--- title: "Four Lines, One Country" description: "9 days from the Terracotta Warriors to a commuter ferry seeing how a country draws itself" type: "tour" route_id: "beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days" total_days: 9 price: 3230 highlights: ["Beijing", "Xi'an", "Shanghai"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days" locale: "en-GB" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days"} --- # Four Lines, One Country 9 days from the Terracotta Warriors to a commuter ferry, seeing how a country draws itself The classic three, in order. Palace axis, Great Wall, city wall bicycles, the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city. - Moderate city walking, with two long site days. The Great Wall climb is done by cable car and the descent by toboggan. The city wall in Xi'an is ridden, not walked. ## Overview Three cities, and the country keeps drawing the same thing: a line. In Beijing you walk the axis the palace was built on, then climb the hill behind it and look straight back down that line. North of the city another line runs along a ridge, with watchtowers standing on it. In Xi'an the line closes into a ring, and you ride a bicycle around the top of it. In Shanghai the line is water, one century of buildings on one bank and this century on the other, with a working ferry crossing between them. Three nights in Beijing, three in Xi'an, two in Shanghai. You'll find you have stopped looking at pictures and started reading a plan. — LyrikTrip travel designers Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who is coming. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. On this route we will also tell you plainly, before you are asked for anything, where the Forbidden City reservation and the two intercity legs stand for your exact dates. ## Summary - Route ID: beijing-xian-shanghai-9-days - Duration: 9 days / 8 nights - Starting price: $3,230 - Status: active - Highlights: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1ANRdHZy.webp ## Hero tags - private - From 1 guest - Max: no fixed limit ## Highlight notes - 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. ## Selling points - Stand at the pavilion on Jingshan and look back over the palace roofs: the gates, the halls and the courtyards line up beneath you in one straight run, and the city ceases to be a maze. - Ride the cable car up to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and take the toboggan back down: the whole morning goes to the wall itself, and nobody in your party climbs a step to get there. - Come out of the Terracotta Warriors able to tell a general from a crossbowman: after an hour with your guide, the ranks stop being a crowd of statues and become an army with jobs in it. - Ride a bicycle right around the top of the Xi'an City Wall, with the old city on one side and the new one on the other: this is the hour of the nine days when you forget what day it is. - Explore the Muslim Quarter after dark with your guide at your side, explaining what each stall is really up to: what you eat there is your own choice and on your own tab. - End a day on the Bund with your guide there for the whole evening: the old waterfront on one bank, the Pudong towers on the other, one city looking at itself across the water. - Leave China on the boat people take to work: the last thing you do here is a river crossing that costs the locals their morning change. ## City highlights - Beijing (3 days): Land, and let the day go - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9pzYdbqO.webp - Xi'an (3 days): South down the axis, then out of town - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hYXcQ1ub.webp - Shanghai (3 days): A courtyard, then air - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4EbDdFHb.webp ## Experiences The classic three, in order. Palace axis, Great Wall, city wall bicycles, the Bund, with English-speaking guides city by city. - The Forbidden City (Beijing): The palace from which the Ming and Qing courts governed the country, completed in 1420 and inhabited for five centuries. You walk a single axis: the ceremonial halls, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden, then out through the north gate to Jingshan. Entry is by timed reservation, and the booking system does not work well with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books your slot and by when. The admission itself is included in the base price. Audio guides and guides hired inside the palace are not. Guests often find the site tiring, so the route is limited to that single line with places to sit, and no departure places this day on a Monday, when the palace is closed. - Subtitle: the palace from which the Ming and Qing courts governed the country, completed in 1420 and inhabited for five centuries. - Tags: Heritage - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: the palace from which the Ming and Qing courts ran the country, completed in 1420 and inhabited for five centuries. You walk one axis: the ceremonial halls, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden, then out through the north gate to Jingshan. Entry is by timed reservation and the booking system sits poorly with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books your slot and by when. The admission itself is in the base price. Audio guides and guides hired inside the palace are not. Guests regularly find the site tiring, so the route is cut to that single line with places to sit, and no departure puts this day on a Monday, when the palace closes. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f313a6dab74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8a6cdb9ca2b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/de8d1138706b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cb45218f2b95.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/08a2b46a7206.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/43c9d4d18be6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/49598606918a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17cfe569ced7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/aff552490ca6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/db0255c2930c.jpg - Jingshan Park (Beijing): Jingshan Park offers one of the best classic views across the Forbidden City rooftops. - Subtitle: A hilltop view over imperial Beijing - Tags: Viewpoint - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: A short climb rewards travellers with a strong city overview. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/408fc381c4b4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f313a6dab74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6a3ff539ffc8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2c700baa4e73.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/00decb026e42.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51ec43ea0513.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9604ef61c628.