10 days in China: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai → Hangzhou
A four-city route that adds Hangzhou and West Lake to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. The sequence can work well by rail, but dates, station choices and current booking rules should decide the final version of your trip.
This itinerary extends the classic route with Hangzhou. It is designed as a planning framework: use it to decide what matters most, then build the real schedule around current rail availability, attraction reservations, your arrival airport and the amount of rest you need. It is better to remove one sight than to miss an onward train because a generic itinerary left no buffer.
Route overview
Before you go: essential booking checklist
Make decisions in this order. Check the current rule at each official source before paying, because ticket sale windows, attraction slots and entry requirements change.
- Entry: check the requirements for your passport with the Chinese embassy or consulate responsible for your residence. The visa guide is a planning aid, not a replacement for the authority's current rule.
- International flights: Book open-jaw: into Beijing, out of Shanghai (or Hangzhou). This avoids backtracking.
- Hotels (all 4 cities): reserve the first night early, then confirm the individual property's passport-registration process and cancellation terms. Whether a visa application needs accommodation evidence depends on the current requirements for your application.
- High-speed train tickets: check sale dates, live train numbers and fare conditions with China Railway's official 12306 service. Use the exact passport information that you will carry. For each leg:
- Beijing → Xi'an: confirm which Beijing station and which Xi'an station your hotel transfer actually uses.
- Xi'an → Shanghai: allow for a long rail day, station security and a later hotel arrival.
- Shanghai → Hangzhou: compare the actual arrival station and the transfer to your West Lake or hotel area before choosing a departure.
- Major sights: check each attraction's official reservation page, closure notice and identity requirement. Do not apply one fixed advance-booking rule to Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall.
- Payment & internet: set up and test a payment method and a data plan before you need either, while retaining a backup. See the payment and internet guides.
Beijing: The Imperial Capital
Three days can cover the core sights if you protect reservations and do not treat every listed stop as mandatory. Use the order as a geographic starting point, then adjust for the current reservation and weather situation.
Where to stay in Beijing
Choose by your first confirmed reservation: a central or subway-connected base can reduce friction, but the right neighbourhood depends on the hotel, arrival station and next-day plan. For a pre-arrival comparison, browse Beijing hotels on Trip.com (affiliate link); also confirm directly that the property can register a foreign passport and compare its own cancellation terms.
Day 1 — Central axis: Tiananmen → Forbidden City → Jingshan Park
Make this an arrival-day route only if check-in and the official reservation leave enough margin. Confirm current airport-to-hotel options and the official entry/security rules for Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City before fixing the day. Jingshan Park and Shichahai/Houhai are optional additions when the actual day still has capacity.
Food tip: Choose a restaurant by its current menu, dietary fit, wait and reservation policy—not by a fixed recommendation in an itinerary.
Day 2 — Temple of Heaven → Summer Palace
Put Temple of Heaven Park and the Summer Palace on the same day only if their current opening, reservation and transit situation makes it comfortable. Start with the location that has the stricter entry condition; after lunch, reassess rather than forcing a second large site. Prices, admission types and opening times must be checked with the official venue before purchase.
Day 3 — Great Wall at Mutianyu → Nanluoguxiang hutong
Give Mutianyu one complete day. Before leaving, verify the live weather, official visitor notice, the exact transport operator, fare/refund terms and the return journey. Do not combine it with a promised hutong evening; Nanluoguxiang is a bonus only if the actual return leaves time.
Transport to Xi'an tomorrow: Verify the live train number, departure station, boarding process and passport details via China Railway’s official 12306 service. Build a buffer for hotel checkout and station security; do not rely on a fixed station-arrival rule.
High-speed train to Xi'an
A rail transfer day whose timing, stations and available services must be confirmed when you book.
Where to stay in Xi'an
Choose by the next day: an old-city base may suit wall and central-city plans, while a station-side base may suit a late arrival. Compare both against your actual rail arrival. Browse Xi'an hotels on Trip.com (affiliate link) if useful, then verify passport registration and terms directly with the property.
Morning — G-train to Xi'an
Choose the live departure that leaves sufficient time for checkout and the station process. Select a seat class based on the actual service and your budget; train numbers, onboard options and sale windows are not fixed itinerary facts.
Afternoon — Xi'an City Wall → Muslim Quarter
After reaching Xi'an, make check-in and the first transit leg the priority. The City Wall is an optional late-afternoon activity after you have checked its official entry options and the weather; do not pre-commit to cycling or a fixed duration.
The Muslim Quarter is one dinner option. Check prices before ordering and pick dishes that fit your dietary needs; roujiamo, biangbiang noodles and liangpi are examples, not a mandatory list.
For tomorrow: choose a public route, licensed tour or booked driver using current operator information. Confirm the pickup point, fare, cancellation terms and return plan through the actual provider, and decline unsolicited transport offers.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army & Ancient History
The archaeological highlight of your trip: the 2,200-year-old Terracotta Army, built to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb.
Morning to early afternoon — Terracotta Army
Plan the Terracotta Army Museum as the day’s main commitment. Confirm its current official reservation, admission, transport and closure information before paying. Once there, choose a sensible order for the pits and exhibitions based on the actual crowding and your interests; add Huaqing Palace only if same-day transport and energy still make it worthwhile.
