China Multi-City Travel Itinerary: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu in 14 Days

By AURUM Travel Guides · Updated January 2026 · 10 min read

A 14-day trip is enough to see three of China's most distinct cities if you plan transport carefully. Beijing offers imperial history and the Great Wall, Shanghai blends colonial heritage with futuristic skylines, and Chengdu delivers spicy food, giant pandas, and a slower pace. This China multi-city itinerary gives you a day-by-day plan, realistic budget numbers, and the practical details that most guides skip: which train station to use, how to buy tickets as a foreigner, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Route Overview and City Order

The recommended order is Beijing → Chengdu → Shanghai. This works because Beijing has the most international flight connections (so you start there), Chengdu is geographically between the other two, and Shanghai is a natural departure point with good onward connections. Reversing the order (Shanghai first) works equally well if your flights dictate it.

The total route covers about 3,200 km. Two high-speed train rides and one flight connect the three cities, keeping travel time under 8 hours per leg.

Alternative: fly Chengdu → Shanghai (2.5 hr, 500–900 RMB) if you want to save time. The train is recommended because it runs through the scenic Qinling Mountains and lets you see the landscape change from Sichuan basin to eastern plains.

Visa and Entry Requirements

Most travelers need a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) obtained in advance from a Chinese embassy or consulate. As of 2026, the following applies to common nationalities:

• USA, UK, Canada, Australia, EU: L visa required, cost around $140 USD (US citizens), $60–90 (others). Processing takes 4 business days; expedited service available.
• Transit visa-free: Citizens of 54 countries can transit through Beijing (PEK or PKX) and Shanghai (PVG) for up to 144 hours visa-free if flying onward to a third country. Useful if you want a shorter trip without a full visa.
• Documents needed: Passport valid 6+ months, hotel bookings for each city, round-trip flight confirmation, visa application form with photo.

Tip: Print your hotel confirmations. Immigration sometimes asks for them, and many hotels require the printout to register you with local police, which is legally required within 24 hours of arrival.

Beijing: Days 1–5

Day 1 — Arrival and Imperial Core

Arrive at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airport. Take the Airport Express train (25 RMB, 30 min) to Dongzhimen, then subway to your hotel near Wangfujing or Qianmen. In the afternoon, walk Tiananmen Square (free, but ID required) and enter the Forbidden City from the south gate (60 RMB, book online 7 days in advance at the official site). Allow 3 hours minimum.

Day 2 — Great Wall at Mutianyu

Mutianyu is 70 km north of Beijing and far less crowded than Badaling. Take the 916 Express bus from Dongzhimen (12 RMB, 90 min) then transfer to a local bus or taxi to the entrance. Cable car up and toboggan down (120 RMB combined ticket). Return to the city for Peking duck at Siji Minfu (Wangfujing branch, no reservation needed if you arrive before 6 PM).

Day 3 — Temple of Heaven and Hutongs

Morning: Temple of Heaven park (34 RMB combined ticket). Afternoon: walk the hutong alleys around Nanluoguxiang and Drum Tower. Rent a bike or take a pedicab tour (100 RMB/hr). Dinner at a courtyard restaurant like Dali Courtyard (Yongkang Hutong).

Day 4 — Summer Palace and 798 Art District

The Summer Palace (30 RMB) needs a half day — walk the Long Corridor and take a boat on Kunming Lake. In the afternoon, visit the 798 Art District in Dashanzi (free entry, galleries open until 6 PM).

Day 5 — Travel to Chengdu

Take a morning flight from PEK to Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) or Shuangliu (CTU) airports. Flight time 3 hours. Airport metro Line 18 to city center takes 40 minutes (7 RMB). Check into a hotel near Kuanzhai Alley or Chunxi Road.

Chengdu: Days 5–9

Day 6 — Pandas and Jinli Street

Arrive at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding by 8 AM (55 RMB, book online). Pandas are most active during morning feeding. Plan 3 hours. Afternoon: stroll Jinli Ancient Street (free) and visit Wuhou Shrine next door (50 RMB).

