I Used GPT to Plan a May Day Trip to Xi’an — and It Blew Everyone Away
With the May Day holiday just around the corner, it’s finally time to take a break after months of nonstop work. My girlfriend and I decided to make the most of the long weekend by organizing a family trip. We wanted something meaningful and relaxing — a perfect chance to take our parents on a little getaway.
But before we could even get started, my girlfriend raised a valid complaint:
“You never plan anything when we travel! I always end up figuring out the routes and where to eat.”
This time, I was ready to prove her wrong. With the help of AI, I decided to create a detailed, foolproof travel plan — and surprise her with how much I’ve improved. Spoiler: GPT absolutely nailed it.
A 3-Day Xi’an Itinerary? GPT Did It in Seconds
We picked Xi’an as our destination — a city rich in history and culture, perfect for our parents. I opened up XXAI, chose the newly released GPT-4.1 model, and simply typed:
“Plan a 3-day travel itinerary for Xi’an and generate it in a web format.”
In a matter of seconds, I had a comprehensive Xi’an May Day travel guide in front of me, complete with:
- Daily sightseeing schedules
- Smart time allocations
- Local transport tips
- Suggested rest stops
I couldn’t believe how detailed it was. From Terracotta Warriors to the Ancient City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, everything was laid out perfectly.
Food, Photos, and Hidden Gems — GPT Handles It All
Of course, no trip is complete without great food and Instagram-worthy photo spots. So I asked GPT to enhance the plan with:
- Photo route recommendations: Including must-see views at Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Datang Everbright City at night, and Xi’an City Wall biking
- Local foodie guide: Highlighting authentic eats like roujiamo (Chinese burgers), biangbiang noodles, cold skin noodles, and yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread)
GPT even pinpointed some trendy restaurants that are both delicious and highly photogenic — perfect for our food-and-photo-loving crew.
Maps and Navigation Links? Already Included
With the itinerary and food checklist sorted, there was only one thing missing — real-time maps and navigation. Once again, I turned to GPT:
“Add map links for each destination and route.”
Done. The guide now included clickable navigation links using Baidu and Gaode (Amap), so we won’t have to fumble around with our phones on the go. Everything is literally one click away.
When I sent the full plan to my girlfriend, she was stunned.
“You actually made this yourself? It’s so professional!” I smiled and let GPT take the silent credit.
Turning the Trip into a Social Media Moment
Then came the next challenge:
“Can you help me write a Xiaohongshu post about our trip after we get back?”
Easy. I asked GPT:
“Generate a Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) travel post template for a 3-day trip to Xi’an.”
GPT delivered a ready-to-post template complete with:
- Catchy daily titles
- Captions with personal tone
- Suggested hashtags and comment hooks
- Short scripts for photo or video content
In short, GPT just made my girlfriend’s dream of a beautifully curated social post incredibly easy. Even the captions sounded natural and engaging — no awkward translations or stiff writing.
10 Minutes, One AI, and a Travel Plan Everyone Loves
From itinerary to food guide to social media posts, the entire family travel plan to Xi’an took no more than 10 minutes to complete — all thanks to GPT.
Everyone had a say in the process. No more chaotic, last-minute decisions or aimless wandering. For the first time, our family trip feels like it’s going to be smooth, enjoyable, and efficient.
AI Is Here to Make Life Better — This Is What the Future Should Look Like
This experience made me realize one thing: Technology should serve people — not the other way around.
AI like GPT used to feel distant and complex, but today, it’s a real part of everyday life. It helped me turn a stressful planning task into something fun, collaborative, and actually exciting. And when tech improves life in these little ways — that’s when it truly shines.
So this May Day, I didn’t just surprise my girlfriend and impress my parents. I also discovered a whole new way to travel smarter, live better, and enjoy more quality time with the people I love.