Itinerary · 144-hour transit

A Perfect 6-Day Beijing & Shanghai Itinerary (Visa-Free Version)

Six days covers both Beijing and Shanghai comfortably—but only if you have a Chinese visa or are doing two separate 144-hour transits. If you're on a single 144-hour visa-free transit, you must stay within one zone. This guide works as a full 6-day itinerary for visa holders and also includes standalone 6-day plans for each zone separately.

At a Glance

  • With a visa: 3 days Beijing + bullet train + 3 days Shanghai. Total ≈ 6 days.
  • 144h transit (Beijing zone): Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, day trip to Tianjin—all without leaving Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei.
  • 144h transit (Shanghai zone): Bund, French Concession, day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou—all within Shanghai–Jiangsu–Zhejiang.
  • Train between cities: Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao, G train, ~4.5 hours. Book on Trip.com with passport.
  • Book in advance: Forbidden City tickets (7 days ahead), Great Wall (3–7 days), trains (30 days).

Option A: Full 6-day itinerary (with Chinese visa)

The classic Beijing + Shanghai combination. Fly into Beijing, spend 3 days, take the bullet train to Shanghai, spend 3 days, then fly out from Shanghai to your next destination.

Day 1: Beijing — Imperial core

Rise early for flag-raising at Tiananmen Square (5:30–6:30 AM; no ticket needed, bring passport). Then walk across to the Forbidden City—book tickets 7 days ahead on the Palace Museum WeChat mini-program or official website. Enter through Meridian Gate, explore the Three Great Halls, Treasure Gallery, and exit via the north Gate of Divine Prowess. Afternoon: climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City (cheap entry, needs pre-booking). Evening: stroll Nanluoguxiang or Shichahai hutongs for dinner—try zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) or Beijing-style hotpot.

Day 2: Beijing — Great Wall

Dedicate the full day to the Great Wall. Badaling (closest, most crowded) or Mutianyu (slightly further, much more scenic and less crowded—highly recommended for first-timers). Take the S2 train from Huangtudian to Badaling, or a tourist bus to Mutianyu. At Mutianyu, take the cable car up and the toboggan down. Allow 3–4 hours at the wall itself. Back in Beijing for the evening: try Peking duck at Quanjude or Siji Minfu (book ahead).

Day 3: Beijing — Gardens & train to Shanghai

Morning: Summer Palace (Kunming Lake, Long Corridor, Tower of Buddhist Incense) or Temple of Heaven if you haven't been. Check out and take your luggage to Beijing South station. Board the G-train to Shanghai Hongqiao (~4.5 hours). Arrive in Shanghai in the early evening; check in to your hotel. Walk to the Bund at night—the Pudong skyline across the river is especially stunning after dark.

Day 4: Shanghai — Old and new

Morning: Yu Garden (arrive early to beat crowds) and the surrounding Old Town bazaar. Afternoon: Nanjing East Road pedestrian street and the Bund in daylight—great for photos from the riverside promenade. Evening: cross to Pudong via the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or ferry, go up the Shanghai Tower or Oriental Pearl TV Tower for the city view. Dinner in Lujiazui or back in Puxi.

Day 5: Shanghai — French Concession & culture

Morning: Explore the French Concession on foot—Wukang Road (Wukang Mansion, best for photography), Anfu Road cafés, and the tree-lined streets. Afternoon: Tianzifang (art and boutique alley) or Xintiandi (modern restaurants and bars in restored shikumen buildings). Visit the Shanghai Museum (free entry; World War I artefacts to Tang dynasty bronzes) or Power Station of Art. Evening: cocktails or dinner along the Bund or in Jing'an district.

Day 6: Shanghai — Final morning, then depart

Light morning: coffee in the French Concession, last shopping on Nanjing Road, or the Shanghai Natural History Museum. Head to Pudong Airport (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) depending on your outbound flight. Allow 90 minutes to the airport from central Shanghai (Maglev from Longyang Road to PVG takes just 8 minutes for the last stretch).

Option B: 6 days in the Shanghai zone (144-hour transit)

Enter at Pudong or Hongqiao. Travel within Shanghai–Jiangsu–Zhejiang only. Exit from any port in the region to a third country.

  • Days 1–3: Shanghai city (Bund, French Concession, Yu Garden, Pudong skyline, Xintiandi)
  • Day 4: Day trip to Suzhou (25 min by G-train)—classical gardens, canals, Humble Administrator's Garden
  • Day 5: Day trip to Hangzhou (1 h by G-train)—West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea village
  • Day 6: Return to Shanghai; depart from Pudong or Hongqiao to third country

Option C: 6 days in the Beijing zone (144-hour transit)

Enter at PEK or PKX. Travel within Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei only. Exit from a port in the same region.

  • Day 1: Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City
  • Day 2: Great Wall (Mutianyu)
  • Day 3: Summer Palace + Old Summer Palace
  • Day 4: Temple of Heaven + hutong walk
  • Day 5: Day trip to Tianjin (30 min by C-train)—Italian-style concession district, goubuli baozi, Ancient Culture Street
  • Day 6: 798 Art District or Olympic Park; depart from Beijing Capital or Daxing to third country

Booking reminders

  • Forbidden City: Tickets release exactly 7 days ahead at midnight Beijing time. Use the Palace Museum WeChat mini-program or official site. Sell out on weekends and holidays.
  • Great Wall (Mutianyu): Book tickets online 3–5 days ahead; include cable car and toboggan combo. Arrive by 9 AM to beat group tours.
  • G-train (Beijing–Shanghai): Open 30 days ahead; second class sells out first. Book on Trip.com with passport number.
  • Peking duck dinner: Siji Minfu and Da Dong require advance bookings especially on weekends.
  • Shanghai Tower observation deck: Buy tickets online to skip the queue; worth it for the views at dusk.

Not an official government website. Confirm 144-hour transit eligibility and visa requirements with your airline and embassy before you book. Schedules and prices can change.