Overview
A 7-day first trip to China works best as a focused two-city itinerary. The most practical combination for first-time visitors is Beijing (3 nights) + Shanghai (4 nights), connected by high-speed train.
This route is easy to navigate, has excellent infrastructure for foreign visitors, and lets you experience both the historical depth of Beijing and the modern energy of Shanghai.
Day 1–2: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and allow a half-day to settle in, get your SIM card, and set up WeChat Pay or Alipay if you haven’t already.
Day 1: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. These are adjacent and can be comfortably done in a full day including the Palace Museum interior.
Day 2: The Great Wall. The most accessible section for independent visitors is Mutianyu. Take a DiDi or an organized day trip. Allow a full day.
Day 3: Beijing
Spend the morning at the Temple of Heaven, then explore the Nanluoguxiang hutong area in the afternoon for food and local street life. Evening: Wangfujing for a walk and dinner.
Day 4: Travel to Shanghai
Take a morning G train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao (approximately 4.5 hours). Arrive early afternoon. Check in, walk the Bund in the evening.
Day 5: Shanghai
Morning: Yu Garden and the Old Town area. Afternoon: Xintiandi or Tianzifang for lunch and exploring. Evening: the Bund riverside or a rooftop view of Lujiazui.
Day 6: Shanghai
Day trip to Zhujiajiao water town (about 1 hour from central Shanghai by bus or DiDi) or explore the French Concession by foot. Shanghai Museum if you prefer an indoor day.
Day 7: Departure
Allow extra time for airport travel. Pudong Airport is farther from the city center than it appears on the map. Add at least 1.5–2 hours for the journey plus check-in.
Practical notes
- Book the Beijing–Shanghai train in advance, especially in peak season.
- Use DiDi for most city transport — it is reliable and inexpensive.
- Keep hotel addresses saved in Chinese characters for taxi communication.
- A VPN should be installed and tested before you arrive in China.