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Party and nightlife
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Monuments and history
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Trip type
China Collection: Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai
12 days • 11 nights
This is a WeRoad Collection
A trip designed for ultimate comfort, with specially selected hotels and unique experiences.
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Itinerary
Three cities, two high-speed trains, and three thousand years of history in between: Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are the China everyone imagines, and we’ll see them without rushing or repacking our bags every day. 4-star hotels in the city center, private transfers, and first-class train travel: this is the comfort you expect from a Collection trip.
Beijing kicks off with the Forbidden City and the hutongs, the gray alleyways we’ll explore by rickshaw. Then, we’ll head up to the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section—the less crowded one—taking the cable car right up to the ridges: one of those moments you’ll never forget! We’ll also have the Temple of Heaven early in the morning when the retirees are dancing in the gardens, the Summer Palace, and an evening featuring Peking duck. A quick train ride will whisk us to Xi'an in just a few hours: the Terracotta Army, the ancient walls to cycle along, and the Muslim Quarter, which turns into a street food market at night. We’ll wrap it all up in Shanghai, where the Bund looks out over the skyscrapers of Pudong across the river: we’ll head up the Shanghai Tower, get lost in the Yu Garden, and hop on a boat through the canals of Zhujiajiao, the water village just outside the city.
Day 1
Ni hao, China! We’re kicking things off in Beijing.
The capital is waiting for us
We land in Beijing and get settled in the city center—four nights in the same room. Beijing is a city where the last millennium and the next live side-by-side on the same block: a temple with burning incense, and right behind it, a 200-meter-tall glass tower. On the first night, we head to dinner and start with the essentials: jiaozi—the dumplings you eat by the dozen here—soy sauce noodles, and fried tofu. We’ll toast with some baijiu, the local spirit—just one shot, trust me. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.
Day 2
Forbidden City, Tiananmen, and the hutongs by rickshaw
The heart of the empire
We enter through Tiananmen Square, the largest in the world, and pass through the gate under Mao’s portrait. On the other side awaits the Forbidden City: 990 buildings, 500 years of Ming and Qing dynasties, and courtyard after courtyard, each more secluded than the last. For five centuries, commoners couldn't set foot here—hence the name. In the afternoon, we change pace: we’ll hop on rickshaws to explore the hutongs, the narrow alleys of traditional courtyard houses where the real Beijing still lives, with laundry drying and locals playing mahjong on the sidewalk.
Day 3
The Great Wall at Mutianyu, minus the crowds
One of the seven wonders
Today, it’s the Great Wall, and we’re doing it the right way. Forget Badaling—the spot near the city where busloads of tourists flock. We’re heading to Mutianyu: an hour and a half away, featuring twenty-three restored watchtowers and the wall snaking along the ridge through the woods as far as the eye can see. We’ll take the cable car up so we don’t burn our legs out early, walk the paths with the wind in our hair, and—for those who want to—slide back down on the toboggan run, which is exactly as fun as it sounds. This is our WOW experience, and honestly, there was no other choice.
Day 4
Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Peking duck
Slow Beijing
Visit the Temple of Heaven early—at dawn, the surrounding park comes alive with locals practicing tai chi, dancing, singing opera, and playing badminton. It’s the city at its absolute best, and it doesn’t cost a thing. Next up, the Summer Palace, the imperial residence on Kunming Lake, with its long, painted corridor and that marble boat the empress had built using the navy’s budget. For dinner, it’s time for Peking duck, carved right at your table into eighty-six thin slices, ready to be rolled into a crepe with cucumber and sauce.
Day 5
High-speed train to Xi'an
Four and a half hours at 300 km/h.
Take breakfast slow, then off to the station: we’re hopping on a first-class high-speed train. 1,200 kilometers in just four and a half hours, with the digital speedometer in the carriage hitting over 300 km/h. Outside, watch the real China roll by—the one you won't find in the brochures: endless cultivated plains, cities of two million people you’ve never heard of, power plants, and skyscrapers going up everywhere. Arrival in Xi'an in the afternoon, where we'll be spending the next three nights. Time for a first stroll inside the city walls—yes, they’re still fully intact, all 14 kilometers of the Ming dynasty ramparts.
Day 6
The Terracotta Army
Eight thousand soldiers, and no two are alike.
Day 7
Cycling the city walls and exploring the Muslim Quarter
Xi'an from above and on your plate
The walls of Xi'an are wide enough to cycle along—yes, really! It’s a 14km loop with the old city tucked inside and the new one sprawling outside. Just rent a bike and take your time, making sure to stop at the corner towers. In the afternoon, head down to the Muslim quarter, home to the Hui community for 1,300 years since they arrived via the Silk Road. The Great Mosque is built just like a Chinese temple, complete with courtyards and curved roofs, while the market street is a river of lamb skewers, roujiamo, and hand-pulled noodles.
