FLEXIBLE ROUTE IDEA
Beijing — Shanghai · 15 days
A first-time China route links Beijing's imperial center, Xi'an's ancient capital, Chengdu's food and pandas, and Shanghai's layered modern city.
This is a planning framework, not a fixed group tour. Stops, transport and daily pace can all be changed.
Duration
15 days
Best season
Spring / autumn
Travel pace
Balanced
Suggested route rhythm
The day ranges below show a comfortable starting rhythm. Exact trains, flights and driving time are arranged after your dates are confirmed.
Main interests
- Days 1–4
Beijing
Use the imperial central axis, hutong neighborhoods and public parks to compare historic and present-day Beijing.
Continue to: Xi'an · High-speed rail
- Days 5–7
Xi'an
Give the Terracotta Army its own day and keep the city wall, mosque, food streets and museum appointments in logical clusters.
Continue to: Chengdu · High-speed rail
- Days 8–11
Chengdu
Plan pandas early, then connect teahouses, markets, Sichuan food and neighborhood streets at a slower pace.
Continue to: Shanghai · Flight
- Days 12–15
Shanghai
Compare the Bund and old city with lilong lanes, neighborhood food and the contemporary riverfront.
Arrival and departure
Use an open-jaw international plan: arrive in Beijing and depart from Shanghai. High-speed rail links Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu; a flight from Chengdu to Shanghai saves a full travel day.
Why this route works
Four substantial bases and three major transfers keep the itinerary readable. High-speed rail works for Beijing-Xi'an; later legs can be chosen by time and budget.
Build your version of this route
Tell me your dates, preferred pace, must-see places and what you would rather skip. I will prepare a free first version for us to review together.
Start with this route