Quỳnh Nguyễn · reviewed on
Short answer: the most logical first-time week in China is Beijing for 2 days, a 4.5 to 6 hour bullet train to Shanghai, one day in Hangzhou, one day in Suzhou, then fly home from Shanghai. Estimated cost excluding international flights: 5,000 to 7,500 yuan per person on a budget.
ℹ️ Updated 05/10/2026. Museum hours come from each official site. Train times and the budget are estimates, so check before you book.
What is the best 7-day China itinerary for first-time visitors?
| Day | City | Highlights | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park | Beijing |
| 2 | Beijing | Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace or hutongs | Beijing |
| 3 | Beijing → Shanghai | Bullet train, evening on the Bund | Shanghai |
| 4 | Shanghai | Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum East, Huangpu cruise | Shanghai |
| 5 | Shanghai → Hangzhou | West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Hefang Street | Hangzhou |
| 6 | Hangzhou → Suzhou → Shanghai | Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou Museum | Shanghai |
| 7 | Shanghai | Shopping, cafés, fly home | — |
Pick your start day carefully: the Forbidden City closes on Mondays and Shanghai Museum East on Tuesdays. Do not let day 1 fall on a Monday, and do not start on a Saturday (day 4 would be a Tuesday).
Should you fly into Beijing or Shanghai, and do you need a visa?
Book an open-jaw ticket: into Beijing, out of Shanghai. Check direct routes for your season.
Entry rules depend on your passport. French ordinary passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31/12/2026 (diplomatie.gouv.fr). Vietnamese travellers generally need a visa (visa guide). If you fly on to a third country, read how the 240-hour visa-free transit works and check the National Immigration Administration for your nationality.
Days 1-2: Beijing
Day 1. Tiananmen Square, then the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, following the central axis to the Imperial Garden. Exit north and climb Jingshan Park for the view over the golden roofs. Peking duck for dinner.
⚠️ Forbidden City: no same-day tickets at the gate; book ahead with your passport on bookingticket.dpm.org.cn, where tickets go on sale at 20:00 Beijing time, 7 days before the visit. Closed Mondays. April 1 to October 31: 8:30-17:00, last entry 16:00; off-season hours differ (intl.dpm.org.cn).
Day 2. Leave around 7:00 for the Mutianyu Great Wall, scenic and less crowded than Badaling; in peak season (March 16 to November 15, 2026) it opens at 7:30 and has an enclosed cable car (en.mutianyugreatwall.com). In the afternoon, the Summer Palace or a slow walk around the Shichahai hutongs. More in my Beijing guide.
Day 3: Beijing to Shanghai by bullet train
From Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao takes 4.5 to 6 hours. Both stations are huge: arrive 60 to 90 minutes early with your original passport, which works as your ticket at the gates (12306.cn). In the evening, walk Nanjing Road to the Bund for the Lujiazui skyline.
Day 4: Shanghai
Morning at Yu Garden with soup dumplings. Afternoon at Shanghai Museum East in Pudong: open 10:00-18:00, last entry 17:00, closed Tuesdays, and individual visitors usually do not need to book (shanghaimuseum.cn). Evening cruise on the Huangpu. See my Shanghai guide.
Day 5: Hangzhou and West Lake
Train Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Walk West Lake: Broken Bridge, the Bai and Su causeways, and a boat out on the water (travelwestlake.com). Afternoon at Lingyin Temple or the Longjing tea village, dinner on Hefang Street. More in my Hangzhou guide.
Day 6: Suzhou as a day trip
Train Hangzhou East → Suzhou, 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Arrive early at the Humble Administrator's Garden, then visit Suzhou Museum next door: book through the official channel, up to 7 days ahead (english.suzhou.gov.cn). Stroll Pingjiang Road, see Shantang Street lit up, then take the train back to Shanghai (25 to 60 minutes).
My tip: leave your big suitcase at your Shanghai hotel from day 5 and travel with a small bag.
Day 7: Shanghai and departure
Depending on your flight: shopping on West Nanjing Road, cafés on Anfu Road, or the Bund by day.
How long is the bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai?
About 4.5 to 6 hours from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao, depending on the train. Every other leg of this route takes 2.5 hours or less.
| Leg | Stations | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing → Shanghai | Beijing South → Shanghai Hongqiao | 4.5-6 h |
| Shanghai → Hangzhou | Hongqiao → Hangzhou East | 45 min-1.5 h |
| Hangzhou → Suzhou | Hangzhou East → Suzhou / Suzhou North | 1.5-2.5 h |
| Suzhou → Shanghai | Suzhou → Shanghai | 25-60 min |
Where should you stay in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou?
- Beijing: Wangfujing or Qianmen, close to the Forbidden City.
- Shanghai: People's Square / Nanjing Road for first-timers, Jing'an for restaurants.
- Hangzhou: the Hubin area, right by the lake.
How much does a 7-day trip to China cost?
Estimated per person, excluding international flights:
| Item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel | 250-500 yuan/night | 600-1,000 yuan/night |
| Food | 100-200 yuan/day | 250-400 yuan/day |
| Bullet trains | 800-1,300 yuan | 1,200-2,000 yuan |
| Entry tickets | 400-800 yuan | 800-1,500 yuan |
| Total | 5,000-7,500 yuan | 8,000-13,000 yuan |
Almost everything is paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay; see my payment guide.
What if you only have 5 days, or 10?
- 5 days: drop Beijing. Fly in and out of Shanghai: 2 days in Shanghai, 1 in Hangzhou, 1 in Suzhou, 1 spare day.
- 10 days: add Xi'an and the Terracotta Army as in my 10-day itinerary, or fly to Hunan for Zhangjiajie and Fenghuang.
Sources
- Forbidden City: intl.dpm.org.cn, booking bookingticket.dpm.org.cn
- Mutianyu Great Wall: en.mutianyugreatwall.com
- Shanghai Museum East: shanghaimuseum.cn
- Suzhou Museum: english.suzhou.gov.cn
- West Lake: travelwestlake.com
- Trains: 12306.cn
- Entry rules: en.nia.gov.cn, diplomatie.gouv.fr
Frequently asked questions
What is the best 7-day China itinerary for first-time visitors?
Fly into Beijing for 2 days (Forbidden City and the Great Wall), take the 4.5 to 6 hour bullet train to Shanghai, spend a day at Hangzhou's West Lake and a day in Suzhou's gardens, then fly home from Shanghai. Book an open-jaw ticket, into Beijing and out of Shanghai, so you never backtrack.
How long is the bullet train from Beijing to Shanghai?
About 4.5 to 6 hours depending on the train, from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao. The other legs are short: Shanghai to Hangzhou 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, Hangzhou to Suzhou 1.5 to 2.5 hours, Suzhou to Shanghai 25 to 60 minutes. Book with your passport on 12306 or Trip.com and arrive early at big stations.
How much does a 7-day trip to China cost?
For this route, excluding international flights, budget roughly 5,000 to 7,500 yuan per person on a budget and 8,000 to 13,000 yuan for a comfortable trip. That covers hotels, food, bullet trains, entry tickets and local transport. These are estimates: prices change with the season and how early you book.
Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?
Yes. The Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets at the gate, so you must book ahead with your passport on the official site bookingticket.dpm.org.cn; tickets go on sale at 20:00 Beijing time, 7 days before the visit. It is closed on Mondays. From April 1 to October 31 it opens 8:30 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00; winter hours differ. Never plan your Beijing day for a Monday.
