7 days, 3 cities: Beijing (3 days: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, Peking duck) → high-speed train, about 4.5–5 hours → Xi'an (2 days: Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Muslim Quarter) → high-speed train, about 6 hours → Shanghai (2 days: The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession). Private guide, 4-star hotels, all tickets and first-class trains included, from $1,699 per person. The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so we plan your Beijing days around it.
The Route That Shows You
What China Really Is
This isn't three cities randomly connected. It's a deliberate arc through 3,000 years of Chinese civilization — Beijing, where imperial China was governed for 600 years; Xi'an, where China's first emperor unified the country and built the army that guards his tomb; and Shanghai, where China opened to the world and became what it is today. Three chapters of one extraordinary story. Seven days to read them all.
We built this route around what first-time visitors ask us for most — the essential sights, sensible pacing, restaurant choices and attraction timing that avoids the worst crowds. Every element is chosen to minimize friction and maximize what you actually experience. You arrive, your guide meets you, and China unfolds.
Seven Days,
Fully Mapped Out
Every element of this itinerary is planned in advance. Times are guides, not schedules — your guide adjusts pace to your energy and interests. The structure is solid; the experience is yours.
Everything in the Package —
Nothing Hidden
Every line item below is included in the package price. The only additional costs: international flights, personal spending (shopping, extra meals), and optional add-ons you choose to add.
- International flights to/from China
- Chinese visa if your passport requires one (fees vary by nationality — CWE provides full application guidance)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended — CWE provides provider recommendations)
- Personal spending, shopping, drinks, extra meals beyond those listed
- Tips for your guide (not required; $10–20/day is appreciated if you loved your guide)
- Optional add-ons: Summer Palace, 798 Art District, Jinshanling Great Wall, Suzhou day trip, Night Wall experience
Transparent Pricing —
Three Tiers, No Surprises
All prices are per person. Payment via Stripe: 30% deposit to confirm your dates; remaining 70% due 30 days before travel. Full refund if cancelled 45+ days before departure.
- Private airport transfers
- 6 nights 4-star hotels
- Private English guide (all 7 days)
- All attraction tickets
- High-speed rail (first class)
- Key dining reservations
- 24/7 WhatsApp support
- Everything in Classic 7-Day
- Single room supplement included
- Guide adapted to solo pace
- Flexible daily timing
- Solo female traveler experience available
- Dedicated solo 24/7 WhatsApp line
- Extra safety briefing included
- Everything in Classic 7-Day
- 5-star hotel upgrades throughout
- Senior guide (15+ years experience)
- Enhanced dining (Da Dong / Jean Georges)
- Private Great Wall section (exclusive access)
- Champagne on the Wall (sunrise option)
- Personal photographer (half-day)
Good to Know for
Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai
Best time to go: April–May and September–October bring the most comfortable weather. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold in Beijing and Xi'an but quiet, with shorter lines and clear views from the Great Wall on dry days. Avoid Golden Week (October 1–7) and the Chinese New Year travel rush unless you book very early.
Monday closures: the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays except some public holidays, and many museums follow the same pattern. If you arrive on a weekend, we swap the Great Wall and Forbidden City days so nothing is missed.
Visas for Americans: flying from the US into Beijing and home from Shanghai is not a transit, so US citizens on this routing generally need a Chinese visa. Travelers continuing to a third country may qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit. See our China visa guide. No visa and can't mail your passport? See the 10-day visa-free version of this route (arrive Shanghai, exit to Hong Kong or Taipei), or book it fully private.
Paying on the ground: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your own card before you fly for snacks, taxis and extras not covered by the package.
Open-jaw flights: book your international flight into Beijing and out of Shanghai. It saves most of a day compared with returning to Beijing.
Questions About
This Itinerary
Included: private airport transfers, 6 nights 4-star hotels (3 Beijing, 1 Xi'an, 2 Shanghai), private English-speaking guide all 7 days, all major attraction tickets (Great Wall Mutianyu cable car, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Temple of Heaven, Yu Garden), first-class high-speed rail between all three cities, hutong rickshaw tour, Peking Duck dinner reservation, xiaolongbao lunch reservation, Bund-view dinner reservation, and 24/7 WhatsApp support. Not included: international flights, Chinese visa, travel insurance, personal spending.
Seven days is the minimum recommended time for this three-city route — and it's a full but well-paced trip. You see the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen, hutong tour, and Peking Duck in Beijing (3 days); Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, and City Wall in Xi'an (1.5 days); and The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, and xiaolongbao in Shanghai (1.5 days). If you have more time, the 10-day Best of China route (adding Chengdu and a Hangzhou day trip from Shanghai) is the upgrade.
Absolutely — everything is a starting point. ChinaWithEase customizes dates, hotels, hotel tier (3-star to 5-star), activity selection (e.g., substituting Jinshanling for Mutianyu if you're a hiker; adding Summer Palace or 798 Art District; Suzhou day trip from Shanghai), restaurant choices, daily pacing, and optional add-ons. Submit a free trip request and receive a fully custom version of this plan within 24 hours.
Book 8–12 weeks in advance for most travel periods. For April–May and September–October (ideal travel seasons), book 3–4 months ahead — Forbidden City and Great Wall timed-entry slots sell out, and hotels at the best locations fill early. Golden Week (October 1–7) and Chinese New Year (January/February) require 4–6 months advance booking and carry premium pricing. ChinaWithEase handles all timing automatically once you book.
After we finalize your custom itinerary and you approve it, you pay a 30% deposit via Stripe — this locks your dates and starts the hotel and ticket booking process. We never see or store your card details. The remaining 70% is due 30 days before travel. Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover. Refund policy: full refund if cancelled 45+ days before travel; 50% refund 15–44 days prior; no refund within 14 days of departure. For groups, installment payment plans are available.
Yes — this is one of our most popular solo female traveler itineraries. China is genuinely safe for solo female tourists — violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. ChinaWithEase ensures you're never navigating alone: your guide accompanies you to every site and restaurant, your driver is waiting at every transfer, and our 24/7 WhatsApp provides a real human at any hour. Many solo female clients tell us ChinaWithEase was the reason they finally booked a China trip they'd been considering for years.
By high-speed train. Beijing West to Xi'an North takes about 4.5–5 hours, and Xi'an North to Shanghai Hongqiao about 5.5–6.5 hours depending on the train. First-class tickets, station transfers and ticket collection are included in the package.
Usually yes. A round trip from the US into Beijing and out of Shanghai does not count as transit, so US citizens generally need a Chinese visa. If you continue to a third country, such as Japan or South Korea, you may qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit. We send a full document checklist after booking.
April–May and September–October have the most comfortable weather. Winter (November–March, outside Chinese New Year) is colder but much quieter and often cheaper. Avoid Golden Week, October 1–7.
No. The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays except some public holidays, and tickets are released in advance and sell out in busy seasons. We book your timed entry and schedule the Great Wall on Monday if needed.
Ready to Book the
Classic China Route?
Tell us your travel dates, group size, and preferred hotel tier. We build a fully custom version of this itinerary within 24 hours — free, no commitment until you approve every detail. Then pay 30% via Stripe to confirm. We handle everything else.