Beijing
3 nights · Dongsi / Dengshikou
A central base for the palace day and hutong walks, with a simple return after the Wall.
Beijing · 3 nights
Chengdu · 3 nights
Shanghai · 3 nights
Xi’an · 2 nightsTwo weeks west: palaces, pandas and Chongqing nights
Beijing and Xi’an for the empire, Chengdu for pandas and tea, Chongqing for hotpot and river lights, then Shanghai.
Why this itinerary works
Chengdu and Chongqing are only a short train apart, so adding Chongqing costs little; it gets two nights and one real day.
Hotpot goes to Chongqing, where eating it inside a hillside shelter is part of the city’s story; Chengdu gets tea and opera instead.
Fly Chongqing→Shanghai rather than a long rail day, and keep Shanghai’s last full day slow.
The itinerary
Beijing West (北京西) → Xi’an North (西安北)
About 4.5 hours aboard.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Xi’an
2 nights · Inside the South Gate
Walk to the city wall and keep evening food wanderings close to the hotel.
Xi’an North (西安北) → Chengdu East (成都东)
About 3.5–4 hours aboard.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Chengdu
3 nights · People’s Park / Tianfu Square
Tea, old-city walks and metro connections fit around a central base.
Chengdu East (成都东) → Chongqing North (重庆北)
About 70–90 minutes aboard; the hotel-to-hotel move needs at least half a day.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Chongqing
2 nights · Jiefangbei, near a metro entrance
A practical base for riverfront nights; choose road-level vehicle access to avoid hauling bags up steps.
Chongqing → Shanghai
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Shanghai
3 nights · People’s Square / Nanjing West Road
Central rail connections and a useful base between the Bund, old city and tree-lined western streets.
The moments you’ll remember
Jingshan’s breeze, the palace roofs gathered below.
Jingshan Park ›Cool stone underfoot, watchtowers climbing the morning ridge.
Mutianyu Great Wall ›
One clay face holds your gaze above the excavated ranks.
Terracotta Army (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum) ›A panda rolls onto its back, bamboo still in hand.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding ›A bamboo chair, a lidded cup, and nowhere to be for an hour.
People's Park (Heming Teahouse) ›Hongyadong’s stacked lights tremble on the river after dark.
Hongyadong (Hongya Cave) ›
The train slides into the building above your head.
Liziba Monorail Station (Train Through the Building) ›
Hotpot steam rises beneath the rock.
Eat hotpot deep inside the hillside ›
Afternoon coffee and plane-tree shade on your slow Shanghai day.
Wukang Road ›9 moments · swipe →
Before you go
- Hongya Cave Yejing Sightseeing Platform — arrange admission before your visit.
- Mutianyu Great Wall — Official English booking calendar: 30 calendar dates including today (up to 29 days ahead). Check that channel for your visit date.
- The Palace Museum — Official international website and 故宫博物院 mini-program: book before the visit day; same-day tickets are not sold. Sales open at 20:00 Beijing time seven days before the visit.
- Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum — Reserve your chosen date and time slot through the museum’s official website or account before travelling. Check the currently available dates in that booking calendar.
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — Official WeChat channels: ticket sales open up to 14 days before the visit.
- Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum — Official website and WeChat account: tickets can be booked up to 14 days before the visit.
Choose a dated rail or flight service before booking.
Day by day
MorningAfternoonEvening
Beijing · 3 nights
Day 1
Arrive in Beijing
Only a short lake-and-lanes walk after check-in; drop it after a late arrival.
Arrive in Beijing
Free
Day 2
The palace and its rooftop panorama
Enter through the Meridian Gate, walk north and leave by the back gate straight into Jingshan.
Day 3
Mutianyu gets the day
The afternoon is reserved for the outing and return. Leave the evening empty.
Reserved for the outing or journey
Free
Xi’an · 2 nights
Day 4
Train to Xi’an, then dinner in the food lanes
Keep morning and afternoon clear for the train, station access and check-in.
Train to Xi’an
Reserved for the outing or journey
Day 5
The Terracotta Army
Let the outing use the afternoon too. Nothing else is planned today.
Free
Free
Chengdu · 3 nights
Day 6
A wall-top morning, then rail to Chengdu
Walk one stretch of the wall near your hotel, then give the afternoon to the train.
Free
Free
Day 7
Pandas early, masks after a break
Keep the afternoon free between the panda outing and the show.
Free
Day 8
A shrine, a lane, a teahouse
Keep the evening for wandering and an unplanned dinner; hotpot waits for Chongqing.
Free
Chongqing · 2 nights
Day 9
Tea, then the short hop to Chongqing
A last bowl of tea, then the afternoon train. Hongyadong is one short evening look after check-in.
Free
Day 10
A city that keeps changing levels
Watch one train slide through Liziba, then cross the river to Longmenhao. Allow time for stairs and road levels.
Shanghai · 3 nights
Day 11
Fly to Shanghai
Keep daytime for airports and check-in. Drop the Bund walk after a late arrival.
Fly to Shanghai
Free
Day 12
Old garden, tall city
Free
Day 13
A slow Shanghai day
Sleep in, do laundry, linger over lunch. One plane-tree walk is the whole plan. For thirteen days, remove this day and one Shanghai night.
Free
Free
Day 14
Departure day
Keep the day for your booked connection.
Departure day
Free
Free
Comes with the plan
Before you go
- Hongya Cave Yejing Sightseeing Platform — arrange admission before your visit.
- Mutianyu Great Wall — Official English booking calendar: 30 calendar dates including today (up to 29 days ahead). Check that channel for your visit date.
- The Palace Museum — Official international website and 故宫博物院 mini-program: book before the visit day; same-day tickets are not sold. Sales open at 20:00 Beijing time seven days before the visit.
- Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum — Reserve your chosen date and time slot through the museum’s official website or account before travelling. Check the currently available dates in that booking calendar.
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — Official WeChat channels: ticket sales open up to 14 days before the visit.
- Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum — Official website and WeChat account: tickets can be booked up to 14 days before the visit.
Rail or flight legs need a dated service before booking.
On the ground
Buying and boarding trains →Beijing practical card →Xi’an practical card →Chengdu practical card →Chongqing practical card →Shanghai practical card →Perks on this itinerary
A small extra at selected Shanghai shops →Turn a long layover into a look at Beijing →Check the senior entry benefit before buying →Browse perks and check eligibility →Your dates, checked
Use the calendar to check holidays and typical weather. Published sessions and opening days depend on your exact dates.
Check dates →Not quite your case? Ask it.
Make it yours
Pick your dates and review how the itinerary fits your trip.