7 Days in China
Trip Overview
None
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Hutong Dawn to Houhai Dusk, Beijing
Bring passport to palace. Digital ID not accepted.
Day 1 Budget: mid-range
2
Mutianyu Wall & Olympic Glow, Beijing
Toboggan slide down Wall closes at 4 pm sharp, plan descent early.
Day 2 Budget: mid-range
3
Temples, Trains & Xi'an Drumbeats, Beijing → Xi'an
Buy return Beijing train tickets the moment you arrive, Xi'an booths fill fast.
Day 3 Budget: mid-range
4
Warriors, Bikes & Hot-Pot, Xi'an
Warriors site vendors push mini-figurines, hold off until the exit hall where quality leaps for the same price.
Day 4 Budget: mid-range
5
Shanghai Arrival & Bund Neon, Xi'an → Shanghai
Pick up a Shanghai Public Transport Card at the metro counter. It works on buses and ferries.
Day 5 Budget: mid-range
6
Yu Gardens, French Concession & Sky-bar, Shanghai
Metro Line 14 new exits shorten walk to Cloud 9; saves taxi fare.
Day 6 Budget: mid-range
7
Silk, Souks & Departure, Shanghai
Market vendors close 3 pm Sunday, plan shop earlier.
Day 7 Budget: budget-friendly
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
China's high-speed rail network is the itinerary spine: Beijing-Xi'an 4.5 h, Xi'an-Shanghai 6 h. Use metro cards in Beijing & Shanghai for subways/buses; Xi'an's metro is limited so rely on Didi taxis (cheaper than most European capitals). Validate tickets with passport at each rail station.
Book Ahead
['High-speed train tickets for weekend departures', 'Forbidden City timed entry', 'Terracotta Warriors shuttle bus ticket', 'Cloud 9 bar window seat']
Packing Essentials
['Portable charger (photo ops drain batteries)', 'lightweight scarf for temple shoulders', 'VPN-enabled phone for Google Translate', 'reusable chopsticks for street food', 'layers for October evenings']
Total Budget
mid-range for 7 days excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Family-Friendly
Book high-speed rail child seats in advance, choose Wall's cable-car both ways, carry baby wipes for Shanghai squats, add Shanghai Aquarium after day 6 for AC break.
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