7 Days China Travel Itineraries

One Week in China, Plan a 7 Days China Travel Itinerary

Nora Zheng
1428 Words/6 Minutes, By Nora Zheng, Updated May 15, 2023

What our clients say

"Just returned yesterday from a 7-day trip to China with my family (wife and kids (8 and 10 years old). Nora from China Culture Tours is absolutely the best. She is incredibly responsive and put a perfect itinerary for us. We travel all over the world and have worked with travel groups everywhere. I have to say that Nora and her team are the best we've ever had." More about this 7 day China tour feedback >>

7-Day Itinerary for Visiting Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai

Day 1-2: Arrive in Beijing and visit the iconic sights such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square.

Day 3: Take a high-speed train to Xi'an and visit the Terracotta Warriors, the ancient city walls, and the Muslim Quarter.

Day 4: Take a bus or train to visit the Xianyang Museum and the Banpo Neolithic village, which is an important archaeological site of the Yangshao culture.

Day 5: Take a high-speed train to Shanghai, and explore the city's iconic sights such as the Bund, the Shanghai Tower, and the Yuyuan Garden.

Day 6: Take a day trip to Suzhou, a city known for its traditional gardens, canals, and silk production, and visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, and the Suzhou Silk Museum

Day 7: Visit Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, and take a walk on the East Nanjing Road for shopping.

Keep in mind that this is a general itinerary and you might have to make some adjustments to the schedule based on your own travel schedule, flight and train availability. Also, the train ride from Beijing to Xi'an takes about 5hrs and the ride from Xi'an to Shanghai takes about 4hrs, so you can adjust your time accordingly.

7-Day Itinerary for Visiting Shanghai and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Day 1-2: Arrive in Shanghai and explore the city's iconic sights such as the Bund, the Shanghai Tower, and the Yuyuan Garden.

Day 3: Take a train or flight to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its beautiful landscapes, pine trees, and hot springs.

Day 4: Take a cable car up to the top of the mountain and hike to the summit to see the sunrise. Spend the day exploring the mountain's scenic areas such as the West Sea Grand Canyon and the Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion.

Day 5: Take a hike to the Black Tiger Pine and enjoy the view from the Bright Summit. Take a cable car down the mountain in the afternoon.

Day 6: Take a day trip to the nearby Hongcun and Xidi, two picturesque ancient villages that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Day 7: Take a train or flight back to Shanghai and spend the last day of your trip shopping and exploring the city's food and nightlife scene.

1 week China itinerary to Beijing, Xi'an, and Hong Kong

Day 1: Beijing

Arrive in Beijing and check into your hotel. Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. In the evening, explore the lively Wangfujing shopping street and try some local street food.

Day 2: Beijing

Take a day trip to the Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section), one of the most iconic sights in China. On your way back to the city, visit the Summer Palace, a beautiful imperial garden.

Day 3: Beijing

In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors used to pray for good harvests and good fortune. In the afternoon, explore the hutongs (narrow alleys) of Beijing by rickshaw and get a glimpse into the traditional way of life in the city. In the evening, watch a traditional Peking Opera performance.

Day 4: Xi'an

Take a morning flight to Xi'an and check into your hotel. Visit the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. In the evening, take a stroll around the ancient city walls of Xi'an.

Day 5: Hong Kong

Take a morning flight to Hong Kong and check into your hotel. Visit Victoria Peak for panoramic views of the city and the harbor. In the afternoon, explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Central and Sheung Wan. In the evening, head to the Temple Street Night Market for some local shopping and street food.

Day 6: Hong Kong

Take a day trip to Lantau Island and visit the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. In the afternoon, explore the charming fishing village of Tai O and take a boat ride to see the pink dolphins. In the evening, enjoy the nightlife in Lan Kwai Fong or SoHo.

Day 7: Hong Kong

Visit the Hong Kong Museum of History to learn about the city's rich history and culture. In the afternoon, take a leisurely stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and enjoy the beautiful views of Victoria Harbour. In the evening, indulge in some shopping at the Temple Street Night Market or the luxury shops in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Day 8: Departure

Depart Hong Kong for your onward journey.

1 Week China Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai and check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may want to explore the city a bit. Some popular attractions include the Bund, Yu Garden, and the Shanghai Tower. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and take a stroll through the city's vibrant nightlife scene.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Shanghai

Begin your day with a visit to the Shanghai Museum to learn about the city's history and culture. Next, take a walk around the French Concession area and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Jade Buddha Temple and then head to the Shanghai World Financial Center for panoramic views of the city. In the evening, catch a performance at the Shanghai Grand Theater or enjoy dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a view.

Day 3: Travel to Hangzhou

Take a morning train to Hangzhou, a city known for its scenic West Lake. Once you arrive, check into your hotel and take some time to relax. In the afternoon, visit the Lingyin Temple, one of the largest and most famous temples in China. In the evening, take a stroll around the West Lake and enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Day 4: Sightseeing in Hangzhou

Begin your day with a boat ride on West Lake to admire the beautiful scenery. Next, visit the Hu Qing Yu Tang Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine to learn about traditional medicine practices. In the afternoon, explore the Hefang Street, a pedestrian street with shops and street food vendors. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Hangzhou dinner, including dishes such as Dongpo Pork and West Lake Fish in Sweet and Sour Sauce.

Day 5: Travel to Yellow Mountain

Take a morning bus to Huangshan City, the gateway to Yellow Mountain. Once you arrive, check into your hotel and take some time to relax. In the afternoon, visit the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Yellow Mountain

Wake up early to take the cable car to the top of Yellow Mountain. pend the day hiking and exploring the mountain's stunning scenery, including the famous sea of clouds. In the evening, stay at a hotel on the mountain to watch the sunset and enjoy dinner with a view.

Day 7: Departure

Wake up early to catch the sunrise over Yellow Mountain. Take the cable car back down and then travel back to Shanghai for your departure flight or continue your journey in China.

If these 1 week China itineraries does not meet your requests, contact us and customize your China itinerary as you can customize a 7 day itinerary to Yunnan, Guizhou, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, etc. 

Nora Zheng

Hi, I’m Nora Zheng, if you like my article, please share it with your friends. Any sugguestions on this aritcle, please contact me. Thanks!

Want to plan a private China tour? CREATE NOW

FABULOUS TOUR COMPANY

CHINA OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019 We researched several companies and studied reviews on Trip Adviser before contacting who did a very China Culture Tour with an initial query. Right from the outset Grace who owns the company was excellent. She emailed detailed with pictures information and a suggested…read more details

Karen from US

Ready to Create a Unique Dream Travel?

Create My Vacation