China’s story stretches across millennia, from Neolithic villages to the cosmopolitan megacities of today. In ten days, you’ll step through the imperial cores of Beijing and Xi’an before riding a bullet train to Shanghai’s futuristic riverside. Expect contrasts at every turn—courtyard hutongs beside glass towers, ancient city walls facing sleek subways.

This itinerary prioritizes efficient routes and experiences that locals love: a quieter Great Wall section with a toboggan ride, a night market with hand-pulled noodles, and Shanghai’s café culture threaded through tree-lined boulevards. You’ll travel mainly by China’s excellent high-speed rail, with options to fly when it makes sense.

Practical notes: The Palace Museum (Forbidden City) uses real-name, timed tickets and is closed Mondays. Mobile payments dominate; foreign cards now work in Alipay and WeChat Pay. You’ll need a visa (or ensure you qualify for transit exemptions). Many Western apps are restricted; download offline maps and any VPNs before arrival.

Beijing

Capital of dynasties and revolutions alike, Beijing pairs imperial grandeur with lively back-alley hutongs. Mornings can mean tai chi in Jingshan Park; evenings might be crisp-skinned Peking duck and a craft beer in a brick-lined courtyard. You’ll get your bearings along the old north-south axis—Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, and drum towers—then head into contemporary art zones and leafy lakes.

Top highlights include the Palace Museum, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, and 798 Art District. Food-wise, savor roast duck at Siji Minfu or Da Dong, dumplings at Mr. Shi’s, and street snacks like jianbing from hutong stalls. For coffee, Cafe Zarah and Metal Hands are local favorites.

• Stay: Browse stays on VRBO Beijing or vetted hotels on Hotels.com Beijing. Aim for the Dongcheng area (Wangfujing/Beixinqiao) or Shichahai for hutong charm and easy sightseeing.
• Arriving in Beijing: Compare flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. From PEK or PKX, the Airport Express/rail lines are fast and inexpensive.

Day 1: Arrive Beijing, Hutong Wanders, Jingshan Sunset

Afternoon: Touch down and check in. Shake off jet lag with a stroll along Nanluoguxiang and the quieter side lanes—peek into courtyard homes and craft shops. Climb Jingshan Park for a sunset sweep over gold roofs of the Forbidden City.

Evening: Dinner at Siji Minfu (Qianmen) for textbook Peking duck—carved tableside, served with paper-thin pancakes and condiments. Post-dinner, try a pint at Jing-A Brewing (Xinyuanli Taproom) or a pot of jasmine tea at a lakeside teahouse in Shichahai.

Day 2: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Lakes and Lutes

Morning: Book timed tickets for the Palace Museum (closed Mondays). Enter via Tiananmen Square, then immerse in throne halls, vermilion gates, and the Treasure Gallery. Aim for 2.5–3 hours, focusing on the Meridian Gate–Hall of Supreme Harmony axis, then detour to the imperial gardens.

Afternoon: Walk or cycle to Beihai Park for white dagoba views and paddleboats. Lunch on zhajiangmian (soybean-paste noodles) at Lao Beijing Zhajiangmian King near the lakes, or grab dumplings at Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (Gulou), known for creative fillings and pan-fried edges.

Evening: Experience a classic performance: the Liyuan Theatre Peking Opera (for ornate costumes and stylized singing) or the Chaoyang Theatre acrobatics show. Pre- or post-show bites at TRB Hutong for refined contemporary Chinese with stellar service; reserve ahead.

Day 3: Great Wall at Mutianyu Day Trip

Head to the Mutianyu section—stunning mountain vistas, fewer crowds than Badaling, and a fun toboggan ride down. Take the cable car up to Tower 14, then hike the ramparts toward Tower 20 for classic panoramas. Allow 6–8 hours door-to-door.

• Logistics: Join a small-group tour or hire a driver (≈700–1,000 CNY per car); DIY by bus is possible but slower. Entrance ≈45 CNY; cable car or chairlift/toboggan combo ≈120 CNY.
• Food: Early coffee at Cafe Zarah; late lunch near the wall at Mutianyu Schoolhouse-area cafes; back in town, taste lamb skewers and craft cocktails at Peiping Machine Taphouse.

