The Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai triangle is the most-visited itinerary in China for good reason: it covers China’s imperial past (Beijing), ancient history (Xi’an), and modern present (Shanghai) in a compact route that’s entirely manageable by high-speed rail. If you have 10–12 days and are visiting China for the first time, this is the itinerary.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
- Why This Route Works
- Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive Beijing
- Day 2: Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
- Day 3: Great Wall and Temple of Heaven
- Day 4: Summer Palace and Beijing Day
- Day 5: Xi’an Arrival + Muslim Quarter
- Day 6: Terracotta Warriors
- Day 7: Shaanxi History Museum + Afternoon/Evening
- Day 8: Shanghai Arrival + The Bund and Pudong
- Day 9: French Concession and Shanghai Museums
- Day 10: Final Day and Departure
- Transport Summary
- Accommodation Suggestions
Why This Route Works
High-speed rail connects all three: China’s high-speed network puts Beijing-Xi’an at 4.5 hours, Xi’an-Shanghai at 6–7 hours, or Beijing-Shanghai directly at 4.5 hours. No domestic flights needed; the train journey itself is part of the experience.
Distinct character in each city: Beijing (imperial, historical, hutong lanes), Xi’an (ancient, Muslim quarter, terracotta warriors), Shanghai (modern, cosmopolitan, art deco and skyscrapers) — three completely different experiences.
Infrastructure for foreign visitors: hotels with English staff, tourist information available, international restaurants, airports with global connections — all three cities are among China’s most visitor-ready.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Beijing
Most international flights arrive at Beijing Capital International (PEK) or Daxing International (PKX).
- From PEK: Airport Express train to city (30 minutes, ¥25)
- From PKX: High-speed train to Caoqiao station, then metro (50 minutes total)
Afternoon: Settle in; rest if jet-lagged. Short walk in the hutong neighbourhood near your hotel (Dongcheng District recommended for best location).
Evening: Dinner at a nearby restaurant; Drum Tower and Bell Tower area is a pleasant first walk.
Day 2: Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
Morning (7:30–8am): Arrive at Tiananmen Square early to see the flag-raising ceremony if interested (sunrise, timed daily — check exact time). The Square is vast and crosses ideological complexity; worth seeing regardless of perspective.
9am onwards: Forbidden City (故宫博物院). Plan 3–4 hours minimum. Book tickets online 2–7 days ahead at dpm.org.cn (required — no walk-in tickets). The palace complex is 72 hectares; you cannot see everything in one visit. Suggested route: Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Inner Palace → Imperial Garden exit at the north.
Afternoon: Jingshan Park (景山公园, ¥2) immediately north of the Forbidden City: climb to the hilltop pavilion for the most complete bird’s-eye view of the palace complex.
Evening: Dinner in the Wangfujing or Dongcheng area.
Day 3: Great Wall and Temple of Heaven
Morning (early start): Great Wall at Mutianyu (慕田峪). From central Beijing: 1.5 hours by taxi or organised shuttle. Cable car up; toboggan slide down (seasonal). Less crowded than Badaling; more intact than Jinshanling (for a half-day visit). Budget 3–4 hours.
Return: Back in Beijing by 2–3pm.
Afternoon: Temple of Heaven (天坛公园). The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) — the circular blue-roofed temple on a white marble terrace — is one of China’s most perfectly composed architectural images. The surrounding park is vast; allow 2 hours minimum.
Evening: Peking duck dinner — this is the night.
Day 4: Summer Palace and Beijing Day
Morning: Summer Palace (颐和园). The imperial garden-palace complex on the western edge of Beijing: Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor (painted scenes for 728 metres), and the Longevity Hill. Allow 3 hours.
Afternoon: Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) hutong area: coffee, snacks, and browsing. If you prefer quieter hutong streets, walk 10 minutes north to Guozijian Street.
Evening: Train to Xi’an.
Train option 1: Afternoon high-speed train (G class) — departs Beijing South Station around 3–5pm, arrives Xi’an North Station around 7:30–9:30pm (4.5 hours). ¥370–¥500 second class.
Train option 2: Overnight sleeper train from Beijing West Station — departs ~9pm, arrives Xi’an around 8am. ¥200–¥350 hard sleeper. Slower but saves a hotel night.
Day 5: Xi’an Arrival + Muslim Quarter
Morning: Arrive Xi’an; check in. Xi’an North Station is 30 minutes by metro from city centre.
Afternoon: Muslim Quarter (回民街) and Great Mosque (清真大寺). The Great Mosque is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in China — built in a Chinese architectural style with Arabic calligraphy and geometric tile work. The surrounding lanes of the Hui Muslim quarter have Xi’an’s best street food.
