7 Days in China: Beijing and Shanghai Itinerary for Culture, Cuisine, and Iconic Sights

Hit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Bund, and Shanghai’s French Concession in one week—complete with food finds, train tips, and day trips by bullet train.
Misty mountain peaks of Huangshan, China enveloped in fog, creating a serene and dramatic landscape.
Photo by SAM LIM on Pexels

China’s story stretches across millennia—from imperial capitals and walled cities to neon skylines and high-speed rails. In one week, you’ll sample the country’s deep past in Beijing and its forward-looking pulse in Shanghai, with time for hutong wanderings, riverfront strolls, and unforgettable meals.

Beijing anchors the north with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, while the Great Wall rides the mountains just beyond. Shanghai, once a treaty port, grew into a global design and finance hub where Art Deco meets glass-and-steel. Expect brisk mornings at temples and gardens, and evenings of street snacks and craft cocktails.

Practical notes: Check the latest visa rules before you travel—many nationalities still need a visa, though 144-hour transit schemes and limited visa-free entries exist for some passports. Trains are fast and punctual, mobile payments are ubiquitous, and winter can be dry and cold in Beijing while Shanghai stays milder. For flights and trains, compare fares and times on Trip.com flights and Trip.com trains.

Beijing

Beijing is China’s political and cultural heart, where imperial palaces sit beside contemporary design and lively hutongs. Climb Jingshan Hill to spy the golden roofs of the Forbidden City, or sip tea by the Shichahai lakes as locals play cards under willow trees.

Don’t miss the Temple of Heaven park at dawn (taichi and birdsong), the Summer Palace’s lakeside walkways, and the Olympics-era Bird’s Nest and Water Cube after dark. Save an entire day for the Great Wall at Mutianyu—wild vistas, ancient stones, and far fewer crowds than Badaling.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, Hutongs and Sunset Views

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle stroll through the hutongs around the Drum and Bell Towers. Pop into Café Zarah for a cold brew or soft pretzel brunch plate; it’s a foreigner-and-local favorite with a sunny courtyard. Climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic first look at the Forbidden City’s rooftops.

Evening: Feast on Peking duck—classic at Siji Minfu (crispy skin carved tableside) or contemporary at Da Dong (lighter roast and artistic plating). Grab a nightcap at Great Leap Brewing #45 (excellent burgers and the Honey Ma Gold ale) or Jing-A Taproom in Sanlitun for a lively scene.

Day 2: Great Wall + City Icons (All-Inclusive Tour)

Use a full day to cover the big three with a private driver-guide and skip-the-line entries at Mutianyu, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Expect an early start, scenic mountain driving, cable car options, and a local lunch included.

All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall — private transport, entries, and guiding in one.

All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall on Viator

Dinner tip: Back in town, try TRB Hutong for refined Chinese-inspired tasting menus in a historic temple complex, or keep it casual with dumplings at Xian Lao Man (excellent leek-and-egg jiaozi and cucumber salad).

Day 3: Temples, Gardens, and Old Beijing Life

Morning: Catch dawn rituals at the Temple of Heaven Park—watch retirees practice fan dances, then enter the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Coffee at Voyage Coffee near Beixinqiao (clean roasts, minimalist space). Continue to Yonghe (Lama) Temple to admire sandalwood Buddhas and incense-filled courtyards; stroll the boutiques and tea rooms of Wudaoying Hutong.

Afternoon: Head to the Summer Palace for lakeside pavilions, the Long Corridor, and hilltop views. Snack on tanghulu (candied hawthorn) by the water, or have a courtyard lunch near the East Gate—look for homestyle spots serving stir-fried lotus root and kung pao chicken made to order.

Evening: Explore Qianmen and Dashilar’s revived alleys—tiny cafés, craft shops, and traditional snack stalls (try zhajiangmian noodles). See the famed Chaoyang Theatre acrobatics show, then toast with baijiu cocktails at a contemporary hutong bar.

Alternative (bookable add-on if you prefer a half-day deep dive instead of Day 2’s bundled tour): Forbidden City&T-Square Small Group Tours w/ ticket — 4-hour guided history walk.

Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide) on Viator

Day 4: 798 Art, Olympic Park, and Local Eats

Morning: Head to 798 Art District, a Soviet-era factory complex turned gallery quarter. Browse contemporary Chinese art, graphic design bookstores, and street murals. Coffee at a design-forward roastery—look for seasonal single origins and pour-overs.

Afternoon: Lunch on northern Chinese comfort food: cumin lamb skewers, scallion pancakes, and hot-and-sour soup at a small canteen. Then metro to Olympic Green—walk around the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube; if time allows, cycle or stroll the landscaped park.

