Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 9-Day China Tour

Overview

三座城市，而这片土地始终在描绘同一种意象：一条线。在北京，你行走在宫殿所依的中轴线上，随后登上宫后的山丘，俯瞰那条线笔直延伸。城北，另一条线沿着山脊蜿蜒，烽火台矗立其上。在西安，线合拢成环，你骑着自行车绕行于城墙之上。在上海，线化作了水，一个世纪前的老建筑与这个世纪的新楼宇隔江相望，渡轮穿梭其间。北京三晚，西安三晚，上海两晚。你会发现，自己已不再只是观赏图片，而是开始读懂一幅蓝图。

— LyrikTrip 旅行设计师

请告知出行日期和人数，我们会核对故宫预约、北京至西安高铁和西安至上海航班，再提供书面行程与报价。

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 Jing Mountain, looking back at the palace roofs: city gates, great halls, and courtyards line up beneath you in a straight line — no longer a maze, but a city.
Take the cable car up at Mutianyu; once atop the wall, walk as far as your stamina allows. Descent options depend on the day’s operations and your written booking confirmation.
Identify generals, crossbowmen, and infantrymen among the Terracotta Warriors: each armor, hair bun, and posture is unique.
Cycle a lap around the top of Xi'an City Wall, with the old city on one side and the new city on the other: this is that moment, in nine days, that makes you forget what day it is.
After dark, stroll through the Muslim Quarter with your guide, who will tell you exactly what each stall serves. You choose what to eat, at your own expense.
With your guide by your side, end your day at the Bund, staying with you all evening long: on one side, the historic Bund; on the other, Pudong’s high-rises, one city gazing across the water at another.
Before leaving Shanghai, take a Huangpu River commuter ferry to view the architecture on both banks alongside local passengers.

Things to do

Beijing to Xi'an High-Speed Rail, Beijing to Xi'an

Bell and Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter under the night sky, Xi'an

Former French Concession & Wukang Road, Shanghai

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Landmark

Museum

Culture

Transport

History

Active

City

Pagoda

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Landmark

Museum

Culture

Transport

History

Active

City

Pagoda

Heritage

Museum

City

Heritage

Viewpoint

Great Wall

Landmark

Museum

Culture

Transport

History

Active

City

Pagoda

Heritage

Museum

City

Itinerary

Arrivals

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Day 1 · Arrive in Beijing, with 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.

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 No sightseeing is scheduled for today. If you would like to arrange dinner, your guide will be happy to recommend restaurants near the hotel and assist with reservations. Please note that meal costs will be at your own expense.

Day 2 · Walk the Central Axis of the Forbidden City, then Look Back from Jingshan Hill

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 Advance booking is required for the Forbidden City, and your specific entry time slot will be confirmed before payment. Once inside, walk along the central axis past the palaces and the Imperial Garden, then exit through the North Gate. Standing in the middle of a courtyard, look back to see the gates stretching one after another toward the south.

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 speed. 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.

Day 3 · Take the Cable Car to Mutianyu Great Wall

Head to the Mutianyu Great Wall today, with no other attractions scheduled. After riding the cable car up the mountain, walk along the city wall to view the watchtowers on the ridge.

Drive out to Mutianyu Travel by coach to Mutianyu, enjoy a guided tour, and then return to Beijing. No other attractions are scheduled for this day.

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 Take a scenic toboggan slide down a fixed track, gliding through the forested mountains.

Lunch This route carries no arranged lunch. Up at the wall your guide picks the place and orders for you, and the bill is your own.

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.

Tian'anmen Square You cross the ceremonial center 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 center 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.

高铁

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

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.

Journey to the Terracotta Warriors Site 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.

Pit 1 Stand by the railing along the long side of Pit 1 and watch the rows of terracotta warriors stretching into the distance along the trench.

Decoding the Identities of the Terracotta Warriors An estimated eight thousand figures, and armor 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 · Cycle Along Xi'an City Wall

The old center 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 in your 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 center 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 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.

Day 7 · 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.

Giant 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 in your price. Walk to the foot of it and look straight up the face: the tower goes up in stages, each one shorter than the one below, which is what makes it look taller than it is. Climbing the pagoda body is separately ticketed and is not 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.

航班

Shanghai · Day 8 - Day 9

Day 8 · Yu Garden, the Museum, and the Bund by 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, 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.

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.

Day 9 · The commuter boat, then home

Before leaving Shanghai, take a leisurely stroll down Wukang Road and cross the Huangpu River just like the local commuters.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Stroll down Wukang Road, framed by lush plane trees, past historic buildings and boutique stores. Look up at the fork in the street, where the corner of a building tapers into a sharp, bow-shaped point.

Huangpu River ferry 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.

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.

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 Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Xian

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 Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Xian

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 Area)

Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: A luxurious garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering complimentary shuttle service to both destinations.

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 high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.

Shanghai

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel

Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang, located in the South Huangpi Bridge area near the French Concession, is just steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.

