Self-Launched China: Shanghai to Beijing

Arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Take the Maglev train to Longyang Road station (¥50, ~£5) then connect via metro Line 2 into the city centre — far cheaper than a taxi. Check into your hostel in the French Concession or near People's Square. Spend the evening exploring Nanjing Road and grab your first taste of Shanghai street food — scallion pancakes and soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) from a local stall. Head to the Bund at night for the iconic skyline views across the Huangpu River.

🚌Maglev from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road (~£5), then Metro Line 2 to city centre (~£0.50)

🛏Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel or similar budget hostel, French Concession (~£15/night)

• →Arrive at Pudong Airport and take the Maglev + Metro into the city centre (~£5)
• →Check in to budget hotel or hostel in the French Concession
• →Evening walk along the Bund for free skyline views
• →Dinner: street food on Nanjing Road — xiaolongbao and scallion pancakes (~£4)

Start the morning with a self-guided Shanghainese breakfast crawl — head to Wujiang Road Food Street or a local wet market for da bing (sesame flatbread) and you tiao (fried dough sticks), just as the G Adventures tour does. Spend the day exploring the Old City and Yu Garden (entry ~£5), then stroll through the French Concession's leafy lanes and browse Tianzifang's art and craft shops (free entry). In the evening, book the Shanghai Acrobatic Show directly via the Shanghai Circus World box office or GetYourGuide (~£20–25 depending on seat tier) — the same highlight offered on the group tour.

🚌Metro and walking

🛏Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel or similar (~£15/night)

• →Self-guided Shanghainese breakfast: da bing and you tiao at Wujiang Road Food Street (~£3)
• →Yu Garden and Old City exploration (~£5 entry)
• →Free wander through the French Concession and Tianzifang art district
• →Optional: Shanghai Acrobatic Show at Shanghai Circus World — book direct or via GetYourGuide (~£20–25)

Take a half-day trip to Zhujiajiao, Shanghai's most accessible ancient water town, with its 36 stone bridges, canals, and Ming-dynasty temples. Catch a direct bus from Shanghai Pu'an Road Bus Terminal (Line 1701, ~£2 each way, 1.5 hrs) or a direct tourist bus from Shanghai Stadium. Wander the cobbled lanes, take a gondola boat ride (~£3), and sample local zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) from street stalls. Return to Shanghai in the afternoon and spend the evening exploring Xintiandi's nightlife and restaurant scene.

🚌Public bus Line 1701 from Pu'an Road Terminal (~£2 each way)

🛏Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel or similar (~£15/night)

• →Bus from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao Water Town (~£2 each way)
• →Free exploration of canals, bridges, and temples in Zhujiajiao
• →Optional gondola boat ride (~£3)
• →Street food lunch: zongzi and local snacks (~£4)
• →Evening: Xintiandi bar and restaurant district

Board a high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Xi'an North — one of China's great rail journeys, covering ~1,500km in around 5–6 hours on the G-class bullet train. Book tickets in advance via Trip.com or 12306.cn (~£45–60 second class). Arrive in Xi'an in the afternoon and check into a hostel inside or near the Ancient City Walls. Spend the evening at the famous Xi'an Muslim Quarter — a labyrinth of food stalls, lanterns, and mosques. Don't miss a bowl of yang rou pao mo (lamb stew with bread) and fresh pomegranate juice.

🚌High-speed G-train: Shanghai Hongqiao → Xi'an North (~£45–60 second class)

🛏Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel, Xi'an (~£14/night)

• →High-speed train: Shanghai Hongqiao → Xi'an North, ~5–6 hrs (~£45–60 second class, book via Trip.com)
• →Check in to hostel near Xi'an Ancient City Walls
• →Evening exploration of the Muslim Quarter food street
• →Dinner: yang rou pao mo and street snacks in the Muslim Quarter (~£5)

Start the morning with a bike ride along the top of Xi'an's Ancient City Walls — one of the best-preserved city walls in China. Rent a bike at the wall (~£5 for 2 hours, wall entry ~£10). Afterwards, visit the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter (entry ~£5), one of China's largest Islamic places of worship. In the afternoon, explore the Bell Tower and Drum Tower (combined entry ~£5). Head back to the Muslim Quarter for dinner — biang biang noodles are a must.

🚌Walking, cycling on city walls

🛏Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel, Xi'an (~£14/night)

• →Bike ride on Xi'an Ancient City Walls (entry ~£10 + bike rental ~£5)
• →Visit Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter (~£5 entry)
• →Bell Tower and Drum Tower visit (~£5 combined entry)
• →Dinner: biang biang noodles in the Muslim Quarter (~£4)

Today is all about one of the world's great archaeological discoveries. Take public bus 306 or 914/915 from Xi'an train station to the Terracotta Warriors Museum (~£1 each way, 45 mins). Entry to the museum costs ~£18. Spend 3–4 hours exploring all three excavation pits — roughly 8,000 life-size warriors, horses, and chariots. Hiring an audio guide on-site (~£3) is worthwhile given the scale of the site. Return to Xi'an in the afternoon. Optional: visit Huaqing Hot Springs en route back (~£10 entry).

