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Overview
Three cities, yet the land has always depicted the same image: a line. In Beijing, you walk the central axis on which the palaces stand, then climb the hills behind the palace to look down on that line stretching straight ahead. North of the city, another line winds along the ridgelines, with beacon towers standing atop them. In Xi'an, the lines converge into a ring, and you cycle around the top of the city walls. In Shanghai, the line becomes water; century-old buildings and those of this century face each other across the river, with ferries shuttling between them. Three nights in Beijing, three in Xi'an, two in Shanghai. You will find that you no longer just view the pictures, but start to read a blueprint.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Please advise your preferred travel dates and number of guests. We will verify availability for the Palace Museum booking, the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi’an, and the flight from Xi’an to Shanghai, before providing a detailed written itinerary and quotation.
Why you'll love this trip
- The classic three, in order. Palace axis, Great Wall, city wall bicycles, the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 9 days from the Terracotta Warriors to a commuter ferry. See how a country draws itself.
- Standing in a pavilion on Jingshan Hill, looking back at the palace roofs: the city gates, great halls, and courtyards align in a straight line beneath you. The city is no longer a maze.
- At Mutianyu, ascend by cable car; once on the wall, walk at your own pace. Descent options depend on the day's operations and your confirmed booking.
- Identify the generals, crossbowmen and infantry in the Terracotta Army pits: each has a distinct style of armour, hairstyle and posture.
- Ride a bicycle around the top of Xi'an's city wall, with the ancient city on one side and the new city on the other: in this fleeting moment within nine days, you’ll lose track of what day it is.
- As night falls, stroll through the Muslim Quarter with your guide, who will tell you exactly what each stall serves; what you eat is up to you, and the cost is on the house.
- Accompanied by your guide, you will end the day at the Bund, staying by your side throughout the evening: on one side, the historic Bund; on the other, the soaring skyscrapers of Pudong—a city separated by water.
- Before leaving Shanghai, take a Huangpu River commuter ferry to view the architecture on both banks alongside local passengers.
Things to do
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Heritage
Viewpoint
Great Wall
Landmark
Museum
Culture
Transport
History
Active
City
Pagoda
Heritage
Museum
City
City
CityHeritageViewpointGreat WallLandmarkMuseumCultureTransportHistoryActiveCityPagodaHeritageMuseumCityCityCityHeritageViewpointGreat WallLandmarkMuseumCultureTransportHistoryActiveCityPagodaHeritageMuseumCityCityCityItinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4
· Arrive in Beijing and allow time to rest
Your driver is waiting at the airport your flight actually lands at, not the other one. The first day asks nothing of you.
· Wander the Forbidden City’s central axis and gaze back from Jingshan Mountain
The palace in the morning, the hill that explains it after. Today the city stops being a maze and turns into a drawing.
· Musyuan Great Wall by Cable Car
Today, visit the Mutianyu Great Wall; no other attractions are scheduled. After taking the cable car up, follow the city wall to view the watchtowers along the ridge.
· South down the axis, then out of town
Everything today sits on the same line, and the line ends at a railway station. You leave one old capital in the afternoon and walk out into another one in the evening.
High-speed rail
Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7
· An army you learn to read
One site, one day, and it earns the day. You come out able to tell a general from a crossbowman at twenty paces.
· Cycle the Xi'an City Wall
The old centre still has its wall all the way around, and bicycles are how you take it. Tonight the city works outdoors and you are inside that, not looking at it.
· After the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, fly to Shanghai
A slow morning inside temple walls, and the afternoon belongs to the airport. This is the day the trip changes centuries.
Flight
Shanghai · Day 8 - Day 9
· Yu Garden, Museums & The Bund at Night
A garden that will not let you see all of it, then two skylines that will not stop looking at each other. Today the trip closes the distance between old and current.
· The commuter boat, then home
Before leaving Shanghai, take a stroll on Wukang Road and cross the Huangpu River like a local commuter.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Xi'an
Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel
Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicle and transfersAir conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring in all three cities, including the full day Great Wall round trip; airport pickup in Beijing on day one and airport drop-off in Shanghai on day nine; hotel, station and airport transfers for both intercity legs
- Intercity transportItinerary Day 4: Beijing to Xi'an by high-speed rail; Day 7: Xi'an to Shanghai by flight. Actual schedules, cabin class, and coverage of costs are subject to written order confirmation.