Evening — Forest of Steles → Big Wild Goose Pagoda
After returning, choose either rest or one flexible central-city visit such as the Forest of Steles Museum or Big Wild Goose Pagoda area. Check any evening programme separately; it should never be assumed to run because a guide says so.
Train to Shanghai tomorrow: treat it as a long rail day. Use official 12306 to compare the current train, station, sale and fare conditions; seat class is a personal choice, not a promise of a particular price.
High-speed train to Shanghai
A long rail day: keep the evening deliberately light until you know the actual arrival time and station transfer.
Where to stay in Shanghai
Choose by the station and your next priority: a French Concession base and a People’s Square base solve different route problems. Browse Shanghai hotels on Trip.com (affiliate link) if useful, then compare the property’s own information, terms and passport-registration confirmation.
Morning — Board the G-train
Use the current departure board and your official booking to confirm the correct Xi'an station. Allow a personal buffer for hotel checkout, security and finding the waiting area. Bring what you need for a long travel day, but check the operator’s current baggage and onboard-service rules rather than relying on a template.
Afternoon/Evening — Arrive in Shanghai, The Bund at night
After arriving, reach the hotel first. The Bund can be an evening option if the actual train and transfer leave sufficient time; otherwise move it to the following day. Use a live map to choose the transfer, because the best route depends on your arrival station, hotel and time of day.
Practical note: crowding and access change with weather, holidays and events. Keep a second neighbourhood plan rather than treating a sunset view as a reservation.
Shanghai: Old Town & French Concession
One full day to see both old Shanghai and the charming former French Concession.
Morning — Yu Garden & Old Town
Check the current official access and reservation information for Yu Garden, then give the garden and surrounding streets the time they actually need. A dumpling stop is optional—choose by the current queue, menu and your dietary needs.
Afternoon — French Concession
Use the afternoon for the French Concession, choosing one or two streets rather than trying to cover a large district. Tianzifang and Xintiandi are alternatives with different moods; use a live route and your actual energy to decide.
Train to Hangzhou tomorrow: check the live timetable, sale window, station and fare condition in official 12306. Holiday demand can change what is practical, so do not use a claimed frequency or last train as a booking rule.
Train to Hangzhou: West Lake
A rail transfer into a lake-side city. Let the live service and the arrival-station-to-hotel journey determine whether the lake visit belongs on the same day.
Where to stay in Hangzhou
Choose by the priority: a West Lake base helps with lake walks, while a farther base can suit a different next-day plan. Compare the actual station transfer and hotel terms rather than relying on one “best” district.
Morning — Check out, take G-train to Hangzhou
Choose a current train through official 12306, then check the live station-to-hotel route. Drop luggage before deciding whether the lake visit remains realistic that afternoon.
Afternoon/Evening — West Lake
Start at the Hubin side of West Lake and choose one mode—walking, cycling or a boat—after checking its live availability, conditions and price. An evening show is optional and requires a separate official schedule and ticket check. If you eat by the lake, select dishes according to the current menu and dietary needs rather than treating any one dish as compulsory.
Hangzhou: Temples & Tea
One full day to experience Hangzhou's famous Buddhist culture and Longjing tea countryside.
Morning — Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak
Visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak after confirming current official access, admission and opening information. The visit can take more or less time depending on the route you choose, so do not add another fixed appointment without a buffer.
Afternoon — Longjing Tea Village
Visit Longjing Village if the weather and live route make the outing appealing. Taste before buying and compare provenance, price and storage advice; “direct from a farmer” is not automatically a quality or value guarantee.
Evening — Hefang Street or Xixi Wetland
Choose one evening direction: Hefang Street for shops and snacks, or Xixi Wetland if its current access and boat options fit the remaining daylight. Do not assume the two work as a single rushed block.
Final morning → Departure
Options depending on your departure flight: from Hangzhou or back to Shanghai.
If departing from Hangzhou (HGH):
For Hangzhou departure, use the airline’s current guidance and a live route to the correct terminal. Add a final lake walk or Grand Canal visit only after the airport transfer buffer is secure.
If departing from Shanghai (PVG/SHA):
For a Shanghai departure, confirm the current Hangzhou–Shanghai train, arrival station, airline terminal and onward transfer as one continuous journey. A direct-looking itinerary can still fail if the airport transfer or station change is underestimated.
Final tips: keep a backup payment method, save hotel details and receipts, and use the operator’s current check-in/boarding guidance for every transfer. Do not depend on fixed cash, time or ID-process claims in a static itinerary.
Budget: build a live quote, not a fixed promise
- Hotels: compare refundable and non-refundable room types for the actual dates, then confirm foreign-passport registration directly.
- Rail: price each leg in official 12306 after the route and sale window are known.
- Attractions: add only the official current admission or reservation cost for sites you will genuinely visit.
- Food and local transport: set your own daily allowance based on dining style, data/payment setup and how often you use ride-hailing.
- Total: calculate the live components in the currency you will actually pay with; rates, tickets and hotel prices can change before travel.