Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days
CultureFirst-timerQuick

Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days

黄金三角快线 · 北京西安上海 5 日

5 daysBeijing · Xi'an · Shanghai4.7 (91)Private guide · English/中文

Efficiently explore Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai in 5 days—Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, and The Bund. Two evening flights save your daytime, perfect for 240-hour visa-exempt transit passengers. Four nights of centrally located 4-star hotels included.

Optimized for 240-hour visa-exempt transit travelers and those with limited time: Arrive in Beijing and head straight to Temple of Heaven and Wangfujing on your first evening. The next morning, visit Mutianyu Great Wall, followed by the Forbidden City in the afternoon. Take an early morning flight to Xi'an on day three, explore the Terracotta Warriors in the morning, enjoy a sunset bike ride on the Ancient City Wall in the evening, then fly to Shanghai. Day four concludes with Yu Garden, the French Concession, and The Bund夜景, with airport transfer on your final day.

Four nights of centrally located 4-star hotels, private guide and dedicated vehicle, two domestic flights, and all first-entry admission fees are included in the tour price. Your luggage will be transported by your dedicated vehicle throughout the journey, so no need to drag your bags. The itinerary is packed but still allows time for proper meals and rest each day, ideal for travelers who want to see China's three major cities in five days or business travelers extending their trip between meetings.

Tour highlights行程亮点

  • Half-day Great Wall Express Tour
  • Terracotta Warriors Museum
  • The Bund Night Stroll
  • Two evening flights to save time
  • 240-hour visa-exempt transit friendly
  • Temple of Heaven Hall of Prayer and Wangfujing Night Market

Day-by-day itinerary每日行程

  1. D1Arrive in Beijing

    This morning, visit Temple of Heaven Park, where Ming and Qing emperors performed ceremonies to pray for good harvests. This complex showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Chinese imperial architecture. Wander between the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound Altar, experiencing the solemn atmosphere of five centuries of history. In the evening, head to Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, one of Beijing's most bustling commercial areas. You can taste authentic Beijing snacks like zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), douzhir (mung bean juice), and tanghulu (candied haws on a stick), experiencing the lively atmosphere of the local night market. From Temple of Heaven to Wangfujing, you can take subway Line 1, which takes about 30 minutes. Friendly reminder: It's recommended to book Temple of Heaven Park tickets one day in advance through the official WeChat account. The best time to visit is before 9 AM to avoid crowds.

  2. D2Great Wall & Imperial Palace

    This morning, visit Mutianyu Great Wall, enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery and the magnificent, winding stretch of the wall. We recommend wearing comfortable sports shoes and booking tickets online in advance to avoid queues. You can take the cable car or toboggan to easily reach the best viewpoints; the visit takes approximately 3 hours. After returning to the city, explore the Forbidden City (the Imperial Palace), the former residence of Ming and Qing emperors. We suggest renting an audio guide to learn more about its history. You can enjoy Peking duck or hot pot for lunch nearby. From Mutianyu to the Forbidden City takes about 1.5 hours by car; we recommend arriving by 2 PM to avoid the peak crowds.

  3. D3Fly to Xi'an

    Early this morning, take an early morning flight to Xi'an (approximately 2 hours 15 minutes). Upon arrival, head straight to the Terracotta Warriors: see the No. 1 pit's army formation and the bronze chariots and horses before the world's eighth wonder, with a professional tour lasting about 2.5 hours. For lunch, enjoy Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) with liangpi (cold skin noodles) in Lintong. In the evening, return to the city and ride bikes along the 13.7-kilometer Ancient City Wall to watch the sunset paint the bricks gold. Afterwards, head to the airport for your evening flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, a private vehicle will transfer you to your hotel. Practical tip: You'll be traveling between two cities today, so your luggage will be transported by your driver—no need to carry it yourself. Terracotta Warriors tickets have been pre-booked; the wall bike ride takes about 1 hour, so pace yourself.

  4. D4Shanghai

    This morning, visit Yu Garden, admiring traditional Jiangnan garden architecture and the Nine-Zigzag Bridge, then stroll through the French Concession, exploring historic streets shaded by plane trees and unique specialty shops. For lunch, we recommend trying local Shanghainese cuisine like hongshao rou (braised pork belly) and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). In the afternoon, head to The Bund to admire the modern skyline on both sides of the Huangpu River, and enjoy the dazzling light show at night. Transportation between attractions can be by subway or taxi. Yu Garden to the French Concession takes about 15 minutes, and the French Concession to The Bund takes about 20 minutes. Friendly reminder: Yu Garden tickets need to be pre-booked online, and the best time to see The Bund夜景 is one hour after sunset.

  5. D5Departure

    Today's arrangements include transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. According to your flight schedule, we will arrange a private vehicle to take you to the airport. We recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours in advance to complete check-in procedures, as security for international flights can be time-consuming. During the journey, you can enjoy views of Shanghai's cityscape. Your driver will choose the optimal route based on real-time traffic conditions. We suggest confirming your airline's luggage regulations in advance and keeping valuables with you. If you wish to purchase Shanghai souvenirs, we can recommend nearby duty-free shops or shopping centers.

What's included费用包含

  • 4 nights of centrally located hotels
  • Breakfast + 3 lunches
  • 2 domestic flights
  • Private guide and dedicated driver
  • All attraction entrance fees
  • Airport transfers throughout

Photos from the road实拍照片

Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days — photo 1Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days — photo 2Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days — photo 3Golden Triangle Express · Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai 5 Days — photo 4

Related guides相关攻略

Traveler reviews游客评价

Wonderful five days

★★★★★

Our family loved the Great Wall and the dumplings. The guide adapted the pace for our kids and everything ran perfectly on time.

Maria Rossi · Italy · Sep 2026

Best trip of our lives

★★★★★

The guide was fantastic and the Great Wall at sunrise was unforgettable. Highly recommend this agency to everyone!

Hans Müller · Germany · Sep 2026