First trip classic: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai in 10 days
Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai
The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and the Bund, linked by fast trains. The route most first-timers should start with.
The route
- High-speed train · about 4.5–6 hFrom Beijing West. Book on 12306 or Trip.com up to 15 days ahead.
- Flight · about 2.5 hFlying is faster; the high-speed train takes 6–7 hours.
Journey times are typical. Check 12306 or Trip.com for trains on your date.
Day by day
- Day 1Beijing
Arrive, settle in, walk the Shichahai lakes and hutongs in the evening.
- Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen Square early, the Forbidden City, then Jingshan Park for the view.
- Day 3Beijing
Full day at the Mutianyu Great Wall. Peking duck for dinner.
- Day 4Beijing
Temple of Heaven at 07:00, Lama Temple, then the Summer Palace.
- Day 5Xi'an
Morning train to Xi’an. Cycle the City Wall at sunset, eat in the Muslim Quarter.
- Day 6Xi'an
Terracotta Army in the morning, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the fountain show at night.
- Day 7Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai. Evening on the Bund.
- Day 8Shanghai
Yu Garden and soup dumplings, Shanghai Museum, sunset from Shanghai Tower.
- Day 9Shanghai
Cycle the former French Concession, Tianzifang in the afternoon.
- Day 10Shanghai
Maglev to Pudong Airport.
Book before you go
- Tiananmen Square Booking requiredFree real-name booking, 1–7 days ahead, released daily at 12:00, on the 天安门广场预约参观 WeChat mini-program or the official booking website (yuyue2026.tamgw.beijing.gov.cn in 2026; the address changes yearly). Book with your passport. No walk-ins.
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum) Booking requiredBook on the official English site intl.dpm.org.cn with your passport, 1–7 days ahead. New tickets go on sale at 20:00 each evening and peak dates sell out in minutes. No same-day tickets. Beijing’s government says foreigners can book there without a Chinese phone number.
- Terracotta Army Booking requiredReal-name tickets with your passport on the official site bmy.com.cn, its WeChat account, or Trip.com. Timed entry; book several days ahead in summer and holidays.
- Shanghai Museum (People’s Square) Booking requiredEveryone needs an exhibition ticket, checked against your passport. Buy on Trip.com (the museum names it for overseas visitors), the museum’s WeChat mini-program, or at the ticket office on site.
- Jingshan Park Booking recommendedListed on bjgyol.com.cn (English option), which accepts passports. Beijing’s government also suggests phoning 010-66055431 a day ahead.
- Mutianyu Great Wall Booking recommendedReal-name tickets with your passport on the official English site en.mutianyugreatwall.com, up to 15 days ahead, or through agencies such as Trip.com. Your passport is checked at the gate.
- Temple of Heaven Booking recommendedBook 1–7 days ahead with your passport on bjgyol.com.cn (English option) or the 畅游公园 WeChat account.
- Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) Booking recommendedReal-name tickets on the official WeChat mini-program, which accepts passports. Without WeChat, staff at the south gate windows can book any remaining same-day slots.
- Summer Palace Booking recommendedOnline booking needs a mainland Chinese phone number. Without one, go to the service window at the entrance with your passport and staff will book for you.
- Xi’an City Wall Booking recommendedBuy online (official WeChat, Trip.com) or at the gate with your passport.
- Yu Garden Booking recommendedReal-name booking with your passport on the official WeChat account or Trip.com. The ticket office at the gate can help if slots remain.
- Shanghai Tower observation deck Booking recommendedBuy online (Trip.com, official WeChat) or at the counter. Sunset slots sell out first.
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