10-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
By the China for Travelers editorial team · Published 2026-05-15 · Updated 2026-05-20 · 10 days · Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai
Our editorial team is based in Chongqing and has not been on the ground in Beijing, Xi'an or Shanghai in 2026. This day-by-day plan draws on aggregated 2024–2026 r/travelchina trip reports, official attraction information, and published Audley / ChinaHighlights itineraries. The high-speed-rail leg times and prices below are pulled live from our 12306-sampled rail dataset, not estimated.
Budget. Budget roughly US$110–190 per person per day excluding international flights — mid-range hotels, the two HSR legs (second class), attraction tickets, and food. The two rail legs together run about ¥1,100–1,400 second class. See our China trip-cost guide for a full per-day breakdown by travel style. Full cost breakdown →
Day by day
Day 1Beijing
Arrive Beijing, ease in
- Land at PEK or PKX, transfer to a central hotel (Wangfujing / Qianmen area is walkable to the core sights)
- Low-key first evening: Qianmen pedestrian street and a first hutong walk to beat jet lag without committing to a major sight
- Set up Alipay / WeChat Pay and an eSIM tonight if you haven't already — most of the trip assumes mobile payment
Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan
- Tiananmen Square early, then the Forbidden City south-to-north (book the timed entry in advance — passport required at the gate)
- Climb Jingshan Park hill directly behind the Forbidden City for the classic rooftop panorama
- Evening: Wangfujing for dinner, or a quieter hutong courtyard restaurant
Day 3Beijing
Great Wall day trip (Mutianyu)
- Full-day trip to the Mutianyu section — restored, cable car up, toboggan down, less crowded than Badaling
- Allow 1.5–2h transfer each way; aim to be at the Wall by mid-morning
- Back in the city by evening — keep dinner simple
Day 4Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, 798
- Temple of Heaven at opening to catch local morning life in the surrounding park
- Summer Palace in the afternoon (lakeside, large — budget 2.5h)
- Optional: 798 Art District if you'd rather have a modern-Beijing afternoon than a second imperial site
Day 5Xi'an
Morning HSR to Xi'an, Muslim Quarter
Beijing → Xi'an by high-speed rail4h 10m · ¥515 – ¥578 2nd class · 32 trains/day
- Take a morning high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an (book second class in advance; passport at the gate)
- Check in near the Bell Tower, then walk the Muslim Quarter for the afternoon and dinner — Xi'an's signature food street
- Bell Tower / Drum Tower lit up after dark
Day 6Xi'an
Terracotta Army
- Full morning at the Terracotta Army (Pits 1–3); go early, it is the single most crowded sight on this route
- Afternoon back in the city: Big Wild Goose Pagoda area or the Shaanxi History Museum (free, timed ticket — reserve ahead)
Day 7Shanghai
City Wall at dawn, midday HSR to Shanghai, the Bund
Xi'an → Shanghai by high-speed rail6h · ¥233 – ¥724 2nd class · 28 trains/day
- Cycle or walk the Xi'an City Wall early before the heat
- Midday high-speed train Xi'an → Shanghai (the long leg of the trip — see the rail card for exact time)
- Evening arrival: walk the Bund waterfront for the Pudong skyline at night
Day 8Shanghai
Yu Garden, Old City, the Bund by day
- Yu Garden and the surrounding bazaar in the morning (go early — it fills fast)
- Walk the Bund by daylight, then cross to Pudong for the observation decks if the weather is clear
- Evening in the former French Concession for dinner and bars
Day 9Shanghai
French Concession, museums, or a water town
- Slow morning in the French Concession (Wukang Road, Tianzifang) — the most walkable, café-dense part of the city
- Afternoon choice: Shanghai Museum / Power Station of Art, or a half-day trip to the Zhujiajiao water town
- Last-night dinner — book anything special in advance
Day 10Shanghai
Depart
- Buffer morning for a final coffee/shopping near the hotel
- Transfer to PVG (Maglev from Longyang Road is the fast option) or SHA for the flight home
FAQ
- Is 10 days enough for a first trip to China?
- Yes, for the headline route. Ten days comfortably covers Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai with two high-speed-rail legs and no domestic flights. It does not leave room for Chengdu pandas or a scenic city like Guilin — for that you want 14 days (see our 2-week itinerary).
- Should I fly or take the train between these cities?
- Take the train. Beijing–Xi'an and Xi'an–Shanghai are both well-served high-speed-rail corridors; the rail card on each leg below shows the real duration, price and daily frequency from our 12306-sampled dataset. Trains drop you in the city centre and have no airport-security overhead.
- What is the best order — Beijing first or Shanghai first?
- Beijing first is the common choice: the heaviest sightseeing (Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army) is front-loaded while you have the most energy, and Shanghai at the end is an easier wind-down with the best departure connections.
- How much does this 10-day itinerary cost?
- Roughly US$110–190 per person per day excluding international flights, depending on hotel tier. The two HSR legs together are about ¥1,100–1,400 in second class. See our China trip-cost guide for a full breakdown by budget / mid-range / comfort.
Adapt this plan
Method. Inter-city rail figures (duration, price, trains/day) are pulled live from our 12306-sampled rail dataset and link to the full route page — they are not estimated or duplicated here. The day-by-day editorial plan’s sourcing is disclosed in the note above the fold. Tour inventory, ticket prices and opening policies change — verify specifics before you commit. Last reviewed 2026-05-20.