The Perfect 10-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu & Shanghai
A practical 10-day route through China's four most iconic cities, with day-by-day schedules, train times, food recommendations, and honest advice on what to skip.
Why This Route Works
The Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Shanghai loop covers China's four most visited cities in a logical east-to-west-to-east arc. Every connection is a direct high-speed train under 5 hours. You see imperial China, ancient civilisation, panda culture, and modern megacity — four completely different faces of the country in 10 days.
Days 1–3: Beijing
Day 1 — Arrive and recover. Evening walk around Nanluoguxiang hutong and dinner at a Peking duck restaurant.
Day 2 — The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in the morning (book tickets online the day before). Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Sunset at Jingshan Park.
Day 3 — The Great Wall. Mutianyu section is the most accessible. Return by 4pm and spend the evening at Sanlitun or Wangfujing night market.
💡 Forbidden City tickets must be booked online in advance — walk-up entry is no longer available. Book on the official Palace Museum website at least one day ahead.
Day 4: Beijing → Xi'an by High-Speed Train
Take the morning G train from Beijing West station. Journey time: 4.5 hours. Afternoon: Walk the Ancient City Wall — rent a bike on top and cycle the full 14km circuit. Evening: Muslim Quarter street food.
Day 5: The Terracotta Army
Allow at least 3 hours on site to see all three pits. Hire an official guide at the entrance — the context makes the experience significantly richer.
Return to Xi'an for an afternoon walk around the Bell Tower. Dinner: Biang biang noodles near the south gate.
💡 Avoid the souvenir market outside the Terracotta Army — prices are triple what you'd pay in the city.
Days 6–7: Xi'an → Chengdu
Take the morning G train to Chengdu (3.5 hours). Day 6 afternoon: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Pandas are most active before 10am.
Day 7: Hot pot lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon: Wenshu Monastery and tea house culture. Evening: Optional Sichuan opera face-changing show.
💡 Ask for a split pot (鸳鸯锅) with a mild broth on one side if you're sensitive to heat.
Days 8–10: Chengdu → Shanghai
Fly from Chengdu to Shanghai (2 hours). Day 8: The Bund and Lujiazui skyline. Day 9: Yu Garden in the morning, xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung. Day 10: Tianzifang arts district before departure.
💡 Allow 90 minutes transit time from central Shanghai to either airport — they are on opposite ends of the city.
Budget Estimates (Per Person)
Accommodation: ¥200–350/night budget, ¥450–800/night mid-range.
Trains: Beijing–Xi'an ¥550, Xi'an–Chengdu ¥250, Chengdu–Shanghai flight ¥400–700.
Total 10-day budget per person (mid-range, excluding international flights): approximately ¥6,000–9,000 (€750–1,150).
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