TravPa

China

Walk the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in Beijing, meet the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, and explore Shanghai's Bund, gardens and canal towns.

Best timeApr to May, Sep to OctMoneyRenminbi yuan (CNY)PlugsFlat two-pin, round two-pin and angled three-pin sockets, 220 VMain airportBeijing (BJS)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 3, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips link Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. The fastest high-speed trains from Beijing West to Xi'an North take a little over 4 hours; from Xi'an to Shanghai the best take about 6 hours and most 7 to 9, so many travelers fly that leg.

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Beijing has hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters, and spring can be windy; Shanghai's plum rain season runs from mid-June to early July, and typhoons peak from late August to mid-September.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarMildaprBestmayBestjunRainyjulHotaugHotsepBestoctBestnovMilddecCold

Public holidays fill trains and sights, above all the Spring Festival in January or February and National Day week in early October. Book trains as soon as sales open, about 15 days ahead.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Shanghai]
Shanghai in 3 daysThe Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, Jing'an Temple, Wukang Road, Tianzifang, ZhujiajiaoBalanced pace
[Photo: Beijing]
Beijing in 3 daysForbidden City, Jingshan Park, Shichahai, Beihai Park, Badaling Great Wall, Lama Temple, Temple of Heaven, Summer PalaceBalanced pace
[Photo: China]
China in 10 daysForbidden City, Badaling Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Xi'an City Wall, Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, The Bund, Yu Garden, ZhujiajiaoBalanced pace

Where to stay

BeijingShichahai and the hutongs for old-Beijing lanes; the east side of the Forbidden City for first-timers who want the palace on foot; Qianmen for the Temple of Heaven and time-honored restaurants.Best areas to stay in BeijingHotels in Beijing
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ShanghaiPeople's Square and East Nanjing Road for first-timers; the Bund and Yuyuan for river views; Jing'an and Xuhui for leafier streets; Lujiazui for towers and skyline views.Best areas to stay in ShanghaiHotels in Shanghai
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Xi'anInside the city wall near the Bell Tower for first-timers; near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for the Tang-style evening streets.Best areas to stay in Xi'anHotels in Xi'an
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Getting around

  • High-speed trains: G trains run at over 300 km/h and D trains at 200 to 250 km/h; Beijing to Xi'an takes a little over 4 hours on the fastest trains.
  • Train tickets: Book on the 12306 site or app with your exact passport name, usually up to 15 days ahead, and arrive 30 min early for security and ID checks.
  • Paying: Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and bank ATMs give yuan cash with international cards.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates.
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Phone dataMobile data keeps your 12306 train tickets, payment apps and maps working as you move between cities.How a travel eSIM works
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