Three eras of China in one trip: imperial Beijing with the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, the ancient capital of Xi'an with the terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, and futuristic Shanghai with the Pudong skyscrapers on the other bank from the colonial Bund. The itinerary maintains a logical pace: two nights – three nights – two nights, between cities – high-speed train and one domestic flight.
The logic of the route: two full days in Beijing balance mandatory program (Forbidden City, Wall) with less touristy hutongs; transfer by high-speed train to Xi'an saves a day compared to flying considering time at airports; the finale in Shanghai — a contrast between imperial past and the country’s most futuristic skyline.
Route map
Click a day or a point of interestDay-by-day route
Check-in and First Impressions
The hotel registers your stay automatically upon check-in – this is a mandatory requirement within 24 hours of arrival. After checking in, head straight to Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world.
The Forbidden City
The former imperial palace complex—980 preserved buildings—entry is only possible with tickets purchased online in advance for a specific time slot. Allow at least 3–4 hours – the area is huge, and that’s no exaggeration from guidebooks.
Evening on Wangfujing
The city's main pedestrian shopping street—from luxury boutiques to an alleyway with bizarre street food (scorpions and seahorses on skewers are more for photos than tasting). A nice end to the first day without a packed schedule.
1 / 3 Mutianyu Section
About an hour and a half from central Beijing – less crowded and better restored than the nearby Badaling. Entrance is 40 ¥, round-trip cable car is 120 ¥ per adult (60 ¥ for children); you can hike up for free, but it’s a noticeable physical challenge with steep steps.
Walking the Wall
Even a short section between 2–3 watchtowers gives a full sense of scale – the views of the green mountains and the wall stretching into the distance are worth taking your time. It can get hot and crowded by midday in summer – it’s sensible to arrive early.
Ming Dynasty Tombs
On the way back – a complex of underground tombs of Ming emperors with a long avenue of stone guardian statues (Shendaolu). You can visit one of the open tombs or simply walk along the avenue – impressive in itself.
1 / 2 Temple of Heaven
A complex where emperors prayed for a good harvest – the circular architecture of the Hall of Prayer is remarkable, with not a single nail used in its construction. In the mornings, local retirees practice tai chi, sing together, and play cards in the park surrounding the temple—the atmosphere of city life is just as interesting as the temple itself.
Summer Palace
A vast park complex featuring Kunming Lake, Marble Boat, and Long Corridor – the summer residence of the imperial family, seeking refuge from Beijing’s heat. You should allow at least half a day for exploring; the grounds are truly extensive.
Evening in the Hutongs
The old Beijing alleyways with single-story buildings—what remains of the city before widespread modern development. An evening stroll without a fixed route, simply passing tea houses, workshops, and siheyuan courtyards, is the best way to experience everyday Beijing.
1 / 2 High-Speed Train from Beijing
Around 4.5 hours a day — tickets for popular destinations are worth buying several days in advance through the app or at the station; during peak season, places for convenient times sell out quickly.
Terracotta Army
More than 8,000 life-size clay warriors guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang — were discovered accidentally by peasants digging a well in 1974. Ticket from $28, only advance online purchase; the interface is in Chinese and requires a translator.
Xi'an City Wall
One of the few completely preserved ancient city walls in China — you can rent a bicycle and cycle around the entire perimeter (about 14 km), a great way to see the city from an unusual angle at sunset.
1 / 2 The Great Wild Goose Pagoda
A 7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to store sacred texts brought back by the monk Xuanzang from his journey to India – a prototype for the real “Journey to the West.” In the evening, there's a free musical fountain show near the pagoda.
The Hui Muslim Quarter
A dense network of streets with street food from the Hui people — lamb skewers, biangbiang noodles, pomegranate juice, sweets with nuts. One of the best street-food districts in the country – dinner here should be planned in advance, as there are many portions and options.
A Peaceful Evening After Busy Days
After two packed days in Beijing and a move — it’s a good moment to slow down, just wander around the neighborhood without a strict plan, trying everything in small portions.
1 / 2 Flight Xi'an – Shanghai
Around 2.5 hours of flight time — noticeably faster than overland options for this distance. From Pudong Airport to the city center, take the Maglev express train (the world’s fastest commercial maglev train, up to 430 km/h) to Longyang Road station, then transfer to the metro.
The Bund
Early 20th-century colonial architecture on one bank of the Huangpu River faces the futuristic skyline of Pudong’s skyscrapers on the other — a contrast for which people specifically come here in the evening when both sides are illuminated.
Yu Garden
A classic Chinese garden from the Ming Dynasty right in the heart of the metropolis – pavilions, carp ponds, winding galleries. Nearby is a shopping district with souvenirs and street food in old-fashioned style buildings.
1 / 2 Observation Decks of Pudong
The Shanghai Tower (the second-tallest building in the world) and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower with its transparent floor – both offer a panorama of the entire financial district and a return view of the Bund. Tickets to the highest observation decks are sold with time slots, so booking in advance is sensible during peak season.
Nanjing Road
The city’s main pedestrian shopping street, about 5 km of storefronts, neon lights, and street performances – from luxury boutiques to mass-market stores. In the evening, the signs are illuminated, and the street becomes a spectacle in itself.
Last Evening
A good time for a farewell dinner with a river view – many restaurants along the Bund offer tables by the window specifically for the view of the illuminated Pudong.
1 / 3 Getting to the Airport
The Maglev train to Pudong is the fastest and most impressive way to get to the airport, taking around 8 minutes over a distance that would take a regular taxi 30–40. Allow plenty of time for check-in and security when flying internationally.
Route Summary
8 days, three eras of one country — from imperial Beijing through ancient Xi’an to futuristic Shanghai. Practical lessons learned from the trip are in the postscript below.
Off the Beaten Path Notes
Set up Alipay before you arrive, not on your first day in Beijing. Linking a foreign card to Alipay/WeChat Pay via VPN from hotel Wi-Fi proved noticeably slower and more finicky than through my home internet. Without working mobile payments in China, things are awkward almost everywhere – from taxis to street food; cash is not always accepted.
Registration Upon Arrival — Don't Forget When Changing Cities
Each hotel automatically registers you upon check-in, but the requirement applies anew in each new city—Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai separately. We didn’t encounter any problems because we only stayed in hotels; when renting an apartment directly, registration needs to be done independently at the police station.
Terracotta Army — Tickets Only in Advance Online
During peak season, the daily quota sells out several days in advance—you need to book it immediately after confirming your travel dates, not upon arrival in Xi’an. There's limited English on site; the purchase interface is in Chinese—use a browser translator or book through an aggregator in advance.
High-Speed Train Saves Time Better Than Flying
Beijing–Xi’an by high-speed train takes about 4.5 hours door to door, without airport security and getting from the city outskirts. Tickets for popular routes are snapped up several days in advance—buy them through an app or at the station in advance, not on the day of travel.
Budget in Reality
For two people, excluding international flights: accommodation — around 39,000 ₽ for the entire route, transport (train, domestic flight, taxi/metro) — 21,000 ₽, food — 22,000 ₽, entrance tickets (wall, Terracotta Army, palaces) — 14,000 ₽. Totaling approximately 96,000 ₽—matched the initial estimate.
What’s Next
If you want more nature and fewer megacities—a route through Zhangjiajie's "Floating Mountains". For those who have already been to Beijing and want a deeper experience—a separate culinary route through the hutongs. An overview of China, visas, and budget is on the country page.
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