Itinerary Beijing, Xi’an & Shanghai

April is an excellent time to travel in China: moderate spring temperatures, blossoming parks, and fewer domestic tourists than peak summer make for ideal sightseeing conditions.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	$1,600
🏨 Accommodations	$1,750
🧳 Gear	$150
🗺️ On-site	$1,350
Total	$4,850

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇨🇳 Beijing - 5 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏯 The Forbidden City ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • Iconic imperial palace complex; book tickets in advance, hire an English-speaking guide for insights.

• [ ] 🏯 The Great Wall at Mutianyu ⭐⭐⭐ (~6h)

  • Unmissable world wonder; take a cable car for sweeping views and fewer crowds than Badaling.

• [ ] 🏯 Temple of Heaven ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Historic site for Ming–Qing ceremonies; active morning tai chi sessions, ideal for strolling.

• [ ] 🏯 Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Stunning UNESCO park with lakes, palaces, and bridges—don’t miss the Long Corridor.

• [ ] 🏛️ National Museum of China ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Immense collection of Chinese artifacts; focus on bronze and ancient ceramics.

• [ ] 🌳 Jingshan Park ⭐ (~1h)

  • Hilltop views of the Forbidden City; best at sunset.

• [ ] 🏙️ 798 Art District ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Hip galleries and contemporary art spaces in old factory buildings; charming cafés.

• [ ] 🏙️ Hutong Neighborhoods (Nanluoguxiang/ Shichahai) ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Explore Beijing’s historic alleyways, local shops, and courtyard houses.

• [ ] 🎨 Capital Museum ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Insightful exhibitions on Beijing’s urban evolution and traditions.

• [ ] 🌳 Beihai Park ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Serene lake park with imperial gardens; rent a paddle boat.

• [ ] 🏛️ Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Ornate Tibetan Buddhist temple, incense-filled ambiance.

• [ ] 🎨 Red Brick Art Museum ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Modern Chinese art, inspiring architecture.

• [ ] 🏙️ Wangfujing Street ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Bustling shopping & food street; try local snacks.

• [ ] 🏛️ Mausoleum of Mao Zedong ⭐ (~1h)

  • Political landmark at Tiananmen—arrive early due to queues.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Houhai Lakes Area ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Lakeside bars & teahouses; illuminated at night, musical performances.

• [ ] 🍸 Sanlitun ⭐ (~2h)

  • Trendy expat nightlife—craft cocktails, clubs, and vibrant street life.

• [ ] 🍸 Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Classic Chinese opera in historic setting—iconic costumes, subtitles provided.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐

  • Iconic Peking Duck, crispy & carved tableside (~$40/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Donghuamen Night Market ⭐⭐

  • Street eats, local snacks: fried dumplings, candied hawthorn (~$8/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Yunnan Cuisine at Middle 8th ⭐

  • Relatively rare—try mushroom hotpot, flower salads (~$25/person).

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏯 Day trip to Ming Tombs & Sacred Way (~5h)

  • Imperial mausoleums in tranquil countryside.

• [ ] 🏙️ Panjiayuan Antique Market (~2h)

  • Weekend flea market for souvenirs.

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🇨🇳 Xi’an - 3 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏛️ Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • World-famous archaeological site; guided tours highly recommended.

• [ ] 🏯 Ancient City Wall ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Bike or walk atop the best-preserved city wall in China—panoramic city views.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shaanxi History Museum ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Treasures from dynasties past, excellent English signage.

• [ ] 🏯 Big Wild Goose Pagoda ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Historic Buddhist site with beautiful gardens.

• [ ] 🏛️ Bell Tower & Drum Tower ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Landmarks of central Xi’an; lit up beautifully at night.

• [ ] 🌳 Muslim Quarter ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Bustling market street, vibrant mix of cultures and delicious halal eats.

• [ ] 🏛️ Great Mosque of Xi’an ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Unique blend of Islamic and Chinese architecture.

• [ ] 🎨 Xi’an Museum & Small Wild Goose Pagoda ⭐ (~1h)

  • Compact but enlightening local history.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Sumptuous costumes & classical arts with dumpling banquet.

• [ ] 🍸 Defu Alley ⭐ (~2h)

  • Xi’an’s cozy bar street in the city core.

• [ ] 🍸 Evening stroll on the City Wall ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • City lights, cool ambience.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐

  • Dumpling banquet; dozens of varieties (~$25/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Muslim Quarter Street Stalls ⭐⭐

  • Roujiamo (“Chinese burger”), skewers, biangbiang noodles (~$6-10/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Shaanxi Noodle House ⭐

  • Try cold noodles & qishan saozi mian (~$15/person).

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏛️ Han Yangling Mausoleum (~3h)
  • Less-visited tomb, miniature clay army.

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🇨🇳 Shanghai - 6 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏙️ The Bund (Waitan) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Iconic colonial-era riverfront promenade—old and new Shanghai meet.

• [ ] 🏙️ Yu Garden & Yuyuan Bazaar ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Refined Ming garden, teahouses, photogenic pavilions, bustling bazaar.

