Our Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai tour is an 8-day private trip around China’s classic triangle by high-speed train: three days in Beijing for the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace, Xi’an for the Terracotta Warriors and the old city wall, and Shanghai to finish. You have a private car and English-speaking guide in each city.
From US$1,590 per person, based on 2 travellers. Larger groups pay less per person.
| 1 traveller | 2 travellers | 3 travellers | 4 travellers | 5-6 travellers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US$2,770 | US$1,590 | US$1,200 | US$1,005 | US$995 |
Prices are in US dollars per person for a private tour (only your group). Groups of 7 or more: ask for a quote.
- Duration: 8 days, Beijing to Shanghai
- Group: private, just your group with your own guide and driver in each city
- Pick-up: station and airport transfers in each city; touring-day meeting points are set in your written plan
- Walking level: easy to moderate; city walking on flat ground, a cable car at the Great Wall
- Best for: first trips to China, couples and families who prefer trains to domestic flights
Itinerary
The plan assumes you land in Beijing the day before Day 1, and your airport transfer is included. The Forbidden City closes on Mondays except on public holidays, so we arrange the Beijing days so it doesn’t fall on a Monday. Times are approximate.
Day 1 — Beijing: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan
Your guide meets you after breakfast. Have your passport ready for the checks at Tiananmen Square; from the Golden Water Bridges a one-way route leads north under Tiananmen Gate to the Meridian Gate, the palace’s only entrance. Inside, your guide keeps to the central axis, from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and out through the Imperial Garden, which takes about three hours. Leave by the Gate of Divine Prowess and climb Jingshan, about 15 minutes up to Wanchun Pavilion, for the view back over the golden roofs.
Day 2 — Beijing: the Great Wall at Mutianyu
About an hour and a half to two hours by car to Mutianyu. Show your passport at the real-name gate, ride the shuttle bus up the valley, then take the enclosed cable car to Tower 14 and walk as far along the battlements as you like. Back in the city by late afternoon.
Day 3 — Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the hutongs
The Temple of Heaven opens around 6 am, and early on you’ll often see retirees practicing tai chi under the cypresses. See the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Echo Wall, then drive across the city to the Summer Palace for the Long Corridor and Kunming Lake. End with a stroll through the Shichahai hutongs.
Day 4 — High-speed train to Xi’an
Your driver takes you to Beijing West station. As of November 2026, the fastest trains reach Xi’an North in 4 h 10 min, and most fast services take between 4 h 10 min and 4 h 25 min. Plan to arrive 45 to 60 minutes early, since there is a security check at the entrance and the halls are large. There’s no checked luggage on the train, so you carry your own bags on board; a normal large suitcase is fine, and adults can bring up to 20 kg free. Your Xi’an guide and driver meet you at Xi’an North, and in the evening you can wander the food stalls and lanes of the Muslim Quarter.
Day 5 — Xi’an: the Terracotta Warriors and the city wall
Day 5 is for the Terracotta Warriors, the clay army buried with China’s first emperor, standing rank on rank in their pits. In the afternoon, walk a stretch on top of Xi’an’s old city wall and look down over the rooftops of the walled city.
Day 6 — High-speed train to Shanghai
Your driver takes you to the station for the train to Shanghai. It is a long ride, so we keep the rest of the day light. Your Shanghai guide and driver meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel.
Day 7 — Shanghai: Yu Garden, the French Concession area and the Bund
Start in Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city. After lunch, walk the leafy streets and old villas of the former French Concession area, then finish on the Bund, where the historic waterfront buildings face the towers across the river.
Day 8 — Departure from Shanghai
Your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
Xi’an and Shanghai have their own ticket and reservation rules, and we confirm reservations for those cities when we plan your trip.
What’s included
- Private car or van with driver in each city on touring days
- English-speaking guide in each city on touring days
- Station and airport transfers in each city
- Second-class high-speed train tickets Beijing to Xi’an and Xi’an to Shanghai
- Entrance tickets and reservations for the sights in the itinerary
Not included
- Hotels (we can book them for you on request)
- Lunches and dinners
- International flights
- Personal expenses and tips
Why we link the three cities by train
High-speed trains run directly between the three cities, so there are no airport check-ins on the way, and Beijing West to Xi’an North takes as little as 4 h 10 min. In each city a local guide and driver meet you at the station, which makes arriving with suitcases simple. There are no shopping stops, and on Day 4 you can skip the evening in the Muslim Quarter and rest at the hotel instead.
Reservations are the part to start early. As of November 2026, Forbidden City tickets go on sale at 8 pm Beijing time seven days before the visit, with none sold on the day, and train tickets go on sale 15 days before travel. Both are real-name bookings, so we need each traveler’s passport details once you confirm, and you bring the same passport to every gate and station. Our Forbidden City tickets guide explains the palace system, and our Beijing to Xi’an train guide covers the Day 4 ride in detail.
Short on time? You can skip Xi’an: the fastest train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao takes 4 h 18 min, as described in our Beijing to Shanghai train guide. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons in Beijing, while July and August are hot and the wettest months there. For hotel areas in the capital, see where to stay in Beijing.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Booking trains and sights in three cities
- Message us with your dates, the number of travelers and their ages, and your arrival and departure flights.
- We send a written day-by-day plan and a quote.
- You confirm in writing; payment details are in your booking agreement. We then book your trains and reservations with your passport details.
For the rest of the process, see how to book.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Beijing-only alternatives
Compare this trip with our Beijing-only plans on the private Beijing tours page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Beijing to Xi'an?
As of November 2026, the fastest trains from Beijing West to Xi'an North take 4 h 10 min, and most fast services take between 4 h 10 min and 4 h 25 min. Slower trains take over five hours, so we pick a fast morning departure.
Which train class is included?
Second-class high-speed train tickets from Beijing to Xi'an and from Xi'an to Shanghai are included. First class and business class are also sold on these routes if you would like more room; ask us and we can price the difference.
How does luggage work on the train?
There is no checked luggage on Chinese high-speed trains. You carry your bags on board and use the overhead racks or the space at the end of the car. Adults may bring up to 20 kg free, and a normal large suitcase is fine.
Do we need our passports for the trains?
Yes. Train tickets in China are real-name and linked to the passport used to book. You show the original passport at the station entrance and the ticket gates, so keep it in your hand luggage on travel days.
Are Xi'an and Shanghai sight tickets included?
Yes, entrance tickets and reservations for the sights in the itinerary are included in all three cities. Xi'an and Shanghai have their own reservation rules, and we confirm those bookings when we plan your trip.
Do Americans need a visa for this trip?
US citizens are not on China's 30-day visa-free list and normally need a tourist visa. The 240-hour visa-free transit only applies with an onward ticket to a third country or region. Check the current rules before you book flights.
Can we add days or change the cities?
You can add a fourth day in Beijing or an extra day in Shanghai. If you would rather skip Xi'an, the fastest train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao takes 4 h 18 min as of November 2026, and there are around 40 direct high-speed trains a day on that route.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.