Day 7 — Leshan Giant Buddha Day Trip

Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East to Leshan (1 hour, 54 RMB). The Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71-meter Tang-dynasty stone carving carved into a cliff at the confluence of three rivers. Entry 80 RMB. Climb the stairs beside the Buddha for the full view, or take a river boat (70 RMB) to see it from the water. Return the same evening.

Day 8 — Sichuan Cuisine and Teahouse Culture

Book a half-day Sichuan cooking class (200–400 RMB) to learn mapo tofu and twice-cooked pork. Alternatively, eat your way through: try hotpot at Xiaolongkan (book a table — queues are long), dan dan noodles at Chen Mapo Tofu (the original location near Chunxi Road), and finish with tea at Heming Teahouse in People's Park (20 RMB).

Day 9 — Travel to Shanghai

Take high-speed train G1976 from Chengdu East to Shanghai Hongqiao (departure 7:15 AM, arrival 6:30 PM, 650 RMB second class). The route crosses the Qinling tunnel — look for the landscape shift from mountains to flat farmland. Bring snacks; train catering is limited. Check into a hotel near People's Square or the Bund.

Shanghai: Days 10–14

Day 10 — The Bund and Yu Garden

Walk the Bund waterfront at sunrise or after dark (free). The colonial-era buildings face Pudong's skyline across the Huangpu River. Cross by ferry (2 RMB) or Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (50 RMB). Visit Yu Garden (40 RMB, go early to avoid crowds) and the adjacent City God Temple bazaar for xiaolongbao at Jiajia Tangbao or Din Tai Fung.

Day 11 — Pudong and Shanghai Tower

Take Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui. Visit the Shanghai Tower observation deck on the 118th floor (180 RMB) — the view is better than the Oriental Pearl Tower's and cheaper. Walk to the nearby IFC mall for lunch, then visit the Shanghai Museum (free) on People's Square in the afternoon.

Day 12 — French Concession and Tianzifang

Walk the plane-tree-lined streets of the former French Concession: Wukang Road, Anfu Road, Fuxing Road. Stop at the Shanghai Library, the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, and the indie shops at Tianzifang. Coffee at a café on Anfu Road — this is Shanghai's best café district.

Day 13 — Zhujiajiao Water Town

Take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao (1 hour, 6 RMB). This 1,700-year-old water town has stone bridges, canals, and Ming-dynasty houses. Entry to the old town is free; combined ticket for the museums and gardens is 60 RMB. Try the local braised pork (zaru rou) and river shrimp.

Day 14 — Departure

Shanghai has two airports: Pudong (PVG) for most international flights, Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic and some regional. Maglev train from Longyang Road to PVG runs at 300 km/h (40 RMB, 8 minutes). Allow 3 hours before international departure — PVG security can be slow.

Budget Breakdown (Per Person, USD)

Budget tier assumes hostels or budget hotel doubles, subway transport, and local eateries. Mid-range assumes 3-star hotels, one domestic flight, and sit-down restaurant dinners. Comfortable assumes 4-star hotels, taxis within cities, and some fine dining.

Transport Tips for Foreigners

• Buying train tickets: Use the official 12306 app or Trip.com (easier for foreigners). Foreign passports are accepted; bring your passport to every train station for ticket check.
• Subway: All three cities use scan-to-ride with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Buy a single-trip ticket if you don't have mobile pay set up.
• Ride-hailing: DiDi (the local Uber) works in English within Alipay or as the standalone DiDi app. Expect to wait 10–15 minutes during rush hour.
• Mobile payment: Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival. Bind a foreign Visa or Mastercard. Most vendors no longer accept cash.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Trying to see too many cities. Four cities in 14 days means you spend a third of the trip on transport. Three cities is the sweet spot.
2. Booking the Forbidden City last minute. Tickets sell out 7 days in advance. Book the moment they release at 8 PM Beijing time.
3. Going to Badaling Great Wall. It's the closest to Beijing but the most crowded. Mutianyu or Jinshanling are better choices.
4. Underestimating Shanghai's size. Allow 45 minutes to cross the city by subway. Group sights by district.
5. Skipping the visa. Even with 144-hour transit visa-free entry, you must have an onward ticket to a third country — returning to your origin country doesn't qualify.