Discover three contrasting cities on a nine-day journey from Shanghai to Xi’an and Beijing. Walk the Bund, explore Yuyuan Garden and spend a day among Zhujiajiao’s canals before taking high-speed rail inland. Xi’an brings the Terracotta Warriors and ancient city wall; Beijing follows with the Forbidden City, hutong lanes, parks and Mutianyu Great Wall. The route connects China’s modern waterfront with the monuments of its early empires and the streets surrounding its former imperial palaces.
What makes this route special
Visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai History Museum, Yuyuan Garden and the Bund.
Spend a day in Zhujiajiao Water Town, including its old lanes and river setting.
Travel by high-speed rail from Shanghai to Xi'an.
Explore the Terracotta Warriors outside Xi'an.
See Xi'an City Wall and Xiaoyan Pagoda.
Visit the Forbidden City, Jingshan Hill, Beihai Park, hutongs and Mutianyu Great Wall.
Your day-by-day itinerary
Arrive in Shanghai
Meet your driver at Shanghai airport and transfer to Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping. The first day is open for check-in, rest and adjusting to the time difference, with no guided sightseeing planned. Three nights with breakfast are allocated to the Shanghai stay, allowing time to settle in before exploring the city and nearby Zhujiajiao. Please share your flight details when enquiring so the driver’s meeting point and hotel transfer can be arranged for your arrival.
- Transport
- Private transfer from Shanghai airport to the hotel.
- Guide
- Driver pickup only.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; three nights with breakfast.
Shanghai's Skyline and Historic Waterfront
See Shanghai from the Oriental Pearl Tower’s main observation deck and glass platform, then visit the Shanghai History Museum. The afternoon combines Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Old Town with a walk along the Bund and Nanjing Road. From the garden’s winding paths to the riverfront, the day traces the city’s older neighborhoods and modern skyline. An English-speaking guide and private transport accompany the sightseeing. Return to Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping for the night.
- Transport
- Private transport for city sightseeing.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; second night with breakfast.
Zhujiajiao Water Town
Take a day trip from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao, a canal town about an hour from the city. Walk across Fangsheng Bridge and explore the old lanes around Caogang River, where Ming- and Qing-era streets preserve the character of a historic trading town. A sculling boat ride and local specialties such as braised pork and rice dumplings are described as possible experiences; confirm their arrangements when booking. Return to Shanghai for the third hotel night. The day offers a quieter contrast to the city’s towers and busy commercial streets.
- Transport
- Private transfer between Shanghai and Zhujiajiao; ask us to confirm the sculling boat arrangement.
- Guide
- Guide arrangement for this excursion will be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; third night with breakfast.
Rail to Xi'an and Xiaoyan Pagoda
Transfer to Shanghai Hongqiao station and take high-speed train G360 to Xi’an, scheduled 08:55–14:34. On arrival, a driver meets you at the station and takes you to Grand Noble Hotel. If time allows after check-in, visit Xiaoyan Pagoda in the evening. The hotel is planned for two nights with breakfast. This is a travel-focused day, and the evening visit depends on the actual train arrival and transfer time. Keep your rail ticket and identification accessible for station procedures.
- Transport
- Station transfer, high-speed train G360 (08:55–14:34), Xi'an station pickup and local transfer.
- Guide
- Driver pickup and transfer; evening guide arrangement will be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Grand Noble Hotel, Xi’an; first night of two with breakfast.
The Terracotta Warriors
Spend the day at the Terracotta Warriors, where ranks of life-size figures stand as part of the mausoleum complex of China’s first emperor. Look closely at the differences in faces, armor and formation, and learn how the site reveals the organization and craftsmanship of the Qin dynasty. The visit centers on this major archaeological landmark, with private transport for the excursion. Return to Grand Noble Hotel for the second night in Xi’an. Expect time outdoors and walking around the excavation halls and visitor areas.
- Transport
- Private transport for the Terracotta Warriors excursion.
- Guide
- Guide arrangement for this excursion will be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Grand Noble Hotel, Xi’an; second night of two with breakfast.
Xi'an City Wall and Rail to Beijing
Explore Xi’an’s City Wall before transferring to the station at 14:30 for the high-speed train to Beijing. A driver meets the group at the Beijing station and transfers everyone to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the first of three nights with breakfast. The train number and departure time will be confirmed for your dates, so the city visit should be planned around the final rail schedule. The day joins a historic city walk with intercity travel; keep water and essentials handy for the station journey.
