Itinerary · 5 days · balanced
Beijing + Shanghai — 5-day first-timer classic
Two of China's three great cities in five days: imperial Beijing followed by the modern skyline of Shanghai, linked by a quick domestic flight or overnight train.
Five days is the practical minimum for pairing Beijing and Shanghai. You get two full days in Beijing for the headline sights, a travel day, and two full days in Shanghai. The overnight Z-class train (Z1/Z3, 12 hours, soft sleeper ¥350–¥500) is a budget-friendly option that doubles as accommodation and saves a night's hotel cost. If time is tighter, the 4h 30m HSR G-train (¥553 second class) is more comfortable but pricier.
The Beijing-Shanghai axis is the most heavily travelled route in China, which means options are excellent. The HSR G-train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao runs multiple times daily and is one of the most punctual rail services in the world — travel times have been remarkably consistent. If scheduling an early morning departure, Beijing South Station has a 24-hour fast food floor and the trains are reliable enough to justify tight connections.
Two days in Beijing: focus on what cannot be rushed. The Forbidden City genuinely needs 3 hours minimum to do the central axis at a walking pace; adding the side halls requires 5 hours. Mutianyu Great Wall needs a full half-day including the drive. Don't try to add the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace to the same day as the Wall — one site per day is a more rewarding rhythm. Two days in Shanghai allows the Bund, French Concession, Yu Garden, and Pudong without the feeling of having missed half the city.
Day by day
Day 1 · beijing
Forbidden City and Jingshan
Arrive at PEK or PKX. Drop bags at the hotel near Wangfujing. Pre-booked Forbidden City tickets for mid-morning — allow three hours. Climb Jingshan for the rooftop view, then walk south to Qianmen for Peking duck in the evening.
Attractions: forbidden-city, jingshan-park
Stay in: Wangfujing, Qianmen or Dongcheng.
Day 2 · beijing
Great Wall and Temple of Heaven
Early hired car to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (1.5h each way). Back in Beijing by 3pm. Temple of Heaven as afternoon light falls across the circular hall. Nanluoguxiang hutong for a final Beijing dinner.
Attractions: great-wall-mutianyu, temple-of-heaven, nanluoguxiang
Day 3 · shanghai
Travel day — Beijing to Shanghai, the Bund at dusk
Morning HSR G-class (4h 30m, ¥553 second class) to Shanghai Hongqiao. Check in to the hotel by mid-afternoon. Walk the Bund as the Pudong lights come on, then dinner in the French Concession.
Attractions: the-bund, french-concession
Stay in: French Concession or the Bund area.
G-class HSR Beijing → Shanghai Hongqiao, 4h 30m, ¥553 second class.
Day 4 · shanghai
Yu Garden, Tianzifang, Pudong
Morning at Yu Garden and the surrounding Old Town bazaar. Afternoon in Tianzifang's alleyway galleries and independent cafés. Late afternoon: cross the Huangpu to Pudong — Shanghai Tower observation deck (632m) for panoramic views.
Attractions: yu-garden, tianzifang, shanghai-tower
Day 5 · shanghai
Jade Buddha Temple, M50, departure
Morning at the Jade Buddha Temple (two seated jade Buddhas, still-active monastery). M50 art district on Moganshan Road for contemporary galleries. Lunch in the French Concession, then transfer to PVG for departure.
Attractions: jade-buddha-temple-shanghai, m50-art-district
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥900 |
| Mid-range | ¥2200 |
| Comfortable | ¥5000 |
Per person total for 5 days including HSR fare. International flights excluded.
Cities covered
Attractions covered
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