• [ ] 🏙️ French Concession ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Leafy boulevards, architecture, boutiques, and hip cafés.

• [ ] 🏙️ Shanghai Museum (People’s Square) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • World-class jade, ceramics, paintings—free entry.

• [ ] 🏙️ Old City (Nanshi) ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Narrow lanes, local temples, vibrant atmosphere.

• [ ] 🏙️ Tianzifang ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Charming labyrinth of craft shops, art studios, quirky restaurants.

• [ ] 🏙️ Jing’an Temple ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Reconstructed Tang-era Buddhist temple amid skyscrapers.

• [ ] 🎨 Propaganda Poster Art Center ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Unique 20th-century history told through art.

• [ ] 🌳 Century Park ⭐ (~2h)

  • Modern urban park for relaxation and city views.

• [ ] 🏙️ Lujiazui Financial District & Shanghai Tower ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Futuristic skyscrapers, observation deck in Shanghai Tower (2nd tallest in world).

• [ ] 🌳 Xujiahui Park ⭐ (~1h)

  • Quiet retreat in the city bustle.

• [ ] 🏛️ Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center ⭐

  • Huge model cityscape and plans for the metropolis.

• [ ] 🎨 MOCA Shanghai ⭐

  • China’s modern art scene in a glass cube.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Bund Rooftop Bars (Bar Rouge/Waldorf Astoria) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Sip cocktails overlooking the neon-lit skyline.

• [ ] 🍸 Nanjing Road Walking Street ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Lively pedestrian street—shopping, snacks, and night energy.

• [ ] 🍸 Huangpu River Cruise ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Magical way to see illuminated riverside landmarks.

• [ ] 🍸 Jazz at Peace Hotel ⭐

  • Legendary venue with daily live jazz since 1929.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Jia Jia Tang Bao ⭐⭐⭐

  • Soup dumplings (xiaolongbao), made fresh (~$10/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Fu 1088 ⭐⭐

  • Refined Shanghainese classics, art deco setting (~$40/person).

• [ ] 🍜 Yershari Uyghur Restaurant ⭐

  • Tasty Central Asian cuisine; lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles (~$20/person).

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Day trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town (~4-5h)

  • Venice-like ancient canals and stone bridges.

• [ ] 🗺️ Shanghai Disney Resort (~1d)

  • World-class theme park if you want a break from city sights.

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🎬 Films & series to watch

🇨🇳 Beijing

• [ ] 🎬 The Last Emperor (1987) — ⭐ 7.7 — Oscar-winning epic about the Forbidden City — Prime Video
• [ ] 🎬 Farewell My Concubine (1993) — ⭐ 8.1 — Beijing opera, life through China’s tumultuous century — Amazon

🇨🇳 Xi’an

• [ ] 🎬 Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) — ⭐ 7.0 — Tang dynasty intrigue, spectacular set pieces — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 The Emperor and the Assassin (1998) — ⭐ 7.1 — Qin dynasty politics & the Terracotta Army — YouTube

🇨🇳 Shanghai

• [ ] 🎬 Shanghai Triad (1995) — ⭐ 7.1 — Mobsters and glamour in 1930s Shanghai — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 Empire of the Sun (1987) — ⭐ 7.7 — Spielberg's WWII epic set in Shanghai — Apple TV

🍜 Local specialties

🇨🇳 Beijing

• [ ] Peking Duck (crispy roasted duck, pancakes, scallion)
• [ ] Zhajiangmian (noodles with savory soybean paste)
• [ ] Donkey Burger (street snack with spiced meat)

🇨🇳 Xi’an

• [ ] Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)
• [ ] Biangbiang Noodles (thick hand-pulled noodles with chili)
• [ ] Yangrou Paomo (lamb & bread soup)

🇨🇳 Shanghai

• [ ] Xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings)
• [ ] Shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns)
• [ ] Red-braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou)

📍 Maps - places to pin

🇨🇳 Beijing

1. 🌤️ The Forbidden City
2. 🌙 Houhai Lakes Area
3. 🛍️ Wangfujing Street
4. 🏨 Beijing Hotel NUO
5. 🍽️ Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

🇨🇳 Xi’an

1. 🌤️ Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum
2. 🌙 Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show (Tang Dynasty Palace)
3. 🛍️ Muslim Quarter
4. 🏨 Grand Park Xi’an
5. 🍽️ De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant

🇨🇳 Shanghai

1. 🌤️ The Bund
2. 🌙 Bund Rooftop Bars (Bar Rouge)
3. 🛍️ Nanjing Road
4. 🏨 SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund
5. 🍽️ Jia Jia Tang Bao

✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Beijing
• [ ] 🚅 Beijing → Xi’an
• [ ] 🚅 Xi’an → Shanghai
• [ ] ✈️ Shanghai → London

🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Beijing	5	Beijing Hotel NUO (4*)	$625
Xi’an	3	Grand Park Xi’an (4*)	$300
Shanghai	6	SSAW Boutique Hotel Bund (4*)	$825
Total	14		$1,750