🚌Public bus 306/914 from Xi'an station (~£1 each way)

🛏Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel, Xi'an (~£14/night)

• →Public bus 306 or 914 from Xi'an station to Terracotta Warriors (~£1 each way)
• →Terracotta Warriors Museum entry — all three pits (~£18)
• →Optional audio guide rental (~£3)
• →Optional: Huaqing Hot Springs on the way back (~£10)

Take the morning high-speed train from Xi'an North to Beijing West — approximately 4.5 hours on the G-class bullet train (~£45–55 second class, book in advance on Trip.com). Arrive in Beijing by early afternoon and check into a hutong-area hostel near the Drum Tower or Nanluoguxiang — the best base for exploring the city. Spend the afternoon settling in and wandering the ancient hutong alleyways. In the evening, try Peking duck at a local restaurant — Dadong or local spots near Wangfujing offer great value versions.

🚌High-speed G-train: Xi'an North → Beijing West (~£45–55 second class)

🛏Leo Hostel or Peking Youth Hostel, Beijing hutong area (~£15/night)

• →High-speed G-train: Xi'an North → Beijing West, ~4.5 hrs (~£45–55 second class)
• →Check in to hutong-area hostel near Drum Tower or Nanluoguxiang
• →Afternoon wander through Beijing's ancient hutong alleyways (free)
• →Dinner: Peking duck at a local restaurant near Wangfujing (~£10–15)

Visit the Great Wall — the undisputed highlight of any China trip. For a less crowded and more scenic experience, head to Mutianyu (bus S60 from Dongzhimen Transport Hub, ~£3 return) or Jinshanling for an even more authentic feel. Entry at Mutianyu is ~£10, plus cable car up (~£8) and toboggan back down (~£6). Book an organised day trip via GetYourGuide or KKday (~£30–40 including transport) if you prefer a guided experience. Spend 3–4 hours walking the wall. Return to Beijing and celebrate in the hutong bars near Nanluoguxiang.

🚌Bus S60 from Dongzhimen Transport Hub to Mutianyu (~£3 return)

🛏Leo Hostel or Peking Youth Hostel, Beijing (~£15/night)

• →Great Wall visit at Mutianyu: bus S60 from Dongzhimen (~£3 return) + entry (~£10)
• →Optional cable car up (~£8) and toboggan slide back down (~£6)
• →Alternatively, book a day trip via GetYourGuide (~£30–40 incl. transport)
• →Evening: hutong bars and craft beer near Nanluoguxiang

Spend the morning at the Forbidden City — the world's largest imperial palace complex. Book entry tickets online in advance via the official Palace Museum website (mandatory, ~£10). Allow 3–4 hours to explore. Head south in the afternoon to the Temple of Heaven, a stunning Ming-dynasty complex where emperors prayed for good harvests (~£5 entry). In the evening, explore Wangfujing Street for street food — try scorpions on skewers if you're feeling brave — and browse the night market.

🚌Metro Line 1 to Tiananmen East, walking between sites

🛏Leo Hostel or Peking Youth Hostel, Beijing (~£15/night)

• →Forbidden City / Palace Museum (pre-book online, ~£10 entry)
• →Temple of Heaven (~£5 entry)
• →Wangfujing Street food night market (free entry, budget £5–8 for snacks)
• →Optional: Jingshan Park for panoramic views over the Forbidden City (~£1)

Start the day at Tiananmen Square — one of the world's largest public squares and the symbolic heart of China — completely free to enter and just a short walk from the Forbidden City. Visit early morning for the flag-raising ceremony (sunrise — check local times). In the afternoon, take the metro to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO-listed imperial garden and palace complex on the shores of Kunming Lake (~£6 entry). Rowboat rental on the lake is available for ~£5. Spend the evening in Sanlitun for Beijing's best bars and restaurants.

🚌Metro Line 4 to Beigongmen for Summer Palace

🛏Leo Hostel or Peking Youth Hostel, Beijing (~£15/night)

• →Tiananmen Square — free entry, early morning flag-raising ceremony
• →Summer Palace — UNESCO imperial garden (~£6 entry)
• →Optional rowboat rental on Kunming Lake (~£5)
• →Evening: Sanlitun bar and restaurant district

Use your final morning to revisit any favourite spots or pick up last-minute souvenirs from the Panjiayuan Antique Market or Silk Street Market. Head to Beijing Capital Airport via Airport Express from Dongzhimen (~£3.50, 20 mins) or Beijing Daxing Airport via dedicated rail line. Allow plenty of time — Beijing is a big city and traffic can be unpredictable. Safe travels!

🚌Airport Express from Dongzhimen to Beijing Capital Airport (~£3.50)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Optional: Panjiayuan Antique Market for souvenirs (free entry, haggling expected)
• →Airport Express train from Dongzhimen to Beijing Capital Airport (~£3.50)
• →Departure