China rewards curiosity. In a single week, you can climb the Great Wall, watch tai chi glide across ancient temple parks, and gaze up at Shanghai’s electric skyline from the timeless promenade of The Bund. This itinerary focuses on two cities—Beijing and Shanghai—to keep the pace balanced while fitting in the essential highlights.

Beijing, China’s capital for most of the last 700 years, frames imperial grandeur with lived-in hutongs, courtyard homes, and legendary cuisine including Peking duck and hand-pulled noodles. Shanghai, once shaped by international concessions, dazzles with Art Deco facades, world-class dining, and a future-forward skyline crowned by Shanghai Tower.

Practical notes: Many nationalities need a visa; however, expanded visa-free and 144-hour transit policies apply to select passports—check the latest rules before you go. The metro is fast and affordable (most rides 3–9 CNY). Popular sights like the Forbidden City require timed tickets; Mondays are closure days. Mobile payments are common; carry some cash for small vendors.

Beijing

Beijing is where ceremonial avenues meet alleyway life. Stand in vast Tiananmen Square, enter the red-walled Forbidden City, and finish at Jingshan Park for a panorama emperors once prized. Beyond the center, the Great Wall’s Mutianyu section winds over green ridgelines, and the Temple of Heaven hosts morning music, card games, and graceful exercise.

Food here is an education: crisp-skinned Peking duck carved tableside, sesame-scented jianbing breakfast crepes, cumin-sparked lamb skewers, and bowls of zhajiangmian noodles. Evenings can swing from craft beer courtyards to a high-flying acrobatic performance.

• Top sights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (closed Mon), Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall, hutongs near Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai, 798 Art District.
• Where to stay:
  • The Peninsula Beijing — all-suite elegance near Wangfujing.
  • New World Beijing Hotel — spacious rooms, rooftop bar near Temple of Heaven.
  • The Opposite House — design-forward in Sanlitun with standout dining.
  • Novotel Beijing Peace — reliable comfort steps from shopping streets.
  • 365 Inn Beijing — social, budget-friendly base by Qianmen.
  Browse more stays: Hotels.com Beijing | VRBO Beijing
• Getting there: Fly into PEK (Capital) or PKX (Daxing). Compare fares and routes on Trip.com (flights) and Kiwi.com. Direct flights from major hubs often run 10–14 hours; airport to central Beijing takes ~45–70 minutes by taxi or 30–60 minutes by rail/express.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk along Qianmen Street and the historic Dashilan area, where courtyard shops sell tea, silk, and paper cuts. Coffee stop: Metal Hands Coffee (cozy roastery vibe) or % Arabica at Qianmen for a creamy Spanish latte.

Evening: Dinner near Wangfujing at Siji Minfu (succulent Peking duck with crisp lacquered skin; book or expect a wait). If you prefer lighter fare, try noodles and dumplings at Noodle Bar by Jing-A in Shichahai. Nightcap: Great Leap Brewing #6 for Beijing-style craft ales in a leafy courtyard.

Day 2: Imperial Beijing—Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Hutongs

Morning: Early start at Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City when it opens. Its meridian gates, throne halls, and treasure galleries chart Ming–Qing power. Tip: The palace is closed Mondays—if today is Monday, swap with Day 3 or 4.

Afternoon: Climb Jingshan Park for a sweeping view over vermillion roofs. Stroll the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang and Yandai Xiejie; peek into courtyards and teahouses. Lunch: zhajiangmian at Noodle Loft or pan-fried dumplings at Xian Lao Man—both local favorites for hearty Northern flavors.

Evening: Explore the Shichahai lakes at sunset, with paddle boats and temple silhouettes. Dinner at TRB Hutong (refined contemporary Chinese in a historic setting) or bite-sized skewers and cold beer along Houhai’s back lanes.

Day 3: Great Wall at Mutianyu + Acrobatic Night

Morning: Head to the Mutianyu section—fewer crowds, lush scenery, and photogenic watchtowers. For a stress-free half-day with hotel pickup, consider:

Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall Lift Way Up & Toboggan Down — cable car up, fun toboggan down, guide and transport included.

Afternoon: Return to the city and unwind in the Temple of Heaven Park. Watch locals play mahjong and practice tai chi; visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its vivid blue-tiled roof. Late lunch: hand-pulled biangbiang noodles and roujiamo (Chinese “burger”) at a Shaanxi canteen near the park’s east gate.

Evening: Cap the day with gravity-defying performance art:

Chaoyang Theatre Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets — a high-energy display of balance, hoops, and aerial feats.

Dinner afterwards on “Ghost Street” (Guijie) in Dongzhimen: plates of spicy crayfish, dry-pot cauliflower, and sizzling lamb. If you prefer refined duck, Da Dong remains a top draw for delicate cuts and fruit wood roasting.

Shanghai

Shanghai blends Old World glamour with ultramodern swagger. The Bund’s monumental riverfront faces a skyline of glass pinnacles—Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center’s “bottle opener,” and the 632 m Shanghai Tower. Backstreets in the Former French Concession unfold under plane trees with lane houses, cafes, and boutiques.

Food is a highlight: delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings, pan-fried shengjian bao, sweet red-braised pork, and silky fish-head soup. Add award-winning cocktail bars and design-forward cafes for nights that stretch late.

