# 7 days in China: an itinerary by city

> A week in China is the classic triangle of three capitals from different eras. Three days in [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing): the Forbidden City and hutongs, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, and the Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple. Two days in [Xi'an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian): the first emperor's Terracotta Army, the Muslim Quarter and the Wild Goose pagodas. Two days in [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai): Pudong's skyscrapers, the Bund, Yu Garden and the French Concession. High-speed trains and a flight link them.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/in-7-days

## Who it suits

- A first trip to China
- Independent: trains, metro, DiDi
- History and a modern city in a week

Not for:

- Nature — Zhangjiajie and Guilin — needs 3–4 more days
- Without Alipay or WeChat Pay China is hard work

When to go: April–May and September–October. Beijing and Xi'an are cold in winter, hot in summer.

## Day 1 — [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing.md)

1. [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city.md) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h 30 min · ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 22 min by transport
2. [Beijing hutongs](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-hutongs.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; rickshaw about ¥100–200
   ↓ 16 min on foot
3. [Houhai Lake and Shichahai](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/houhai-lake.md) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free

Total with walks: 8 h 8 min

## Day 2 — [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing.md)

1. [Great Wall at Mutianyu](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/great-wall-mutianyu.md) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥40–45 entry; cable car ¥100–140

Total with walks: 4 h

## Day 3 — [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing.md)

1. [Temple of Heaven](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/temple-of-heaven.md) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ¥10–15, ¥28–34 with halls
   ↓ 33 min by transport
2. [Nanluoguxiang](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/nanluoguxiang.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, open 24 hours
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 19 min by transport
3. [Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-confucius-temple.md) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥30, one ticket with the Guozijian
   ↓ 5 min on foot
4. [Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/lama-temple.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥25, booked in WeChat

Total with walks: 7 h 12 min

Transfer Beijing → Xi’an: high-speed train, ≈ 4.5–6 h

## Day 4 — [Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian.md)

1. [Terracotta Army](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/terracotta-army.md) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · ¥120, passport booking ahead
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 1 h 56 min by transport
2. [Great Mosque of Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/xian-great-mosque.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free
   ↓ 4 min on foot
3. [Muslim Quarter](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/xian-muslim-quarter.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free, open 24 hours

Total with walks: 8 h 15 min

## Day 5 — [Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian.md)

1. [Small Wild Goose Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/small-wild-goose-pagoda.md) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, advance booking with passport
   ↓ 21 min by transport
2. [Shaanxi History Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/shaanxi-history-museum.md) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free with booking; Tang murals extra
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 17 min on foot
3. [Giant Wild Goose Pagoda](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/giant-wild-goose-pagoda.md) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥10; pagoda climb ≈ ¥25 extra
   ↓ 8 min on foot
4. [Datang Everbright City](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/datang-everbright-city.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free

Total with walks: 7 h 46 min

Transfer Xi’an → Shanghai: flight or high-speed train, ≈ 2.5 h by air

## Day 6 — [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai.md)

1. [Shanghai Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-tower.md) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120
   ↓ 9 min on foot
2. [Lujiazui](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/lujiazui.md) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
   ↓ 18 min on foot
3. [The Bund](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/the-bund.md) — YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 17 min on foot
4. [Yu Garden](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/yu-garden.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥30–40 by season
   ↓ 9 min on foot
5. [Shanghai Old City](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-old-city.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
   ↓ 19 min by transport
6. [Nanjing Road](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/nanjing-road.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free

Total with walks: 8 h 42 min

## Day 7 — [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai.md)

1. [Former French Concession](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-french-concession.md) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
   ↓ 19 min by transport
2. [Tianzifang](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/tianzifang.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
   Lunch break, about 1 h
   ↓ 22 min by transport
3. [Wukang Road](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/wukang-road.md) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
   ↓ 21 min by transport
4. [Jing'an Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/jingan-temple.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ≈ ¥50
   ↓ 21 min by transport
5. [Jade Buddha Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/jade-buddha-temple.md) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free; Jade Buddha hall ≈ ¥10

Total with walks: 7 h 33 min

## How the week works

The route never doubles back: Beijing — Xi'an — Shanghai. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: three days in Beijing, two each in Xi'an and Shanghai.

Fly into Beijing and out of Shanghai — or the other way round; it works both ways.

## The cities on the route

Beijing is the capital of the last dynasties: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs and the Great Wall 60–70 km away. Xi'an is the ancient Qin and Tang capital where the Silk Road began: the Terracotta Army, the Ming city wall and the Wild Goose pagodas. Shanghai is modern China: Pudong's towers facing the Bund and quiet plane-tree streets.

## What to set up before you go

Install Alipay and WeChat and link a foreign card — without them paying, hailing taxis and booking museums is hard. The Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and the Shaanxi museum admit visitors only by passport booking, the palace usually 7 days ahead. Buy train tickets in the 12306 app or on Trip.com with your passport.

## Getting around independently

Beijing to Xi'an is 4.5–6 hours by high-speed train. Xi'an to Shanghai is about 2.5 hours by air, or a train. In cities, use the metro and DiDi taxis in Alipay.

## China itinerary for 5 or 10 days

Five days: Beijing for 3 and Shanghai for 2, skipping Xi'an — they are 4.5–6 hours apart by train. Ten days: add [Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou) near Shanghai, [Chengdu](https://yesgo.io/china/chengdu) for the pandas or [Chongqing](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing).

## Tips

- Book the Forbidden City the moment slots open, 7 days ahead.
- On Mondays the palace is closed — make that your Great Wall day.
- High-speed train tickets sell out on holidays — book early.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.

## Questions

### What is a good 7-day China itinerary?

Beijing for 3 days, Xi'an for 2 and Shanghai for 2.

### Can you travel around China independently?

Yes: high-speed trains, metros and DiDi taxis; you need Alipay or WeChat Pay.

### How long from Beijing to Xi'an?

4.5–6 hours by high-speed train.

### How do I get from Xi'an to Shanghai?

About 2.5 hours by air, or by train.

### What can I see in China in 5 days?

Beijing for 3 days and Shanghai for 2.

### When is the best time to visit China?

Spring and autumn.

### How do I pay in China?

China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.

### Do museums need booking?

Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.

### Is it good with kids?

Yes; Chengdu has the panda base and Shanghai has Disneyland.

### How do I buy train tickets?

In the 12306 app or on Trip.com with your passport.

## Sources

- China Railway (12306)
- Wikipedia: China

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