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7dc03e9310a1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/964e96f11238.jpg - Mutianyu Great Wall (Beijing): A well-restored Great Wall section with open views and easier walking conditions for first-time visitors. - Subtitle: A classic Great Wall section near Beijing - Tags: Great Wall - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: A refined Great Wall experience with flexible cable car or walking options. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f6c07b2f8772.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3a661e194c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b0f83ddd1e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7207d6532c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e88879531691.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/926d916b9408.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/91465599744f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a720fb1678e6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/608cdc21a04d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b968ec44131.jpg - Tian'anmen Square (Beijing): Tian'anmen Square introduces the scale and symbolism of modern Chinese public space. - Subtitle: Beijing's monumental civic landmark - Tags: Landmark - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: A central orientation stop before or after the Forbidden City. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6a275c3e50d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e544ca01550e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b85b763e11cd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a724165b0cc6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/410246e2d66a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/600867e7a2ef.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cd9c3a758365.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/86b6ca981b8d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/50c2c4037905.jpg - National Museum of China (Beijing): the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy. Two hours here puts the objects behind the last nine days into one room, which is why it sits on the day you leave Beijing. Entry is by timed reservation and the system sits poorly with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when. Admission is in the base price; audio guides and guides hired inside are not. - Subtitle: the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy. - Tags: Museum - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: the national collection on the east side of the square: bronzes, ceramics, Buddhist figures, calligraphy. Two hours here puts the objects behind the last nine days into one room, which is why it sits on the day you leave Beijing. Entry is by timed reservation and the system sits poorly with overseas mobile numbers, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when. Admission is in the base price; audio guides and guides hired inside are not. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cf05dc82e49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d076400ad86d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/55ab6f174707.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dcce08639678.jpg - Temple of Heaven (Beijing): Temple of Heaven combines Ming dynasty ritual architecture with Beijing's lively park culture. - Subtitle: An imperial ritual site with local life - Tags: Culture - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Pairs grand ceremonial architecture with everyday local morning activity. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0d9ea5fe76e1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/db9b46f1b9cf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c545d9594e74.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dc39cfe33b0d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/359ba00d37d0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b538bb2aa834.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d40f9e82d6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/212c0e2ea8c8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bbec6cd7e80.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cd8da061f42b.jpg - Beijing to Xi'an by high speed train (Beijing to Xi'an): the afternoon of day four, station transfers at both ends included. The train is part of the trip rather than a gap in it: the North China plain goes past the window at full speed, flat and worked to the horizon, and you are in the next capital by evening. The seat class for your order is stated in writing in your quote. - Subtitle: the afternoon of day four, station transfers at both ends included. - Tags: Transport - Host: Guangzhou, Guangzhou Lens — Trade history and southern city life - Access: the afternoon of day four, station transfers at both ends included. The train is part of the trip rather than a gap in it: the North China plain goes past the window at full speed, flat and worked to the horizon, and you are in the next capital by evening. The seat class for your order is stated in writing in your quote. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fb93d232554d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/657532699f1f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a97eca2cd5ca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2a591fe89642.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e7adeb642885.jpg - The Terracotta Warriors (Xi'an): the excavation halls outside Xi'an holding the underground army of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, and one of the country's most significant archaeological finds. You look down into the pits at ranked columns of soldiers: individual faces, armour by rank, formations still legible after two millennia of burial. Your guide teaches you to read them: which are officers, which are archers, what the formation was for. Why it rewards a slow visit: the scale reads in one glance, the craftsmanship only up close. - Subtitle: the excavation halls outside Xi'an holding the underground army of Qin Shi - Tags: History - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: Why it rewards a slow visit: the scale reads in one glance, the craftsmanship only up close. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/de05241524fb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/788c1d294602.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/70bc50b897e9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f58fac3efc36.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dcbc4615cebd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a379bf924cf3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4cd4eb7405cc.