Trip Summary
China's three greatest cities in one whistle-stop week. Two days in imperial Beijing, two among the warriors and city walls of Xi'an, and a finale on the Bund in Shanghai — all connected by 4–6-hour bullet trains.
Trip Highlights
- The Terracotta Army's 8,000-strong pit — bring a wide lens
- Cycle the full 14-km circuit of Xi'an's Ming city wall at dusk
- The Bund's colonial skyline facing Pudong's neon towers
- Hutong breakfast in Beijing, Muslim Quarter lamb skewers in Xi'an
Day by Day
Day 1 — Beijing
Afternoon arrival; evening at Wangfujing and an early night.
Flight in · Beijinginternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · Qianmensouth of the Forbidden City — on the imperial axisBook → Car rental · Beijingpick up at Beijing Capital International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — Imperial Beijing
Forbidden City axis in the morning, Jingshan panorama, then the Temple of Heaven park before a duck dinner.
Stay · Qianmensouth of the Forbidden City — on the imperial axisBook → Tickets · The Palace Museumskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 3 — To Xi'an
Morning bullet train to Xi'an. Afternoon on the city wall by bicycle, evening in the Muslim Quarter for street food.
Beijing → Xi'an trainHigh-speed rail ~4.5 hBook → Stay · Xi'an Bell Towerdead-centre of the old city — walk to the Muslim Quarter and South GateBook → Car rental · Xi'anpick up at Xi'an North Railway Station on arrivalBook → Tickets · Xi'an City Wall & Forest of Stelesskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — Terracotta Army
Coach or taxi 1 h to the pits — Pit 1 first, then the bronze-chariot hall and Huaqing Palace hot springs on the way back.
Stay · Xi'an Bell Towerdead-centre of the old city — walk to the Muslim Quarter and South GateBook → Tickets · Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuangskip-the-line entryBook → Tickets · Huaqing Palaceskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 5 — Shanghai finale
Morning HSR to Shanghai; afternoon in Yu Garden's bazaars and the Bund at dusk before a late flight out.
Xi'an → Shanghai trainHigh-speed rail ~5.5–6.5 hBook → Stay · The Bundriverfront — skyline views and metro lines to everywhereBook → Car rental · Shanghaipick up at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station on arrivalBook → Flight out · Shanghaideparture flights from Shanghai, destination openBook → 
Travel in China