9 days · Classic first-timer with one week plus
First Time China: 9 Days, Beijing + Xi'an + Shanghai
The classic route, edited hard: Beijing for imperial scale, Xi'an by high-speed rail, then Shanghai as the modern finish.
Duration
9 days
Cities
Beijing + Xi'an + Shanghai
Best for
Classic first-timer with one week plus
From, per person
$2,400 Independent · $3,800 Private Guided
Per person · 2026 reference price for 2 sharing · excl. international flights
What this trip is for
A starting shape, not a fixed package.
This is for travelers who want the recognizable China arc without losing days to poor sequencing. We keep major sites, but build in realistic transfer time, restaurant planning, and a Shanghai finish that feels current.
- Forbidden City with private guide; any special access is supplier-confirmed before proposal
- Beijing to Xi'an high-speed rail handled in advance
- Terracotta Warriors with early departure timing
- Shanghai modern architecture and food close
Day by day
01
Arrive in Beijing
Beijing
Morning
Land, transfer, payment check, and hotel arrival without stacking sightseeing on a tired body.
Afternoon
Short orientation walk near the hotel district, adjusted for air quality and arrival time.
Evening
Booked dinner, early night, and next-day document check for major sites.
02
Imperial scale, carefully timed
Beijing
Morning
Tiananmen area and Forbidden City with a private guide, timed around ticket rules and crowd pressure.
Afternoon
Jingshan Park viewpoint, then a quieter hutong or museum slot rather than another giant site.
Evening
Dinner selected by neighborhood, not by search ranking.
03
Great Wall day without the bus-tour rhythm
Beijing
Morning
Private car to a Wall section chosen for season, walking level, and crowd tolerance.
Afternoon
Late lunch on return, then rest instead of forcing a second headline attraction.
Evening
Optional cocktail, tea, or Peking duck booking if the day has enough energy left.
04
High-speed rail to Xi'an
Xi'an
Morning
Transfer to Beijing West or Beijing Fengtai with passport and rail timing handled.
Afternoon
High-speed rail to Xi'an, then hotel check-in inside the practical city center radius.
Evening
Muslim Quarter or a calmer nearby dinner depending on crowd level.
05
Terracotta, then edit the afternoon
Xi'an
Morning
Early departure for the Terracotta Warriors with guide context before the main visitor wave settles in.
Afternoon
City Wall or Small Wild Goose Pagoda area, not both if heat or crowds are high.
Evening
Shaanxi food dinner with ordering support.
06
Fly or rail to Shanghai
Shanghai
Morning
Transfer out of Xi'an by flight or rail, chosen by schedule and baggage reality.
Afternoon
Shanghai check-in and reset; no forced museum after a transfer day.
Evening
Bund night walk and dinner close enough to avoid a long ride back.
07
Shanghai modern finish
Shanghai
Morning
Lujiazui or West Bund for contemporary scale and skyline context.
Afternoon
Rockbund, Xintiandi, or design retail route based on hotel location.
Evening
Restaurant booking that feels like Shanghai now, not a generic final banquet.
08
One flexible day
Shanghai
Morning
Choose Suzhou, a museum, shopping, tea, or photography depending on what the trip has taught us.
Afternoon
Keep the day light enough to protect the final dinner.
Evening
Final dinner with transfer timing confirmed for departure day.
09
Departure without a scramble
Shanghai
Morning
Slow breakfast, packing, and any last purchase close to the hotel.
Afternoon
Airport transfer with buffer for PVG or SHA.
Evening
If departing late, we build one short stop rather than a full extra day.
2026 reference prices
Two ways to take this route.
Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more.
Independent
From $2,400 per person
reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
- Guide
- No full-time guide; add a guide for set times or sights
- Car
- On request
Private Guided
From $3,800 per person
reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
- Guide
- English-speaking private guide throughout
- Car
- Private car throughout
Included on both
- Hotels selected by us, confirmed by you, usually with breakfast
- Transport inside China: high-speed rail, domestic flights and transfers, including 12306 handling
- Entrance tickets for the sights in your itinerary
- Restaurant bookings made ahead where China requires it
- 24h WhatsApp / WeChat support while you travel, plus the LocalKey app
Not included
- International flights — we can book them on request, quoted separately
- Visa fees — many passports can enter China visa-free. Check your passport
- Personal spending and shopping
- Travel insurance
Tipping is not customary in China. There are no tips in your price, and you do not need to tip anyone who looks after you during your trip.
Make it yours
Keep the shape. Change the details.
Every sample here can be shortened, stretched, or rebuilt around what you care about.
Related itineraries
A few more starting points.
5 days · Shanghai · Suzhou
Shanghai + Suzhou: 5 Days, Soft Landing
- Independent
- from $1,400
- Private Guided
- from $2,200
Per person · 2026 reference price for 2 sharing · excl. international flights
7 days · Shanghai · Hangzhou · Suzhou
Modern + Poetic: 7 Days, Shanghai + Hangzhou + Suzhou
- Independent
- from $1,800
- Private Guided
- from $2,900
Per person · 2026 reference price for 2 sharing · excl. international flights
7 days · Chengdu · Leshan · Emei Mountain
Sichuan Culture and Food: 7 Days through Chengdu, Leshan, and Emei
- Independent
- from $1,900
- Private Guided
- from $3,000
Per person · 2026 reference price for 2 sharing · excl. international flights
Per person · reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included. Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more. 2026 reference prices.