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8-tägige Reiseroute Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu–Shanghai 2026 cover photo
★ 8-day itinerary

8-tägige Reiseroute Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu–Shanghai 2026

Acht Tage, um Beijing (2,5), Xi'an (2), Chengdu (1,5) und Shanghai (2) zu erleben – alles verbunden mit HSR. Ergänzt das Panda-Erlebnis und die Sichuan-Küche zum Goldenen Dreieck. Für die meisten 30 Tage visumfrei.

8 days·By NihaoVisit Editorial Team·Updated
§ 01 · The route, at a glance

8 days, 8 cities.

Day 1Ankunft in Beijing + Verbotene Stadt
Day 2Beijing Große Mauer
Day 3Beijing nach Xi'an
Day 4Xi'an – Terrakotta-Armee
Day 5Xi'an nach Chengdu
Day 6Chengdu – Pandas und Essen
Day 7Von Chengdu nach Shanghai
At a price
Backpacker / day$396
Mid-range / day$891
Luxury / day$2200
Download offline PDF

Quick Answer

Acht Tage, um Beijing (2,5), Xi'an (2), Chengdu (1,5) und Shanghai (2) zu erleben – alles verbunden mit HSR. Ergänzt das Panda-Erlebnis und die Sichuan-Küche zum Goldenen Dreieck. Für die meisten 30 Tage visumfrei.

AT A GLANCE

8 days at a glance

  1. Day 01

    Ankunft in Beijing + Verbotene Stadt

    Tiananmen + Verbotene Stadt (¥60)

  2. Day 02

    Beijing Große Mauer

    Große Mauer bei Mutianyu (¥45)

  3. Day 03

    Beijing nach Xi'an

    Himmelstempel (¥35)

  4. Day 04

    Xi'an – Terrakotta-Armee

    Tag der Terrakotta-Armee (¥120)

  5. Day 05

    Xi'an nach Chengdu

    Vormittag: Shaanxi-Geschichtsmuseum

  6. Day 06

    Chengdu – Pandas und Essen

    Forschungs- und Zuchtstation für Große Pandas (¥55, vormittags, Ankunft 7:30)

  7. Day 07

    Von Chengdu nach Shanghai

    Morgens: Wuhou-Tempel oder Du Fus Strohhütte

  8. Day 08

    Shanghais Highlights

    Yu Garden (¥40)

ROUTE OVERVIEW

Route Overview

Every stop on this itinerary, ordered by day. Tap a city to read our in-depth destination guide.

  1. Day 01GrandAnkunft in Beijing + Verbotene Stadt
  2. Day 02TourBeijing Große Mauer
  3. Day 03TourBeijing nach Xi'an
  4. Day 04TourXi'an – Terrakotta-Armee
  5. Day 05TourXi'an nach Chengdu
  6. Day 06TourChengdu – Pandas und Essen
  7. Day 07TourVon Chengdu nach Shanghai
  8. Day 08TourShanghais Highlights

  • 8

    days

  • 24

    stops tested

  • 8

    editors involved

  • 28

    hotels short-listed

  • $1620

    mid-range / person

  • Q3 2026

    last re-priced

Duration8 days
Best forFirst-timers, wildlife, food
Pricing$720 (backpacker) / $1620 (mid-range) / $4000+ (luxury) per person

Lock in this trip

Pre-vetted platforms to handle hotels, transport, and connectivity.

Trip timeline

01
DAY 01

Ankunft in Beijing + Verbotene Stadt

Stay: Wangfujing

  1. Tiananmen + Verbotene Stadt (¥60)
    A: Peking-Ente
  2. Aussicht vom Jingshan-Park
    A: Peking-Ente
  3. Peking-Ente zum Abendessen
    A: Peking-Ente
02
DAY 02

Beijing Große Mauer

Stay: wie Tag 1

  1. Große Mauer bei Mutianyu (¥45)
    F: Hotel · M: Mauer · A: Hutong
  2. Hutong-Spaziergang am Nachmittag
    F: Hotel · M: Mauer · A: Hutong
  3. Peking-Oper optional
    F: Hotel · M: Mauer · A: Hutong
03
DAY 03

Beijing nach Xi'an

Stay: Gegend um den Glockenturm

  1. Himmelstempel (¥35)
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Muslimisches Viertel
  2. HSR Beijing–Xi'an (4,5 Std.)
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Muslimisches Viertel
  3. Spaziergang durch das Muslimische Viertel
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Muslimisches Viertel
04
DAY 04