- Hotels8 nights at your chosen level, four star, five star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Beijing 3 · Xi'an 3 · Shanghai 2
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on every touring day in each of the three cities, including the Muslim Quarter evening walk in Xi'an and the whole Bund evening in Shanghai
- Tickets and experiences, BeijingTiananmen Square, timed entry reserved by us, with guide commentary on the square · the Forbidden City central axis, timed entry reserved by us · Jingshan Park · Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car up and toboggan down, both included in the base price · Temple of Heaven through ticket, including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar · National Museum of China, reservation made by us, admission free of charge
- Tickets and experiences, Xi'anThe Terracotta Warriors · Xi'an City Wall with the wall-top bicycle rental for the agreed riding slot · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area, meaning the Da Ci'en Temple grounds · Bell and Drum Tower square area and the Muslim Quarter evening walk, guide accompanied
- Tickets and experiences, ShanghaiYu Garden with the old city walk · Shanghai Museum, reservation booked by us, admission free of charge · Former French Concession and Wukang Road walk · Huangpu River ferry fare · the Bund in the evening, guide accompanied
- In-park transportThree items only, all named above: the Mutianyu cable car and toboggan · the Xi'an City Wall bicycle · the Huangpu River ferry. No other shuttle, buggy or cable car is included
- Meals8 hotel breakfasts, days two through nine. This route carries no arranged lunch and no arranged dinner
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into Beijing and out of Shanghai. Connecting sectors through a third hub are also on your account
- VisasVisa fees and application procedures; check the official policy regarding whether a visa is required based on your passport, itinerary, and travel dates.
- Lunches and dinnersAll lunches and all dinners, recommended and booked by your guide, on your account. This includes the street food and the tea houses along the Muslim Quarter evening walk, and all dining along the Bund.
- Separately ticketed items inside the sitesNamed one by one: climbing the Tian'anmen rostrum · the separately ticketed special galleries inside the Forbidden City · climbing the pagoda body at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · climbing the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower · the electric shuttle inside the Terracotta Warriors site · the Qin Shi Huang mausoleum park as a separate visit. Any of these can be added and is priced separately when you choose it
- Extra nightsNights before day one and nights after day nine
- PersonalGratuities · single or extra room difference · laundry · excess baggage · personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow the calendar, a reservation system or a supplier's confirmation. Here they are, told straight.
- Two airports in Beijing — Beijing Capital and Beijing Daxing are far apart and serve different airlines, so your flight number and arrival airport are included in your confirmation before the pickup is scheduled.
- Departure dates — Opening hours and reservation availability for the Forbidden City depend on your travel date; in the event of a closure day, we will confirm with you any adjustments to the Beijing itinerary.
- Reservation booked sites — Opening hours and booking rules for the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, and the Shanghai Museum are subject to your travel dates; specific visiting times will be confirmed in your written itinerary.
- The national holiday week — For itineraries departing during the National Day holiday (1–7 October), we will first verify booking availability for the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors, as well as seat availability on the Beijing–Xi'an high-speed train and the Xi'an–Shanghai flight; final order details are subject to actual confirmation.
- Crowds at the warriors — This site attracts very large crowds during the high season. The visit is scheduled early in the day, and your guide routes you along the pits accordingly. What we do not do is promise you a quiet hall.
- Seat class and cabin class — The schedules, seat classes, and fares for the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an and the flight from Xi'an to Shanghai are subject to written quotations and order confirmations.
- Group — Private itinerary, available from just one guest; final group size and vehicle arrangements to be confirmed upon booking.
- Visa window — Entry and visa-exemption requirements depend on your passport, mode of entry, number of days staying, and travel dates. Please check official policies before booking and departing.
- US passports — Travellers holding a US passport should also check the entry requirements applicable to their specific itinerary and allow sufficient time for any visas they need to obtain.
