Short answer
Five days buys you two cities done properly, not three done badly. The pairing that works is Beijing for three nights, then Xi'an for two, linked by a high-speed train of about 4.5 to 6 hours. Both ends are loaded with the things a first trip is for, and the transfer eats half a day rather than a whole one.
Only two bookings have hard clocks: the Forbidden City, released about 7 days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time, and the high-speed train, on sale about 15 days ahead. Everything else can be sorted in the week before you fly.
The plan below assumes you land in Beijing. Add a Shanghai leg and you are looking at a 7-day trip, which is why the shorter version of this route is the honest use of five days.
The route at a glance
| Day | Base | Main plan | Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Land, check in, gentle evening in the hutongs | Airport transfer 45–70 minutes |
| 2 | Beijing | Forbidden City at opening, Jingshan viewpoint, Shichahai at dusk | Subway, 20–30 minutes |
| 3 | Beijing | Great Wall section outside the city, full day | 1.5–2 hours each way by car |
| 4 | Xi'an | Morning train, afternoon city wall, evening Muslim Quarter | High-speed rail 4.5–6 hours |
| 5 | Xi'an | Terracotta Army early, then the history museum area or a late flight out | 1 hour each way to the site |
Three nights in one hotel and two in another. That is the whole trick: no single-night beds, so luggage gets left behind instead of dragged around.
Why Beijing and Xi'an, not Beijing and Shanghai
Shanghai is the better city for a trip of seven days or more. On five, the Xi'an pairing wins for one reason: the day-trip density.
- Beijing gives you three big days: the Forbidden City and Jingshan, a Great Wall section, and the Temple of Heaven and hutongs if time allows.
- Xi'an gives you a single unmissable morning: the Terracotta Army, roughly an hour outside the city, plus a wall you can cycle and a food street that runs late.
- The train is the same either way. Beijing to Shanghai and Beijing to Xi'an are both in the 4.5 to 6 hour band, so the transit cost is not what decides it — the content is.
If your dates land on a Monday, note that the Forbidden City is closed. Shift the city day, or start in Xi'an and end in Beijing, which puts the palace day later in the week.
Day 1: land, drop bags, walk somewhere easy
Jet lag decides this day, not ambition. From Beijing Capital or Daxing, the airport rail link or a taxi takes 45 to 70 minutes to the centre depending on traffic and which airport you use.
Late afternoon: a hutong walk near Shichahai or Nanluoguxiang, dinner within ten minutes of the hotel, and an early night. Do not book anything with a fixed start time on arrival day. A 20:00 dinner reservation after a ten-hour flight is a reservation you will miss.
Day 2: Forbidden City, then the view over it
Be at the Meridian Gate for opening. Tickets are timed, morning entries are usually required to enter before midday, and the walk through the palace runs two to four hours depending on how much you read. Exiting north, Jingshan Park across the road gives you the classic roofline view for about 20 minutes of climbing.
Afternoon options, in order of what to sacrifice: the Temple of Heaven park, the Lama Temple, or the National Museum. Evening: Shichahai and the Drum and Bell towers area, which is best on foot and free.
Day 3: the Great Wall, and a warning about the traffic
A restored section such as Mutianyu is a full day: 1.5 to 2 hours each way by car or organised transfer, plus three to four hours on the wall. Leave by 07:30 to be ahead of the coaches. Cable-car, shuttle and toboggan arrangements vary by section and season — confirm them on the official scenic-area channel before you pay anyone.
Alternative if the day is short: a closer section gets you back by mid-afternoon. Either way, this is the day to skip the second museum, not the day to squeeze in one more stop.
Day 4: train to Xi'an, wall in the afternoon
Take a morning departure from Beijing West to Xi'an North. The journey runs about 4.5 to 6 hours depending on the service, and city-centre to city-centre it beats flying once airport time is counted. Arrive early at the station: 30 to 60 minutes covers security and the platform check.
You board with your passport — no paper ticket is issued. Check which Beijing station your train leaves from before you leave the hotel; the city has several, and they are far apart.
By mid-afternoon you are inside the city wall. Walk a stretch of it or hire a bike on top, which takes 1.5 to 2 hours for the full loop. Eat in the Muslim Quarter in the evening, and go in hungry rather than full: portions are small and the point is variety.
Day 5: Terracotta Army, then the way home
The site is about an hour east of the city by tourist coach, public bus or taxi. Leave at 07:30 and you will be through the main pits before the big groups. Two to three hours on site is normal; the circuit is bigger than photographs suggest.
