Two weeks is the perfect introduction to China. You have enough time to see the "Golden Triangle" — Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai — without feeling rushed. This itinerary has been refined through feedback from hundreds of first-time travelers. It balances must-see attractions with downtime, includes practical logistics, and avoids the most common planning mistakes.
Overview: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Days 1-5: Beijing (4 nights) — The imperial capital. Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, and Peking duck.
Days 5-8: Xi'an (3 nights) — The ancient capital. Terracotta Warriors, city walls, Muslim Quarter, and the start of the Silk Road.
Days 8-14: Shanghai (6 nights, with day trips) — The modern metropolis. The Bund, French Concession, and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Transport between cities: Beijing → Xi'an: High-speed train, 4.5-5.5 hours, ¥515-825 ($70-115). Xi'an → Shanghai: High-speed train, 6-7 hours, ¥669-1,100 ($95-155). Alternatively, fly: 2-hour flights cost ¥500-1,200 ($70-170). Trains are recommended — city-center to city-center, no airport transfers, more reliable schedules.
Days 1-5: Beijing
Day 1: Arrival & Orientation
Land at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airportTake the Airport Express train to the city (¥25, 20-30 minutes)Check into your hotel (recommended area: Dongcheng District, near Wangfujing or Nanluoguxiang)Evening: Walk through Nanluoguxiang hutong, grab street food for dinnerEarly night — you'll need energy for tomorrowDay 2: The Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square
Morning: Tiananmen Square (free, 1 hour). Enter from the south, exit north toward the Forbidden City.9am-2pm: The Forbidden City (¥60, book online 7 days in advance — tickets sell out). Follow the central axis: Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Imperial Garden → exit north.Lunch: Siji Minfu roast duck near the Forbidden City north gate (¥168/set for two)Afternoon: Jingshan Park (¥2, climb the hill for the iconic Forbidden City panorama photo)Evening: Wangfujing Night Market (touristy but fun) or Ghost Street (簋街) for authentic Beijing dinnerDay 3: The Great Wall
Take the 8:30am tourist bus from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu Great Wall (¥80 round trip, 1.5 hours each way)Mutianyu section: less crowded than Badaling, fully restored, with a toboggan slide down (¥100)Spend 3-4 hours walking the wall. Take the cable car up (¥100 round trip) to save energy for the wall itself.Return to Beijing by 4pmEvening: Hot pot dinner at Haidilao (any location, ¥100-150/person)Day 4: Temples & Hutongs
Morning: Temple of Heaven (¥35, 2-3 hours). Go early to see locals doing tai chi and morning exercises in the park.Lunch: Try zhajiangmian (Beijing fried sauce noodles) at Old Beijing Noodle King (¥25)Afternoon: Hutong walking tour. Start at Drum Tower, walk through the alleys to Houhai Lake. Visit a courtyard home if you can.Evening: Peking duck dinner at Da Dong (¥198/set, book ahead). The Dongsi Shitiao location is best.Day 5: Summer Palace & Train to Xi'an
Morning: Summer Palace (¥30, 2-3 hours). Walk the Long Corridor, see the Marble Boat, climb Longevity Hill for Kunming Lake views.Afternoon: Take the 2pm or 3pm high-speed train to Xi'an (arrive 7-8pm)Check into hotel (recommended area: inside the city walls, near Bell Tower)Evening: Walk through the Muslim Quarter for dinner — try yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread)Days 5-8: Xi'an
Day 6: Terracotta Warriors
Take bus 306 (Tourist Bus #5) from Xi'an Railway Station to the Terracotta Warriors (¥7, 1 hour). First bus at 7am — take it to beat the crowds.Spend 3-4 hours at the museum. Visit in order: Pit 2 → Pit 3 → Pit 1 (save the biggest for last).Return to Xi'an by 2pmAfternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda (¥50, 1-2 hours). The surrounding square has a famous fountain show at 8:30pm.Evening: Dumpling banquet at Defachang (¥80-120/person)Day 7: City Walls & Muslim Quarter
Morning: Xi'an City Wall (¥54, 2-3 hours). Rent a bike (¥45) and cycle the full 14km loop — takes about 90 minutes at a leisurely pace.Lunch: Biangbiang noodles at any shop on Dapiyuan Street (¥15-25)Afternoon: Explore the Muslim Quarter. Visit the Great Mosque (¥25, one of China's oldest mosques, built in a Chinese architectural style).Evening: Street food crawl through the Muslim Quarter. Must-try: lamb skewers (¥2-5 each), persimmon cakes (¥3), cold noodles (¥8-15).Day 8: Shaanxi History Museum & Train to Shanghai