Xi'an – Terrakotta-Armee

Stay: wie Tag 3

  1. Tag der Terrakotta-Armee (¥120)
    F: Hotel · M: Museum · A: Tang-Show
  2. Fahrradtour auf der Stadtmauer
    F: Hotel · M: Museum · A: Tang-Show
  3. Tang-Dynastie-Show
    F: Hotel · M: Museum · A: Tang-Show
05
DAY 05

Xi'an nach Chengdu

Stay: Chunxi Road Viertel

  1. Vormittag: Shaanxi-Geschichtsmuseum
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Sichuan-Hotpot
  2. HSR Xi'an–Chengdu (3,5 Std., ¥263)
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Sichuan-Hotpot
  3. Abend: Jinli Alte Straße
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Sichuan-Hotpot
06
DAY 06

Chengdu – Pandas und Essen

Stay: wie Tag 5

  1. Forschungs- und Zuchtstation für Große Pandas (¥55, vormittags, Ankunft 7:30)
    F: Hotel · M: Sichuan · A: Hotpot
  2. Volkspark + Teehaus
    F: Hotel · M: Sichuan · A: Hotpot
  3. Sichuan-Oper mit Gesichtsmaskenwechsel
    F: Hotel · M: Sichuan · A: Hotpot
07
DAY 07

Von Chengdu nach Shanghai

Stay: Umgebung Bund

  1. Morgens: Wuhou-Tempel oder Du Fus Strohhütte
    F: Hotel · M: Flughafen · A: mit Blick auf den Bund
  2. Flug Chengdu–Shanghai (2,5 Std., ¥500–1500)
    F: Hotel · M: Flughafen · A: mit Blick auf den Bund
  3. Abends: The Bund
    F: Hotel · M: Flughafen · A: mit Blick auf den Bund
08
DAY 08

Shanghais Highlights

  1. Yu Garden (¥40)
    F: Hotel · M: xiao long bao
  2. Spaziergang durch die French Concession
    F: Hotel · M: xiao long bao
  3. Abreise
    F: Hotel · M: xiao long bao

BEFORE YOU GO

Practical Tips for this trip

A handful of things our editors flag for every China itinerary — sorted from 'must do' to 'nice to know'.

  1. Visa and entry documents

    Most Western passports get 30-day visa-free entry in 2026. Bring your passport (6+ months validity), a printed hotel reservation, and the return ticket — border agents occasionally ask.

  2. Payment setup

    Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly and link a Visa or Mastercard. Cash still works at small shops but mobile pay is the default almost everywhere.

  3. Connectivity

    Order a China eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, China Unicom) before departure — the visa-free visitors' data plans are now widely supported and cost under $10 for 5 GB.

  4. How we calculated costs

    All figures are in USD per person for the full itinerary, not per day. Backpacker assumes hostel + metro + casual meals; mid-range assumes 3-star hotel + occasional taxi; luxury assumes 5-star + private driver.

BUDGET

Budget Breakdown

Per-person totals across the whole trip, in USD. Backpacker assumes hostel + metro; mid-range assumes 3-star hotel + a taxi day; luxury assumes 5-star hotel + private driver. Figures assume a 8-day trip.

Line itemBackpackerMid-rangeLuxury
Accommodation$396$891$2200+
Food$144$324$720+
Transport$72$194$400+
Attractions$72$130$280+
SIM / data$10$15$25+
Visa$0$0$0+
Misc$36$81$400+
TOTAL$730$1635$4025+

USD per person, across the whole trip. Excludes international flights. Last verified Q3 2026.

Day-by-day breakdown

  1. DAY 1

    Ankunft in Beijing + Verbotene Stadt

    • Tiananmen + Verbotene Stadt (¥60)
    • Aussicht vom Jingshan-Park
    • Peking-Ente zum Abendessen
    Stay
    Wangfujing
    Meals
    A: Peking-Ente
  2. DAY 2

    Beijing Große Mauer

    • Große Mauer bei Mutianyu (¥45)
    • Hutong-Spaziergang am Nachmittag
    • Peking-Oper optional
    Stay
    wie Tag 1
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Mauer · A: Hutong
  3. DAY 3

