7 Perfect Days in China: Beijing’s Imperial Majesty and Shanghai’s Dazzling Skyline

A one-week China itinerary weaving the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Bund, Yu Garden, and a serene water town—balanced with street food, tea houses, and ultra-modern nightlife.
Misty mountain peaks of Huangshan, China enveloped in fog, creating a serene and dramatic landscape.
Photo by SAM LIM on Pexels

China rewards curiosity. In a single week, you can stride across imperial courtyards in Beijing, stand on the stones of the Great Wall, and then whisk south on a bullet train to Shanghai’s neon skyline and Art Deco streets. This itinerary stitches together headline sights with tasty detours—tea houses, dumpling counters, hidden hutongs, and riverside promenades.


Beijing, capital since the Ming dynasty, holds the country’s political heart and a treasury of history: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and lakeside gardens at the Summer Palace. The city’s hutongs—narrow lanes lined with courtyard homes—reveal daily life and excellent snacks, from jianbing crepes to sesame-studded shaobing.

Shanghai feels like the future layered atop the past. The Bund’s European façades face some of the world’s most dramatic skyscrapers; Yu Garden offers Ming-era calm; nearby Zhujiajiao Water Town channels Venice with stone bridges and idle boats. Practical note: book Forbidden City tickets in advance (closed Mondays), carry your passport for major sites, and consider mobile payments—Alipay/WeChat now work with many foreign cards. Spring and fall have ideal weather; summers are hot and winters crisp.

Beijing

China’s imperial capital pairs grand axis-planned avenues with intimate hutong life. Mornings might start with tai chi in the Temple of Heaven Park; afternoons can drift across the willow-lined lakes of Beihai; evenings bring Peking duck and craft beer under lantern light. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, greener and less crowded than Badaling, makes for a triumphant day trip.

Where to stay: For boutique style and Sanlitun nightlife access, The Opposite House blends art and calm. Near Wangfujing, you’ll find classic comfort and easy access to the Forbidden City.

Getting here: Fly into PEK or PKX. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. A taxi into central Beijing usually takes 45–70 minutes depending on airport and traffic.


Day 1 – Arrival in Beijing, Hutong Sunset and Night Bites

Afternoon: Land and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk in Jingshan Park for a hilltop panorama of the Forbidden City’s golden roofs—sunset is magic. Coffee stop at Metal Hands (hand-poured brews) or Voyage Coffee near the Drum Tower.

Evening: Stroll the hutongs from Drum Tower to Yandaixie Street. Dinner: try Siji Minfu by Jingshan for classic Peking duck (crispy skin, pancakes, scallions), or Jing Yaa Tang for a refined take on duck and smoked eggplant. Nightcap at Great Leap Brewing #6 (peppercorn ale) or MaoMaoChong (creative cocktails).

Day 2 – Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Lakes and Lanes

Morning: Start at Tiananmen Square (bring passport). Then step into the Forbidden City; pre-booking is essential and the palace is closed Mondays. Consider this guided experience for context:

Afternoon: Walk to Beihai Park for lakeside pavilions and the white dagoba. Lunch nearby at Kao Rou Ji (imperial-style grilled meats) or Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (pan-fried jiaozi stuffed with pork and leeks). Wander around Nanluoguxiang’s side alleys for boutique browsing and sesame “糖葫芦” candied hawthorn.

Evening: Consider a Peking Opera performance at Liyuan Theatre (vivid costumes, English subtitles). For dinner, head to Nali Patio in Sanlitun: Baochao Hutong’s Southern Fish for fiery Hunan dishes or Sanlitun’s JinDingXuan for dim sum till late. Try a tea flight at Zhang Yiyuan’s flagship if you prefer calm.


Day 3 – Great Wall at Mutianyu

Morning: Depart 7:30–8:00 a.m. for Mutianyu (1.5–2 hours by car). Take the cable car up, hike the crenellations between towers 14–23, then toboggan down if you like. Arrange a private driver for flexibility:

Afternoon: Late lunch at local spot Xiaolongpu near the wall (homestyle trout, scrambled eggs with leeks). Return to the city by 4–5 p.m. Stop for coffee at % Arabica by the moat or SOLOIST Coffee Co. near Qianmen.

Evening: Reward yourself with hotpot: Xiabu Xiabu (casual) or Haidilao (famously attentive service—apron, hair ties, noodle dance). If you’d rather keep it light, hit Xianlaoman for northern dumplings and vinegar-laced cucumber salad.

Day 4 – Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Contemporary Beijing

Morning: At dawn, Temple of Heaven Park hums with tai chi, kite-flying, and choir practice. Visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a Ming masterpiece built without nails. Breakfast nearby: jianbing crepe from a street cart, or salty soy milk and youtiao at Yonghe King (fast, satisfying).

Afternoon: Head to the Summer Palace (45–60 minutes by subway/taxi). Stroll Longevity Hill, marble boat, and the Long Corridor’s painted beams. Lunch at Suzhou Street snack stalls or return to the city for noodles at Xibaolu (lamb soup, hand-pulled noodles).


