Is this route right for you?
Three cities. A thousand discoveries. This route is a starting point for travelers who want a manageable mix of sightseeing and time to explore. Tell us if food, hiking, museums or family time should lead the plan.
Your journey, day by day
Days 1–3 · Beijing, hutongs and the Great Wall
Arrive in Beijing and keep the first evening gentle. Use the next day for the Forbidden City area and the view from Jingshan Park; reserve the following day for the Great Wall. Add a hutong walk when energy allows rather than packing every hour.
Day 4 · transfer to Xi’an
Travel from Beijing to Xi’an. Compare the actual train and flight options, including transfers at both ends. After check-in, choose a nearby restaurant and save major sightseeing for the next day.
Days 5–6 · Terracotta Warriors and the old city
Dedicate one day to the Terracotta Warriors outside the city. Use the other for the city wall and old neighborhoods, with time to try local noodles. Keep your museum and ticket reservations aligned with opening days.
Day 7 · transfer to Shanghai
Continue to Shanghai and settle into your hotel. If arrival time allows, take an easy evening walk near the Bund. Avoid booking a timed activity too close to your arrival.
Days 8–9 · Shanghai, gardens and the Bund
Combine the Bund and a river crossing on one day. Use the other for the old city, a garden visit and quieter tree-lined streets. Choose a museum or food walk based on your interests rather than adding another long-distance day trip.
Day 10 · departure
Leave time for packing and the airport transfer. If your flight is late, arrange luggage storage and choose a nearby activity that you can shorten easily.
How the route fits together
The proposed order is Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai. Compare rail and air options by door-to-door travel time, not just time on board. Avoid a demanding activity immediately after a long international flight.
Help you can add
You book hotels and most tickets yourself, and your personal travel concierge is on WhatsApp for questions along the way. If some days feel harder than others, have us arrange help just there:
- Arrival in Beijing: airport transfer, so you are met at arrivals instead of working out taxis and apps after a long flight.
- Forbidden City: attraction tickets, because entry needs a passport-based reservation that often sells out.
- Great Wall day: private driver, to reach Mutianyu or Jinshanling on your own schedule, without a tour bus.
- Beijing to Xi’an: train tickets, if you would rather not book through a Chinese app.
- Terracotta Warriors day: local guide for a day, who explains the pits and handles the transport out of the city.
- Xi’an to Shanghai: train tickets, if you would rather not book through a Chinese app.
- Shanghai: local guide for a day, for the old city, gardens and food, if you want the stories behind them.
- The whole trip: personal travel concierge, $9 a day: a real person to message when an app, a menu or a plan stops working.
Each add-on is quoted and booked on its own. Nothing here is a package.
Make it yours
Add rest days, shorten walks, change hotel style or focus on a special interest. Your concierge can adapt the route to your dates and pace with you.
Planning to follow this route? Get a free quick check of your version, or travel it with a personal concierge on WhatsApp for $9 a day.