The route that explains China in one week: imperial Beijing, ancient Xi'an with the Terracotta Army, and hypermodern Shanghai — all connected by high-speed rail, no domestic flights needed.
China's classic first-trip route, refined from real itineraries; timings and prices checked July 2026.
Day one is the imperial axis: Tiananmen → Forbidden City (book ahead, passport) → Jingshan viewpoint → hutong dinner. Day two is Mutianyu for the Great Wall — cable car up, toboggan down — and Peking duck at night. Two days, the two icons, no rushing.
Beijing West → Xi'an North takes ~4.5h through the loess plateau. Drop your bags and head straight for the Muslim Quarter: roujiamo (Chinese "burgers"), biangbiang noodles, persimmon cakes — the best street-food crawl in northern China. The Bell and Drum Towers glow after dark.
The Army is ~1h northeast — go at opening (book with your passport) and see Pit 1 last if you can bear it: it's the crescendo. Back in town by mid-afternoon to cycle the full 14 km loop of the Ming city wall at golden hour — the single best thing in Xi'an that tour groups skip.
The direct train is ~6h — long but scenic and station-to-station beats two airports (flights are ~2.5h if you prefer). Arrive for the evening: the Bund at night, then a nightcap up in a skybar to see where you'll walk tomorrow.
Yu Garden at opening, the old-town lanes, xiaolongbao for lunch. Afternoon in the Former French Concession — Wukang Road, plane trees, coffee. Walk the Bund again in daylight for the colonial architecture you missed at night.
Morning choice: up (Shanghai Tower observation deck) or deep (a made-to-measure jacket from the South Bund Fabric Market — order on day 5 for pickup today). Both airports connect worldwide; leave 3h for Pudong.
| Attractions & tickets (7 days) | ~¥700 |
| Two high-speed train legs (2nd class) | ~¥1,050 |
| Metro, Didi & transfers | ~¥350 |
| Food (street-heavy, three splurges) | ~¥1,300 |
| Total | ¥5,000 + hotels |