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3d63338ab682.jpg - Xi'an City Wall by bicycle (Xi'an): one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, still closed all the way around the old centre. The top is wide enough to ride two abreast, and bicycle rental for your riding slot is included in the base price. You set your own pace; the gates come with ramps, the surface is brick, and there is no traffic on it. This is the one place on the route where you move under your own power, and it is why the wall reads as a ring rather than as a monument. - Subtitle: one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, still enclosing the old centre in its entirety. - Tags: Active - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, still enclosed all the way around the old centre. The top is wide enough for two people to ride side by side, and bicycle hire for your riding slot is included in the base price. You set your own pace; the gates have ramps, the surface is brick, and there is no traffic on it. This is the one place on the route where you move under your own steam, and it is why the wall reads as a ring rather than as a monument. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/daf832e303d0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8f7c7a922b33.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f864b69ac4b1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b69829f31585.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/250856ce1d51.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1170df991f6f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6e33ef1383e4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1984b49f3ab6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6c4bc5467067.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2a992375c8dd.jpg - Bell and Drum Tower square and the Muslim Quarter by night (Xi'an): After dark, Bell and Drum Towers face off over smoky food lanes. Pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, roujiamo, and naan ovens line the Hui quarter. Your guide explains what to eat and how—walking included, tower entry extra, snacks cheap and self-paid. Centuries of Silk Road history stay edible here tonight. - Subtitle: At dusk, the timekeeping Bell and Drum Towers face off across the old centre, while behind them the Hui quarter's lanes come alive. Your guide walks you through, decoding each stall—what's worth it, what's for tourists, how to eat. About two hours; tower entry extra, snacks self-paid and cheap. - Tags: City - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: the two towers that once kept the city's time, and behind them the lanes of the Hui neighbourhood after dark, at the hour they are actually busy. Your guide walks it with you and reads the food stalls: what is worth stopping for, what is a tourist item, and how each thing is eaten. Climbing the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower is a separate on-site ticket and is not in your price; food is on your own account. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be2d09d79b66.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02e10943b0b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a89c8581e5c7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/281d43f0922e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/467e9f21253b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be17d6a5ce49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2be0c598ad8d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cc45951bdee2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68851d1cd2f1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/40f5c954821f.jpg - Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Xi'an): Giant Wild Goose Pagoda reflects Xi'an's role as a Buddhist and Silk Road cultural centre. - Subtitle: A Tang dynasty Buddhist landmark - Tags: Pagoda - Host: Xi'an, Xi'an Lens — Warriors and ancient capital - Access: A classic Tang-era landmark connected to ancient Chang'an history. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2be95bfc5748.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/eb70bbcc8abb.jpg, https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0HJ2z12000qfv3id4A253_W_1440_810_Q80.webp?proc=source%2ftrip, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f1e0cd6ae0d1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94916373f524.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4269d987bac0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/542e4f255e79.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7d1e365a232d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/18de0aedb419.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2f0b6d04d98d.jpg - Yu Garden and the Old City (Shanghai): A classical garden of pavilions, rockery, ponds and paths that never run straight, sitting inside the oldest quarter of Shanghai. It is the one place in the city that predates everything the skyline is famous for. A short, level visit — two hours, all of it flat — and it is the last thing on the trip, sized to fit before an afternoon flight. Admission is in your base price. - Subtitle: A classical garden of pavilions, rockeries, ponds and paths that never run straight in the oldest quarter of Shanghai, and the one place that predates everything its skyline is famous for. - Tags: Heritage - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: a classical garden of pavilions, rockeries, ponds and paths that never run straight, set in the oldest quarter of Shanghai. Two hours, all of it flat. It is the one place in the city that predates everything the skyline is famous for. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7c5e906b378e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/07b39b023295.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/075884fd7738.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3623b2d6ff22.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3f4af921585.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bc088a35094.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b4ff42f10f39.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ab6fa3c88e9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/793d4d9ec24d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a1dac8269a5f.jpg - Shanghai Museum (Shanghai): bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy, arranged so you can walk one material through three thousand years. About two hours. Entry is by timed reservation with limited English in the booking system, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when, and which branch your visit uses. Admission is in the base price. - Subtitle: bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy, arranged so you can walk one material through three thousand years. - Tags: Museum - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: bronzes, ceramics, painting and calligraphy, arranged so you can walk one material through three thousand years. About two hours. Entry is by timed reservation with limited English in the booking system, so your quote states in writing who books it and by when, and which branch your visit uses. Admission is in the base price. