China dazzles with dynastic grandeur and future-facing cities. In one week, you’ll trace imperial footsteps through Beijing’s Forbidden City and climb the Ming-era ramparts of the Great Wall before riding a high-speed train to Shanghai’s neon riverside and Art Deco lanes.

Expect contrasts: hushed temple courtyards beside buzzing hutongs, bamboo steamers of xiaolongbao followed by avant-garde cocktails, centuries-old water towns a short ride from sci‑fi skylines. You’ll sample classics—Peking duck, hand-pulled noodles—and discover contemporary coffee culture and craft beer scenes.

Practical notes: Book major sights in advance (Forbidden City requires real-name, timed tickets). China’s high-speed rail is fast, punctual, and comfortable. Mobile payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay) now accept foreign cards; carry some cash for smaller vendors. Spring and fall offer the best weather; pack layers for breezy Wall visits.

Beijing

Capital for most of the last seven centuries, Beijing is a living tapestry of palaces, pavilions, and hutong alleys. The city’s heart beats around Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, while the most photogenic Great Wall sections ripple along nearby hills.

Balance history with flavors: crisp-skinned Peking duck, sesame-scented jianbing crepes, and northern noodles. Between landmarks, duck into indie coffee bars, courtyard breweries, and tranquil lakeside parks (Shichahai) where locals play cards and fly kites.

• Top sights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall at Mutianyu.
• Great eats: Siji Minfu (Peking duck), Jingzun (casual duck), Huguosi Snacks (Beijing street specialties), Mr. Shi’s Dumplings.
• Coffee/Drinks: Metal Hands Coffee (Wudaoying), The Corner (Nanluoguxiang), Great Leap Brewing, Jing-A Taproom.

Where to stay (Beijing): Browse stays on VRBO Beijing or Hotels.com Beijing. Handpicked options: The Opposite House (design-forward in Sanlitun), The Peninsula Beijing (all-suite near Wangfujing), New World Beijing Hotel (rooftop bar near Temple of Heaven), Novotel Beijing Peace (value, central), 365 Inn Beijing (budget, hutong vibe).

Getting to Beijing: Fly into PEK or PKX. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport express trains and taxis connect quickly to the center.

Day 1: Arrival, Hutongs, and Duck

Afternoon: Land in Beijing and check into your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk down Wudaoying Hutong and the Drum & Bell Towers. Pop into Metal Hands Coffee for a flat white or a house pour-over.

Evening: Celebrate night one with Peking duck: book Siji Minfu (near the Forbidden City) for lacquered skin carved tableside; try the sugar-dip bite first, then scallion-cucumber wraps. Stroll Shichahai Lakes afterward for lantern reflections and a peek at traditional courtyard homes.

Day 2: Great Wall at Mutianyu + Summer Palace (Full-Day Tour)

Trade city streets for mountain air on a small-group excursion that pairs Beijing’s most beautiful Wall section with lakeside imperial gardens. Expect hotel pickup, a scenic drive, cable car options, and a late afternoon return.

Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest (Viator)

Tips: At Mutianyu, ride the cable car up and toboggan down for fun views; bring layers and sunscreen. At the Summer Palace, walk the Long Corridor and pause on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge for Kunming Lake panoramas.

Post-tour dinner idea: Jingzun for a relaxed, excellent duck, or head to Great Leap Brewing #45 for burgers, dan dan noodles, and Beijing craft ales.

Day 3: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, and Jingshan Views

Morning: Start at vast Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City with timed tickets—highlight halls include the Gate of Supreme Harmony and the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Cap your palace wander with the climb up Jingshan Park’s Coal Hill for the postcard roofline panorama.

Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Viator)

Afternoon: Dumpling lunch at Mr. Shi’s (try the lamb and coriander). Continue to Beihai Park for white dagoba views and quiet lakeside paths, or the Temple of Heaven for echo walls and ancient cypress groves.

Evening: Noodle crawl: pick zhajiangmian (soybean-paste noodles) at a trusted old-school spot, then sample Beijing snacks at Huguosi Snacks (fried dough rings, mung-bean cakes). Nightcap in Nanluoguxiang at The Corner cocktail bar.

Shanghai

Shanghai blends concession-era elegance with a sky-piercing skyline. The Bund’s 1920s facades face the glittering towers of Lujiazui; backstreets hide shikumen lane houses, while galleries, coffee roasters, and craft cocktail dens buzz late.

