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★ Itinerary · 6 days · 4 UNESCO sites
6-Day Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai Itinerary 2026: The Golden Triangle
The classic first-timer's 6-day route covering China's three most-visited cities: Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall), Xi'an (Terracotta Army), Shanghai (Bund, Yu Garden).
Quick Answer
What is this 6-day itinerary like?
This 6-day itinerary covers 4 UNESCO sites, involves 22 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $1,280.
Day by day
Book this trip →The Golden Triangle is the most efficient way to see China's three "worth visiting" cities. Day 1-2 Beijing, Day 3 HSR to Xi'an, Day 4 Terracotta Army, Day 5 HSR to Shanghai, Day 6 Shanghai highlights. Most visa-free for 30 days.
1
Day 1 · Mon
Beijing arrival
Arrive Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) · Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City (¥60) · Jingshan Park panoramic view · Peking duck dinner
- 09:00Arrive Beijing Capital
PEK) or Daxing PKX
- 11:00Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City
¥60
- 13:00Jingshan Park panoramic view
Jingshan Park panoramic view
- 15:00Peking duck dinner
Peking duck dinner
🏨Stay tonightWangfujing or Qianmen· D: Peking duck
2
Day 2 · Tue
Beijing Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall (¥45) — cable car + toboggan · Return to Beijing by 5 PM · Hutong walk: Nanluoguxiang, Yandai Byway
- 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall
¥45) cable car + toboggan
- 11:00Return to Beijing by 5 PM
Return to Beijing by 5 PM
- 13:00Hutong walk: Nanluoguxiang, Yandai Byway
Hutong walk: Nanluoguxiang, Yandai Byway
🏨Stay tonightsame as Day 1· B: hotel · L: wall village · D: hutong
3
Day 3 · Wed
Beijing to Xi'an
Morning: Temple of Heaven (¥35) · HSR Beijing West → Xi'an North (4.5h, ¥623) · Bell Tower + Muslim Quarter food walk
- 09:00Morning: Temple of Heaven
¥35
- 11:00HSR Beijing West → Xi'an North
4.5h, ¥623
- 13:00Bell Tower + Muslim Quarter food walk
Bell Tower + Muslim Quarter food walk
🏨Stay tonightBell Tower area inside the wall· B: hotel · L: train · D: Muslim Quarter
4
Day 4 · Thu
Xi'an Terracotta Army
Tour bus or DiDi to Terracotta Army (¥120) · 3-4 hours at the pits + Bronze Chariots · Return: bike the City Wall (¥45) · Tang Dynasty show
- 09:00Tour bus or DiDi to Terracotta Army
¥120
- 11:003
4 hours at the pits + Bronze Chariots
- 13:00Return: bike the City Wall
¥45
- 15:00Tang Dynasty show
Tang Dynasty show
🏨Stay tonightsame as Day 3· B: hotel · L: museum · D: Tang show
5
Day 5 · Fri
Xi'an to Shanghai
Morning: Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Shaanxi History Museum · HSR Xi'an North → Shanghai Hongqiao (6h, ¥668) · Evening: The Bund at night
- 09:00Morning: Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Shaanxi History Museum
Morning: Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Shaanxi History Museum
- 11:00HSR Xi'an North → Shanghai Hongqiao
6h, ¥668
- 13:00Evening: The Bund at night
Evening: The Bund at night
🏨Stay tonightBund area or French Concession· B: hotel · L: train · D: Bund-view
6
Day 6 · Sat
Shanghai highlights and departure
Yu Garden + Old City bazaar · French Concession walk · Lunch: xiao long bao · Departure or last dinner
- 09:00Yu Garden + Old City bazaar
Yu Garden + Old City bazaar
- 11:00French Concession walk
French Concession walk
- 13:00Lunch: xiao long bao
Lunch: xiao long bao
- 15:00Departure or last dinner
Departure or last dinner
✈️DepartureHotel· B: hotel · L: xiao long bao
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 6 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
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Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 6 days too long for a first trip?
No — 6 days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.