Xian

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 transportThe itinerary includes the Beijing-to-Xi'an high-speed rail on Day 4 and the Xi'an-to-Shanghai flight on Day 7; actual schedules, seat classes, and covered fees 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, BeijingTian'anmen Square, timed reservation booked by us, with guide commentary on the square · the Forbidden City main axis, timed reservation booked by us · Jingshan Park · Mutianyu Great Wall with the cable car up and the toboggan down, both in the base price · Temple of Heaven through ticket, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault and the Circular Mound · National Museum of China, reservation booked 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 official policies based on your passport, itinerary, and travel dates to confirm whether a visa is required.
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 go into your confirmation before the pickup is scheduled.
Departure dates — Opening hours and reservation status for the Forbidden City are subject to your travel dates; in the event of a closure, we will confirm with you any adjustments to the schedule for the Beijing segment.
Reservation booked sites — Verify the opening hours and reservation policies for the Palace Museum, the National Museum of China, and the Shanghai Museum against your travel dates; specific visit times are subject to the confirmed written itinerary.
The national holiday week — For departures during the October 1 to 7 holiday, we will first confirm reservations for the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army, as well as seats on the Beijing–Xi'an high-speed train and the Xi'an–Shanghai flight; the final order will be subject to actual confirmations.
Crowds at the warriors — this site draws very heavy crowds in high season. The visit is set 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 the written quotation and order confirmation.
Group — Custom itinerary, available for parties of 1 or more; specific group size and transportation arrangements are confirmed at the time of booking.
Visa window — Entry and visa-exemption requirements depend on your passport, method of entry, duration of stay, and travel dates. Please verify official policies before booking and departure.
US passports — Travelers holding U.S. passports should also verify the applicable entry requirements for their specific itineraries and allow adequate time to secure any required visas.
Arrivals from southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand — International flights to Beijing and required connections are arranged separately based on departure city and date; the pickup time is subject to the actual arrival flight.
Departure day timing — day nine carries a morning of touring, so your departure flight time is checked before quoting to leave a clean drop-off window.
Confirmation and changes — Please refer to your written order for the confirmation deadline and any change or refund conditions. When rescheduling, all high-speed rail, flight, venue, and hotel reservations must be reconfirmed.

Is Nine Days Your Length?

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, bookable from 1 guest; final group size and vehicle arrangements are subject to order confirmation.
Pace: 9 days, 3 cities: 3 nights in Beijing, 3 nights in Xi'an, and 2 nights in Shanghai. Two intercity transfers are scheduled for the afternoon; specific times and the order of daily activities will be confirmed in your booking.
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 Departure & Arrival: 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: Verify official visa and visa-exemption policies based on your passport, mode of entry, length of stay, and travel dates.
Language: Licensed English-speaking local guides in all three cities, on every touring day
Season: During holidays and peak seasons, please check venue availability and high-speed rail and flight seat availability in advance; specific arrangements are subject to the written itinerary.
Payment: This route is available for booking. Deposit, balance payment, change, and refund terms are subject to the written quotation and order conditions.

Your Private Concierge

Jenessa

Private China Route Concierge

“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”

Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.

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

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

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

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

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

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 traveler 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 traveler.

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.

Forbidden City

Jingshan Park

Mutianyu Great Wall

Tiananmen Square

National Museum of China

Temple of Heaven

Beijing to Xi'an High-Speed Rail

Terra Cotta Warriors

Cycling Tour of Xi'an City Wall

Bell and Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter under the night sky

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Yu Garden & Old Town

Shanghai Museum

The Bund at Night

Former French Concession & Wukang Road

Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Tiananmen Square

05. National Museum of China

06. Temple of Heaven

07. Beijing to Xi'an High-Speed Rail

08. Terra Cotta Warriors

09. Cycling Tour of Xi'an City Wall

10. Bell and Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter under the night sky

11. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

12. Yu Garden & Old Town

13. Shanghai Museum

14. The Bund at Night

15. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

16. Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Tiananmen Square

05. National Museum of China

06. Temple of Heaven

07. Beijing to Xi'an High-Speed Rail

08. Terra Cotta Warriors

09. Cycling Tour of Xi'an City Wall

10. Bell and Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter under the night sky

11. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

12. Yu Garden & Old Town

13. Shanghai Museum

14. The Bund at Night

15. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

16. Huangpu River Ferry

01. Forbidden City

02. Jingshan Park

03. Mutianyu Great Wall

04. Tiananmen Square

05. National Museum of China

06. Temple of Heaven

07. Beijing to Xi'an High-Speed Rail

08. Terra Cotta Warriors

09. Cycling Tour of Xi'an City Wall

10. Bell and Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter under the night sky

11. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

12. Yu Garden & Old Town

13. Shanghai Museum

14. The Bund at Night

15. Former French Concession & Wukang Road

16. Huangpu River Ferry

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4Collapse

Day 1 · Arrive in Beijing, with Time to Rest

Day 2 · Walk the Central Axis of the Forbidden City, then Look Back from Jingshan Hill

Day 3 · Take the Cable Car to Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4 · South down the axis, then out of town

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7Collapse

Day 5 · An army you learn to read

Day 6 · Cycle Along Xi'an City Wall

Day 7 · After the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Fly to Shanghai

Shanghai · Day 8 - Day 9Collapse

Day 8 · Yu Garden, the Museum, and the Bund by Night

Day 9 · The commuter boat, then home

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What's Included

Beijing · Day 1 - Day 4

Xi'an · Day 5 - Day 7

Shanghai · Day 8 - Day 9