Day 4: Summer Palace to 798 Art

Morning: Glide through the Summer Palace: arched bridges over Kunming Lake, the Long Corridor’s painted beams, and hilltop pavilions with hazy city views. Snack on a sesame shaobing and soy milk at a local breakfast stall outside the gates.

Afternoon: Metro to the 798 Art District, a Bauhaus-era factory complex turned galleries, murals, and concept stores. Coffee at Voyage Coffee 798 or Metal Hands, and browse Chinese photography and sculpture spaces.

Evening: Dinner at Da Dong Roast Duck (Tuanjiehu) for an elegant, lighter-style duck and creative sides. Nightcap in Sanlitun—try Infusion Room for inventive cocktails or a relaxed wine bar on Courtyard 4.

Xi’an

Once the Silk Road’s eastern anchor, Xi’an is where caravans met scholars and warriors. The city is wrapped in a Ming-era wall you can still bike atop, and its kitchens birth hearty Shaanxi flavors: tangy biangbiang noodles, cumin-scented kebabs, and bread soaked in rich lamb broth.

Highlights include the Terracotta Army, City Wall, the Muslim Quarter, and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Try roujiamo (Chinese “burger”), liangpi cold noodles, and yangrou paomo (lamb soup with torn flatbread). For a sweet pick-me-up, look for persimmon cakes hot off the griddle.

• Stay: See options on VRBO Xi’an or Hotels.com Xi’an. Inside the City Wall near the Bell/Drum Towers keeps you walkable to night markets.

Day 5: Train to Xi’an, City Wall Ride, Muslim Quarter Eats

Morning: High-speed train from Beijing West to Xi’an North: ≈4.5–5.5 hours, second-class ≈515–620 CNY. Book seats on Trip.com Trains. Taxi or metro into the center; check in.

Afternoon: Rent bikes atop the Xi’an City Wall for a breezy loop (13.7 km; 1.5–2 hours). Great viewpoints at the South Gate. Refuel with roujiamo at Fanji (lean, peppery) or cumin beef at a stall along the wall’s base.

Evening: Wander the Muslim Quarter: try biangbiang noodles at Third Sister, pomegranate juice, and grilled lamb skewers dusted with chili-cumin. For a sit-down, De Fa Chang offers a dumpling feast with playful shapes and fillings.

Day 6: Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Pools, Tang Show

Morning: Head to the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army), ≈1 hour from the center. Budget 2–3 hours across Pits 1–3; start with Pit 3 (command post) for context, then the vast ranks of Pit 1. Tickets ≈120 CNY.

Afternoon: Nearby, stroll Huaqing Palace gardens and historic hot springs at the foot of Li Mountain. Return to town for yangrou paomo at Lao Sun Jia—tear bread into a bowl, hand it over, and it returns bathed in aromatic lamb broth.

Evening: Consider the Tang Dynasty Music & Dance performance (with or without a dumpling banquet) for a colorful spin through court entertainment. Or keep it casual with craft tea at Teabank near the Bell Tower.

Shanghai

Shanghai is China’s skyline postcard: art deco mansions facing supertall towers across the Huangpu River. Beyond the glitz, the former French Concession’s plane trees shade cafés, galleries, and tiny noodle joints. It’s a city for strolling, sipping, and peeking into shikumen alleyways.

Must-sees include the Bund, Yu Garden, the French Concession, and museums along the West Bund and in Pudong. Food runs the gamut: silky xiao long bao soup dumplings, Shanghainese braises, Yunnanese herbs, and cutting-edge vegetarian cuisine.

• Stay: Check VRBO Shanghai and Hotels.com Shanghai. The Bund/People’s Square gives instant access; the French Concession is leafy and local.

Day 7: Xi’an to Shanghai, The Bund and Rooftops

Morning: Fly Xi’an–Shanghai (PVG/Hongqiao), ≈2.5 hours, fares often $80–150; or high-speed rail ≈6–7 hours. Compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights; trains on Trip.com Trains. The Maglev from PVG to Longyang Rd. is a fun 8-minute ride.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk the Bund—colonial facades facing Lujiazui’s skyscrapers. Pop into an art deco lobby or two; grab coffee at Blue Bottle (Bund area) or a local roastery like Mellower.

