Essential China: Self-Launched Beijing to Shanghai

Fly into Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Daxing Airport (PKX). Take the Airport Express train to the city centre (PEK ~£4, PKX take the dedicated express bus ~£3). Check into your hostel or budget hotel near Tiananmen — areas like Qianmen or Dongcheng put you within walking distance of the main sights. Spend your first evening exploring the neighbourhood, grabbing Peking duck or hand-pulled noodles from a local restaurant. Get your bearings and plan your days ahead.

🚌Airport Express train from PEK (~£4) or express bus from PKX (~£3)

🛏Leo Hostel Beijing or similar budget hotel near Tiananmen (~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) Airport — take the Airport Express train or express bus to city centre (~£3–4)
• →Check into a budget hotel or hostel in Qianmen / Dongcheng area
• →Evening stroll around Qianmen Street and grab dinner at a local restaurant

Head to Tiananmen Square by metro (Line 1, Tiananmen East station, ~£0.30). Pre-book your Forbidden City tickets online in advance at the official Palace Museum website (pm.org.cn) — tickets sell out fast at ~£10pp. Walk through the vast courtyards and temples, then exit via the north gate and climb Jingshan Park for panoramic views over the palace complex (~£0.60). After lunch at a local noodle spot, join a self-guided walk or a cheap group hutong walking tour (bookable via GetYourGuide, ~£12) through the narrow alleyways of the old town.

🚌Metro Line 1, Tiananmen East (~£0.30 per trip)

🛏Leo Hostel Beijing or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Tiananmen Square — free entry, access via metro Line 1 (~£0.30)
• →Forbidden City — pre-book tickets online at pm.org.cn (~£10)
• →Jingshan Park — climb the hill for panoramic views (~£0.60)
• →Hutong walking tour — self-guided or book via GetYourGuide (~£12)

Take the public bus route 916 from Dongzhimen bus station to Huairou, then transfer to a minibus to Mutianyu (~£2–3 total each way, ~2 hours). Alternatively, book a shared minivan day trip via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15–20 return including transfers). Entry to the Mutianyu section costs ~£10. The shuttle bus to the ticket office is included; take the optional cable car up (~£7) and toboggan slide down (~£7) for extra fun. Spend 2–3 hours walking the wall between the watchtowers. Return to Beijing by late afternoon.

🚌Public bus 916 + minibus (~£5 return) or shared day-trip transfer (~£15–20 return)

🛏Leo Hostel Beijing or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Great Wall at Mutianyu — entry ~£10, cable car up ~£7, toboggan down ~£7 (optional)
• →Public bus route 916 from Dongzhimen + minibus transfer (~£2–3 each way) or shared tour van via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£15–20 return)
• →Walk between watchtowers along one of the best-preserved Great Wall sections

Take the high-speed bullet train from Beijing West station to Xi'an North (G-class trains, ~4.5 hours, book via Trip.com or 12go.asia, ~£35–50 in second class). Arrive early-mid afternoon. Check into your guesthouse near the Bell Tower — the Muslim Quarter is walkable from most central hotels. In the afternoon, explore the Muslim Quarter on foot: wander through the spice markets, try lamb skewers and roujiamo (Chinese meat burgers), and stroll past the Bell and Drum Towers. Optional: visit Gao's Family Mansion for a shadow puppetry show (~£4).

🚌High-speed bullet train Beijing West → Xi'an North (~£35–50 second class)

🛏Shuyuan Youth Hostel Xi'an or similar budget hotel near Bell Tower (~£15–22/night)

• →G-class bullet train Beijing West → Xi'an North (~4.5 hrs, book via Trip.com, ~£35–50 second class)
• →Self-guided walk through the Muslim Quarter — spice markets, street food, Bell Tower
• →Optional: Gao Family Mansion shadow puppetry show (~£4)

Take bus 306 or the tourist shuttle from Xi'an Railway Station to the Terracotta Warriors site (~45 min, ~£1.50 each way). Entry costs ~£18. Explore the three open pits, including the extraordinary Pit 1 with its estimated 6,000 figures, and the command-post Pit 3. Hire an audio guide (~£3) for context, or book a budget guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£20 including transport). Have lunch at one of the restaurants near the site. Return to Xi'an by late afternoon and explore the city walls in the evening.

🚌Tourist bus 306 from Xi'an station (~£1.50 each way)

🛏Shuyuan Youth Hostel Xi'an or similar (~£15–22/night)

• →Bus 306 or tourist shuttle from Xi'an station to Terracotta Warriors (~£1.50 each way)
• →Terracotta Warriors Museum — entry ~£18, audio guide ~£3
• →Explore Pits 1, 2 and 3 and the exhibition halls
• →Lunch at a nearby local restaurant (~£6–8)
• →Evening walk along the city walls

A free day to explore at your own pace. Rent a bike and cycle the full 13.7km circuit atop Xi'an's ancient city walls — bike hire costs around £5 for 100 minutes. Visit the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter (one of China's largest Islamic mosques, ~£5 entry) or the Shaanxi History Museum (free with pre-booking, ~£5 for special exhibitions). In the evening, head back to the Muslim Quarter for street food — don't miss the famous yangrou paomo (lamb stew with flatbread).

