Golden Triangle
First Sight of China
8 Days · Beijing to Shanghai
Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai
Imperial China.
Ancient China.
Modern China.
The Idea
Three cities. Three Chinas.
Three cities. Three different sides of China.
For a first trip to China, these three cities tell an extraordinary story.
Beijing shows you the scale of imperial China.
Xi'an takes you deeper into the country's ancient past and the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Shanghai brings you straight back into the China being built today.
High-speed rail and a short domestic flight connect the three cities, keeping travel time efficient and leaving more of the journey for the places themselves.
This is designed for first-time visitors who want to experience China's history, culture and modern energy without spending weeks travelling across the country.
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / Finish
Beijing → Shanghai
Destinations
Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai
Transport
High-Speed Rail · 1 Domestic Flight · Private Transfers
Travel Style
Culture · History · Classic China · City Journey
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Travel Pace
Active / Well-Paced
Recommended Season
December–March
Why This Journey
Six reasons to start here
01
Walk Imperial Beijing
Travel through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City before climbing Jingshan for one of the best views in Beijing.
02
Walk the Great Wall
Take the cable car to Mutianyu and walk between watchtowers 14 and 20.
03
Meet the Terracotta Army
Visit one of China's most important archaeological sites.
04
Make Your Own Terracotta Warrior
Take part in a hands-on heritage workshop and create a miniature terracotta figure to take home.
05
Experience Tang Dynasty Xi'an
Wear hanfu and explore the lantern-filled Great Tang All Day Mall after dark.
06
Choose Your Shanghai
See either the classic city or a completely different side focused on robotics, Robotaxi technology and modern Shanghai.
The Three Chinas
One journey,
three completely different countries.
Imperial China
Beijing
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Hutongs
- Peking Opera
The scale and ceremony of imperial power.
Ancient China
Xi'an
- Terracotta Army
- City Wall
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanfu
- Tang Dynasty experience
The depth of China's history and Silk Road legacy.
Modern China
Shanghai
- The Bund
- Shanghai Tower
- Yu Garden
- Robotics
- Robotaxi
The China being built right now.
Route Overview
Beijing to Shanghai
High-speed rail west to Xi'an, then a short domestic flight east to Shanghai.
Beijing
High-Speed Rail
4.5–5.5 hours
Xi'an
Flight
Approx. 2 hours
Shanghai
Day by Day
Eight days, three cities
Day 1Arrival in Beijing+
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your city-centre hotel. The afternoon is free to rest. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a traditional courtyard setting accompanied by a Peking Opera performance.
Overnight · Beijing
Day 2Forbidden City & Old Beijing+
Begin at Tiananmen Square. Enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate and follow the historic central axis through the imperial palace. Afterwards, climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view across the entire Forbidden City. Finish by exploring Beijing's traditional hutong neighbourhoods by rickshaw.
Optional — At Additional Cost
- Peking duck dinner — at additional cost
Overnight · Beijing
Day 3Mutianyu Great Wall+
Travel outside Beijing to Mutianyu. Take the cable car to the ridge and walk along the Great Wall from watchtower 14 to watchtower 20. Return to Beijing and see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the Olympic Green.
Overnight · Beijing
Day 4Summer Palace → Xi'an+
Visit the Summer Palace in the morning. In the afternoon, board the high-speed train to Xi'an — approximately 4.5–5.5 hours. After arrival, experience the Dream of Chang'an welcome ceremony at the Xi'an City Wall.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 5Terracotta Army & Tang Dynasty Xi'an+
Visit the Terracotta Army, then take part in a hands-on heritage workshop and make your own miniature terracotta figure. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the late afternoon, enjoy a hanfu fitting with matching hair and make-up, and spend the evening at the Great Tang All Day Mall beneath thousands of lanterns and Tang-inspired performances.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 6Xi'an → Shanghai+
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and continue to the Xi'an Museum. In the afternoon, fly to Shanghai — approximately 2 hours. Transfer to your hotel on arrival.
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 7Shanghai — Choose Your City+
Choose between two completely different days in Shanghai: Route A, Classic Shanghai — the Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, the Bund and the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower. Or Route B, The City Being Built Now — hands-on robotics, robot dogs, a Robotaxi ride, the White Magnolia Plaza observation deck, Yu Garden and the Bund after dark.
