China rewards the curious. In one week you can trace five centuries of imperial power in Beijing’s Forbidden City, then watch neon spill across Shanghai’s Bund where Art Deco facades face a forest of glass and steel. High-speed trains stitch the story together at nearly 350 km/h.

Expect contrasts—Peking duck carved at your table and soup dumplings that burst with crab roe; a hush among Temple of Heaven cypresses and late-night jazz at the Peace Hotel. Street breakfasts are quick (jianbing crêpes, youtiao dough sticks), while tea houses invite lingering.

Practical notes: Most major sights now use timed e-tickets—book ahead and carry your passport. Alipay and WeChat Pay accept many international cards, but it’s wise to keep some cash. Trains are punctual; metros are clean and well-signed in English.

Beijing

Capital of dynasties and revolutions, Beijing pairs grand axes and palace geometry with intimate hutong lanes. Mornings begin with tai chi in parks; evenings drift past courtyard homes perfumed with jujube wood smoke.

• Top sights: Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu or Jinshanling.
• Food to try: Peking duck, zhajiangmian (soybean paste noodles), lamb skewers, and old-Beijing yogurt in ceramic jars.
• Coffee + craft: Metal Hands Coffee (Gulou), % Arabica (Qianmen), and Jing-A Brewing for Beijing-made ales.

Where to stay (search and compare): VRBO Beijing | Hotels.com Beijing. Aim for Dongcheng (walkable to the Forbidden City), Qianmen, or Sanlitun (dining/nightlife).

Getting in: Fly into PEK or PKX. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport express trains and app-based taxis (Didi) are easy.

Day 1: Arrival, Qianmen Alleys, and Duck

Afternoon: Arrive in Beijing and check in. Shake off jet lag with a stroll down Qianmen Street into Dazhalan’s historic alleys; dip into timeworn shops selling paper fans and Beijing-style snacks like aiwo-wo rice cakes.

Evening: Dinner at Siji Minfu (near the Forbidden City): reserve a Peking duck—lacquered skin, pancakes, scallion, and sugar for the first crisp bite. If booked out, try Bianyifang (one of the oldest duck houses). Nightcap at Metal Hands Coffee (Gulou) for a light, citrusy pour-over, or sample Beijing’s craft beer at Great Leap Brewing #6.

Day 2: Forbidden City, Jingshan Views, and Hutongs

Morning: Enter the Forbidden City via Tiananmen (closed Mondays—swap days if needed). Timed tickets required; budget 2.5–3 hours for Meridian Gate to the Imperial Garden. Climb Jingshan Park’s hill afterward for a panorama of yellow-glazed roofs.

Afternoon: Walk the hutongs from Wudaoying to Yonghe Lama Temple. Graze at Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (pan-fried jiaozi stuffed with chive and egg) or Xianlaoman (handmade dumplings with vinegar and garlic). Coffee stop at % Arabica Qianmen for espresso with a view of the old city walls.

Evening: Hotpot at Haidilao (Chaoyang): choose tomato and numbing Sichuan broths; dip hand-pulled noodles and beef rolls—service includes apron, hair ties, and fruit. Or go Manchu court dishes at Najia Xiaoguan (braised sea cucumber, caramel chestnuts). Craft pints at Jing-A Taproom (Xingfucun) afterward.

Day 3: Great Wall at Mutianyu and Lakeside Stroll

Morning: Head to Mutianyu Great Wall (1.5–2 hours by car; less crowded than Badaling). Ride the chairlift up and toboggan down, or hike towers 14–23 for big mountain views. Tickets ~¥60; chairlift/toboggan combo ~¥120.

Afternoon: Late lunch near the wall at The Schoolhouse (simple Chinese staples; seasonal) or back in the city for zhajiangmian at Noodle Loft (clever hand-pulled varieties). Stroll the Houhai lakes and watch mahjong in the shade.

Evening: Dine at Jing Yaa Tang (The Opposite House) for refined roast duck and cold appetizers like smashed cucumber with garlic. Post-dinner, amble Sanlitun’s lit storefronts or catch a tea tasting at a mellow Cha Dao house.

Shanghai

China’s cosmopolitan engine hums with Art Deco classics, sky-high observation decks, and laneways scented with osmanthus. The Bund faces Pudong’s skyline, a living timeline from treaty-port days to tomorrow.

