7-Day China Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, and the basics

This 7‑day plan fits first‑time visitors who have exactly one week and want to see China's two most iconic historical sites: the Great Wall in Beijing and the Terracotta Army in Xi'an. It uses high‑speed rail for inter‑city travel, avoids domestic flights, and keeps packing/unpacking to a minimum.

You should choose this itinerary if you're comfortable with fairly full days (around 10–12 hours of activity) and don't mind skipping some depth in favor of breadth. Beijing and Xi'an are both tier‑1 tourist cities with decent English signage and established foreign‑friendly infrastructure, which makes the logistics easier for a tight schedule.

The plan assumes arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) on Day 1 morning and departure from Xi'an Xianyang Airport (XIY) on Day 7 evening, giving you six full nights on the ground. If your flights land/depart at different times, simply shift the day‑by‑day activities forward or backward.

Land at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and clear immigration. Purchase a local SIM or e‑SIM before leaving the arrivals hall — China Mobile and China Unicom both offer tourist‑friendly 7‑day data packages. Install Didi (ride‑hailing), WeChat/Alipay (for QR payments), and a translation app like Pleco or Google Translate.

Take the Airport Express train to Dongzhimen station (25–30 minutes), then transfer to Line 2 to your hotel. Aim for accommodation near the Forbidden City–Tiananmen Square area (Wangfujing, Qianmen, or Dongcheng districts). This location puts you within walking distance of several key sights and multiple metro lines.

After checking in, head to Tiananmen Square. Entry is free but requires security screening; keep your passport handy. From the square, walk north through the Gate of Heavenly Peace into the Forbidden City. Buy tickets online in advance — same‑day tickets often sell out. Expect 2–3 hours for a highlights‑only walk through the central axis (Meridian Gate → Hall of Supreme Harmony → Palace of Heavenly Purity → Imperial Garden → North Gate exit).

Exit the Forbidden City at the North Gate, cross Jingshan Park street, and climb Coal Hill (Jingshan) for a panoramic view of the palace complex at sunset. The park closes at 8–9pm depending on season. For dinner, walk to Wangfujing Snack Street or, for a quieter option, try one of the courtyard‑style restaurants in the hutongs behind Jingshan Park.

The Great Wall is a full‑day trip from central Beijing. Mutianyu is our recommended section: it's less crowded than Badaling, well‑restored, and offers cable‑car/toboggan options that save time and energy.

Book a Didi or pre‑arranged car for 7:00–7:30am pickup (1.5–2 hours to the wall). Alternatively, take the public bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then a local taxi to Mutianyu — total travel 2.5–3 hours. The earlier you arrive, the thinner the crowds.

At Mutianyu, buy the combo ticket (entry + cable car up). Take the cable car to Tower 14, then walk east toward Tower 6 (the more scenic, less‑steep direction). This stretch has excellent photo opportunities and several intact watchtowers. At Tower 6, you can either walk back or take the toboggan down — the toboggan is a fun, quick descent but can have long queues on weekends.

Plan to leave Mutianyu by 2pm to avoid late‑afternoon traffic. On the way back, ask the driver to drop you at the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). Spend 2–3 hours there walking around Kunming Lake and the Long Corridor. Alternatively, if you're tired, return directly to your hotel and visit the Temple of Heaven in the late afternoon (closes at 5–6pm depending on season).

Start in the Houhai/Shichahai area. Rent a bike (shared bikes are everywhere) and cycle through the hutongs around Silver Ingot Bridge. Key lanes include Yandai Xiejie (tourism‑focused but picturesque) and the quieter Ju'er Hutong. Stop at a local breakfast spot for jianbing (savory crepe) or doujiang (soy milk) with youtiao (fried dough).

Walk or cycle to the Drum and Bell Towers (Gulou/Zhonglou). Climb the Drum Tower on the hour for the drum‑performance show. The view over the hutong rooftops is worth the steep stairs.

After lunch, take the metro (Line 2 to Chongwenmen, transfer to Line 5 to Tiantandongmen) to the Temple of Heaven. This is where emperors performed ceremonies for good harvests. The park is large; focus on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar, and the Echo Wall. Allow 2–3 hours.

In the evening, catch a Beijing opera show at Liyuan Theatre (inside the Qianmen Hotel) or a acrobatics performance at Chaoyang Theatre. Both offer early shows (7:30pm) with English subtitles and are used to foreign audiences.

Check out of your Beijing hotel and take the metro to Beijing West Railway Station (Beijing Xi Zhan) for a morning G‑series train to Xi'an North Station (Xi'an Bei Zhan). The journey takes 4.5–5.5 hours depending on the service; book a ticket for around 9–10am departure.

On board, use the train's power outlets to charge devices, and purchase lunch from the dining car or bring your own snacks. The scenery transitions from the North China Plain to the Loess Plateau — watch for terraced fields and occasional glimpses of the Yellow River.