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/553f9e5daffa.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/463009b942cf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/09ed444fa597.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f449d01924e3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1c391e422dd6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3062838f53d8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5fe4f8f934ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1ff4b8a733b8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1c6a0e2a66d2.jpg - The Bund after dark (Shanghai): the row of historic waterfront buildings on one bank of the Huangpu River, the Pudong towers on the other, and the whole story of the city sitting in the gap between them, from treaty port to global city. Your guide stays with you through the evening, which also means nobody gets pulled into the tea-house and English-practice approaches that work the promenade. In the base price. - Subtitle: the row of historic waterfront buildings on one bank of the Huangpu River, the Pudong towers on the other, and the whole story of the city sitting in the gap between them, from treaty port to global city. - Tags: City - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: the row of historic waterfront buildings on one bank of the Huangpu River, the Pudong towers on the other, and the whole story of the city sitting in the gap between them, from treaty port to global city. Your guide stays with you through the evening, which also means nobody gets pulled into the tea-house and English-practice approaches that work the promenade. In the base price. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/25f3fbf391b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ab3be6b19c59.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/520402ec044f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/eed1a59d8207.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/334c0bdef4be.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/32d19f0a4d35.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8851a6617c7b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a2a8d5aca0bf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/653fd5079c76.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/83aa899b2745.jpg - Former French Concession and Wukang Road (Shanghai): plane-tree streets, walled houses from the concession decades, and the independent shops that have taken over their ground floors. You walk it at street speed, and it is the loosest hour of the route — the low, relaxed counterweight to the skyline you looked at the night before: no ticket, no queue, no gate. About two hours on flat pavement. In the base price. - Subtitle: plane-tree streets, walled houses from the concession decades, and the independent shops in their ground floors — the loose, low-rise counterweight to the skyline. About two hours, no ticket, no queue, no gate. - Tags: City - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: plane-tree streets, walled houses from the concession decades, and the independent shops that have taken over their ground floors. You walk it at street speed, and it is the loosest hour of the route: no ticket, no queue, no gate. About two hours. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a469e3c35b36.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ff2e7b6f2ffc.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/769ee0838cac.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/664544b5b738.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/be6f02f8c66f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b1c8a477961a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/738425c31d43.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b5ee2850407d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dc30a72b34d4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7e7256ca585e.jpg - Huangpu River ferry (Shanghai): the commuter crossing, not a sightseeing cruise: a few minutes at the rail with people going to work and their scooters, the same water the Bund was built to face. Cheap and short, the last thing the route does before the airport, and the far bank arrives quickly. In the base price. - Subtitle: the commuter crossing, not a sightseeing cruise: a few minutes at the rail with commuters and their scooters, the same water the Bund was built to face. In the base price. - Tags: City - Host: Shanghai, Shanghai Lens — Skyline and riverfront culture - Access: the commuter crossing, not a sightseeing cruise: a few minutes on the rail with people going to work and their scooters, the same water the Bund was built to face. Cheap, short, and the last thing the route does before the airport. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/77334b45911c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3035dd70ef19.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c5ed3afb6c7c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/31ab98f95965.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c1a4fff775c6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/29527e0c5132.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dde04b2f55e4.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b511339a7702.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ab1024d4f1e7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/35255aa13b0d.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Four Lines, One Country - 9 days Journey #### Beijing (3 days) - Subtitle: Land, and let the day go - Recommendation: Your driver is waiting at the airport your flight actually lands at, not the other one. The first day asks nothing of you. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Airport pickup · The drive in · Evening - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9pzYdbqO.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14h8ZnOb.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17bdSgjF.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bDq9gT4.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cZHxWkg.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vwu9mIQ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1X29GyUB.