Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 4. Peaks, bikes and boats, then a long finale in Shanghai.
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 4Day 5Tourist coach from the Bell Tower, 1 h · 5-6 h
Day 6Day 7Taxi to Mopanshan pier, 28 km · 4-5 h
Day 8E-bike from Yangshuo · medio día
Day 9
Day 10Metro lines 10 and 14, Yuyuan Garden · 1,5 h
Day 11Metro line 2, Pudong · 3-5 h
It pairs the must-sees with three slow days in Yangshuo, among the peaks and on a bike, and ends with four days in Shanghai by the Bund. It is the route with the most time together and the least rushing.
Beijing to Xi'an by bullet train, about 4 h 30. Xi'an to Guilin by plane, about 2 hours, and Guilin to Shanghai by plane too, about 2 h 30. From Guilin airport a direct coach reaches Yangshuo in about 90 minutes.
April to October, when the Li River is high and the views are green. From January to March the full cruise is replaced by a short stretch. Avoid the first week of October and, if you can, July and August for the heat.
If you add one, give it to Beijing, which only gets 3 days here, or to Yangshuo for the Longji rice terraces. If you cut one, take it from Shanghai.
The Beijing to Xi'an train is 587 yuan, and the two flights depend on the date. Key high-season tickets are Forbidden City 60, Mutianyu 180, Terracotta Army 120, the Li River cruise 215 and Yuyuan 40. Hotels depend on your dates and the level you choose.
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.