BeijingXi'anand Shanghai are China's most popular three destinations and are known as the "China's golden triangle". These top three cities offer a diverse and fascinating outlook on China's ancient historymodern developmentand unique cultural experiences. This article will help you plan a perfect trip to these cities.
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- How Many Days to Spend
- A Classic Itinerary
- How to Travel
- Which City to Start
- Travel Cost
- Hotels Suggestions
- Best Time to Visit
Hong Many Days to Spend in BeijingXi'anand Shanghai
The amount of time you should spend in BeijingXi'anand Shanghai depends on the pace of your trip and your preferences. Howeverwe recommend you spend at least 7–8 days to deeply experience these cities' cultures and attractions. If you have around 9–10 days for your trip to Chinayou would ideally spend 3 days in each of these three cities.
Howeverif you have less timeyou may need to prioritize which activities and landmarks you want to see or consider just visiting one or two cities in more depth.
A Classic 8-Day BeijingXi'anShanghai Itinerary
With 8 days in these citiesyou can cover most of the highlights and experience some cultural activities to enrich your knowledge about China.
Days 1–4: Beijing (Visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City)
In Beijingspending two days for city sightseeing is recommendedincluding the Forbidden CitySummer Palaceand Temple of Heaven. To help you get a better understanding of the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palaceour private guide would help you explore 12 carefully-selected places in the Forbidden Citywhich is definitely an improvement on the standard group tours that are herded down the crowded central axis.
Spend a day to explore country's top landmark: the Great Wall of China. For travelers with kids or seniorswe suggest you visit a less-crowded and easy-walking section called Mutianyu. If you would prefer a more varied and active explorationyou could hike from the Jinshanling section to the Simatai sectionwhere you could have a romantic picnic dinner on the Great Wall with our special arrangements.
If you are interested in authentic Beijinger lifewe can arrange a hutong day tourwhen you can visit a local family and take a rickshaw rideand wander around a hutong community with local markets and parks.
Days 5–6: Xi'an
Xi'an is well-known for its historical relics. Spend a day to explore the different pits holding the Terracotta Army and learn about more about Chinese history. Our guide would show you around the Terracotta Army and unveil some secrets of this world wonder candidate. See the hundreds of life-size warriors at the siteand get to know how ancient craftsmen made them. Visit a traditional cave dwelling and learn how to make clay warriors. You can make a small one with some expert guidance and bring it home as a souvenir.
For the rest of your time in Xi'anwe would arrange a biking tour on Xi'an City Wall and a chance to try local street food and snacks in the Muslim Quarter.
Days 7–8: Shanghai
In Shanghaijoin our In-Depth Bund Culture Discovery Tour to explore The Bundwhich is a must-visit place in Shanghai. Our guide would lead you to the old parts of the Bund where you would travel back in time to the golden age of the Bund in the 1920s. You would walk a route that tourists seldom find by themselvessee the most authentic architectureand hear some interesting stories that you'll never find in history books.
For the rest of time in Shanghaiyou would be free to do numerous relaxing activitiesincluding experiencing local fashionable activitiesappreciating artexploring folk customsor just shopping.
How to Travel Between BeijingXi'anand Shanghai
Being major travel destinations in Chinait is convenient to travel between the three cities by high-speed train and plane. For a richer experience and a level of comfort that is better than plane travelwe recommend you take a bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an or Shanghaiwhich takes about 4½ to 5 hours. It is better to take a flight between Shanghai and Xi'an as it takes about 6–7 hours by train. If you would prefer the quickest transportflights between any of the three cities take about 2–4 hours. Howeveryou may spend a significant amount of time on the road to/from airportsespecially during rush hours.
Which City Should I Visit First?
Both Beijing and Shanghai are major entry/exit cities with abundant international and domestic flights. We recommend you start your trip in Shanghai or Beijingwith Beijing being the preferred starting city for most customers.
Costs for a Trip to BeijingXi'anand Shanghai
BeijingXi'anand Shanghai are popular travel destinationswhich have a higher service cost than lower-tier and less-popular China cities. For a private tourthe average cost per day is about US$220–350 per personincluding flights/trains within China4- or 5-star hotelslunchesattractionsguidesand private transport.
For an 8-day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai tour that would be around US$1,760–2,800 per person. When you book with usif you cancel up to three weeks before departureyou would receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights (more details here⇒).
Accommodation Choices in BeijingXi'anand Shanghai
In Beijingif you prefer a more central location for entertainment and shoppingthen you are recommended to choose a hotel in the Wangfujing area. If you want a traditional Beijing- accommodation experiencewe recommend a hutong- hotel.
In Xi'anif you would like to have taste of the traditional atmosphere of Xi'anwe recommend you stay in the Walled City Area near the medieval city walls of Xi'an. If you would like to have easy access to many restaurants and shopswe recommend the area near two iconic landmarks of Xi'an — the Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
In Shanghaihotels around the Bund and Nanjing Road are popular choices if you prefer a bustling vibe and great night views. If you would prefer relatively quiet surroundings with an old colonial vibewe recommend the French Concession.
Best Times to Visit BeijingXi'anand Shanghai
For comfortable weather (warmsunnyand dry)the best time to visit BeijingXi'anand Shanghai is autumnespecially in September and October. The rainy season in BeijingXi'anand Shanghai typically occurs in the summer months between June and Augustwhich is characterized by frequent afternoon rains that don't last for long. In case of rainy weatherwe would adjust your itinerary to make sure your travel experience is not affected.
The peak seasons are the first weeks of May and Octoberfollowed by summer holidays. In these peak timesthe price of hotels and airfares can go up by 50 to 100%. If you plan to travel during these periodsplease book at least 6 months to 1 year in advance as hotels and train tickets particularly are sold out quickly during these times.
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