China rewards the curious traveler: imperial courts, avant‑garde galleries, smoky noodle stalls, and future-forward skylines. In one week you’ll trace 700 years of history from the Forbidden City to the French Concession, then cap your days with soup dumplings and technicolor night views of The Bund.

Beijing, the imperial capital, anchors the journey with Tiananmen Square, the Ming-Qing palaces, and the Great Wall winding over ridgelines. Shanghai, a port of jazz-age glamour and cutting-edge towers, offers leafy lanes, art-deco facades, and the best xiaolongbao on earth.

Practical notes: the Forbidden City is closed Mondays; the Beijing–Shanghai bullet train takes ~4.5–5.5 hours. Foreign cards now work in Alipay and WeChat Pay, and metros in both cities are clean, fast, and signed in English. Bring comfortable shoes; China’s treasures are best met on foot.

Beijing

Beijing is a palimpsest of dynasties: Hutongs shelter courtyard homes and craft breweries; ring roads ripple around ceremonial axes once reserved for emperors. Mornings begin with tai chi in cypress parks; afternoons might be spent among avant-garde warehouses in 798 Art Zone.

Showstoppers include the Forbidden City and its vermilion gates, the Temple of Heaven altars where Ming emperors prayed for harvests, the lakes of Beihai, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a photogenic stretch with a joyful toboggan ride down.

• Classic bites: Peking duck (Da Dong for crisp artistry; Siji Minfu for traditional flavors), lamb skewers, zhajiangmian noodles, and morning jianbing crepes.
• Neighborhoods to wander: Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying Hutong for cafes and crafts; Sanlitun for modern dining and nightlife.

Where to stay (Beijing):

• The Peninsula Beijing – All-suite grandeur near Wangfujing; superb service and spa.
• New World Beijing Hotel – Sleek rooms, indoor pool; walkable to the Temple of Heaven.
• Novotel Beijing Peace – Great value steps from shopping and Line 1/5.
• The Opposite House – Design-forward in Sanlitun, with standout dining.
• 365 Inn Beijing or 365 Inn Beijing Qianmen – Budget-friendly near Qianmen Gate.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Beijing | VRBO Beijing

How to arrive: Fly into PEK or PKX (2–14 hours from most global hubs). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. Airport Express trains (PEK ~25 minutes; PKX ~20 minutes) connect to the metro.

Day 1: Arrival, Wangfujing Flavors, and Lakeside Lanterns

Afternoon: Land in Beijing and check in. Stretch your legs on Wangfujing’s side alleys and Xianyukou “Old Beijing” Food Street—sample tanghulu (hawthorn candy) and sesame shaobing. Coffee options: Manner Coffee or % Arabica along Wangfujing.

Evening: Peking duck dinner. For refined plates and ultra-crisp skin, book Da Dong (Dongsi Shitiao); for classic style and fair prices, try Siji Minfu (Qianmen). Post-dinner, stroll Shichahai lakes; sip a local IPA at Great Leap Brewing #6 in a hutong courtyard.

Day 2: Summer Palace Serenity and 798 Art Zone

Morning: Ride Line 4 to Summer Palace. Tour Suzhou Street, climb Longevity Hill, and boat across Kunming Lake if weather permits. Breakfast ideas: jianbing from a street stall near your station or yogurt (suannai) and buns from local bakeries.

Afternoon: Head to 798 Art Zone for galleries, murals, and design shops inside Bauhaus-era factories. Lunch at Timezone 8 Café or noodles at a local Lanzhou spot.

Evening: Sanlitun for dinner and people-watching. Try Jing Yaa Tang (duck and dim sum) or Huda for spicy crayfish. Cocktails at The Hidden House or a tea flight at a modern teahouse.

Day 3: Beijing Icons + The Great Wall (Full-Day Tour)

Make this your big “wow” day with a seamless, all-in-one tour that covers Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall.

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

Expect hotel pickup, skip-the-line entries, and rides on Mutianyu’s cable car or chairlift with an optional toboggan down. If you’d rather DIY the palace on a different day, secure timed entry in advance:

Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

Back in town, reward yourself with family-style dumplings at Xian Lao Man or hotpot at Donglaishun (mutton is the specialty).

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, and Hutong Tastes

Morning: Join dawn tai chi and choir practice at the Temple of Heaven Park, then admire the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Breakfast near the park: warm soy milk and youtiao (fried crullers) at a local stall.

Afternoon: Ride Line 2/5 to Lama Temple (Yonghe), then meander Wudaoying Hutong for indie boutiques and cafés—try Metal Hands Coffee. Lunch on zhajiangmian noodles or Xinjiang lamb skewers from a hole-in-the-wall grill.