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum (free but book 3 days in advance online). One of China's best museums — Tang Dynasty gold, Han Dynasty pottery, Silk Road artifacts.Afternoon: Take the 2pm high-speed train to Shanghai (arrive 8-9pm)Check into hotel (recommended area: French Concession or Jing'an)Evening: Late dinner at a xiaolongbao shop (Jia Jia Tang Bao is open until 9pm, ¥30-40)Days 8-14: Shanghai & Day Trips
Day 9: The Bund & French Concession
Morning: The Bund. Walk from the Peace Hotel south to the Old Wall. Best photos: Pudong skyline from the Bund at the morning golden hour.Cross the Huangpu River via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (¥50, touristy but fun) or take Metro Line 2 (¥4, 5 minutes).Afternoon: Shanghai Tower (¥180, the world's second-tallest building). Go to the 118th floor observation deck for 360° views.Evening: Explore the French Concession. Walk along Wukang Road, see the historic Wukang Mansion. Dinner at a French Concession restaurant.Day 10: Day Trip to Suzhou
Take the 8am high-speed train to Suzhou (25 minutes, ¥40-70)Morning: Humble Administrator's Garden (¥80, 2 hours). The largest and most famous classical garden in Suzhou.Lunch: Songshu guiyu (squirrel-shaped mandarin fish) at Songhelou (¥150-200)Afternoon: Tiger Hill (¥80, 2 hours). The "Leaning Tower of China" — a 1,000-year-old pagoda that tilts 3 degrees.Take the 5pm train back to ShanghaiEvening: Nanjing Road pedestrian street for shopping and people-watchingDay 11: Day Trip to Hangzhou
Take the 7:30am high-speed train to Hangzhou (45-60 minutes, ¥75-120)Morning: West Lake. Walk the Su Causeway, take a boat to Mid-Lake Pavilion (¥55). Visit Leifeng Pagoda (¥40) for panoramic lake views.Lunch: Longjing shrimp at Louwailou (¥98, the most famous Hangzhou restaurant)Afternoon: Longjing tea village. Visit a tea plantation, learn about the roasting process, buy tea directly from farmers.Take the 6pm train back to ShanghaiDay 12: Shanghai Museums & Yu Garden
Morning: Shanghai Museum (free, 2-3 hours). World-class collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and jade.Lunch: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant at Yu Garden (¥40-60 for a basket of crab roe xiaolongbao)Afternoon: Yu Garden (¥40, 1-2 hours). A 450-year-old classical garden in the heart of the Old City.Evening: Huangpu River night cruise (¥120-150, 1 hour). See the Bund and Pudong lit up at night.Day 13: Free Day — Choose Your Adventure
Option A (Culture): Propaganda Poster Art Centre (¥25, fascinating collection of Mao-era posters), M50 Art District (free, contemporary galleries), Tianzifang (free, artsy alleyways with shops and cafes).Option B (Modern): Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (¥60), fake market in the metro station below (bargain hard — start at 10% of asking price), Lujiazui financial district skyline walk.Option C (Relaxed): Brunch in the French Concession, People's Park (free, see the Marriage Market on weekends), acrobatics show at Shanghai Centre Theatre (¥150-300).Day 14: Last Day & Departure
Morning: Last-minute shopping on Nanjing Road or at the AP Plaza fake market (Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station)Afternoon: Head to Pudong Airport (PVG). Take Metro Line 2 (¥7, 1 hour) or Maglev train (¥50, 8 minutes — the world's fastest commercial train at 431 km/h).Depart for home, already planning your next China trip.Booking Tips
**Train tickets:** Book on Trip.com (English, accepts foreign cards) 15 days in advance. Tickets release at 8am China time.**Forbidden City tickets:** Book on the official website (gugong.ktmtech.cn) exactly 7 days before your visit date. They sell out in minutes during peak season.**Hotels:** Book on Trip.com or Booking.com. International chains (Holiday Inn, Marriott) are reliable. Boutique hotels in renovated historic buildings offer more character.**Travel insurance:** Essential. Make sure it covers medical evacuation and trip cancellation.What to Pack
Comfortable walking shoes — you'll walk 15,000-25,000 steps per dayVPN installed and tested before departureAlipay and WeChat Pay set up with your foreign cardPortable battery pack (20,000 mAh) — you'll use your phone constantly for payment, maps, and translationToilet paper/tissues — many public restrooms don't provide itHand sanitizer — useful for street food adventuresPhotocopy of your passport and visa — keep separate from originalsUniversal power adapter — China uses Type A/C/I plugs, 220VThe Bottom Line
This 14-day itinerary hits China's three essential cities at a comfortable pace. You'll see 2,000-year-old Terracotta Warriors, walk on the Great Wall, explore Ming Dynasty gardens, and experience Shanghai's futuristic skyline. Total cost (mid-range, excluding international flights): $1,500-2,500 per person for two weeks. The memories: priceless.