Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Chengdu 3 · Shanghai 3. Few journeys and the pandas at opening time.
Hotels at the lowest price we found, one room per two adults and children with their parents. Fastest train in second class and official adult tickets. Checked on 11 October 2026.
Once you use it, you can add or remove days and cities, and we will remind you of every booking.
Day 1
Day 2Metro line 1, Tiananmen East · 3-4 h
Day 3Mubus from Dongzhimen, or DiDi in 80-100 min · 4-5 h
Day 4Metro line 5, Tiantan Dongmen · 2-3 h
Day 5Day 6Tourist coach from the Bell Tower, 1 h · 5-6 h
Day 7
Day 8Taxi in 25-30 min · 3 h
Day 9Metro line 1, Wenshu Monastery · 2 h
Day 10
Day 11Metro lines 10 and 14, Yuyuan Garden · 1,5 h
It has only three journeys, and every city has something for them, the Great Wall toboggan, cycling Xi'an's wall, the pandas first thing and the Maglev. Three days in Chengdu leave room to rest.
Beijing to Xi'an by bullet train, about 4 h 30, and Xi'an to Chengdu by train too, 3 h 30. On the train kids can get up and move around. From Chengdu to Shanghai, take a plane, about 3 hours.
Spring or autumn is best. Summer works too, but it is hot, so see the pandas at 7.30 and keep midday for a rest at the hotel. Avoid the first week of October.
If you add one, give it to Beijing so you never rush, or to Shanghai for Disneyland. If you cut one, take it from Shanghai. Keep the Chengdu days, they give the trip its breathing room.
The two trains add up to 887 yuan in second class, and the flight to Shanghai depends on the date. Adult high-season tickets are Forbidden City 60, Mutianyu 180, Terracotta Army 120 and pandas 55. Many sights have lower prices for kids, so check when you book. Hotels depend on your dates and level.
Book an open-jaw ticket, into Beijing and home from Shanghai. You avoid backtracking and save most of a day. Beijing has two airports, Capital and Daxing, so check which one is on your booking.