Itinerary · 10 days
China Itinerary, 10 Days From India
Ten days is the honest China minimum to cover Beijing plus Xian plus Shanghai. The arc: 3 days Beijing (Forbidden City plus Great Wall), 2 days Xian (Terracotta Warriors), 3 days Shanghai (Bund plus French Concession), 2 days return via Shanghai. Shorter and you cut one city; the classic circuit needs all three.
The 10-day arc
Arrive Beijing Capital Airport plus airport express to hotel.
Light walk near Tian'anmen Square plus Wangfujing food street.
Peking duck dinner at Quanjude plus rest.
Tian'anmen Square plus Forbidden City complete tour.
Jingshan Park hill for Forbidden City rooftop view.
Hutong neighbourhood walk plus dumpling dinner.
Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall section (90 min, less crowded than Badaling).
Wall hike plus toboggan ride down.
Return to Beijing plus Temple of Heaven evening walk.
Beijing West Station plus high-speed train to Xian (4.5 hours).
Xian city walls bike ride plus Muslim Quarter food crawl.
Tang Dynasty cultural dinner show.
Drive to Terracotta Warriors site (1 hour).
Three pits exploration plus museum.
Return to Xian plus Drum Tower viewing.
Flight Xian to Shanghai (2 hours).
Shanghai Bund walk plus Pudong skyline view from Bund.
Dinner on the Bund (Mr and Mrs Bund or similar).
Jing'an Temple plus Yu Garden.
French Concession walk: tree-lined avenues, cafes, boutiques.
Sunset at Shanghai Tower observation deck plus dinner.
Shanghai Museum (3 hours; one of Asia's best).
Tianzifang artsy neighbourhood plus shopping.
Final group dinner at Hakkasan or M on the Bund.
Bullet train to Suzhou (30 min) or Hangzhou (60 min) for classical Chinese gardens or West Lake.
Garden walks or West Lake boat ride.
Return to Shanghai plus farewell dinner.
Final breakfast plus Yuyuan Bazaar last shopping.
Airport transfer plus departure.
Return.
Budget breakdown (per person)
Mid-range solo traveller estimate. Couples sharing rooms save around 25% per person. Luxury upgrades add 50% to 100%.
Booking tips
- Visa on arrival for Indians for 15-day stays since 2024; bring confirmed return tickets plus hotel bookings
- Alipay Tour Pass: set up before arrival (linked to international card, valid 90 days in China); needed for all payments
- VPN setup before arrival: ExpressVPN works reliably; WhatsApp, Google, Instagram all blocked without VPN
- Bullet train tickets: book through Trip.com or China Railway 30 days out; reserved seats in business class for groups
- Tian'anmen Square plus Forbidden City: passport mandatory at security; bring physical passport not photocopy
Frequently asked
Can I do China in less than 10 days?
Possible but cuts. 7 days: Beijing plus Shanghai only. 8 days: add Xian briefly. 10 days is the standard for the classic three-city circuit. Below 7 days the flight cost is disproportionate.
Is China safe for Indian travellers in 2026?
Yes, exceptionally safe. Top 20 globally for women's safety. See the China safety page for detailed breakdown. The actual risks are practical (language, payment apps, VPN) not personal-safety.
What is the actual total cost from India?
INR 2,20,000 solo mid-range. As couple INR 1,80,000 per person. Luxury (Peninsula Shanghai, Aman Beijing) push to INR 4,50,000 plus.
When does the OJ China trip run?
October. Peak autumn weather, low humidity, ideal Great Wall hiking temperature. Trip cost INR 2.2L for 10 days including flights from Bangalore.