Beijing
4 nights · Dongsi / Dengshikou
A central base for the palace day and hutong walks, with a simple return after the Wall.
Beijing · 4 nights
Chengdu · 4 nights
Shanghai · 3 nights
Xi’an · 2 nightsPalaces, pandas and Shanghai in two weeks
The palace, Wall and warriors, then Chengdu’s tea tables and Shanghai’s river lights.
Why this itinerary works
Give Beijing’s palace and Wall their own days before moving west to Xi’an.
Four Chengdu nights give you pandas, a shrine-and-lanes day and a whole day to slow down.
Three Shanghai nights leave room for the garden, skyline and leafy streets. Shorter versions keep the slow Chengdu day.
The itinerary
Beijing West (北京西) → Xi’an North (西安北)
About 4 hours 30 minutes 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)
Approximately four hours aboard.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Chengdu
4 nights · People’s Park / Tianfu Square
Tea, old-city walks and metro connections fit around a central base.
Chengdu → Shanghai
Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes in the air.
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 afternoon view gathers the palace into golden rows.
Jingshan Park ›Morning wind follows the Wall from one watchtower to another.
Mutianyu Great Wall ›
Skewers sizzle in Xi’an’s food lanes as dinner gets going.
Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street) ›
One clay face holds your gaze above the excavated ranks.
Terracotta Army (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum) ›A bamboo chair and hot tea after the train to Chengdu.
People's Park (Heming Teahouse) ›Bamboo crunches between a panda’s paws at breakfast.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding ›At Shufeng Yayun, a sleeve flicks and another face appears.
Watch face-changing at Shufeng Yayun ›
Shu Daxia’s broth bubbles as chopsticks meet over the pot.
Eat hotpot at Shu Da Xia on Chunxi Road ›Pudong lights ripple across the river on your first Shanghai evening.
The Bund (Viewing Platform) ›
Afternoon coffee cools beneath Wukang Road’s plane trees.
Wukang Road ›10 moments · swipe →
Before you go
- 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 · 4 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
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
Day 4
Temple morning, then time for yourself
One local morning visit, with the afternoon open before changing cities tomorrow.
Free
Free
Xi’an · 2 nights
Day 5
Move to Xi’an
Reserve daytime for the rail journey and check-in; walk out only for dinner.
Free
Free
Day 6
A day for the Terracotta Army
Leave the afternoon and evening clear for the full outing, return and rest.
Free
Free
Chengdu · 4 nights
Day 7
Rail to Chengdu, then take a seat
The move uses at least half a day. Keep tea short and only if the venue is open when you arrive.
Free
Free
Day 8
Pandas early, masks after a break
Keep the afternoon free between the panda outing and the Shufeng Yayun show.
Free
Day 9
A shrine, a lane and a bubbling pot
Day 10
A slow Chengdu day
One short lane walk is enough. Keep the rest for laundry, another tea table or doing very little.
Free
Free
Shanghai · 3 nights
Day 11
Fly to Shanghai
Keep daytime for airport transfers, the flight and check-in. Drop the Bund walk after a late arrival.
Fly to Shanghai
Free
Day 12
Old garden, tall city
Free
Day 13
Museum details and tree-lined streets
Leave a generous cross-city travel and lunch break. For thirteen days, remove this day and one Shanghai night; for twelve, also remove Beijing day four and one Beijing night. Retain the Chengdu slow day.
Free
Day 14
Departure day
Keep the day for your booked connection.
Departure day
Free
Free
Comes with the plan
Before you go
- 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 →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.