Days 1-3
Beijing
Classic Beijing without rushing every landmark
Start with imperial history, one hutong or museum block, and a Great Wall day. Book the Forbidden City in advance (tickets released 7 days ahead).
Great Wall / 长城Hutong walk / 胡同
10 days in China · balanced pace
10 Days in China for First-Time Visitors
A balanced first-trip route with enough time for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and one slower East China stop.
Beijing
3 planned days
HSR · 4.5-6 hours
Xi'an
2 planned days
HSR · 6-8 hours
Shanghai
3 planned days
HSR · 30 min (Suzhou) / 1 hour (Hangzhou)
Suzhou or Hangzhou
2 planned days
Important
Book the Forbidden City in advance (tickets released 7 days ahead; walk-up tickets generally not available). Shanghai has two airports (PVG/SHA) and Yu Garden is closed on Mondays; verify before visiting. If traveling during Golden Week (Oct 1-7) or Spring Festival, book trains and hotels weeks in advance.
Day-by-day plan
Days 4-5
Xi'an
-- Transfer to Xi'an · HSR, 4.5-6 hours — G-trains on Beijing-Xi'an HSR. Book 15 days ahead via 12306.
Ancient China anchor
Use Xi'an for Terracotta Army, city wall, Tang/Silk Road context, and food.
Terracotta Army / 兵马俑Shaanxi History Museum / 陕西历史博物馆 (reservation required)Muslim Quarter area / 回民街周边
Days 6-8
Shanghai
-- Transfer to Shanghai · HSR, 6-8 hours — Long HSR ride; consider flight (2.5 hrs) if time is tight.
Modern gateway and East China base
Give Shanghai enough time for skyline, neighborhoods, museums, food, and shopping.
The Bund / 外滩Former French Concession / 衡复风貌区Museum or design route / 博物馆或设计路线
Days 9-10
Suzhou or Hangzhou
-- Transfer to Suzhou or Hangzhou · HSR, 30 min (Suzhou) / 1 hour (Hangzhou) — Frequent trains from Shanghai Hongqiao. Suzhou is ~30 min; Hangzhou ~1 hour.
Slow East China side trip
Choose one softer stop near Shanghai instead of adding another faraway city.
Suzhou gardens / 苏州园林Hangzhou West Lake / 杭州西湖Tea or canal walk / 茶文化或运河漫步
What to book ahead
These route-specific items may sell out. Recheck official channels before travel:
7 days
Forbidden City (Beijing)
Walk-up tickets are generally not available. Tickets are released 7 days ahead at 20:00; book promptly after release during peak season via official WeChat or en.dpm.org.cn. Bring passport.
1-7 days
National Museum of China (Beijing)
Free but reservation required (released 1-7 days ahead). Closed most Mondays except national holidays. Passport required.
3-5 days
Terracotta Army (Xi'an)
Book via official WeChat or on-site (longer queues). ¥120.
1-7 days
Shaanxi History Museum (Xi'an)
Free but tickets are very limited and hard to get. Reservation required; book as early as possible when released.
15 days
Beijing-Xi'an and Xi'an-Shanghai HSR tickets
12306 releases tickets 15 days before departure. Book immediately for peak dates.
Intercity transfer details
Beijing → Xi'an HSR · 4.5-6 hours
Door-to-door: 6-7 hours
G-trains on Beijing-Xi'an HSR. Book 15 days ahead via 12306.
Xi'an → Shanghai HSR · 6-8 hours
Door-to-door: 7-9 hours
Long HSR ride; consider flight (2.5 hrs) if time is tight.
Shanghai → Suzhou or Hangzhou HSR · 30 min (Suzhou) / 1 hour (Hangzhou)
Door-to-door: 1.5-2 hours
Frequent trains from Shanghai Hongqiao. Suzhou is ~30 min; Hangzhou ~1 hour.
If you have fewer days
This is a 10-day route. If you have less time, cut one city rather than rushing through all of them. For a shorter trip, focus on Beijing + one other city (Xi'an for history, Shanghai for modern China).
Seasonal alternatives
In summer (Jun-Aug), start all outdoor sights early to avoid midday heat. In winter (Nov-Mar), Beijing and Xi'an are cold but less crowded; consider adding Harbin for the Ice Festival if traveling in January-February.
Route shape
Use this route when the traveler wants classic China but has enough time to slow down around Shanghai.
Draft flow
- Days 1-3: Beijing
- Days 4-5: Xi’an
- Days 6-8: Shanghai
- Days 9-10: Suzhou or Hangzhou
Nature extension option
If you have an extra 2-3 days and prefer nature over East China gardens, consider adding Guilin & Yangshuo (2.5-3 hours by HSR from Guangzhou, connected via flight from Shanghai) or Zhangjiajie (flight from major cities). These are significant detours from the Beijing-Xi’an-Shanghai axis.
Planning note
This route is a better default than a rushed 7-day plan for many travelers.
Practical reminders
- Tipping is NOT customary in China.
- Shaanxi History Museum (free) requires advance reservation and is very hard to get tickets for.
- See the Attraction Booking guide for per-attraction booking details.
- See the Holiday Calendar to avoid peak travel periods.