Beijing-Shanghai-Hangzhou 7 Days
A seven-day north-to-south route by high-speed train: Beijing’s imperial sights, Shanghai’s riverfront and a slow finish around Hangzhou’s West Lake.
Route: Beijing → Shanghai → Hangzhou
Last reviewed October 23, 2026 · schedules, prices and opening hours change — re-check before booking
Who this suits
First-timers who want the classic east-coast triangle with two high-speed trains and no internal flights. Good for couples and older travellers who prefer cities to hiking.
What it costs
¥8,000–12,000 per person, including six nights of mid-range hotel, two high-speed trains, tickets and food. International flights excluded.
Book in this order
- 1Book Beijing→Shanghai and Shanghai→Hangzhou at the 15-day release; both are busy business routes.
- 2Forbidden City, Shanghai Museum and Lingyin Temple all need advance reservations or timed tickets.
- 3Stay near a metro line rather than at the station; Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao are both well connected.
- 4Hangzhou’s West Lake is free, but the boat and Leifeng Pagoda tickets are separate.
Day by day
- 1
Beijing: Forbidden City
Timed ticket in the morning, Jingshan view, hutong evening.
- Sleep
- Beijing
- Getting around
- Airport express or DiDi; metro for the evening walk.
- Book
- Forbidden City ticket for day two.
- Daily cost
- ¥400–700 (excl. hotel)
- 2
Beijing: the Great Wall
Mutianyu full day — the best wall views for the effort.
- Sleep
- Beijing
- Getting around
- Metro to Tian’anmen East; Jingshan on foot.
- Book
- Timed Forbidden City entry.
- Daily cost
- ¥400–700 (excl. hotel)
- 3
Train to Shanghai, evening Bund
Morning high-speed train to Shanghai (about 4.5 hours), check in, then the Bund at dusk and dinner nearby.
- Sleep
- Beijing
- Getting around
- Private car to Mutianyu, about 1.5 hours each way.
- Book
- Car and cable-car ticket.
- Daily cost
- ¥500–800 (excl. hotel)
- 4
Shanghai: Yuyuan and the Concession
Yuyuan Garden and bazaar, then the French Concession streets and lanes for the afternoon.
- Sleep
- Shanghai (Huangpu)
- Getting around
- High-speed train Beijing South→Shanghai Hongqiao, about 4.5 hours.
- Book
- Train at the 15-day release; Bund needs no ticket.
- Daily cost
- ¥800–1,100 including train (excl. hotel)
- 5
Shanghai museum, then on to Hangzhou
Shanghai Museum in the morning, then a 45-minute high-speed train to Hangzhou. Evening stroll around West Lake.
- Sleep
- Shanghai (Huangpu)
- Getting around
- Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan; walk or metro to the French Concession.
- Book
- No timed tickets; reserve dinner if needed.
- Daily cost
- ¥350–650 (excl. hotel)
- 6
Hangzhou: West Lake
A full day on the lake: the causeways, a boat ride, Leifeng Pagoda, and tea at a Longjing village terrace.
- Sleep
- Hangzhou (West Lake)
- Getting around
- Shanghai Hongqiao→Hangzhou East, 45–60 minutes; metro to the lake.
- Book
- Train at the 15-day release; Shanghai Museum reservation before departure.
- Daily cost
- ¥500–800 including train (excl. hotel)
- 7
Lingyin Temple and departure
Morning at Lingyin Temple among the hills, then fly out of Hangzhou or train back to Shanghai.
- Sleep
- Hangzhou (West Lake)
- Getting around
- Bus or DiDi to Lingyin; boat and causeway walks around the lake.
- Book
- Lingyin Temple ticket; West Lake boat ticket on the day.
- Daily cost
- ¥400–700 (excl. hotel)
If the plan does not fit
Suzhou instead of Hangzhou
Suzhou’s gardens are smaller and closer to Shanghai, which suits a shorter trip. Hangzhou wins if you want the lake and tea hills; Suzhou wins if you want classical gardens without a long transfer.
Drop a Beijing day for Shanghai Disney
Families often regret trying to do both cities at full pace. Cutting one Beijing day and adding Disney gives children a clear highlight and keeps the adults sane.
Destinations on this route
Beijing
China's capital, from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to hutongs and night markets: what to see, how many days you need and when to go.
Best time: April - May, September - October
Shanghai
Experience the dynamic blend of East and West in China's most cosmopolitan city. Explore historic Bund, modern Pudong, and vibrant food scenes.
Best time: March - May, October - November
Hangzhou
West Lake is free and best at dawn. Add Longjing tea fields, Lingyin Temple and a water-town day trip — Hangzhou is the east coast’s best slow city.
Best time: March–May and September–November; summer is hot and humid
Read before you book
Other itineraries
Beijing 3-Day First Trip
A realistic three-day Beijing route for first-timers: the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall and one calm neighborhood day without rushing the city.
View day-by-day →Classic Beijing Experience
Five unhurried days in Beijing: the Forbidden City, Mutianyu’s Great Wall, hutong evenings and a realistic pace for a first visit.
View day-by-day →Xi’an 2-Day Highlights
Two efficient days in Xi’an: the Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter and the museum pieces that matter most on a short stop.
View day-by-day →Want this route checked against your dates?
I can help decide whether this route is too full, where to cut a city, and whether it still works for a first trip, family travel or a tighter budget.
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