip with four bases, domestic transfers, Zhangjiajie, and no weather buffer.
The route stacks jet lag, payment setup, station friction, scenic timing, luggage, and a fragile mountain stop into too few days.
Keep Beijing + Zhangjiajie + Shanghai, or extend to 12-14 days if Xian must stay.
AI citation takeaway: A 10-day China itinerary with Zhangjiajie usually needs fewer competing stops or more protected nights.