China · 8-12 days
China Classic: Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai
The itinerary
- Beijing3 nights
- Xi'an2 nights
- Shanghai3 nights
Why this trip works
This itinerary combines city breaks, history and culture, and food and drink across Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. Bringing the stops together gives the holiday a clearer progression and makes better use of the outward journey than booking each place separately.
Best time to go
The strongest travel period is April to May and September to October. March, June, and November are good quieter alternatives. Getting around is mainly by trains. The No tourist rail pass; book high-speed (Gaotie) point-to-point. Beijing-Xi'an ~4.5h, Xi'an-Shanghai ~6h. Bring your passport, tickets are ID-linked. may reduce the cost of the longer legs.
Cost
On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £40 a day at the budget end, around £75 a day mid-range, and £220+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1160 to £1620 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes. Available accommodation spans cheap & cheerful, simple, comfortable, premium and luxury. The quiz prices the highest available tier that fits your selected minimum and total budget.
Places on this trip
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need for China Classic: Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai?
This itinerary works best over 8 to 12 days across 3 stops: Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai.
When is the best time for this trip?
The strongest travel period is April to May and September to October. March, June, and November are useful quieter alternatives.
How much does it cost?
On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £40 a day at the budget end, around £75 a day mid-range, and £220+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1160 to £1620 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes.