China 10-Day Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai

Last updated: March 2026. Opening hours, ticket prices, and train times can change—verify before you go.

This route is for anyone with about 10 days who wants to cover the capital, the ancient capital, and the modern city in one go. If you have a visa or visa-free entry, enough time, and it’s your first trip to China with a goal to hit all three cities, this is the one.

Beijing shows you scale—not just how big the Forbidden City is, but the whole city’s presence. Walk from the gate tower to the Monument on Tiananmen Square and it’s a solid 10 minutes in a straight line. Xi’an pulls you back a thousand years; sunset on the city wall gives you a completely different idea of “China.” Shanghai then shows you how those two Chinas exist in the same time and space—the old buildings on the Bund and the towers in Pudong face each other across the river; stand in the middle and you get it. Link the three cities by high-speed rail and skip flying; you save airport time and the hassle of switching cities.

Is This Right For You

• ✅ Recommended for: Anyone with a visa or visa-free status, 10 days, and a first trip to China wanting to touch “capital + ancient capital + modern city”; okay with walking and willing to book the Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors in advance (no booking means no entry).
• ✅ Good fit: Anyone who prefers trains to airports; Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Shanghai are both doable by high-speed rail, with power and food on board, easier than chasing flights.
• ❌ Not recommended: You only have 7 days and want to go deeper in two cities—use the China 7-Day Itinerary: Beijing & Shanghai. You’re only in China on a 144/240-hour transit—use the transit itinerary. Or you’ve already done Beijing or Shanghai in depth and only want to add Xi’an—this pace wastes your time; use a Xi’an-only itinerary instead.
• ❌ Not a fit: If you want one or two stops per day and an afternoon nap at the hotel; 10 days across three cities will have full days, and it will be tiring, but it’s worth it.

Route Overview

Day 1: Land in Beijing—Feel the Scale

Morning / noon

• Arrive at Capital or Daxing; airport express or metro to the city is about 1 hour, taxi costs more but is simpler. Stay near Qianmen or Wangfujing, within 5 minutes of a metro station, so the next few days (Forbidden City, train station) are easy.
• If you land before noon, check in and grab a bite, then head out in the afternoon; don’t pack day one full.

Afternoon: Tiananmen Square

• Where: Tiananmen Square (free, book in advance). From the gate tower to the Monument it’s a 10-minute walk in a straight line, and you’ll want to stop for photos—first-timers often don’t expect it to be this big; the scale isn’t what photos suggest.
• How: Metro Line 1, Tiananmen East or West; bring your passport, bags may be checked.
• Time: 1.5–2 hours is enough unless you go inside the National Museum.

Evening: Qianmen Street

• Where: Qianmen, Dashilan—old street and snacks; for a proper Peking duck meal try Quanjude or Bianyifang, book ahead or queue.
• How: Walk south from Tiananmen or Metro Line 2 Qianmen.
• Cost: Dinner mid-range ¥80–200 per person.

Day 2: Forbidden City—Expect a Lot of Walking

Morning: Forbidden City

• Where: Enter at Meridian Gate, do the three great halls on the central axis, then pick East or West Six Palaces, Imperial Garden, exit at Gate of Divine Prowess. Plenty of route guides online; don’t try to see everything—after 3–4 hours your feet will complain.
• How: Metro Line 1 Tiananmen East, walk through the gate tower to Meridian Gate. Book 7 days ahead—WeChat “故宫博物院” or official site; closed Mondays, tickets go fast on holidays, no booking means no visit.
• Time: 3–4 hours. Tickets ~¥60 peak season.

Noon: Jingshan Front Street

• Exit at Gate of Divine Prowess, cross the street to Jingshan; eat somewhere on Jingshan Front Street. You still have Jingshan to climb in the afternoon.

Afternoon: Jingshan + Qianmen or Nanluoguxiang

• Jingshan: Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for the full Forbidden City view; ¥2, worth it. About 1 hour.
• Then choose: More walking at Qianmen or Nanluoguxiang / Wudaoying, or head back to the hotel—tomorrow is the Great Wall.
• Evening: Dinner in Nanluoguxiang or Guijie, or an early night near Qianmen.

Cost

• Forbidden City ¥60 + Jingshan ¥2 + meals ¥100–250 per person.

Day 3: Great Wall Day (Mutianyu)

Full day: Mutianyu

• Why Mutianyu? Badaling is packed, Jinshanling is far; Mutianyu has fewer people and enough scenery. If you only have one day for the Wall, recommend here. Cable car up, toboggan down (or walk); walk the section between towers 14–20 for the best views.
• How: Tourist bus from Qianmen or Shaoyaoju, or charter / day tour; about 1.5 hours each way.
• Time: Leave early, 7:30–8:00; back in the city by 3–4 p.m.; allow 3–4 hours on the Wall or you won’t finish the west section.
• Cost: Ticket + cable car ¥180–200 per person; bus round trip ~¥80–100 per person; charter is more but flexible.

Evening

• Simple dinner in the city; no big plans—you have an early train tomorrow.

Day 4: Temple of Heaven + Hutongs—Rest Before the Train

Morning: Temple of Heaven

• Where: South Gate in, North Gate out—Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, Circular Mound; smaller than the Forbidden City, 2 hours is enough.
• How: Metro Line 5 Tiantan East Gate. Combo ticket ~¥34.

Noon: North gate or Qianmen

• Find lunch nearby.

Afternoon: Hutongs or rest

• If you still have energy, walk Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying, or around Qianmen; otherwise pack and rest. Tomorrow you take the early train from Beijing West—check how long it takes from your hotel and allow about 40 minutes.
• Evening: Early night; breakfast at the station is fine.

Cost

• Temple of Heaven ¥34 + meals ¥80–150 per person.

Day 5: Half Day on the Train, Afternoon in Xi'an

Morning: Beijing West → Xi'an North

• Train: G-series, 4–5.5 hours (fastest ~4 h 10 min). Book an early departure (e.g. 7–8 a.m.) so you reach Xi'an North by midday and still have half a day.
• Tickets: 12306 or Trip.com (easier for foreigners); book 1–2 weeks ahead, early trains sell out. Second class ¥515–580.
• Arrival: Xi'an North; Metro Line 2 to Bell Tower or Yongningmen ~30–40 min. Book a hotel near one of those stations.

Afternoon: Check in + city wall or Muslim Quarter

• After check-in, choose: rent a bike at South Gate and ride the wall (1.5–2 hours), or go straight to the Muslim Quarter and Bell Tower. Don’t overload day one in Xi'an—tomorrow is the Terracotta Warriors.
• Evening: Muslim Quarter for roujiamo, paomo, skewers; any busy spot is fine.

Cost

• HSR ¥515–580 per person + hotel + meals ¥60–120 per person.

Day 6: Terracotta Warriors—Give It a Full Day

Full day: Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum

• Where: Pits 1–3 and the exhibition hall. Pit 1 is the largest; stand at the edge and you’ll pause—“So many.” Allow 3–4 hours or you’ll only skim.
• How: Shuttle from the train station or North Station, or Metro Line 9 to Huaqingchi then taxi/bus; charter about 1 hour. Book tickets 1–3 days ahead—official site or WeChat “秦始皇帝陵博物院”; no booking can mean no entry.
• Time: Leave around 8:00; lunch near the site or on the way back.
• Tickets: ~¥120 peak season.

Evening

• Dinner near Yongningmen or Bell Tower; early night—Shanghai tomorrow.

Cost

• Tickets ¥120 + transport ¥50–80 per person + meals.

Day 7: City Wall + Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Muslim Quarter

Morning: Xi'an City Wall

• Where: South Gate (Yongningmen) up, ride the full loop 13.7 km, about 1.5–2 hours; evening light is better, but you have the pagoda this afternoon, so morning is fine.
• How: Metro Line 2 Yongningmen. Ticket ¥54.

Noon: Near the wall or Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• Quick lunch; the pagoda area has options too.

Afternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• Where: North Square and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda / Daci’en Temple; climbing the pagoda costs extra—if you don’t care about Buddhist architecture, the square is enough; Dayuecheng mall next door is an option.
• How: Metro Line 3 or 4 Big Wild Goose Pagoda. 1.5–2 hours.

