Shanghai — Beijing
Shanghai → Beijing
- 7 days · 6 nights
- 1 transfer
- ≈ ¥4 056
China’s two great cities in a week: Shanghai’s towers and canals, then a bullet train to imperial Beijing and the Wall.
When to go: Best in April–May and September–October, except 1–7 October.
Times are approximate and update when you replace a stop.
Shanghai: the Bund and the Old City
- 10:0011:30
Photo: Georgio · CC BY-SA 3.0 The Bund
Colonial facades and the Pudong skyline across the river.
1 h 30 minFree - ≈ 20 min · on foot
- 11:5013:50
Yu Garden and the Old City
A classic Ming-era garden ringed by a bazaar and teahouses.
2 h¥40 - ≈ 30 min · metro
- 14:2016:20
Shanghai Tower observation deck
Floor 118, best at sunset. Online tickets beat the box office.
2 h¥180
Shanghai: canals and the Concession
- 10:1014:10
Photo: BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0 Zhujiajiao water town
Canals and stone bridges on metro line 17. The town itself is free.
4 hFree - ≈ 1 h · metro
- 15:1017:40
The French Concession
Plane trees, villas and cafés along Wukang and Anfu roads.
2 h 30 minFree - ≈ 20 min · metro
- 18:0019:00
Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0 Jing’an Temple
Golden roofs in the middle of the business district.
1 h¥50
Bullet train to Beijing
- 08:4513:15
Bullet train: Shanghai → Beijing
Hongqiao → Beijing South, second class. Tickets by passport; arrive 40 minutes early.
4 h 30 min¥620 - ≈ 1 h · metro
- 14:1515:15
Tiananmen Square
Entry by passport through security; the queue can be long.
1 hFree - ≈ 30 min · metro
- 15:4518:15
Hutongs and Houhai Lake
The old lanes of Nanluoguxiang, then lights on the lake.
2 h 30 minFree
Beijing: the Forbidden City
- 08:3012:30
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Forbidden City
Tickets are online only, by passport, released 7 days ahead.
4 h¥60 - ≈ 15 min · on foot
- 12:4513:45
Jingshan Park
The hill by the north gate: the whole Forbidden City from above.
1 h¥2 - ≈ 20 min · metro
- 14:0516:05
Wangfujing and Peking duck
A pedestrian street and a duck dinner. Food is in the budget.
2 hFree
The Great Wall
- 09:0015:00
Photo: Velatrix · CC0 Great Wall at Mutianyu
Quieter than Badaling. The price includes the cable car.
6 h¥160 - ≈ 40 min · metro
- 15:4017:10
A free evening
The Wall takes it out of you — dinner near the hotel.
1 h 30 minFree
Beijing: temples and palaces
- 08:0010:30
Photo: Shujianyang · CC BY-SA 4.0 Temple of Heaven
Come at opening time: locals dance and play jianzi in the park.
2 h 30 min¥34 - ≈ 1 h · metro
- 11:3015:30
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 Summer Palace
Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor and the marble boat.
4 h¥60
A last morning and departure
- 10:4013:10
798 Art District
Galleries in old factory halls, on the way to Capital Airport.
2 h 30 minFree