Evening: Explore 798 Art District for galleries, murals, and design shops. Dinner at TRB Hutong (modern European in a historic setting) or King’s Joy (upscale vegetarian tasting). Night owls can bar-hop in Sanlitun or toast the trip’s first act at D Lounge (cocktails, skyline views).

Shanghai

Shanghai is a study in contrasts: the Bund’s stately embankment opposite a forest of glass towers; leafy lanes in the French Concession hiding cafés and speakeasies; Old Town’s bazaars spilling spices and lucky charms. It’s also China’s culinary crossroads—think xiaolongbao soup dumplings, scallion oil noodles, and crispy shengjian bao.

Where to stay: Choose the Bund or People’s Square for easy sightseeing, or Pudong for skyline views and kid-friendly attractions. The Peninsula Shanghai pairs river views with Old World grace; Pudong’s Ritz-Carlton soars above it all.

Day 5 – High-Speed to Shanghai, The Bund & Old Town

Morning: Depart Beijing for Shanghai on a G‑class high-speed train (4.5–5.5 hours, ~$70–120 in 2nd class). Book on Trip.com trains. Flying takes ~2 hours plus airport transfers; compare on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Taxi/metro from Shanghai Hongqiao to the Bund is ~35–50 minutes.

Afternoon: Check in and head straight to the Bund. Walk from the Peace Hotel south for postcard views of Pudong’s skyline (Oriental Pearl, Shanghai Tower). Pop into the historic lobbies for Art Deco flourishes. Coffee at Seesaw (specialty roasts) or Café del Volcán (micro-roastery) in the French Concession.


Evening: Explore the Old City and Yu Garden Bazaar—stay for night illumination at Yu Garden’s pavilions if time allows. Dinner: sample xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao (gingery pork broth) or pan-fried shengjian bao at Yang’s Fry-Dumplings. Cap it with a Huangpu River cruise or a cocktail at Bar Rouge (terrace views).

Day 6 – Shanghai Icons, French Concession, Skyline After Dark

Morning: Start at People’s Square and the Shanghai Museum (free; arrive early). Then wander the French Concession’s plane-tree boulevards—Fuxing Road, Wukang Road’s heritage buildings. Brunch/coffee at Egg (brunchy plates) or RAC (galettes, natural wine).

Afternoon: If you prefer a guided deep dive that strings old and new together, this private tour covers the Bund, Yu Garden, the Old Town, and modern Pudong highlights in one day:

Evening: Cross to Pudong after dusk—ride up Shanghai Tower’s observation deck (world’s highest inside-elevator speed thrill). Dinner: Old Jesse (classic Shanghainese—red-braised pork, smoked fish) or Fu He Hui (Michelin-star vegetarian tasting; reserve). Nightcap at The Nest (Nordic bites, skyline) or Union Trading Company (award-winning cocktails).

Day 7 – Zhujiajiao Water Town Morning, Departure

Morning: Escape to Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old canal town of stone bridges and narrow lanes. With limited time before your flight, opt for a streamlined, half-day private tour with hotel pickup:


Snack on almond tofu dessert or freshly grilled squid along the canal, then head back to the city.

Afternoon: Final lunch in town—try Cong You Ban Mian (scallion oil noodles) at a neighborhood noodle shop or dim sum at Din Tai Fung if you crave consistency. Transfer to PVG: taxis take 45–70 minutes; the Maglev from Longyang Road whisks you to the airport in about 8 minutes. Safe travels!

Food & Coffee Hit List (Sprinkle Through Your Week)

  • Beijing breakfasts: pancake-style jianbing at hutong carts; Qingfeng Baozi (fluffy buns). Coffee at Metal Hands, Voyage Coffee, or SOE Foods near 798.
  • Beijing dinners: Siji Minfu or Da Dong (Peking duck), Huguosi snacks street (soy milk, pea pudding), King’s Joy (vegetarian fine dining).
  • Shanghai bites: Jia Jia Tang Bao (xiaolongbao), Yang’s Fry-Dumplings (crispy-bottom buns), Benbang classics at Old Jesse, late-night noodles on Yunnan South Road.
  • Shanghai cafés: Seesaw Coffee, % Arabica on the Bund, Café del Volcán in the French Concession.

Optional Upgrade: All-in-One Beijing Highlights Day

If you prefer to compress Beijing’s biggest hits with logistics handled, consider this combo day (use it to replace Day 2 or Day 3):

Getting Around & Practical Tips

  • Transport: China’s metro systems are clean, cheap, and signed in English. Taxis are plentiful; have addresses in Chinese. High-speed trains are punctual—book on Trip.com trains.
  • Tickets: The Forbidden City requires real-name, timed tickets and closes Mondays. Carry your passport for site entries and train rides.
  • Payments & Connectivity: Alipay/WeChat accept many foreign cards; cash still works. Consider an eSIM and download offline maps. Expect security checks at metro and major sights.

Beijing Tour Alternatives You Can Swap In

In one week, you’ll trace emperors’ footsteps, stride along the Great Wall’s ramparts, sip single-origin coffee on the Bund, and drift under stone bridges in a water town. Beijing and Shanghai make a balanced duet—history and modernity, ritual and reinvention. You’ll leave with a camera full of skylines and courtyards, and a palate newly tuned to duck, dumplings, and tea.


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