Evening: Muslim Quarter

• Dinner and souvenirs in the Muslim Quarter or Sajinqiao; early return—early train to Shanghai tomorrow.

Cost

• Wall ¥54 + pagoda area ¥50–80 + meals ¥80–150 per person.

Day 8: Train or Flight to Shanghai, Afternoon on the Bund

Morning: Xi'an → Shanghai

• Train: Xi'an North to Shanghai Hongqiao, G-series 6–9 hours (fastest ~5 h 50 min), second class ~¥680. A full day on the train but no airport run; book 1–2 weeks ahead.
• Flight: Xianyang to Pudong/Hongqiao, 2.5 hours in the air, but with airport and check-in figure 6–8 hours total. Choose an early flight if you want to save half a day; if you’re fine with the ride, the train is easier.
• From Hongqiao take Metro Line 2 or 10 into the city; stay near East Nanjing Road or People’s Square, close to the metro.

Afternoon: The Bund

• Where: Zhongshan East Road, East Nanjing Road; old buildings and Pudong face each other across the river—stand in the middle to see “two Chinas in one place.”
• How: Metro Line 2 or 10 East Nanjing Road. Allow 2–3 hours; crowds peak around sunset and when the lights go on; come earlier or on a weekday evening for a quieter experience.

Evening: Bund at night + dinner

• Eat on the Bund or East Nanjing Road; ferry to Lujiazui Dongchang Road ¥2, better value than the sightseeing tunnel, and you get the view from the water.

Cost

• HSR ~¥680 per person (or flight by cabin) + hotel + meals ¥100–200 per person.

Day 9: French Concession and Old Town—Two Shanghais

Morning: French Concession

• Where: Wukang Road, Anfu Road, Hengshan Road—walk under the plane trees, old villas, cafés, small shops; a different Shanghai from the “towers” of the Bund, slower.
• How: Metro Line 10 or 11 Jiaotong University or Shanghai Library, then walk. 2–3 hours.

Noon: French Concession or old town

• Benbang or a noodle shop; old names like Dexingguan are worth trying.

Afternoon: Yu Garden + Old City God Temple

• Where: Yu Garden (small classical garden, ticket ¥40) and the Old City God Temple area; Jiangnan feel and tourist buzz, 2 hours is enough. Skip the garden if you’re not into it and just walk the commercial area.
• How: Metro Line 10 Yuyuan.

Evening: East Nanjing Road or Bund

• Fill gaps or dinner; wind down—you’re leaving tomorrow.

Cost

• Yu Garden ¥40 + meals ¥100–250 per person.

Day 10: Fill Gaps + Depart

Morning: Gaps or shopping

• More time on the Bund if you want, or Shanghai Tower / Oriental Pearl Tower (pick one); or East Nanjing Road and Lujiazui malls. Plan around your flight or train—leave for the airport or station at least 3 hours before departure.

Noon / afternoon: Out

• Pudong airport is far; Metro Line 2 gets you there, allow over 1 hour. Hongqiao is closer. For trains, check whether you leave from Hongqiao or Shanghai Railway Station.

Getting There and Getting Around

• Beijing → Xi'an: G-trains, Beijing West to Xi'an North, 4–5.5 hours, second class ¥515–580; about 20 pairs a day, early trains go first. Book 1–2 weeks ahead on 12306 or Trip.com.
• Xi'an → Shanghai: G-trains 6–9 hours (fastest ~5 h 50 min), second class ~¥680; or fly 2.5 hours but 6–8 hours with airports. The train avoids the airport run and you can charge and eat on board.

• Metro + DiDi works in all three cities; metro accepts Alipay/WeChat or local apps.
• For foreigners, see How to Pay in China and Essential Apps for China.