Street food to eat:
- Rou jia mo (肉夹馍): braised pork in a sesame flatbread (¥12–¥18)
- Biang biang mian (biang biang面): wide, thick noodles with oil-splashed chilli (¥20–¥30)
- Yang rou pao mo (羊肉泡馍): lamb soup with torn bread (¥20–¥35) — the quintessential Xi’an dish
Evening: City Wall (西安城墙). The complete 14km Ming Dynasty wall, wide enough to cycle along the top. Rent a bicycle at the South Gate and complete (or partially complete) the circuit. Dramatic at night when lit.
Day 6: Terracotta Warriors
Full day. Bus 306 from Xi’an Railway Station east plaza (¥7, 70 minutes) or DiDi (¥80–¥100, 45 minutes).
At the site: three pits to visit. Pit 1 is the most dramatic — 6,000+ life-size figures visible in the excavation trench. Pit 2 and 3 are smaller but contain more intact individual warriors. Audio guide strongly recommended (¥40 rental; or download official app for English).
Allow 3–4 hours at the site.
Optional add-on: Return via Huaqing Palace (华清宫) and Lishan Mountain — 5km from the Warriors site, shared taxi ¥15 between sites. The imperial hot spring palace and the Xi’an Incident site. Stay for the evening performance show if interested (¥198–¥298).
Day 7: Shaanxi History Museum + Afternoon/Evening
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum (陕西历史博物馆) — free entry (book timed tickets online 1 day ahead); among the best historical museums in China, covering 1 million years of Shaanxi history and the Silk Road. Allow 2–3 hours.
Afternoon: Tang Dynasty Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) and surrounding park area.
Evening: Train to Shanghai.
Train: G class high-speed from Xi’an North Station. Journey: Xi’an to Shanghai Hongqiao, approximately 6–6.5 hours. Trains depart throughout the day; afternoon trains arrive evening. ¥450–¥600 second class.
Day 8: Shanghai Arrival + The Bund and Pudong
Morning: Arrive Shanghai; check in. Recommended areas: Lujiazui (Pudong) for views; French Concession for atmosphere; Jing’an for central location.
Afternoon: The Bund (外滩). The 1.5km riverside promenade facing the 1920s European-style banking buildings — best viewed from the Bund side or from a boat on the Huangpu River. Continue to Yu Garden (豫园) in the Old Town (15-minute walk from the Bund).
Evening: Huangpu River night cruise (optional; ¥120–¥250) for the skyline view both directions. Or simply stand on the Bund after 8pm for the full illuminated effect.
Day 9: French Concession and Shanghai Museums
Morning: French Concession (法租界). Walk or cycle the tree-lined streets: Fuxing Park, Xintiandi (新天地), Tianzifang (田子坊). The most European-feeling neighbourhood in China.
Afternoon: Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆) — free, world-class collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics, jades, and calligraphy. Book tickets online. Or: Shanghai Art Museum (上海当代艺术博物馆) for contemporary art.
Evening: Dinner in the French Concession; Nanjing Road pedestrian street (南京路步行街) for the evening neon experience.
Day 10: Final Day and Departure
Optional morning: Zhujiajiao Water Town (朱家角) — 1 hour by metro+bus from central Shanghai; an ancient canal town within the city’s administrative area. Best Jiangnan water town day trip from Shanghai.
Departure: Shanghai has two airports — Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic and some East Asian international flights; Pudong (PVG) for most international long-haul. Plan accordingly.
Transport Summary
| Leg | Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing → Xi’an | G-class high-speed rail | 4.5 hours | ¥370–500 |
| Xi’an → Shanghai | G-class high-speed rail | 6–6.5 hours | ¥450–600 |
| All city transport | Metro (all three cities) | Varies | ¥3–8/trip |
Total intercity transport: ¥820–¥1,100 per person.
Accommodation Suggestions
Beijing: Dongcheng District (near Tiananmen) for convenient access to all major sights. Budget guesthouses (¥150–¥300/night) or mid-range hotels (¥400–¥800/night).
Xi’an: Near the Bell Tower (钟楼) or Muslim Quarter for walking access to major attractions. Similar price range.
Shanghai: French Concession for atmosphere; Jing’an or People’s Square for centrality. Shanghai mid-range hotels slightly higher (¥400–¥900/night).
Last updated: May 2026 · Train schedules change seasonally; book tickets on the 12306.cn app or through Ctrip for up-to-date options.