itinerary · Updated 14 August 2026
10-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai on a Budget (2026)
The classic first-trip triangle done right: Beijing (4 days), Xi'an (3 days), Shanghai (3 days) with trains, budgets in EUR, and daily plans that respect your legs.
The classic triangle — Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai — is the best first-trip route in China: three completely different cities, connected by a high-speed rail network that is itself worth riding. This itinerary fits inside the 240-hour visa-free window and works on a budget.
✅ Budget range: €55–75/day per person (mid-range) including hotels, transport, food and tickets. Prices are 2026 estimates.
The skeleton
| Day | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Beijing | Forbidden City, Great Wall, hutongs |
| 5–7 | Xi’an | Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter |
| 8–10 | Shanghai | Bund, Old Town, a day trip to water towns |
Trains: Beijing–Xi’an ~4.5h (€55 2nd class), Xi’an–Shanghai ~6h (€60). Book on official apps — see our payment guide for app setup. Booking windows open ~2 weeks ahead; book as soon as they do for popular dates.
Days 1–4: Beijing
Day 1 — Arrival & orientation
- Land, clear the 240h transit counter (see our visa-free guide), get the metro card or Alipay metro QR.
- Afternoon: Tiananmen Square + a walk through Qianmen street.
- Evening: Wangfujing snack street for street food — go early before the crowds.
Day 2 — The Forbidden City & Jingshan
- Forbidden City: book online in advance (weChat/Alipay mini-program; slots sell out 1-7 days ahead). Allow 3-4 hours.
- Climb Jingshan Park hill across the street for the classic rooftop view.
- Evening: Shichahai lakes area, quiet hutong walk.
Day 3 — The Great Wall (choose one)
- Mutianyu (best balance, ~1.5h bus ride): cable car up, toboggan down. Recommended.
- Badaling (most famous, busiest): only if you want the iconic shot with a crowd.
- Jinshanling (wild, stunning, 2.5h+ away): for photographers, worth the journey.
- Evening: night market near Gulou (Drum Tower) — dumplings, grilled skewers.
Day 4 — Temples & hutongs
- Temple of Heaven in the morning (a giant, beautiful park where locals practice tai chi).
- Walk the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang (go early, it fills up).
- Evening: a proper Peking duck dinner — go to a local spot, not the tourist-branded ones. Budget €20-35.
Days 5–7: Xi’an
Day 5 — Train + evening city wall
- Morning high-speed train (4.5h).
- Evening: cycle or walk the City Wall — sunset from the wall is the best photo of the trip.
Day 6 — Terracotta Army
- Go early (before 09:00) — the pit hall gets brutal. Direct bus from the train station area, ~1h.
- Allow 3 hours at the site. Guide optional; the audio guide is enough for most.
- Evening: Muslim Quarter food street — biangbiang noodles, lamb skewers, persimmon cakes.
Day 7 — History or food
- Option A: Big Wild Goose Pagoda + Shaanxi History Museum (book ahead).
- Option B (foodies): morning food tour in the old town, then the dumpling banquet.
- Evening train or overnight sleep before Shanghai.
Days 8–10: Shanghai
Day 8 — Arrival & the Bund
- Morning/afternoon train (~6h).
- Evening: the Bund at night — the skyline is the best free show in China. Walk from the Peace Hotel toward the financial district.
Day 9 — Old Shanghai
- Yu Garden + Old Town bazaar (early to avoid crowds).
- Xintiandi and the former French Concession for café culture and lane houses.
- Evening: Shanghai at your pace — Nanjing Road neon or a jazz bar.
Day 10 — Water town day trip (or fly home)
- Zhujiajiao (1h metro + short hop) — the classic canals-and-arches water town. Go early, leave by lunch to avoid tour groups.
- Or take it slow: museum morning + park afternoon.
- Depart via Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao, or exit the 240h window on time.
Budget table (per person, 2026 estimates)
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (avg/night) | €25 | €40 | €80+ |
| Food (day) | €12 | €22 | €40+ |
| Transport (day, local) | €5 | €8 | €15+ |
| Inter-city trains | €115 total | €115 | €160+ |
| Tickets/entrance | €25 | €35 | €60 |
| Total for 10 days | €575 | €830 | €1,350+ |
Excludes international flights and travel insurance.
Rules that keep this trip smooth
- Book Forbidden City & Terracotta in advance — non-negotiable in peak seasons.
- Book trains 2 weeks ahead — Beijing→Xi’an and Xi’an→Shanghai are busy routes.
- Carry both Alipay and WeChat Pay — one always works, sometimes only one.
- Download maps offline — Apple Maps works in China for directions; Google Maps is unreliable without a VPN.
- Keep your entry permit time on your phone — your 240-hour clock is unforgiving.
Like this plan? The Beijing 240-Hour Transit Guide includes the full day-by-day version with backup plans, map links, phrase sheets and exact menu paths for every app — one payment, lifetime updates.
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