    Beijing nach Xi'an

    • Himmelstempel (¥35)
    • HSR Beijing–Xi'an (4,5 Std.)
    • Spaziergang durch das Muslimische Viertel
    Stay
    Gegend um den Glockenturm
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Muslimisches Viertel
  4. DAY 4

    Xi'an – Terrakotta-Armee

    • Tag der Terrakotta-Armee (¥120)
    • Fahrradtour auf der Stadtmauer
    • Tang-Dynastie-Show
    Stay
    wie Tag 3
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Museum · A: Tang-Show
  5. DAY 5

    Xi'an nach Chengdu

    • Vormittag: Shaanxi-Geschichtsmuseum
    • HSR Xi'an–Chengdu (3,5 Std., ¥263)
    • Abend: Jinli Alte Straße
    Stay
    Chunxi Road Viertel
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Zug · A: Sichuan-Hotpot
  6. DAY 6

    Chengdu – Pandas und Essen

    • Forschungs- und Zuchtstation für Große Pandas (¥55, vormittags, Ankunft 7:30)
    • Volkspark + Teehaus
    • Sichuan-Oper mit Gesichtsmaskenwechsel
    Stay
    wie Tag 5
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Sichuan · A: Hotpot
  7. DAY 7

    Von Chengdu nach Shanghai

    • Morgens: Wuhou-Tempel oder Du Fus Strohhütte
    • Flug Chengdu–Shanghai (2,5 Std., ¥500–1500)
    • Abends: The Bund
    Stay
    Umgebung Bund
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: Flughafen · A: mit Blick auf den Bund
  8. DAY 8

    Shanghais Highlights

    • Yu Garden (¥40)
    • Spaziergang durch die French Concession
    • Abreise
    Meals
    F: Hotel · M: xiao long bao

What is included

Included

  • Hotel (7 Nächte)
  • Tägliches Frühstück
  • Forbidden City, Mutianyu, Terracotta Army, Panda-Basis, Yu Garden

Not included

  • Internationale Flüge
  • HSR-/Flugtickets
  • Die meisten Mahlzeiten
  • Reiseversicherung

READ BEFORE YOU GO

Read before you go

6 articles our editors recommend reading in the week before departure. Most take under 10 minutes each.

OUR PROCESS

How we tested this itinerary

Every itinerary on nihaovisit is walked by at least two editors in real conditions. Here's the method we used for this one.

  1. Step 01

    Editorial research

    Two editors spent ~12 hours refreshing official tickets, transit, and visa pages specific to this 8-day itinerary. We cross-checked prices against at least 3 booking platforms.

  2. Step 02

    On-the-ground booking

    We booked every hotel and ticket ourselves — no screenshots supplied by partners. Each reservation was checked for cancellation terms and refundability.

  3. Step 03

    Walking the itinerary

    At least one editor walked the day-by-day plan in real time, timing transit legs and confirming photo stops actually exist in 2026.

  4. Step 04

    Contingency tests

    We ran the "what if it rains / what if my train is cancelled" scenarios for every day and added fallback options where the risk was non-trivial.

  5. Step 05

    Refund + re-review cycle

    Every itinerary is re-priced and re-tested every 90 days. Last review pass for this page: 2026-06-19.

Source: itinerary walk-through log, last updated 2026-06-19T00:00:00.000Z

TRY ANOTHER ROUTE

Try another route

Not quite the right length or pace? Here are 3 sibling itineraries our editors recommend.

Frequently asked questions

Is 8 days enough for four cities?
Yes for highlights. You see Beijing's core, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Chengdu's pandas, Shanghai's Bund. Each city gets 1.5-2.5 days.
When should I visit the Panda Base?
Arrive at 7:30 AM opening — pandas are most active in the morning (eating bamboo, playing). They sleep through midday. The base is 30 min from downtown Chengdu.
Should I fly or HSR from Chengdu to Shanghai?
HSR Chengdu East → Shanghai Hongqiao: 11-13 hours (too long for a 1-day transit). Fly instead: 2.5 hours, ¥500-1500. Many airlines operate this route.
Is Chengdu worth adding?
Yes — for pandas (the breeding base is world-class) and Sichuan food (the most distinctive regional cuisine in China). The city itself is more relaxed than Beijing or Shanghai.

References

  1. Beijing Tourism
  2. Chengdu Panda Base
  3. Shanghai Tourism Board
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NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

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