BeijingXi'anShanghai

Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai: 10-Day China Itinerary + Cost

Budget$1,500·Duration10 days·Tierstandard·Best inoct·Travelers1 adult

The Great Wall, Terracotta Army, and Shanghai skyline—all for just ¥12781.

This 10-day standard trip covers Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (3 nights), Shanghai (3 nights) — connected by domestic flights.

Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall (Badaling), Prince Gong's Mansion; flight to Xi'an (1h 54m, ¥900). Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Museum, Huaqing Hot Springs, Xi'an Ancient City Wall; flight to Shanghai (2h 23m, ¥1070). Shanghai: The Bund, Shanghai Disney Resort, Oriental Pearl Tower.

Estimated total: ¥13,260 for one traveler on a standard budget — hotels average ¥462/night, with meals, inter-city transport, and attraction tickets included.

What to eat

Beijing
  • Peking roast duck
    北京烤鸭 · Běijīng kǎoyā
  • Noodles in fried bean sauce
    炸酱面 · Zhájiàng miàn
  • Stewed offal with flatbread
    卤煮火烧 · Lǔzhǔ huǒshāo
Xi'an
  • Braised pork in flatbread
    肉夹馍 · Ròujiāmó
  • Cold skin noodles
    凉皮 · Liángpí
  • Lamb stew with torn flatbread
    羊肉泡馍 · Yángròu pàomó
Shanghai
  • Soup dumplings
    小笼包 · Xiǎolóngbāo
  • Pan-fried pork buns
    生煎包 · Shēngjiānbāo
  • Shanghai-style braised pork belly
    本帮红烧肉 · Běnbāng hóngshāoròu
Use this route as my trip template →Plan (Off-peak)
BeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichungBeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichung
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✦ CHINA TRAVEL ITINERARY ✦

中国之旅

October · Standard · 1 person · 10 nights
🔴
Extreme Peak Season— National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7)
Hotel rates up to ×1.9 above baseline. Extremely high crowd levels — book accommodation and transport well in advance.
Beijing

Beijing

4 nights
Highlights
Forbidden City¥60Great Wall (Badaling)¥40Prince Gong's Mansion¥40
🏨 $47.47 (CN¥321)/night×1.9🍜 $11.98 (CN¥81)/meal🚇 $8.87 (CN¥60)/day🎫 $20.70 (CN¥140) admission
✈ Flight
1h 54m · $133.09 (CN¥900)
→ Xi'an
Xi'an

Xi'an

3 nights
Highlights
Terracotta Warriors Museum¥120Huaqing Hot Springs¥118Xi'an Ancient City Wall¥54
🏨 $19.08 (CN¥129)/night×1.8🍜 $10.50 (CN¥71)/meal🚇 $8.87 (CN¥60)/day🎫 $43.18 (CN¥292) admission
✈ Flight
2h 23m · $158.23 (CN¥1,070)
→ Shanghai
Shanghai

Shanghai

3 nights
Highlights
Oriental Pearl Tower¥199Shanghai Wild Animal Park¥165The BundShanghai Disney Resort¥399
🏨 $38.45 (CN¥260)/night×1.9🍜 $12.27 (CN¥83)/meal🚇 $8.87 (CN¥60)/day🎫 $112.83 (CN¥763) admission · 1 prices unknown
I have
$1,500.00 (CN¥10,143)
Estimated Total
$1,960.89 (CN¥13,260)
Over budget
$460.89
Estimated Total
$1,960.89 (CN¥13,260)
Stay $682.91 (CN¥4,618) · Food $385.52 (CN¥2,607) · Transit $291.32 (CN¥1,970) · City transit $97.60 (CN¥660) · Attractions $176.72 (CN¥1,195) · Misc $326.81 (CN¥2,210)
Estimates only. Actual costs may vary. · 1000usdinchina.com
Use this route as my trip template →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $1,500 enough for a 10-day Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai trip?

Yes, $1,500 is a realistic budget for 10 days on a standard tier. This covers accommodation, food, inter-city transport, and major attractions.

What is the best time to visit Beijing and Xi'an?

Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit. Avoid Chinese national holidays (Golden Week in October and May) as crowds and prices surge.

How many days do I need for this Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai route?

This route is designed for 10 days: Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (3 nights), Shanghai (3 nights).

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