• Top sights: The Bund, Yu Garden and Bazaar, Shanghai Tower/Observation decks, Former French Concession (Fuxing Park, Tianzifang), Shanghai Museum East (Pudong), M50 art district, West Bund/Power Station of Art, Zhujiajiao water town.
• Where to stay:
  • The Peninsula Shanghai — riverfront icon with Bund views.
  • Kerry Hotel Pudong — family-friendly, great gym and dining.
  • The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong — sky-high rooms overlooking Lujiazui.
  • Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World — convenient to People’s Square and metro.
  • Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel or Shanghai Fish Inn Bund — value near The Bund.
  • Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel — budget and social.
  Browse more stays: Hotels.com Shanghai | VRBO Shanghai

Day 4: Morning Train to Shanghai + The Bund

Morning: Travel to Shanghai by G-class high-speed train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao. Time: ~4.5–5.5 hours. Typical fares: 2nd class ~560–600 CNY, 1st class ~930–980 CNY (as of 2025). Book on Trip.com (trains). Taxis/ride-hails from Hongqiao to The Bund: ~40–60 CNY, 35–50 minutes depending on traffic; metro Line 2 is direct.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk The Bund from Waibaidu Bridge to Jinling Road for the classic panorama. Pop across the river to Lujiazui for the Shanghai Tower observation deck or the Shanghai World Financial Center’s glass-floored Sky Walk.

Evening: Dinner at Lost Heaven (Yunnan cuisine: tea leaf salad, cumin ribs, lemongrass fish). For views + cocktails, try The Nest (Nordic-inspired bites and city lights) or iconic Bar Rouge for a rooftop party scene.

Day 5: French Concession, Tianzifang, Yu Garden + Night Food Tour

Morning: Breakfast at Luneurs or Lost Bakery (butter-laminated croissants, excellent coffee), or grab a street-side jianbing. Stroll Fuxing Park where locals dance and play cards; continue to the lilong lanes and boutiques along Anfu and Wukang Roads. Coffee: Sumerian (roastery) or Manner Coffee (quality espresso for a bargain).

Afternoon: Wander Tianzifang’s labyrinth of ateliers, then head to the 16th-century Yu Garden—rockeries, pavilions, and koi ponds amid classical landscaping. Lunch nearby with soup dumplings at Jia Jia Tang Bao (pork and crab roe xiaolongbao) or crispy shengjian bao at Yang’s Fry Dumplings.

Evening: Explore Shanghai’s flavors with a guided tasting walk:

Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai — sample a dozen Shanghainese staples from soup dumplings to sesame pastries with a knowledgeable guide.

After, slip into an award-winning cocktail bar: Speak Low (hidden multi-floor speakeasy) or Union Trading Company (creative, spirit-forward drinks).

Day 6: Zhujiajiao Water Town + Art Along the River

Morning: Escape to Zhujiajiao, a photogenic canal town of stone bridges and whitewashed houses. For an easy half-day with transport and a boat ride:

Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride — glide along narrow canals and stroll artisan lanes with a private guide.

Afternoon: Back in the city, follow the Huangpu riverfront. Art lovers can visit the Power Station of Art or the Long Museum West Bund for contemporary Chinese exhibitions. Coffee pause at Seesaw (origin-focused brews) by the river.

Evening: Hot pot dinner at HaiDiLao (choose your broth, dip tender beef and mushrooms, and don’t miss the hand-pulled noodle “dance”). Night views from the Bund ferry or a stroll under illuminated heritage facades.

Day 7: Last Look at Shanghai + Departure

Morning: Pastries at Pain Chaud or grab egg tarts at Lillian Bakery. If you skipped it earlier, ride up Shanghai Tower for a daytime perspective, or visit Shanghai Museum East in Pudong for bronzes, calligraphy, and ceramics in a spacious new setting.

Afternoon: Souvenir dash along Nanjing Road East (tea, silk scarves, elegant stationery), then head to the airport or station. Compare flight options on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. The metro links city center to PVG (Line 2 + Maglev) and SHA Hongqiao (Lines 2/10); allow generous time for security/immigration.

Optional Add-Ons or Swaps

• Beijing Summer Palace: Half-day for lakeside imperial gardens, marble boat, and the Long Corridor—great if the Forbidden City falls on a Monday closure.
• 798 Art District: Galleries in repurposed factories; hip cafes for a creative afternoon.
• Shanghai Full-Day Overview: If you prefer a curated city day, consider Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights to cover Bund icons and neighborhood gems efficiently.

Food & Coffee Shortlist (save for any day):

• Beijing breakfast: jianbing stands around Qianmen; % Arabica Qianmen for espresso drinks.
• Beijing lunch/dinner: Siji Minfu or Da Dong (Peking duck), TRB Hutong (elegant modern Chinese), Jing-A/Shichahai for casual bites and brews.
• Shanghai breakfast/coffee: Sumerian, Manner Coffee, Luneurs, Lost Bakery.
• Shanghai bites: Jia Jia Tang Bao (xiaolongbao), Yang’s Fry Dumplings (crispy-bottom shengjian), Lost Heaven (Yunnan), HaiDiLao (hot pot), Speak Low/Union Trading Company (cocktails).

This 7-day China itinerary balances bucket-list landmarks with neighborhood rhythms, from Beijing’s imperial axes to Shanghai’s riverside glow. With high-speed trains, great food on every corner, and guided experiences sprinkled in, you’ll cover a lot—without feeling rushed.