• Top sights: The Bund, Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden & City God Temple precinct, French Concession, and the Shanghai Museum (East).
• Food to try: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), sweet red-braised pork, and hairy-crab roe in autumn.
• Bars & cafés: Speak Low and Union Trading Company (award-winning cocktails), Manner Coffee and Seesaw Coffee for local roasts.

Where to stay (search and compare): VRBO Shanghai | Hotels.com Shanghai. Base in Huangpu (Bund/People’s Square) or tree-lined Jing’an/Xuhui (French Concession vibes).

Beijing ⇄ Shanghai travel: Take a G‑series high-speed train, ~4.5–5.5 hours; 2nd class ~¥560, 1st ~¥900, business ~¥1750. Check schedules and book on Trip.com Trains. Flights take ~2 hours; compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 4: High-Speed to Shanghai, the Bund, and Skyline Views

Morning: Depart Beijing South on a G-train to Shanghai Hongqiao (aim for ~08:00). Snacks and hot water onboard; keep your passport handy for ticket checks.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk the Bund from the former Customs House clocktower to the Peace Hotel—spot Art Deco reliefs and bronze lions. Late lunch at Jia Jia Tang Bao (People’s Square): order pork-and-crab xiaolongbao; sip black vinegar with ginger.

Evening: Dinner at Lost Heaven on the Bund (Yunnan flavors—tea-smoked duck, wild mushroom salad). For views, head to a rooftop like Bar Rouge or VUE Bar. Prefer quiet? The Peace Hotel Jazz Bar hosts standards by veteran musicians.

Day 5: Yu Garden, City God Temple Eats, and the French Concession

Morning: Visit Yu Garden, a classic Ming garden of zigzag bridges and dragon walls (arrive early). Explore the bazaar and the City God Temple complex.

Afternoon: Lunch along the City God Temple snack streets: try shengjianbao at Yang’s Fry Dumpling (crispy-bottomed buns), scallion oil noodles, and sweet osmanthus rice cakes. Wander Tianzifang’s art lanes, then Fuxing Park to see card players and ballroom dancers.

Evening: Book Old Jesse (Lao Jishi) for deeply Shanghainese cooking—red-braised pork, sautéed river shrimp, yellow croaker. After, slide into Speak Low (hidden behind a bar-tools shop) for a sherry-and-rum number, or sip a thoughtful highball at Union Trading Company.

Day 6: Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town

Morning: Ride Metro Line 2 to Hongqiao Railway Station, then Line 17 to Zhujiajiao (about 1 hour). Canal bridges, whitewashed houses, and stone alleys await—take a pole boat ride (~¥150 per boat) to see waterside teahouses.

Afternoon: Snack your way through town: zongzi wrapped in bamboo leaves, roasted soybeans, and hand-pulled noodles. Visit Kezhi Garden’s rockeries and climb Fangsheng Bridge for photos.

Evening: Return to Shanghai. Dinner at Din Tai Fung (IFC Mall, Pudong) for precise soup dumplings and steamed vegetables with garlic, or try Cantonese roast meats at a local cha chaan teng-style spot. Night stroll around Lujiazui’s skywalk beneath Shanghai Tower.

Day 7: Towers, Museums, and Departure

Morning: Ascend Shanghai Tower’s 118th-floor observatory (~¥180) for a sweeping view of the Huangpu bend. If you prefer art and history, visit Shanghai Museum (East) in Pudong, showcasing bronzes, jades, and calligraphy in a striking new venue.

Afternoon: Last tastes: a cortado at Manner Coffee (ubiquitous, fast, and good) or a floral pour-over at Seesaw. Pick up souvenirs along Middle Huaihai Road. Head to the airport: PVG Maglev takes ~8 minutes from Longyang Road (¥50 one-way; discounts with same-day boarding pass).

Evening: Fly onward. Compare options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Local Tips

• Tickets: Forbidden City and Summer Palace use timed entry; bring your passport and book early, especially on weekends/holidays.
• Payments: Add your international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay for taxis, convenience stores, and metro. Keep some cash for small stalls.
• Metro mastery: Beijing/Shanghai subways have English signage. Fares ~¥3–7. Avoid rush hours with luggage.
• Best seasons: Spring (Apr–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) for blue skies and comfortable temperatures. Pack layers for temple mornings and Bund breezes.

In seven days you’ll walk palace courtyards, climb a mountain wall, and watch the Huangpu glow at night. Beijing and Shanghai together tell China’s story—old rhythms, new tempo—one steaming basket and skyline view at a time.