Evening: Hotpot night: choose a bustling branch of Haidilao for impeccable service and tomato/mala broths, or try a local mutton hotpot with sesame sauce and cabbage. Cap it with a lakeside walk around Houhai, where live music bars spill onto the water’s edge.

Day 5: Morning Train to Shanghai, the Bund by Night

Morning: Depart Beijing South for Shanghai Hongqiao on a G-category high-speed train—~4.5–5.5 hours. Second class is typically ¥560–600 (US$80–90), first class ~¥930. Book seats and check times on Trip.com trains. Flights take ~2h15 (plus airport transfers) and often cost US$80–160 on Trip.com flights.

Afternoon: Check in, then make for the Bund. Walk from Waibaidu Bridge south along the promenade as barges glide by and Art Deco façades face Pudong’s skyline. Pop into a riverside café for an espresso and egg tart to refuel.

Evening: Dinner in the Former French Concession: Jian Guo 328 for homestyle Shanghainese (red-braised pork, sautéed river shrimp) or Old Jesse for deeper, richer classics—reserve if possible. For night views, head to Flair Rooftop Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Pudong for the closest perch to Shanghai Tower, or to Speak Low for award-winning, Japanese-influenced cocktails hidden behind a barware shop.

Shanghai

Shanghai is China’s cosmopolitan showstopper. Stroll leafy plane-tree boulevards, linger in lanehouse cafés, and trace the city’s treaty-port past in Art Deco lobbies before shooting up to sky decks for a futuristic panorama.

Beyond the Bund, explore Yu Garden’s classical pavilions, the labyrinthine lanes of Tianzifang, and the French Concession’s indie boutiques. Make a dumpling pilgrimage—xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao and shengjian (pan-fried buns) at Yang’s—then add a refined seafood dinner or a Yunnan feast at Lost Heaven.

Day 6: Day Trip to the “Southern Great Wall” by Bullet Train

Trade skyscrapers for mountain fortifications on a lesser-known “Southern Great Wall” in Zhejiang province—an atmospheric alternative that avoids Beijing’s crowds. The tour includes round-trip bullet trains, local transfers, entries, and guiding.

Shanghai: Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train — unique history, countryside vistas, and an easy logistics package.

Shanghai: Southern Great Wall Day Trip by Bullet Train on Viator

Dinner back in town: Reward yourself with xiaolongbao. Jia Jia Tang Bao’s crab roe version is a must; follow with a walk down Nanjing Road to the river for the Bund lights.

Day 7: Yu Garden, French Concession Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Arrive early at Yu Garden to beat crowds and wander koi ponds, zigzag bridges, and Ming-era pavilions. Grab a sesame-scallion shengjian bun at Yang’s nearby or a sit-down dim sum set. Coffee at Seesaw Coffee or the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Jing’an to see the city’s caffeine culture.

Afternoon (departure): Browse Tianzifang’s lilong lanes for ceramic studios and design shops before heading to the airport. From central Puxi to PVG, allow 60–90 minutes by taxi or metro + Maglev. If flying domestically from Hongqiao, the metro ride is typically 20–35 minutes from Jing’an or Xujiahui.

Dining & Coffee Shortlist (save these!)

  • Beijing: Siji Minfu (roast duck), Da Dong (contemporary duck), TRB Hutong (special-occasion tasting menus), Xian Lao Man (dumplings), Great Leap Brewing #45 and Jing-A (craft beer + bites), Café Zarah and Voyage Coffee (morning fuel).
  • Shanghai: Jia Jia Tang Bao (soup dumplings), Yang’s Fried Dumplings (shengjian), Jian Guo 328 and Old Jesse (classic Shanghainese), Lost Heaven (Yunnan), Flair Rooftop Bar and Speak Low (cocktails), Seesaw Coffee (local roaster).

How to Book Transport

  • International and domestic flights: Search times and fares on Trip.com flights.
  • High-speed trains (Beijing ⇄ Shanghai and beyond): Check schedules, coach classes, and book e-tickets via Trip.com trains. G-category trains are the fastest.

Trip Flow at a Glance

  • Days 1–4: Beijing base for city sights and the Great Wall.
  • Day 5: Morning train/flight to Shanghai; Bund night walk.
  • Day 6: Day trip by bullet train to the Southern Great Wall (tour).
  • Day 7: Yu Garden + French Concession; depart in the afternoon.

This one-week plan threads imperial Beijing with modern Shanghai, balancing headline attractions with neighborhood wanderings and memorable meals. You’ll leave with a camera roll of skylines and courtyards—and a craving for one more steamer of xiaolongbao.

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