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Beijing to Shanghai · 10 days

A car-free rail journey from Beijing's imperial palaces and the Great Wall to Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Chengdu's pandas and Sichuan food streets, and Shanghai's water towns and glittering Bund skyline.

10days
27stops
4620km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu · Leshan · Chongzhou — start in Beijing, end in Shanghai.

DAY01

Forbidden City → Guijie

4.9 km · 20m driving · Overnight in Guijie
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Forbidden City· start
  2. 1.2 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Jingshan Park
  4. 3.7 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Guijie· overnight
DAY02

Mutianyu Great Wall → Shichahai

135 km · 1h 25m driving · Overnight in Shichahai
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Mutianyu Great Wall· start
  2. 68 km · 43m
  3. 12:00
    Shichahai· overnight
DAY03

Temple of Heaven → Muslim Quarter

1100 km · 11h 40m driving · long drive · Overnight in Muslim Quarter
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Temple of Heaven· start
  2. 1092 km · 11h 30m
  3. 12:00
    Muslim Quarter· overnight
DAY04

Terracotta Army → Big Wild Goose Pagoda

81 km · 57m driving · Overnight in Big Wild Goose Pagoda
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Terracotta Army· start
  2. 8 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Huaqing Palace
  4. 33 km · 21m
  5. 15:00
    Big Wild Goose Pagoda· overnight
DAY05

Xi'an → Jiuyanqiao

738 km · 8h 2m driving · long drive · Overnight in Jiuyanqiao
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Xi'an City Wall· start
  2. 2 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Yongxingfang
  4. 731 km · 7h 42m
  5. 15:00
    Jiuyanqiao· overnight
DAY06

Chengdu → Kuanzhai Alley

28 km · 30m driving · Overnight in Kuanzhai Alley
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding· start
  2. 12 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Wenshu Monastery
  4. 2 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Kuanzhai Alley· overnight
DAY07

Leshan → Zhanggongqiao Food Street

155 km · 1h 47m driving · Overnight in Zhanggongqiao Food Street
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Leshan Giant Buddha· start
  2. 2.4 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Zhanggongqiao Food Street· overnight
DAY08

Dujiangyan → Jiezi Ancient Town

217 km · 2h 22m driving · Overnight in Jiezi Ancient Town
  1. 09:00
    Dujiangyan Irrigation System· start
  2. 15 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mount Qingcheng
  4. 8.8 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Jiezi Ancient Town· overnight
DAY09

Yu Garden → The Bund

2054 km · 21h 54m driving · long drive · Overnight in The Bund
  1. 09:00
    Yu Garden· start
  2. 2.8 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Huanghe Road Food Street
  4. 2.3 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ The Bund· overnight
DAY10

Zhujiajiao Water Town → Lujiazui

107 km · 1h 14m driving
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Zhujiajiao Water Town· start
  2. 49 km · 31m
  3. 12:00
    Tianzifang
  4. 5.2 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Lujiazui
Heads Up
  • Day 3: 11h 40m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 5: 8h 2m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 9: 21h 54m driving — plan rest stops
  • Book high-speed trains early; Beijing–Xi'an is about 4.5h and Xi'an–Chengdu about 3.5h. Chengdu–Shanghai takes 11h+ by rail, so take an early train or consider a short flight.
  • Reserve timed tickets in advance for the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army and Panda Base; passport ID is required for real-name entry.
  • Mutianyu has a cable car and toboggan, and Mount Qingcheng has a cable car; check operating hours and weather on the day.
  • Arrive at the Panda Base around opening time, when pandas are most active.