Back in the city by mid-afternoon, there is time for the Shaanxi History Museum or the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area before a late flight or an onward train. If your flight home is from Beijing, the high-speed line runs the same 4.5 to 6 hours in reverse — which is why the return leg is worth booking as an open-jaw flight into Beijing and out of Xi'an.
Booking windows
| What | Opens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed train seats | About 15 days before departure | Official railway channel; agents take reservations earlier, up to roughly 60 days, and issue when sales open |
| Forbidden City | About 7 days before, from 20:00 Beijing time | Passport required, no same-day tickets, closed Mondays, 40,000 per day |
| Terracotta Army | Usually days ahead | Real-name entry with passport; check the official channel for the current booking rule |
| Great Wall transfer or cable car | Days ahead, or on the day at the section | Private transfers are worth booking the evening before |
| Hotels | Once flights and trains are fixed | Station-adjacent beats scenic on a five-day trip |
Where to sleep
Two hotels, both chosen for the metro rather than the view.
- Beijing: inside the second ring, walking distance to a Line 1 or Line 2 station. Wangfujing and the Dongcheng hutongs put the Forbidden City within a 20-minute subway ride.
- Xi'an: inside the city wall near the Bell Tower, or anywhere on Line 2 for the quick run to Xi'an North. The Muslim Quarter is walkable from the wall's south side.
Book the hotel and the train as a set. A cheap hotel near a distant station costs more in taxi time than the room saves.
What to drop if a day runs late
- Drop the second museum, keep the transportThe Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army are timed bookings. Temple of Heaven, the National Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum are the flexible ones.
- Shorten the wall day, do not cancel itLeaving by 07:30 and returning by 15:00 still gives you three hours on the wall.
- Move the city wall cycle to Day 5 morningIf the train runs late, the wall is open early and takes two hours.
- Skip the evening showEvery one of these cities sells a nightly performance. They are the easiest thing to lose without losing the trip.
- Never drop a booked trainMissing a departure costs a new ticket, and peak services sell out days ahead. Build the day around the train, not the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
Is five days enough for a first trip to China?
Enough for two cities done properly. Beijing plus Xi'an is the strongest pairing: imperial sights in one, the Terracotta Army and the city wall in the other, connected by a high-speed train of about 4.5 to 6 hours. Three cities in five days is possible on paper and miserable in practice.
How far in advance can I book high-speed train tickets?
China Railway opens sales about 15 days before departure. Agents and booking platforms take reservations earlier, up to roughly 60 days, and issue the ticket once sales open. Passport details are needed at booking, and the passport is also what you board with.
How do I get Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner?
Book online with passport details, released about 7 days before the visit date, from 20:00 Beijing time. There are no same-day tickets, the daily visitor cap is 40,000, and the museum is closed on Mondays. Have your passport number to hand before the release moment, because peak-season tickets go in minutes.
Do I need a paper train ticket in China?
No. The passport used for the booking is the ticket at the gate and on the platform. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes before departure for security and the platform check, and confirm which station your train leaves from — major cities have several.
Where should I sleep in Beijing and Xi'an?
In Beijing, stay inside the second ring within walking distance of a Line 1 or Line 2 subway stop. In Xi'an, stay inside the city wall near the Bell Tower or a metro station on Line 2. For a five-day trip, station-adjacent hotels beat scenic ones.
What should I drop if a day runs late?
Drop the second museum, not the transport. Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army are the two timed bookings that cannot be moved. Temple of Heaven, the hutongs and the evening show are the flexible slots, and a shortened Great Wall day still works if you leave before 07:30.
Can I do five days without any internal flights?
Yes, on the Beijing and Xi'an route. The high-speed train between them takes about 4.5 to 6 hours city centre to city centre, which is usually faster than flying once airport transfers and check-in are counted. Keep a domestic flight only if you change the route to a distant city.
Related reading
If you can stretch to seven days, the extra two are best spent adding Shanghai or turning Xi'an into three nights — see the 7-day itinerary. Travelling with children changes the pacing more than the route, and the family guide covers where to build in slack. For a longer run through more of the country, start from the 10-day version.
Compiled from China Railway booking policy as reported by railway and travel-ticket sources, Palace Museum ticket-release rules reported across multiple 2026 visitor guides, and current high-speed line journey times, cross-checked 30 September 2026. Ticket-release windows, daily caps, opening days and journey times are revised regularly — confirm each one on the official channel for your date. Nothing on this page is ticketing or financial advice.