Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai

Destination 01

Beijing

10 places

Imperial capital of palaces, temples, hutongs and the Great Wall. Stay 4 days.

• Photo: Matthias Gottschalk · Google

  Forbidden City (Palace Museum)

  The Ming and Qing imperial palace, nearly a thousand buildings behind red walls.

  Tip Tickets sell out days ahead; book online with your passport number.

  SeeDongcheng$4 hrMorning
• Photo: Charlie fong冯成 · Public domain

  Jingshan Park

  Hill park directly north of the palace with a view over its golden roofs.

  Tip Climb after the Forbidden City exit at the north gate.

  OutdoorsXichengFree45 minLate afternoon
• Photo: Shujianyang · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Temple of Heaven

  Ming-era altar complex where emperors prayed for harvests, set in a large park.

  Tip Come early to see locals doing tai chi and dancing.

  SeeDongcheng$2 hrEarly morning
• Photo: Joe Belanto · Google

  Mutianyu Great Wall

  Restored, forested section of the Great Wall with a cable car and toboggan descent.

  Tip Go on a weekday and arrive at opening.

  OutdoorsHuairou$$5 hrMorning
• Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

  Summer Palace

  Imperial lakeside retreat with the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake.

  Tip Take a boat across the lake to save walking.

  SeeHaidian$3 hrMorning
• Photo: Zhenxi Li · Google

  Shichahai Hutongs

  Old alleyways around Houhai and the Drum and Bell Towers, best by bike or rickshaw.

  Tip Rent a shared bike and get lost in the side lanes.

  DoShichahaiFree2 hrAfternoon

• 798 Art District

  Former factory complex filled with galleries, studios and cafes.

  Tip UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is the anchor gallery.

  SeeChaoyangFree2.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Christian Halim · Google

  Siji Minfu

  Popular Peking duck chain carving crisp duck tableside at fair prices.

  Tip Reserve or take a queue number early.

  EatDongcheng$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: harry chang · Google

  Guijie (Ghost Street)

  Street of restaurants lit by red lanterns, known for spicy crayfish and hot pot late into the night.

  Tip Hu Da is the classic crayfish spot.

  EatDongzhimen$$1.5 hrLate night
• Photo: Min-Han Hsieh · Google

  Houhai Bar Street

  Lakeside bars with live music along the shore of Houhai.

  Tip Prices are high; walk the quieter west shore.

  DrinkShichahai$$1.5 hrNight

Destination 02

Xi'an

10 places

Ancient Silk Road capital with intact city walls and the Terracotta Army. Stay 2–3 days.

• Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

  Terracotta Army

  Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the tomb of China's first emperor.

  Tip See Pit 1 last; Pits 2 and 3 make more sense first.

  SeeLintong$$4 hrMorning
• Photo: Jeffery Huang · Google

  Xi'an City Wall

  Fully intact Ming wall, 14 km around, best ridden by rented bike.

  Tip Start at South Gate (Yongningmen) and ride before sunset.

  DoBeilin$2.5 hrLate afternoon
• Photo: Alex Kwok · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Big Wild Goose Pagoda

  Tang dynasty pagoda built to hold scriptures brought back from India.

  Tip The fountain show on the north plaza runs in the evening.

  SeeYanta$1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: Wang Zhongyin · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Shaanxi History Museum

  Top-tier collection from Zhou to Tang dynasties, including Tang murals.

  Tip Free tickets are limited; reserve online days ahead.

  SeeYantaFree2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Zuzana Szaloova · Google

  Bell Tower and Drum Tower

  Two Ming towers at the heart of the walled city, lit at night.

  Tip Drum performances run several times a day.

  SeeBeilin$60 minNight
• Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

  Great Mosque of Xi'an

  Chinese-style mosque with courtyards and pavilions, founded in the Tang era.

  Tip Dress modestly; closed to visitors during prayers.

  SeeMuslim Quarter$45 minMorning
• Photo: Tan Sean · Google

  Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie)

  Hui food streets with lamb skewers, roujiamo and persimmon cakes.

  Tip Explore side streets like Sajinqiao for better local food.

  EatMuslim Quarter$2 hrEvening
• Photo: Shaohan Hu · Google

  Lao Sun Jia

  Restaurant dating back over a century, known for yangrou paomo lamb soup with bread.

  Tip Tear the bread into tiny pieces before it goes in the soup.

  EatBeilin$60 minLunch
• Photo: Justin · Google

  Huaqing Palace

  Hot spring palace grounds below Mount Li, near the Terracotta Army.

  Tip Combine with the Terracotta Army on the same day.

  OutdoorsLintong$$1.5 hrAfternoon

• Defuxiang Bar Street

  Short lane of bars and live music spots inside the city wall.

  DrinkBeilin$$1.5 hrNight

Destination 03

Shanghai

10 places

China's financial hub, mixing colonial-era boulevards with a futuristic skyline. Stay 3 days.

• Photo: 钉钉 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  The Bund

  Riverside promenade of 1920s banks and hotels facing the Pudong skyline.

  Tip Walk it twice: early morning for calm, after dark for the lights.

  SeeHuangpuFree1.5 hrNight
• Photo: Stefan Fussan · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Yu Garden

  Ming dynasty classical garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city.

  Tip Go at opening; the bazaar outside gets crowded.

  SeeOld City$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: aj · Google

  Shanghai Tower Observation Deck

  Deck on the 118th floor of China's tallest building.

  Tip Check air quality; haze can hide the view.

  SeeLujiazui$$$1.5 hrSunset
• Photo: Simon Nadeau · Google

  Shanghai Museum

  Bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade at People's Square, with a newer East branch in Pudong.

  Tip Reserve free tickets online.

  SeePeople's SquareFree2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: 陳傑生 · Google

  Former French Concession

  Plane-tree streets of villas, boutiques and cafes, centered on Wukang and Anfu roads.

  Tip Rent a shared bike to cover more ground.

  DoXuhuiFree3 hrAfternoon
• Photo: lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0

  Tianzifang

  Maze of shikumen lane houses filled with small shops and studios.

  ShopDapuqiao$$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Valts Vitums · Google

  Zhujiajiao Water Town

  Canal town with stone bridges and old houses on Shanghai's western edge.

  Tip Take Metro Line 17 and go on a weekday.

  OutdoorsQingpu$4 hrMorning
• Photo: Angelo Saponaro · Google

  Jia Jia Tang Bao

  Plain local shop making xiaolongbao soup dumplings to order.

  Tip Crab-and-pork filling is the specialty; go before lunch rush.

  EatPeople's Square$45 minBreakfast
• Photo: ChingHua Chuang · Google

  Yang's Fried Dumplings

  Local chain known for shengjian bao, pan-fried pork buns with crisp bottoms.

  Tip Bite a small hole first; the soup is scalding.

  EatPeople's Square$30 minLunch
• Photo: Kaptain Kerr · Google

  Long Bar at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai

  Restored bar of the 1911 Shanghai Club on the Bund, known for its long counter.

  Tip Smart casual dress expected.

  DrinkHuangpu$$$$1.5 hrEvening