This is China’s tastemaker: slurp soup dumplings at breakfast, browse contemporary art in West Bund, and cruise the Huangpu at dusk. Day trips whisk you to canal-laced water towns that have charmed poets for centuries.

• Top sights: The Bund, Yu Garden & Old Street, French Concession, Pudong skyscrapers (Shanghai Tower), West Bund Museum, Longhua Temple.
• Must-eats: Xiaolongbao at Linlong Fang or Din Tai Fung, Shengjianbao at Yang’s, braised pork at Old Jesse, Yunnan plates at Lost Heaven.
• Nightlife: Speak Low (hidden multi-level bar), Union Trading Company (award-winning cocktails), Bar Rouge (Bund terrace views).

Where to stay (Shanghai): Browse VRBO Shanghai or Hotels.com Shanghai. Standouts: The Peninsula Shanghai (Bund waterfront classic), The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong (skyline views), Kerry Hotel Pudong (family-friendly, dining hub), Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World (central, great pool), Campanile Shanghai Bund (smart value), Shanghai Fish Inn Bund (boutique budget), Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel (budget, social).

Day 4: Beijing → Shanghai by High-Speed Train, The Bund at Sunset

Morning: Depart Beijing South for Shanghai Hongqiao on a G‑train (about 4.5–5.5 hours). Second class is roomy; first class is quieter. Book seats on Trip.com Trains (approx. $80–$130). Flying takes ~2.5 hours—compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Afternoon: Check in and stroll The Bund’s riverside promenade. Clock the contrast—Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco on one bank; glass-and-steel marvels on the other. Pop into Pudong via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or metro for sky-high photos from Shanghai Tower.

Evening: Dinner on the Bund: Lost Heaven serves fragrant Yunnan fare (try the tea-smoked duck and Dai-style lemongrass fish). For a view-forward nightcap, head to Bar Rouge or The Nest for craft cocktails with skyline theatrics.

Day 5: Old-and-New Shanghai (Full-Day Private Tour)

Cover the city’s essential contrasts with a private guide—colonial Bund facades, serene Yu Garden, temple stops, and the vertical wonderland of Pudong—plus time in the French Concession’s leafy lanes.

Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights (Viator)

Lunch recs during the tour: slurp delicate xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung or Linlong Fang; grab shengjianbao (pan-fried soup buns) at Yang’s for a crispy, juicy fix. Post-tour dinner: Old Jesse for home-style braises (order the hongshaorou early—it sells out).

Day 6: Zhujiajiao Water Town + City Highlights (Full-Day Tour)

Glide past stone bridges and Ming–Qing houses on a canal boat in Zhujiajiao, then dive back into Shanghai for curated must-sees. This is the quintessential “water town and city” combo.

Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Private Day Tour (Viator)

Snack your way through old lanes (osmanthus cakes, sesame fritters). Back in the city, browse the French Concession’s boutiques or the lane-house galleries of Tianzifang. For dinner, book Lost Heaven (if you missed it) or try Cantonese at a quality spot; finish with cocktails at Speak Low’s hidden upstairs bar.

Day 7: French Concession Brunch, Last-Minute Shops, Departure

Morning: Coffee at Manner or Seesaw—two local roasters that define Shanghai’s cafe scene. Brunch at Baker & Spice for pastries and eggs, or order scallion pancakes fresh off a griddle from a beloved local stall.

Afternoon: Souvenir sweep: pick up contemporary ceramics, tea, or silk scarves along Anfu Road’s indie shops. Depart in the afternoon; both Hongqiao and Pudong airports are metro-connected. If you’re rail-bound, Hongqiao’s station is integrated with the airport complex; check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Optional Add-Ons (if you extend)

• From Shanghai: Day trip by bullet train to Nanjing for city walls and Republic-era lanes — Nanjing Private Customized Day Trip (Viator).

  

• From Shanghai: Half-day water-town taster — Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride (Viator).

  

Logistics Snapshot

• International flights: compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Domestic rail: Beijing ⇄ Shanghai G‑train ~4.5–5.5 hours, from ~$80 (2nd class) on Trip.com Trains.
• Hotels: compare and book via Hotels.com Beijing, Hotels.com Shanghai, or browse apartments on VRBO Beijing and VRBO Shanghai.

In seven days, you’ll scale the Great Wall’s emerald ridges, trace emperors’ steps through vermilion gates, then pivot to Shanghai’s riverside glamour and tranquil canals. This Beijing-and-Shanghai itinerary blends headline sights with local flavors—one part history seminar, one part street-food crawl, all thoroughly unforgettable.