Optional — At Additional Cost
- Xiaolongbao masterclass
- Traditional Chinese medicine experience
- Sunset rooftop cocktails
- Huangpu River cruise
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 8Shanghai at Your Own Pace+
Enjoy a free morning depending on your departure time — the Former French Concession, the West Bund galleries, Shanghai coffee culture or last-minute shopping. Transfer to the airport or railway station for departure.
Overnight · —
Beijing
Where China's imperial story begins.
Beijing introduces the journey through the monumental scale of imperial China.
Walk directly through the central axis of the Forbidden City, climb above it at Jingshan and then leave the city to experience the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
- Forbidden City
- Jingshan Park
- Hutongs
- Mutianyu Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Peking Opera
Xi'an
Don't just look at history. Step into it.
Xi'an is designed to be more interactive than a standard sightseeing stop.
After seeing the Terracotta Army, make your own miniature figure.
Later, change into hanfu before walking through the lantern-lit Great Tang All Day Mall.
- Terracotta Army
- Hands-on workshop
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanfu
- Dream of Chang'an
- Tang night city
More Than a Checklist
Experiences, not just sightseeing.
This journey includes experiences designed to bring each city to life rather than simply move you between landmarks.
- Peking Opera dinner in Beijing
- Dream of Chang'an welcome ceremony in Xi'an
- Make your own terracotta warrior
- Hanfu experience
- Choose your own version of Shanghai
Shanghai — Two Ways
Two cities in one city.
Day 7 is yours to shape. Take the classic Shanghai of gardens, galleries and the skyline — or the Shanghai being built right now, with robotics, driverless transport and a very different view of the city.
You choose.
Route A
Classic Shanghai
Best For
- History
- Architecture
- Traditional culture
- First-time visitors
Includes
- Shanghai Museum
- Yu Garden
- Nanjing Road
- The Bund
- Shanghai Tower
Route B
Future Shanghai
Best For
- Technology
- Innovation
- Modern China
- Something different
Includes
- Robot dogs
- Robotaxi
- White Magnolia Plaza
- Yu Garden
- The Bund after dark
Who This Trip Is For
Is this journey for you?
Good For
- First-time visitors to China
- Couples
- Friends
- Families
- Parents travelling with older children
- Travellers interested in Chinese history
- Travellers who also want to see modern China
- People with around one week available
- Travellers who prefer a curated itinerary rather than planning everything themselves
Less Suited To
- People wanting a very slow trip
- Travellers looking mainly for nature or hiking
- People wanting to explore rural China
- Travellers wanting to stay in only one region
Activity Level
Easy to Moderate
This is primarily a cultural sightseeing journey rather than an adventure trip. Expect regular walking at major attractions.
- Forbidden City
- Jingshan Park
- Mutianyu Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Terracotta Army
- Shanghai
The itinerary can be adjusted depending on the traveller's pace and mobility.
When To Go
December–March
Winter and early spring offer lower visitor numbers at many major attractions and can provide clear visibility in Beijing and Shanghai.
However, this journey can also be adapted for other seasons.
Final seasonal advice should depend on your actual departure dates.
Accommodation
Well-located city accommodation is planned in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.
Exact hotel properties and categories will be confirmed with the final quotation.
Meals
Selected breakfasts and lunches are included according to the final itinerary.
Dinner is generally left flexible unless specifically stated.
Special experiences such as the Peking Opera dinner are included only where confirmed in the final quotation.
Exact meal inclusions will be clearly listed before booking.
Price
On Request
Pricing depends on travel dates, number of travellers, accommodation preferences and final arrangements.
Tell me your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred travel style, and I'll help you create the right version of this journey.
Customisation
Make your first China trip yours.
This is a reference itinerary and can be adapted around your travel dates, pace and interests.
Want another day in Beijing? Want to add Disneyland in Shanghai? Want more food experiences? Want to continue to Chengdu, Zhangjiajie or Yunnan afterwards?
Tell me what kind of China trip you want and we can reshape the journey around you.
- Beijing — Imperial China
- Xi'an — Ancient China
- Shanghai — Modern China
Three cities.
Three Chinas.
One perfect introduction.