Evening: Soup dumplings at Jia Jia Tang Bao (pork, crab roe) or the polished Din Tai Fung. Watch the skyline ignite from Flair at The Ritz-Carlton Pudong or the classic VUE Bar at Hyatt on the Bund.

Day 8: Old City, Yu Garden, French Concession

Morning: Explore the Old City and restored Yu Garden—Ming-style pavilions, zigzag bridges, and koi ponds. Snack on Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant’s xiao long bao (expect a queue; worth it).

Afternoon: Wander the Former French Concession: Fuxing Park’s mahjong tables, lilong lanes, and boutiques along Anfu and Wukang Roads. Coffee at Seesaw Coffee (Anfu Rd) or a croissant at RAC.

Evening: Dinner at Old Jesse (Lao Ji Shi) for homestyle Shanghainese—red-braised pork, scallion crystal shrimp, and stir-fried river shrimp with Longjing tea. Later, sip award-winning cocktails at Speak Low or neighborhood favorite Union Trading Company.

Day 9: Suzhou Day Trip (Classical Gardens)

Morning: From Shanghai Hongqiao, high-speed train to Suzhou in ≈25–35 minutes (40–80 CNY). Book on Trip.com Trains. Start at the Humble Administrator’s Garden, a masterpiece of ponds, pavilions, and winding paths.

Afternoon: Walk Pingjiang Road beside stone bridges and canal boats; sip jasmine tea in a courtyard teahouse. If time allows, detour to Tiger Hill for the leaning pagoda and bonsai gardens.

Evening: Return to Shanghai for Yunnan flavors at Lost Heaven on the Bund—lemongrass chicken, Dai-style salads, and black pepper beef. Night stroll along the North Bund boardwalk.

Day 10: Museums and Markets, Departure

Morning: Choose a modern art fix: Power Station of Art (contemporary) or the West Bund Museum. Alternatively, the Shanghai Museum (People’s Square) for bronzes, jades, and porcelain when open. Brunch at Egg (Shanxi South Rd) or Brut Eatery if you prefer Western-style plates.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping along Nanjing West Road or Anfu Road boutiques, then head to the airport. Compare flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Taxis to PVG often take 50–70 minutes; the Maglev plus metro is faster at rush hour.

Eating and Drinking Cheat Sheet (by City)

• Beijing: Siji Minfu (classic duck), Da Dong (refined duck), Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (casual), TRB Hutong (contemporary Chinese), Cafe Zarah and Metal Hands (coffee), Jing-A/Peiping Machine (craft beer).
• Xi’an: Muslim Quarter stalls (roujiamo, liangpi, persimmon cakes), Third Sister (biangbiang noodles), Lao Sun Jia (yangrou paomo), De Fa Chang (dumpling banquet), Teabank (modern teahouse).
• Shanghai: Jia Jia Tang Bao and Din Tai Fung (xiao long bao), Old Jesse (Shanghainese), Lost Heaven (Yunnan), Blue Bottle/Seesaw/RAC/Mellower (coffee and brunch), Speak Low and Union Trading Company (cocktails).

Getting Around & Practical Tips

• Trains: China’s high-speed network is fast and punctual. Reserve seats early on Trip.com Trains.
• Flights: For longer hops or tight schedules, compare fares/times on Kiwi.com and Trip.com Flights.
• Payments: Add your credit card to Alipay or WeChat Pay (foreign card support now available). Keep a small amount of cash for backups.
• Tickets: Major sites (Forbidden City, Yu Garden, Terracotta) use timed e-tickets; bring passports for ID checks.
• Connectivity: Some foreign apps are restricted; download offline maps, translators, and any VPNs before arrival.

Summary: In ten days you’ve climbed watchtowers above forests, traced terra-cotta ranks in silent halls, and watched Shanghai glow like a theater set. With fast trains, memorable meals, and neighborhoods that invite wandering, this China itinerary balances history with the here-and-now. You’ll leave with new cravings—for noodles, yes, but also for another ride along the rails.