Day 8
High-speed to Shanghai
From the Silk Road to the future
Second train of the trip—six hours in first class heading east. This time, we're not just changing cities, but eras. Shanghai is the China that looks ahead: twenty-six million people, and the Pudong skyline—which was just countryside back in 1990—now boasts three of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. We’re setting up base in the city center for four nights. First order of business? Heading to the Bund that first evening to watch the lights come alive on the other side of the river. On one side, 1930s colonial architecture; on the other, the future. Just two hundred meters of river and eighty years of history separating them.
Day 9
The Bund, Nanjing Road, and the Pudong skyscrapers
Two centuries across two shores
We start at the Bund by day, strolling past the banks and hotels the British built back when Shanghai was Asia’s richest port. Then, it’s off to Nanjing Road—China’s busiest shopping street. Visit on a Saturday afternoon, and you’ll finally understand what 1.4 billion people actually looks like. In the afternoon, hop on the metro and head up the Shanghai Tower: a 56-second elevator ride takes you to the 102nd floor, 560 meters up, with the city below looking just like a giant printed circuit board.
Day 10
Yu Garden, Tianzifang, and the French Concession
Shanghai on foot
Today we're taking it slow. The Yu Garden is a 16th-century Ming gem wedged right between skyscrapers: rocks, koi ponds, and zigzagging bridges—built that way because, apparently, evil spirits can only move in straight lines. Right next door, you'll find the city's oldest tea house. In the afternoon, we'll hit the French Concession, with its plane trees and 1920s villas, and then Tianzifang, a maze of alleyways in old shikumen houses packed with studios, shops, and cafes. Evening is free.
Day 11
Zhujiajiao, the Venice of the East
Canals and stone bridges
An hour from Shanghai lies a 1,600-year-old water village that feels like a different world: Zhujiajiao. Forget streets—here you’ve got canals, 36 stone bridges, and houses perched right on the water with steps leading straight down. Explore it on foot or by rowing boat, grab some braised pork in lotus leaves from the canal-side stalls, and wander through the Kezhi Garden. We’ll head back in the afternoon, and for our final dinner together, we’re hitting up a spot for xiaolongbao—those legendary soup dumplings you eat with a straw.
Day 12
Goodbye, China!
Heading back from Shanghai
One last breakfast and then off to Pudong for your flight. Twelve days, three cities, two high-speed trains, and zero nights in transit: you've covered the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, 8,000 terracotta soldiers, a 560-meter skyscraper, a Ming garden, and a water village. China in three bases, without the hassle of packing your suitcase every single night. Zài jiàn — see you later!
What's included
11 nights in 4-star hotels in Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai
All breakfasts
Welcome dinner on day 1, Peking duck dinner on day 4, and group dinner on day 11
Two first-class high-speed trains: Beijing–Xi'an and Xi'an–Shanghai
Private transfers to and from the stations
Medical and baggage insurance - (coverage limits by destination country/region - €10,000 Italy, €20,000 Europe, €30,000 World, €50,000 USA/Canada)
What's not included
Round-trip flights to and from the destination
- Airport transfers
- Food and beverages when not specified
- All that is not mentioned in "what's included"
Optional activities
Please see below extra optional activities that you can experience during your trip. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist with organizing these activities for the group. Availability may vary depending on location and group preferences.
Please note these activities are provided by third party suppliers and liability rests exclusively with these third party suppliers.
Great Wall Toboggan Ride - approx. USD15
N/A
Additional info
Learn more about accommodation, transport, and other useful travel information.
TransportTwo first-class high-speed train journeys and private transport with a driver in every city. No internal flights.
DocumentsYou'll need a passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity. Entry requirements for China can change frequently, so make sure to double-check the latest rules for Italian travelers when you book.
Physical ratingPhysical rating: Low-to-medium. You'll be doing quite a bit of walking at the sites, and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall has some steep stairs, but don't worry—you'll head up by cable car.
Meeting point and goodbyesWe’ll meet up on day 1 in Beijing. The trip wraps up on day 12 in Shanghai, at Pudong Airport.
Golden WeekThere are no departures between October 1st and 7th: it’s China’s national holiday week, meaning hotels are fully booked and rates double.
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Why WeRoad
Small groups, on average 11 people
Move or change your trip for free up to 31 days before departure
Book with $ 0. Pay the $ 100 deposit only once the trip is confirmed
The Group Leaders
Our Group Leaders are chosen because they’re people just like you: passionate travelers who share the experience authentically, while having the skills to take care of the organisation, and help you get the most out of every moment of the trip.
Find your flight
For this trip, we recommend arriving and departing from these airports.
ArrivalBeijing (PEK)
ReturnShanghai (Pudong) (PVG)
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$ 4,000
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•Free trip change
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