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1xVI7jTc.webp ##### Day 1: Land, and let the day go - (transport) — Beijing has two airports, Capital and Daxing, and they are far apart and serve different airlines. Your pickup is organised according to the one you actually land at, which is why your flight number and arrival airport go into your confirmation before the driver is scheduled. - (transport) — ring roads first, then poplars and lit shopfronts along a city street. The country you flew this far to see shows up through the window before you have unpacked anything. - (note) — nothing is scheduled. Your guide is reachable, and dinner near the hotel is recommended and booked for you if you want it, on your account. - (accommodation) Novotel Beijing Peace — Hotel stay in Beijing. ##### Day 2: One walk through the palace, then a look back down it - (sight) — your timed slot is booked in advance by us, so you walk in on schedule. Inside you follow one axis: the ceremonial halls where the court did its business, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden at the end, then out through the north gate. Stand in the middle of the great courtyard and look back through the gates you came in by, one inside another, strung out all the way to the street. - (sight) — the palace is large and guests often say it wore them out, so the walk stops at the seats we know about and the garden at the end is unhurried. - (sight) — across the street from the north gate, twenty minutes' walk at your own pace. From the pavilion at the top the golden roofs step away below you in a straight line, and the axis carries on north and south past the edges of what you can see. Look down the line and count the gates: that is the fifteen seconds worth filming. ##### Day 3: The wall, and no stairs to reach it - (transport) — the run north through the hills takes up a good part of the morning each way, and your vehicle stays with you all day, at the foot of the wall while you are up on it. - (sight) — The climbing is done for you. You step off onto a restored stretch with watchtowers running away along the ridge in both directions, and your guide reads the wall to you: the beacon towers, the pass below, why the towers stand exactly where they stand. Look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it, one after another, until the ridge takes them. You'll notice the group has gone quiet, and that nobody has suggested moving on yet. - (sight) — a seated sledge on a fixed metal track through the trees, and everyone reaches the bottom together with their knees intact. - (dining) — This route does not include an arranged lunch. Up at the wall, your guide will choose the venue and order on your behalf, and the bill is yours. #### Xi'an (3 days) - Subtitle: South down the axis, then out of town - Recommendation: 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. - Transport: Flight - Transport mode: airplane Tian'anmen Square · National Museum of China · Temple of Heaven · High speed train to Xi'an - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/hYXcQ1ub.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2IrwPATt.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2SYFFac8.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2z6MDkku.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/34qxDxFA.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3DF4Fowd.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3G0oTlIq.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/56RpQD9k.webp ##### Day 4: South down the axis, then out of town - (sight) — This source is a SINGLE translation unit. Even if it contains many lines, list items, paragraphs, or sub-sections, translate the ENTIRE source as ONE string. Do NOT produce one translation for each line — the whole source becomes exactly one output string. Do NOT split a source into multiple translations even if it contains many list items or paragraphs — the whole source becomes exactly one output string. - (sight) — This source is a SINGLE translation unit. Even if it contains many lines, list items, paragraphs, or sub-sections, translate the ENTIRE source as ONE string. Do NOT produce one translation per line — the whole source translates to a single string, regardless of how many lines or list items it contains. An array with more than one element is always wrong here. - (sight) — three structures on one line, and a grammar rather than a style. Round is heaven, square is earth, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests sits on a square base under a round roof. Stand in the centre of the Circular Mound and look out: everything around you is arranged in rings, and you are standing on the point they are drawn from. - (transport) — hotel to station, then a fast afternoon run across the North China Plain, flat and cultivated to the horizon. Your seat class is set out in writing in your quotation, and your Xi'an guide takes over at the station at the far end. - (accommodation) Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an — Hotel stay in Xian. ##### Day 5: An army you learn to read - (sight) — The site sits outside the city and your vehicle stays with you all day. The visit is set early, because the crowds here are heavy in high season and the front of the day is the quiet part of it. - (sight) — You enter at the back of the hall and the ranks stretch away from you under the roof, column after column, standing in the ground they were found in. Stand at the rail on the long side and film along the rows rather than across them. - (sight) — an estimated eight thousand figures, and armour and hair knots do the telling: a general's plate, a crossbowman's crouch, a foot soldier's plain tunic. Your guide walks you along until you are calling them out first. In the newer excavation areas, look for the traces of original paint that survive on some figures. You'll find you have stopped counting them and started looking at faces. ##### Day 6: A ring you can ride - (sight) — one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, and the top is wide enough to ride two abreast. Your bicycle rental for the agreed riding slot is in your price. The surface is brick, the gates have ramps, and nothing motorised is up there. The speed is entirely yours. - (sight) — the two towers stand facing each other across the square at the centre of the old city, the pair that used to keep the city's time, one for dawn and one for dusk. Climbing either tower is separately ticketed and is not included in your price. - (sight) — the lanes behind the Drum Tower at full noise, with your guide beside you naming what is on each grill and in each vat. What you eat is your own choice and on your account, which is the point: you order what you took your fancy to, not what was ordered for you. #### Shanghai (3 days) - Subtitle: A courtyard, then air - Recommendation: A slow morning inside temple walls, and the afternoon belongs to the airport. This is the day the trip changes centuries. - Transport: Flight - Transport mode: airplane Giant Wild Goose Pagoda · A day with room in it · Flight to Shanghai - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4EbDdFHb.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/13x1KtnS.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Q9afrZn.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1Riqjj0n.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1VrlDwIi.