- Transport
- Private city transport, a transfer to Xi’an station, high-speed rail to Beijing and station pickup. Transfer and train times will be confirmed for your dates.
- Guide
- Guide arrangement for the city visit will be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; first night of three with breakfast.
Beijing's Imperial Center and Old Lanes
Visit the Forbidden City and Jingshan Hill in the morning, then continue to Tiananmen Square, Beihai Park and Beijing’s hutong lanes. From Jingshan’s summit, the palace rooftops stretch along the city’s central axis. Beihai offers a garden setting, while the hutong walk brings you closer to traditional courtyard neighborhoods. There are several stops and plenty of walking through open grounds and streets. Return to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the second night with breakfast.
- Transport
- Private transport for city sightseeing.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; second night of three with breakfast.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Travel to Mutianyu for a walk along the Great Wall, following the stone ramparts across a succession of mountain ridges. The landscape changes with the season, with broad views over wooded slopes and watchtowers. This section involves steps and uneven surfaces; no cable car or ropeway is planned for this visit. Return to Beijing Xiyuan Hotel for the final night. If you would like details about walking distance or current access arrangements, please ask when planning your dates.
- Transport
- Private transport for the excursion.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; third night of three with breakfast.
Depart from Beijing
A driver will take you to Beijing Capital Airport for your onward flight. No sightseeing or guide service is planned on departure day. Share your flight details to set the pickup time and confirm the transfer arrangements. Breakfast is part of the hotel stay, but an early flight may depart before breakfast service begins. This brings the journey to a close after Shanghai, Zhujiajiao, Xi’an and Beijing.
- Transport
- Driver transfer to Beijing Capital Airport; exact pickup time depends on the flight details.
- Guide
- Driver airport transfer only.
- Accommodation
- No overnight accommodation; departure day.
What your proposal covers
- Private group transport and the station and airport transfers planned for this journey.
- Eight breakfasts.
- Entrance fees for the planned attractions.
- English-speaking guiding on seven days; arrival and departure transfers are driver-only.
- Eight nights in twin-share rooms at Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping, Grand Noble Hotel in Xi’an and Beijing Xiyuan Hotel.
- Lunches and dinners.
- International flights.
- Personal expenses.
Payment & cancellation
| Payment due | Share of trip price |
|---|---|
| On trip confirmation | 30% deposit |
| One month before the trip | 70% balance |
| Time before arrival | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| More than 45 days | Only costs incurred for flights, cruises and other exceptional services. |
| 45–30 days | 25% |
| 29–16 days | 50% |
| 15–7 days | 80% |
| Less than 7 days | 100% |
| Percentage fees are based on the total trip price. | |
Questions and answers
VISAS
For the latest information on visa procedures, processing times and requirements, please kindly refer to website https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
INSURANCE
We will arrange essential insurance coverage for your trip to Mainland China. Meanwhile, we strongly recommend you purchase separate comprehensive travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, medical expenses, luggage loss, repatriation and other associated additional costs. As a minimum requirement, the insurance policy must include medical coverage, which including medical evacuation and repatriation. For this part, you are free to select your preferred insurance provider.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
If you are traveling during a Chinese public holiday, please note that while tourist attractions remain open, they may be crowded with domestic visitors. Festivities often span several days, during which some businesses may close, and coach, air, and train services could be impacted. The major Golden Week holidays occur annually around 1 to 5 May and 1 to 7 October.
ACCOMMODATION
Your accommodation is chosen for its convenience, comfort, or character. Hotels are generally of a four-star standard in major cities. Please note, there is no international classification system, so facilities and quality may differ from those in your home country.
LUGGAGE
Each traveller is permitted a maximum of two pieces of luggage: one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 5kg. This requirement applies to domestic trains and flights. We recommend packing only what you can carry independently, as you will be responsible for handling your luggage on and off trains or air-checked. Please note: If your luggage exceed the limits, kindly inform your travel designer in advance, and we will arrange a suitable vehicle for you.
TRAVEL MONEY IN CHINA
We recommend having access to multiple sources of money while traveling. A combination of payment methods, including mobile payment apps, cash, and cards, will offer the most security and flexibility. Mobile payment apps like WeChat and Alipay are often more widely accepted than international cards or cash in China. You will need an internet connection when in China to use the apps.