Arrive at Xi'an North in the early afternoon. Take Metro Line 2 (red line) south to the city center; get off at Zhonglou (Bell Tower) or Yongningmen if your hotel is near the city wall. Check into your hotel — the area inside the Ming‑era city wall is most convenient.

Spend the evening exploring the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie). Start at the Great Mosque (one of China's oldest and largest), then walk down Beiyuanmen Street sampling street food: yangrou paomo (crumbled flatbread in lamb soup), roujiamo (Chinese burger), and persimmon cakes. The quarter stays lively until 10–11pm.

The Terracotta Army is about 40km east of downtown Xi'an. Hire a Didi or join a morning tour group that leaves around 8am. Public bus 306 (Tourist Line 5) departs from the east square of Xi'an Railway Station; the trip takes 1–1.5 hours.

Buy tickets online in advance — the site can sell out by mid‑morning. Start with Pit 1 (the largest and most impressive), then move to Pit 3 (command center) and Pit 2 (unexcavated warriors). The on‑site museum houses the bronze chariots and horses. Allow 3–4 hours total including the shuttle between pits.

Return to Xi'an by early afternoon. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) in the southern part of the city. The pagoda itself is inside Daci'en Temple grounds; you can climb it for a view over the city (extra ticket). The surrounding Tang Paradise theme park is a modern reconstruction of Tang‑era gardens — skip it unless you have extra time.

In the evening, watch the musical fountain show at the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (typically 8–9pm, check local schedules). Afterwards, head to Dechang Lane (Dechang Xiang) for a more upscale dining experience compared to the Muslim Quarter.

Rent a bike on top of the Xi'an City Wall — the 14‑kilometer circuit is flat and offers excellent views of the old city inside and modern towers outside. Enter at the South Gate (Yongningmen), which has the most rental stations. A full circuit takes 1.5–2 hours at a leisurely pace.

After cycling, walk through the South Gate complex and visit the adjacent calligraphy and painting markets. Then take a short taxi ride to the Shaanxi History Museum. Entry is free but requires online reservation (book 1–7 days in advance through the museum's WeChat mini‑program). The museum's Tang‑dynasty gold and silverware are highlights.

For lunch, try some Shaanxi specialties outside the museum: biangbiang noodles (wide, hand‑pulled noodles), liangpi (cold skin noodles), or a Xi'an‑style burger (roujiamo) from a local chain like Zhang's or Wang's.

Spend the late afternoon at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Xiaoyanta) and Xi'an Museum complex — less crowded than its bigger sibling and includes a pleasant garden. In the evening, consider a Tang Dynasty dinner show, though these are quite touristy. A quieter alternative is a walk along the moat outside the city wall, which is illuminated after dark.

On your final day, check out and store luggage at your hotel or the railway station if you have a late flight. If time permits, visit the Forest of Stone Steles Museum (Beilin Museum) near the South Gate — it houses ancient inscribed stone tablets and is rarely crowded.

For last‑minute souvenir shopping, the markets around the Bell Tower sell replica terracotta warriors, calligraphy brushes, and jade items. Remember that genuine antiques cannot be exported without permits.

Head to Xi'an Xianyang Airport (XIY) at least 3 hours before your international flight. The airport express bus departs from the city's major hotels and the railway station; a Didi takes about 45–60 minutes from downtown depending on traffic.

Key practical notes: 1) Always carry your passport — you'll need it for train tickets, hotel check‑in, and some attractions. 2) Download offline maps (Google Maps doesn't work; use Baidu Maps or Apple Maps with China data). 3) Have small bills (¥1, ¥5, ¥10) for street vendors and public toilets (which often charge ¥1–2). 4) If you extend beyond 7 days, consider adding a day trip to Huashan (sacred mountain) from Xi'an or a day in Shanghai via a connecting flight.

A mid‑range budget for this 7‑day trip is ¥8,000–12,000 per person (excluding international flights). Breakdown: accommodation ¥400–600/night, meals ¥200–400/day, attractions ¥200–300/day, transport (including Beijing–Xi'an high‑speed rail) ¥1,500–2,000 total. Budget travelers can cut costs by staying in hostels and eating more street food; luxury travelers should expect ¥15,000+.

Pack for seasonal extremes: summers (Jun‑Aug) are hot and humid (30–35°C) with occasional rain — light, breathable clothing, sunscreen, umbrella. Winters (Dec‑Feb) are cold and dry (−5 to 5°C) with possible smog — thermal layers, down jacket, hat, gloves, and a pollution mask. Spring (Mar‑May) and autumn (Sep‑Nov) are ideal with mild temperatures.

Essential tech: universal power adapter (China uses Type A, C, and I sockets at 220V), portable power bank, VPN installed before arrival (ExpressVPN, Astrill, or VyprVPN work best), and a dual‑SIM phone if you want to keep your home number active.

Health and safety: tap water is not drinkable — use bottled or boiled water. Pharmacies (yaodian) are common; bring any prescription medicines in original packaging. Emergency numbers: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire). Save your embassy's contact information just in case.