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vYpI6NZ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3PEjxTGx.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/525J26xE.webp ##### Day 7: A courtyard, then air - (sight) — The brick pagoda stands within the grounds of Da Ci'en Temple on the south side of the city, and admission to the grounds is included in your price. Walk to the foot of it and look straight up at the face: the tower rises in stages, each one shorter than the one below, which is what makes it appear taller than it is. Climbing inside the pagoda requires a separate ticket and is not included in your price. - (sight) — This is the lightest day of the nine, with one stop before the airport, as the flight is in the afternoon and a rushed morning would put it at risk. - (transport) — hotel to airport, the flight, then airport to hotel at the far end, with your Shanghai guide taking over at the door. The cabin class for your order is set out in writing in your quotation. - (accommodation) Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund — Hotel stay in Shanghai. ##### Day 8: The garden, the bronzes, and the water at night - (sight) — pavilions, rockery, ponds and a path that never runs straight, dropped inside the oldest quarter of the city. The walk around it is included. Follow the path around one rockery and notice you cannot see where you came from: that is the design working, not you getting lost. - (sight) — your reservation is made by us, and admission is free of charge. Your guide takes you to the bronzes and puts them beside the ones you saw in Beijing four days ago, then across the ceramics and the calligraphy. Two collections, one long argument. - (sight) — These historic waterfront buildings hold one bank and the Pudong towers hold the other, a hundred years apart and looking straight at each other across the water. Your guide is with you for the whole evening, which also settles the approaches: this is where visitors get invited to practice English or to a tea sitting that arrives with a bill. Standing between the two banks, you'll feel the nine days close into a single picture. ##### Day 9: The commuter boat, then home - (transport) — you walk plane tree streets past historic houses and small independent shops, low and shaded, with the whole thing running at about a third of the speed of the night before. Stand at the corner where Wukang Road splits and look up: the buildings come to a point like the bow of a ship. - (transport) — the fare is in your price, and the boat is the one people take to get to work. You stand at the rail with commuters and their scooters, the deck vibrates, and both banks swing past at water level rather than from a viewing platform. - (transport) — This morning includes touring, so your flight time is checked against the itinerary before your quotation is issued, and the drop-off is timed with a comfortable margin rather than to the minute. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Land, and let the day go Your driver is waiting at the airport your flight actually lands at, not the other one. The first day asks nothing of you. - Airport pickup: Beijing has two airports, Capital and Daxing, and they are far apart and serve different airlines. Your pickup is arranged against the one you actually land at, which is why your flight number and arrival airport go into your confirmation before the driver is scheduled. - The drive in: ring roads first, then poplars and lit shopfronts along a city street. The country you flew this far to see shows up through the window before you have unpacked anything. - Evening: Nothing is scheduled. Your guide is reachable, and dinner near the hotel is recommended and booked for you if you want it, on your account. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: None included today ### Day 2 — One line through the palace, then a look back down it The palace in the morning, the hill that explains it after. Today the city stops being a maze and turns into a drawing. - The Forbidden City: your timed slot is booked ahead by us, so you walk in on schedule. Inside you follow one axis: the ceremonial halls where the court did its business, the living quarters behind them, the imperial garden at the end, then out through the north gate. Stand in the middle of the great courtyard and look back through the gates you came in by, one inside another, lined up all the way out to the street. - Pace: The palace is large and guests often say it wore them out, so the walk stops at the seats we know about and the garden at the end is unhurried. - Jingshan Park: across the street from the north gate, twenty minutes up at your own pace. From the pavilion at the top, the golden roofs step away below you in a straight run, and the axis carries on north and south past the edges of what you can see. Look down the line and count the gates: that is the fifteen seconds worth filming. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 3 — The wall, and no stairs to reach it The road out of the city takes most of the morning, so nothing else is on today. The wall stops being a photograph the moment the cable car doors open. - Drive out to Mutianyu: The drive north through the hills takes up a good part of the morning each way, and your vehicle stays with you all day, at the foot of the wall while you are up on it. - Cable car up: the climbing is done for you. You step off onto a restored stretch with watchtowers running away along the ridge in both directions, and your guide reads the wall to you: the beacon towers, the pass below, why the towers stand exactly where they stand. Look along the ridge with the towers stepping down it, one after another, until the ridge takes them. You'll notice the group has gone quiet, and that nobody has suggested moving on yet. - Toboggan down: a seated sled on a fixed metal track through the trees, and everyone reaches the bottom together with their knees intact. - Lunch: This route does not include an arranged lunch. At the wall, your guide will choose the restaurant and order for you, and you will be responsible for the bill. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 4 — 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. - Tiananmen Square: you cross the ceremonial centre of modern China on foot, with your guide naming what stands on each side. Screening comes first and it takes its own half hour to an hour, so it sits in the day's budget separately; your reservation is booked by us and your guide walks the party to the nearest screening entrance. - National Museum of China: on the east side of the square, one or two galleries rather than the whole building, because the train goes this afternoon. Bronzes first: the objects that were made when the walls and the tombs you are seeing this week were new. - Temple of Heaven: three structures on one line, and a grammar rather than a style. Round is heaven, square is earth, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests sits on a square base under a round roof. Stand in the centre of the Circular Mound and look out: everything around you is arranged in rings, and you are standing on the point they are drawn from. - High-speed train to Xi'an: hotel to station, then a fast afternoon run across the North China plain, flat and cultivated to the horizon. Your seat class is stated in writing in your quote, and your Xi'an guide takes over at the station at the far end. