Great Wall, Terracotta Army and the Bund
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
Xi'an to Shanghai
Xi'an and Shanghai sit about 1,221 km (759 mi) apart in a straight line, with Shanghai to the east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai itinerary, a 10-day trip. At this distance a flight may be the typical way to cover it.
- Straight-line distance
- 1,221 km · 759 mi
- Est. road distance
- 1,465–1,709 km
- Est. drive time
- 15 h 30 min – 26 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By air or long-distance transport
At 1,221 km in a straight line, a flight may be the most typical way to cover this leg, though our route guide also mentions trains. Driving would be an estimated 1,465–1,709 km and 15 h 30 min – 26 h 15 min at the wheel, usually split over more than one day.
High-speed trains link Beijing to Xi'an in about 4.5 to 6 hours and Xi'an to Shanghai in about 6 hours; flying is an option for the second leg. Each city has a large, easy metro system with English signage.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Shanghai
China's financial hub, mixing colonial-era boulevards with a futuristic skyline. Stay 3 days.
The Bund
Riverside promenade of 1920s banks and hotels facing the Pudong skyline.
Former French Concession
Plane-tree streets of villas, boutiques and cafes, centered on Wukang and Anfu roads.
Tianzifang
Maze of shikumen lane houses filled with small shops and studios.
Zhujiajiao Water Town
Canal town with stone bridges and old houses on Shanghai's western edge.
Jia Jia Tang Bao
Plain local shop making xiaolongbao soup dumplings to order.
Long Bar at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai
Restored bar of the 1911 Shanghai Club on the Bund, known for its long counter.
Before you leave Xi'an
Ancient Silk Road capital with intact city walls and the Terracotta Army. Stay 2–3 days.
On this curated route
Where Xi'an → Shanghai sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Shanghai to Xi'an is the same 1,221 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in June, when Shanghai averages highs 6°C cooler than Xi'an. Over a year, Shanghai gets about 590 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xi'an high | 6° | 11° | 18° | 25° | 30° | 34° | 35° | 33° | 27° | 21° | 14° | 7° |
| Shanghai high | 8° | 10° | 14° | 20° | 25° | 28° | 32° | 31° | 28° | 23° | 17° | 11° |
| Xi'an rain | 9 | 13 | 23 | 40 | 69 | 84 | 124 | 114 | 125 | 60 | 27 | 6 |
| Shanghai rain | 67 | 78 | 88 | 95 | 104 | 195 | 148 | 173 | 137 | 77 | 71 | 53 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Shanghai month guides.
Xi'an to Shanghai: questions travelers ask
How far is Xi'an from Shanghai?
Xi'an is about 1,221 km (759 mi) from Shanghai in a straight line, with Shanghai to the east. By road, we estimate 1,465–1,709 km (910–1,062 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Xi'an to Shanghai?
An estimated 15 h 30 min – 26 h 15 min, assuming 1,465–1,709 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. At this distance, a flight may be more practical.
Which itineraries include the trip from Xi'an to Shanghai?
Our Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai itinerary includes this leg. Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai runs about 10 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – May, Sep – Oct.
Getting to Xi'an
- Beijing to Xi'an 905 km
Guides for both ends
- Xi'an travel guide
- Xi'an weather best time to visit
- Shanghai travel guide
- Shanghai weather best time to visit
Shanghai by month
Plan Xi'an → Shanghai with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.