Evening: Hutong food crawl: pan-fried buns (shengjian), sesame noodles, and Beijing yogurt in clay jars. For a refined finale, book TRB Hutong for contemporary tasting menus in a centuries-old setting.

Shanghai

Shanghai is China turned outward: a city of jazz-age art deco, leafy plane trees, and glass spires piercing the clouds. Mornings drift through quiet lanes of the French Concession; nights glow neon on The Bund with the Oriental Pearl across the river.

Don’t miss the Bund riverfront, Yu Garden & City God Temple Bazaar, French Concession patios, and Lujiazui mega-towers. The food scene runs from soup dumplings to tasting-menu temples—plus third-wave coffee on practically every corner.

• Signature flavors: xiaolongbao (Jia Jia Tang Bao), shengjian (Yang’s Fry-Dumpling), scallion oil noodles, and hairy crab in season (autumn).
• Best strolls: Fuxing Park, Sinan Mansions, and the lilong lanes of Tianzifang.

Where to stay (Shanghai):

• The Peninsula Shanghai – River views and Art Deco splendor on the Bund.
• The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong – Sky-high elegance with wow-factor views.
• Kerry Hotel Pudong / Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai – Spacious rooms and family-friendly amenities near Century Park.
• Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel – Smart value a short walk to the river.
• Shanghai Fish Inn Bund – Boutique basics in a handy location.
• Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel – Reliable backpacker favorite.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Shanghai | VRBO Shanghai

Getting here from Beijing: Take a morning bullet train (Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao) in ~4.5–5.5 hours; second-class seats are typically ¥550–600 (~$75–85). Book on Trip.com Trains. Flights are ~2 hours; compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 5: Train to Shanghai, The Bund, and Old Town Bites

Morning: Depart Beijing on a G-train; snack on fruit and tea or grab a bakery breakfast at the station. Arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao, hop Line 2 to The Bund area, and check in.

Afternoon: Walk the Bund from Garden Bridge to the Customs House to admire 1920s facades opposite futuristic Pudong. Continue to Yu Garden and the City God Temple Bazaar—pause for xiaolongbao at Nanxiang or shengjian at Yang’s nearby.

Evening: Dinner in Old Town at Ben Lai for homestyle Shanghainese or book Old Jesse for braised pork belly and “drunken” chicken. Cap the night with skyline views from a Bund-side lounge or a gentle riverside stroll.

Day 6: French Concession Lanes and Lujiazui Heights

Morning: Coffee-hop through the Former French Concession: start at Seesaw or Manner Coffee, then wander Fuxing Park, Sinan Mansions, and tree-lined Gaolan Road. Brunch options: egg tarts at Lillian Bakery or scallion pancakes from a street griddle.

Afternoon: Cross to Pudong’s Lujiazui for sky-deck thrills—Shanghai Tower’s observation deck is the tallest. Explore Super Brand Mall’s food court for quick noodles or duck rice.

Evening: Dive into Shanghai’s flavors with a small-group tasting walk:

Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

Expect a dozen tastings—soup dumplings, sesame noodles, scallion oil noodles, and late-night street snacks—plus neighborhood stories and tips from a foodie guide.

Day 7: Old + New Shanghai Highlights, Then Departure

Morning: If your flight is in the afternoon, a tailored half-day is perfect:

4-Hour Private Shanghai City Tour with Old and New Highlights

Hit a curated mix—Jade Buddha Temple, backstreets of the French Concession, and The Bund—ending near a great lunch: try Jia Jia Tang Bao (crab roe dumplings) or a contemporary Shanghainese bistro.

Afternoon: Head to the airport. For PVG, the Maglev from Longyang Road is a fun 7–8 minute blast; for SHA, Line 10 is convenient. Check flights on Trip.com Flights and consider a last coffee at % Arabica or a tea gift set to take home.

Optional swap: Mutianyu by chairlift up, toboggan down

If you prefer a shorter Great Wall day with extra free time in Beijing, pick this half-day favorite:

Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall Lift Way Up & Toboggan Down

It’s about 5 hours door-to-door, leaving room for 798 Art Zone or a hutong café afternoon.

Getting around & pro tips:

• Payment: Add a foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay; most metros and shops accept QR or physical cards.
• Transit: Beijing and Shanghai subways run ~5:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; signage is bilingual. Didi works well for cross-town rides.
• Etiquette: Carry your passport for ticket checks (trains, some attractions). Forbidden City requires real-name, timed tickets.

In one week you’ve crossed dynastic avenues, hiked ramparts into the clouds, and tasted two cities’ worth of culinary heritage. China’s capital-to-coast arc—by high-speed rail—pairs imperial grandeur with urban sparkle, leaving you with photos that glow and flavors that linger.