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 5 — 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. - Out to the pits: The site is located outside the city, and your vehicle remains with you throughout the day. The visit is scheduled for early in the day, as the crowds are heavy during high season, and the early morning is the quieter part of the day. - Pit one: You enter at the back of the hall, and the ranks stretch away from you beneath the roof, column after column, standing in the ground where they were discovered. Stand at the rail on the long side and film along the rows rather than across them. - Reading the ranks: an estimated eight thousand figures, and armour and hair knots do the telling: a general's plate, a crossbowman's crouch, a foot soldier's plain tunic. Your guide walks you along until you are calling them out first. In the newer excavation areas, look for the traces of original paint that survive on some figures. You'll find you have stopped counting them and started looking at faces. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 6 — A ring you can ride 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. - Xi'an City Wall by bicycle: one of the most complete surviving ancient city walls in China, and the top is wide enough to ride two abreast. Your bicycle rental for the agreed riding slot is included in the price. The surface is brick, the gates have ramps, and nothing motorized is up there. The speed is entirely yours. - Bell and Drum Tower square: The two towers stand facing each other across the square at the centre of the old city, the pair that used to keep the city's time, one for dawn and one for dusk. Climbing either tower is separately ticketed and is not included in your price. - The Muslim Quarter after dark: the lanes behind the Drum Tower at full noise, with your guide beside you naming what is on each grill and in each vat. What you eat is your own choice and on your account, which is the point: you order what you liked the look of, not what was ordered for you. - Stay: Xi'an - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 7 — A courtyard, then air A slow morning inside temple walls, and the afternoon belongs to the airport. This is the day the trip changes centuries. - Big Wild Goose Pagoda: The brick pagoda stands in the grounds of the Da Ci'en Temple on the south side of the city, and admission to the grounds is included in your price. Walk to its foot and look straight up its face: the tower rises in stages, each one shorter than the one below, which makes it appear taller than it actually is. Climbing the pagoda itself is separately ticketed and is not included in your price. - A day with room in it: this is the lightest day of the nine, with one stop before the airport, because the flight is in the afternoon and a rushed morning would put it at risk. - Flight to Shanghai: hotel to airport, the flight, then airport to hotel at the far end, with your Shanghai guide taking over at the door. The cabin class for your order is stated in writing in your quote. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 8 — The garden, the bronzes, and the water 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. - Yu Garden and the old city: pavilions, rockeries, ponds and a path that never runs straight, set in the oldest quarter of the city. The walk around it is included. Follow the path around one rockery and notice you cannot see where you came from: that is the design working, not you getting lost. - Shanghai Museum: your reservation is made by us, and admission is free of charge. Your guide takes you to the bronzes and puts them beside the ones you saw in Beijing four days ago, then across the ceramics and the calligraphy. Two collections, one long argument. - The Bund after dark: the historic waterfront buildings hold one bank and the Pudong towers hold the other, a hundred years apart and looking straight at each other across the water. Your guide is with you for the whole evening, which also settles the approaches: this is where visitors get invited to practice English or to a tea sitting that arrives with a bill. Standing between the two banks, you'll feel the nine days close into a single picture. - Stay: Shanghai - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 9 — The commuter boat, then home Plane trees in the morning, a working ferry before the airport. The last thing you do in China is the thing people here do every morning. - Former French Concession and Wukang Road: you walk plane tree streets past historic houses and small independent shops, low and shaded, with the whole thing running at about a third of the speed of the night before. Stand at the corner where Wukang Road splits and look up: the buildings come to a point like the bow of a ship. - Huangpu River ferry: the fare is included in your price, and the boat is the one people take to get to work. You stand at the rail with commuters and their scooters, the deck vibrates, and both banks swing past at water level rather than from a viewing platform. - Airport drop-off: this morning carries touring, so your flight time is checked against the plan before your quote is issued, and the drop-off is timed with room to spare rather than to the minute. - Stay: Trip ends - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ## Hotels ### Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort) - City: Shanghai - Description: Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a07e8f886100.jpg ### Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square) - City: Beijing - Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dHqyz391.webp ### Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station - City: Beijing - Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gLxP4Hxa.webp ### Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast - City: Beijing - Description: International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bWOFYezP.jpg ### Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel - City: Shanghai - Description: Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5xOD9FRB.webp ### Sheraton Xi'an North City Hotel - City: Xi'an - Description: Sheraton Xi'an North City: five-star luxury five minutes from the Daming Palace, with an indoor pool and wellness centre. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/k01OUBYw.jpg ### DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road - City: Beijing - Description: International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kkFJOiOe.webp ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Private vehicle and transfers: Air 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 transport: Two legs: Beijing to Xi'an by high speed train on the afternoon of day four, Xi'an to Shanghai by domestic flight on the afternoon of day seven. The seat class and the cabin class for your order are stated in writing in your quote. - Hotels: 8 nights at your chosen level, four star, five star or quality boutique, breakfast included: Beijing 3 · Xi'an 3 · Shanghai 2 - Guide: Licensed 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, Beijing: Tiananmen 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'an: The 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, Shanghai: Yu 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 transport: Three 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 - Meals: 8 hotel breakfasts, days two through nine. This route carries no arranged lunch and no arranged dinner - Insurance: Travel accident insurance ### Not Included - International flights: Flights into Beijing and out of Shanghai. Connecting sectors through a third hub are also on your account - Visas: Visa fees and processing for guests who require a Chinese visa, including all US guests on this route - Lunches and dinners: All 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 sites: Named 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 nights: Nights before day one and nights after day nine - Personal: Gratuities · 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: Dates are set so that day two never falls on a Monday, when the Forbidden City is closed. If your preferred date would put it there, days two and three swap places. - Reservation booked sites: the Forbidden City takes reservations seven days ahead, and the National Museum of China and the Shanghai Museum are also reservation only, with booking systems that work poorly with overseas mobile numbers. All three are booked by us, and whether each reservation is secured is confirmed for your order before you pay. - The national holiday week: For departures in the October 1 to 7 holiday week, reservation availability at the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors and seat availability on the two intercity legs are verified first, and your order is confirmed only after that check clears. - 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 standing seat class on the train and cabin class on the flight are being finalised. Until they are settled, the seat class and cabin class for your order are stated in writing in your quote, and no order is taken without them. - Group: Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size. - Visa window: the 30 day visa free policy currently runs through December 31, 2026. Because this is a 9 day plan, departures on or before December 23, 2026 finish inside that window; later departure dates are quoted only after the official renewal is announced. - US passports: the US is not on the 30 day visa free list, so every US guest on this route holds a valid Chinese tourist or business visa, including a 10 year multiple entry one. The fee and the processing are your own, and we confirm visa status before any payment. - Arrivals from southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand: nonstop service into Beijing from these markets is thin, and part of it is seasonal. Southern Europe here means Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. For your dates we check the arrival time against the day one pickup before quoting. Where a connection through another hub is needed, that sector is booked by you, or by us on request with the ticket cost still on your account. - 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: The confirmation time commitment and the change and refund terms are being finalised with our ground partners. Until they are settled, each quote states in writing its own confirmation deadline and its change and refund conditions. This route holds one high-speed train leg and one domestic flight leg, so a date change touches rail and airline inventory as well as hotels and reservations. ## 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, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size. - Pace: Three cities in 9 days: Beijing 3 nights, Xi'an 3, Shanghai 2. Two intercity moves, both in the afternoon, and both on days that carry a light morning - 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 - Ports: 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: UK, Irish and most European passports enter visa free for stays days. Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports the same, checked order by order against your dates. US passports need a Chinese visa for this route - Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides in all three cities, on every touring day - Season: Selling window October to December 2026. Departures in the October 1 to 7 holiday week are confirmed only after reservation and seat availability is verified - Payment: From 1 guest. A 10% deposit (minimum $399) locks your dates. The balance is due 14 days before departure. "Or similar" never means a quiet downgrade ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### 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%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### 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 - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): 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. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): 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. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): 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. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): 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. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - 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. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - 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. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - 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. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - 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. ### Nine days for three cities. Is that a rush? 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. ### Can you actually get us into the Forbidden City? 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. ### We're traveling in October. Will the Terracotta Warriors be shoulder to shoulder? 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. ### What is not included that we should budget 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. ### Do we need a visa? 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.