9 nights · All markets · First-time visitors · Families · Small groups
First China
The classic first trip, paced properly. Four nights in Beijing so the Great Wall gets a full, unhurried day; two in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and the old walled city; three in Shanghai to finish on the waterfront. Beijing to Xi'an goes by high-speed train, Xi'an to Shanghai by a short flight, so no day is lost to a long transfer.
- Beijing4 nights
- Xi'an2 nights
- Shanghai3 nights
The route, day by day
Transfer times are typical door-to-door or train times and are confirmed against live schedules when we quote.
- Day 1
Arrive Beijing
Meet at arrivals and transfer to the hotel. Nothing else is scheduled: long-haul arrivals need the evening. A short walk to a nearby hutong lane for dinner is optional.
- Day 2
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park
Tiananmen Square first, then the Forbidden City from the south gate to the north, with a guide who keeps the group off the main axis when it is crowded. Climb Jingshan Park opposite the north gate for the view back over the palace roofs. Forbidden City tickets are released in advance with real-name passport booking and sell out in peak weeks, so we book them at confirmation.
- Day 3
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Mutianyu rather than Badaling: restored, steep in places, and far less crowded. Cable car up, walk the towers at the client's pace, and the toboggan or cable car down. Lunch in Huairou on the way back. This is the day to leave unhurried; it is the photograph most clients came for.
- Day 4
Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace
Early morning at the Temple of Heaven park, when local residents are there doing tai chi and dancing. Afternoon at the Summer Palace, with a boat across Kunming Lake. Evening option: Peking duck, or a halal or vegetarian alternative planned in advance.
- Day 5
High-speed train to Xi'an
Morning train, lunch on board or in the station. Afternoon arrival and an evening walk on the Muslim Quarter food streets near the Bell Tower.
- Day 6
The Terracotta Army
Pits 1, 2 and 3 and the museum with a licensed site guide. Pit 1 is the one in every photograph; the smaller pits explain how the army was built. Back in the city for an evening at leisure.
- Day 7
City wall, Great Mosque and flight to Shanghai
Cycle or walk a section of the Ming-era city wall in the morning, then the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter, which is built entirely in Chinese temple style. Afternoon flight to Shanghai.
- Day 8
The Bund, Yu Garden and the old town
The Bund in the morning light, the Yu Garden and the old town lanes around it, and the Pudong side in the afternoon for the observation decks. Evening river cruise on the Huangpu.
- Day 9
Water town or Suzhou
Either Zhujiajiao water town for canals and stone bridges, or Suzhou for its classical gardens. Return to Shanghai for a final dinner.
- Day 10
Depart Shanghai
Transfer to Pudong for the onward or homeward flight.
Entry, season and planning notes
Entry route
Works for every visa-free passport within the 30-day window. Clients on the 240-hour transit can follow it if they arrive in Beijing and fly on from Shanghai to a third country; Indian and other visa-required clients need a single-entry tourist visa.
When to go
April–May and September–October are the comfortable months. July and August are hot and busy with domestic school holidays; December–February is cold in Beijing and Xi'an but quiet, and the Great Wall in snow is worth selling.
Planning notes
- Forbidden City and Terracotta Army tickets are real-name and passport-linked. We need passport copies at confirmation, not on arrival.
- High-speed rail tickets are also passport-linked. Seats in first or business class sell out early on holiday weekends.
- Swap Shanghai and Beijing if the international flights work better that way; the routing runs equally well in reverse.
- Halal, vegetarian and Jain dining is straightforward in all three cities when it is planned before the quote.
On this route
City guides for this route
Beijing
Beijing guide for agents: Forbidden City, Great Wall at Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven, halal dining in Niujie, ticketing rules and how many nights to sell.
Gateway CityShanghai
Shanghai destination guide for agents: the Bund, Pudong, Yu Garden, water towns and Suzhou day trips, theme-park days and rail links to Beijing.
Terracotta & Silk RoadXi'an
Xi'an destination guide for agents: Terracotta Army, city wall, Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter, rail links, halal dining and how long to stay.
Questions agents ask about this route
Can this itinerary be done in 7 nights?
Yes, by taking one night from Beijing and one from Shanghai. The Great Wall day stays; what goes is the Summer Palace and the water-town day. Below seven nights we would drop Xi'an rather than rush it.
Why Mutianyu and not Badaling?
Badaling is closer to Beijing but far more crowded, especially at weekends and in holiday weeks. Mutianyu is about the same restoration standard, has a cable car and is calmer, which matters for families and older clients.
Can 240-hour transit clients follow this route?
Yes, if they enter at Beijing and leave from Shanghai to a third country or region, and the whole stay fits within 240 hours. Beijing, Shaanxi and Shanghai are all within the permitted areas; we confirm the port and area list again at booking.
Compare with
Halal Silk Road
XI'AN → LANZHOU → DUNHUANG → YINCHUAN
9 nights240-Hour Transit Circuit
BEIJING → XI'AN → SHANGHAI
6 nightsCanton Fair & Sourcing
GUANGZHOU → YIWU
Quote First China for your clients
Updated 2 November 2026. An indicative framework, re-paced and priced for every brief.