Old & New · 6-7 Days

Beijing & Shanghai: Imperial China Meets the Future

Six days split between 3,000-year-old Beijing and 21st-century Shanghai — the Forbidden City to the world\'s second-tallest skyscraper.

Route Overview

Duration
6-7 days
Route
Beijing (4 days) → Shanghai (3 days)
Budget
$900-1,400/person

This route skips Xi\'an in favour of a sharper Beijing-Shanghai contrast — the ancient and the futuristic in one trip. You see China\'s imperial past and its present-day ambition, connected by a 4.5-hour high-speed train.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Days 1-3: Beijing

Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and a hutong evening. See the Beijing In Depth page for full details.

Local tip: The Beijing → Shanghai high-speed train departs from Beijing South. The 4.5-hour trains (G1, G3, G5, G7) are the fastest — book these specifically.

Days 4-6: Shanghai

Bund at golden hour, French Concession, soup dumplings, and a day trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town. See the Shanghai In Depth page for full details.

Local tip: The G1 train (Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao) departs at 7am, arrives 11:29am — you get a full afternoon in Shanghai. This is the best option for maximising your time.
Practical Info

Planning This Route

Getting Between Cities

Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao: 4.5 hours by high-speed train (¥550-930). Flights take 2 hours but airport transit adds 3-4 hours each end — train is faster door-to-door.

Want a custom China itinerary?

We work with a licensed Guangzhou travel agency to build personalized routes — whether it's your first time in Beijing, an off-the-beaten-path Silk Road trip, or a Xinjiang small-group tour with a local guide.

No obligation. Just tell us your dates and interests — we'll send you a free proposal within 48 hours.

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Here's what to sort out next for your China trip.

Richard Du
Chinese native, based in the UK. 50+ trips back to China. I build tools to make sure your first 48 hours are magical, not a logistical nightmare.