🚌Walking and bike hire within the city

🛏Shuyuan Youth Hostel Xi'an or similar (~£15–22/night)

• →Cycle the Xi'an Ancient City Walls — bike hire ~£5 for 100 minutes
• →Visit the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter (~£5 entry)
• →Shaanxi History Museum — free entry (pre-book online), special exhibitions ~£5
• →Evening street food feast in the Muslim Quarter

Take the high-speed bullet train from Xi'an North to Chengdu East (~4 hours, ~£25–40 second class, book via Trip.com). Arrive early afternoon and check into your hostel in the central Jinjiang or Kuanzhai Alley area. In the late afternoon, walk to People's Park (free entry) where locals practice Chinese water calligraphy, play mahjong, and enjoy teahouses. Join in with the calligraphy — brushes and water trays are freely available. In the evening, head to Kuanzhai Alley for atmosphere and try a hotpot dinner (spicy or mild broth available, ~£8–12pp).

🚌High-speed bullet train Xi'an North → Chengdu East (~£25–40 second class); metro in Chengdu (~£0.40/trip)

🛏Mix Hostel Chengdu or similar centrally located budget hostel (~£12–20/night)

• →High-speed bullet train Xi'an North → Chengdu East (~4 hrs, ~£25–40 second class)
• →People's Park — free entry, try Chinese water calligraphy with locals
• →Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys) — free to wander, great street food
• →Hotpot dinner at a local Sichuan restaurant (~£8–12)

Leave early (before 8am) to beat the crowds and see the pandas most active during morning feeding time. Take bus 198 or a taxi (~£4) from the city to the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base, 10km north of the city (~30 mins). Entry costs ~£12. Spend 2–3 hours watching giant pandas (and adorable red pandas) roam their enclosures and feed on bamboo. Pre-book tickets on the official website (pandabase.cn) to guarantee entry. Return to the city by midday. The afternoon is free — consider visiting Wuhou Shrine (~£8) or the lively Jinli Ancient Street (free).

🚌Bus 198 or taxi to panda base (~£2–4 each way); metro within city (~£0.40/trip)

🛏Mix Hostel Chengdu or similar (~£12–20/night)

• →Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base — entry ~£12 (pre-book at pandabase.cn)
• →Bus 198 or taxi to panda base (~£2–4 each way)
• →Optional afternoon: Wuhou Shrine (~£8) or Jinli Ancient Street (free)
• →Evening: Sichuan opera face-changing show via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)

Catch an early domestic flight from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) — approximately 2.5 hours, book via Trip.com or Skyscanner (~£40–65). Take the Maglev train from Pudong Airport to the city (~£7) or metro Line 2. Check into your hostel in the Old Town or People's Square area. In the afternoon, visit Yu Yuan Gardens (entry ~£5) — a beautifully preserved Ming Dynasty garden with pavilions, rockeries and ponds. Browse the surrounding Yu Garden Bazaar for souvenirs and snacks.

🚌Domestic flight (~£40–65); Maglev train or metro from airport (~£0.50–7)

🛏Captain Hostel Shanghai or similar budget hotel near the Bund (~£18–28/night)

• →Domestic flight Chengdu TFU → Shanghai PVG/SHA (~2.5 hrs, book via Trip.com, ~£40–65)
• →Maglev train Pudong Airport → city centre (~£7) or metro Line 2 (~£0.50)
• →Yu Yuan Gardens — entry ~£5, Ming Dynasty garden with pavilions and ponds
• →Yu Garden Bazaar — browse street snacks and souvenirs

Start the morning at the Bund waterfront (free), strolling along the promenade with views of the futuristic Pudong skyline across the river. Walk west along Nanjing Road — one of the world's busiest shopping streets. In the afternoon, explore the French Concession by foot or hire a bike via the city's shared bike scheme (Meituan or HelloBike, ~£0.30/30 mins): tree-lined avenues, Art Deco mansions, independent cafes and boutiques. In the evening, head back to the Bund for the famous illuminated skyline views. Optional: take a Huangpu River cruise (~£8–12 via GetYourGuide).

🚌Walking, shared bike hire (~£0.30/30 mins), metro (~£0.50/trip)

🛏Captain Hostel Shanghai or similar (~£18–28/night)

• →The Bund waterfront — free, iconic skyline views of Pudong
• →Nanjing Road — pedestrianised shopping street, free to explore
• →French Concession — self-guided walk or shared bike hire (~£0.30/30 mins via HelloBike)
• →Optional: Huangpu River evening cruise (~£8–12 via GetYourGuide)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Shanghai before heading to your onward flight. Take the metro Line 2 to Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Line 10/2 to Hongqiao (SHA). If you have time before your flight, consider a final visit to the Jing'an Temple (~£7) near the metro, or grab a last bowl of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at a local Din Tai Fung branch. Safe travels!

🚌Metro to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) airport (~£0.50–0.70)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Final breakfast in Shanghai
• →Optional: Jing'an Temple (~£7) or last xiaolongbao breakfast at a local dumpling house
• →Metro Line 2 to Pudong Airport PVG (~£0.70) or Line 10/2 to Hongqiao SHA (~£0.50)