Practical Information

Book These in Advance

If you don’t sort these ahead of time, you may not get in or get a seat. Not to scare you—just the reality:

• Forbidden City: Book 7 days ahead, WeChat “故宫博物院” or official site; closed Mondays, holiday tickets go quickly at 20:00—set a reminder.
• Terracotta Warriors: Book 1–3 days ahead, official site or WeChat “秦始皇帝陵博物院.”
• Beijing–Xi'an HSR: Buy 1–2 weeks ahead on 12306 or Trip.com (Trip.com is easier for foreigners); early trains go first.
• Xi'an–Shanghai train or flight: Same, 1–2 weeks; if flying, choose an early flight so timing is predictable.
• Great Wall bus/charter: If booking through a platform or hotel, confirm 2–3 days ahead.

Tips and Tricks

1. Don’t do the Forbidden City and Great Wall on the same day—both involve a lot of walking; doing them back-to-back will wreck your legs; spread over two days and it feels manageable.
2. Beijing West, Xi'an North, Shanghai Hongqiao are big stations; security queues mean allowing 20–30 minutes; bring your passport—foreigners sometimes need the manual channel for tickets.
3. Xi'an city wall is better in the late afternoon—light and less sun; in summer you can do it later or in the evening.
4. The Bund is busiest from sunset until the lights come on; for a quieter visit, go early in the morning or on a weekday evening.
5. Stay within 5 minutes of the metro: Qianmen/Wangfujing in Beijing, Bell Tower/Yongningmen in Xi'an, East Nanjing Road/People’s Square in Shanghai—you’ll thank yourself when catching trains.
6. Mutianyu has fewer people than Badaling but a longer drive; only consider Badaling + cable car if you truly have just half a day for the Wall.
7. On trains over 5 hours bring water and snacks; there’s food on board but choice is limited.

What to Cut If You're Short on Time

• Day 4 Temple of Heaven—if you’re tired, make it a half day or just Qianmen.
• Day 7 Big Wild Goose Pagoda—if you’re not into Buddhist architecture, the north square is enough without climbing.
• Day 9 Yu Garden—skip the garden and only do the Old City God Temple area if you don’t care for classical gardens.

Before You Go Checklist

• □ Visa / visa-free Confirm if you qualify for 30-day visa-free or 144/240-hour transit-free; if you need a visa, apply in time (China Visa Guide).
• □ Payment Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a usable card, or bring enough cash (How to Pay in China).
• □ Forbidden City Book within 7 days of your visit, avoid Mondays.
• □ Terracotta Warriors Book 1–3 days ahead.
• □ Beijing–Xi'an HSR Buy 1–2 weeks ahead; confirm how to get from your hotel to Beijing West and Xi'an North.
• □ Xi'an–Shanghai train or flight Buy 1–2 weeks ahead; if flying, confirm Pudong vs Hongqiao and how to reach the city.
• □ Hotels Book all three cities in advance; book even earlier for National Day or Spring Festival.
• □ Phone / data SIM, roaming, or eSIM so you have maps, translation, and payment (Staying Connected in China).

FAQ

• Doable—every day has a clear focus—but some days will be tiring. For a slower pace, drop a day in Xi'an or Shanghai or extend to 12–14 days.

• 12306 usually needs a Chinese phone number; Trip.com works with foreign cards. Use your passport to collect tickets or use the manual channel. Hotels can also buy for you—just ask.

• Book 7 days ahead when slots open (often 20:00) and try to grab one. If you really can’t, fall back to Jingshan + Temple of Heaven + hutongs, or try again for another day. Don’t book Mondays—it’s closed.

• Train: 6–9 hours on the rails but no airport hassle. Flight: 2.5 hours in the air but 6–8 hours door-to-door. Choose the flight to save half a day; choose the train for less fuss.

• Beijing: Qianmen or Wangfujing. Xi'an: Bell Tower or Yongningmen. Shanghai: East Nanjing Road or People’s Square. Near the metro matters more than near the sights.

• Yes, but tickets are harder to get and crowds are bigger; experience will take a hit. Avoid those dates if you can; if not, book everything as early as possible.

• China Visa Guide
• How to Pay in China
• Beijing City Guide
• Xi'an City Guide
• Shanghai City Guide
• China High-Speed Rail — days-beijing
• 4 Days in Beijing
• 3 Days in Shanghai