- Arrivals from southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand — Inbound international flights to Beijing and required transit connections are arranged separately based on your departure city and date; pick-up times are subject to the actual flight arrival time.
- Departure day timing — Day nine includes a morning of touring, so your departure flight time is checked before quoting to ensure a clean drop-off window.
- Confirmation and changes — Please refer to the written order for confirmation deadlines, changes, and refund conditions. When rescheduling, please re-verify high-speed rail, flight, venue reservations, and hotel bookings.
Is Nine Days Your Length?
Fewer than nine days, or more?
Fewer than nine days, or more?
The three cities come apart cleanly: Beijing and Xi'an each stand on their own, and Shanghai works as an exit city on its own two nights. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we cut cities rather than compress days.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private itinerary, available from one guest; specific group size and vehicle arrangements to be confirmed upon order.
- Pace
- 9 days, 3 cities: 3 nights in Beijing, 3 nights in Xi'an, and 2 nights in Shanghai. The two intercity transfers are scheduled for the afternoons; specific train or flight numbers and the daily itinerary order are subject to order confirmation.
- Effort
- Moderate city walking with two long site days, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. The wall climb is by cable car and the descent by toboggan; the Xi'an City Wall is ridden. The Forbidden City is walked as one line with places to sit
- Cities of entry and exit
- Beijing in, Shanghai out. Airport pickup on day one, airport drop-off on day nine. Beijing has two airports and your pickup follows the one you actually land at
- Visas
- Check official visa and visa-exemption policies against your passport, mode of entry, permitted length of stay, and travel dates.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking local guides in all three cities, on every touring day
- Season
- Please verify venue capacity, high-speed rail availability, and flight seats in advance for public holidays and peak seasons. Specific arrangements are subject to the written itinerary.
- Payment
- This route is available to book; deposit, balance, amendment and refund terms are subject to the written quotation and order terms.
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
It is three nights in Beijing, three in Xi'an and two in Shanghai, which means you unpack three times in nine days rather than every morning. Both intercity moves go in the afternoon, and each of those days carries a light morning ahead of it. The two heavy days, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors, are given a whole day each with nothing else on them. What nine days will not give you is a fourth region: pandas and mountain scenery need more days, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a coach schedule.
Yes, and here is exactly how it works. The palace is reservation only, the window opens seven days ahead, and the booking system is hard to use on a non-Chinese phone number, so we book your slot rather than leaving it to you. We cannot control how fast a given day sells out, so if your slot cannot be secured for day two, we move the palace within your Beijing nights instead of dropping it. You are told the position before you pay. Your dates are also set so that day two never lands on a Monday, when the palace closes.
In high season this site draws very heavy crowds, and in the October 1 to 7 holiday week the whole country is on the move. We do not promise you a quiet hall, because nobody can. What we do: set the visit early in the day, route you along the pits against the flow, and for holiday week departures verify reservation availability here and at the Forbidden City plus seats on both intercity legs before your order is confirmed. Either way your guide gets you to the rail on the long side of pit one, which is the view the site is famous for.
Lunches and dinners, all of them: your guide recommends and books, and you pay. That is a deliberate choice on a route that runs through the Muslim Quarter and the Bund. Also on your account: international flights, Chinese visa fees if your passport needs one, and a named list of separately ticketed items inside the sites. That list is the Tian'anmen rostrum · the special galleries inside the Forbidden City · climbing the pagoda body at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · climbing the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower · the electric shuttle inside the Terracotta Warriors site · the Qin Shi Huang mausoleum park. Each of those can be added and is priced separately when you choose it, and none of them is added by default.
Most guests on this route do not. UK, Irish and most European passports enter visa free for stays days. Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports the same. Before you pay we check your 9 days plus any extra days in China against that window. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, so departures on or before December 23, 2026 finish inside it. US passports are different: the US is not on that list, so every US guest on this route holds a Chinese tourist or business visa, including a 10 year multiple entry one. The fee and the appointment are on your own account. We confirm visa status before any payment, and if the dates do not fit, we say so instead of selling.
