Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Fly from the UK to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), allowing roughly 11–13 hours in the air depending on your departure airport and routing. A morning arrival gives you the best chance of enjoying the day, though jet lag may make a slower pace welcome. From Pudong, a taxi into central Shanghai usually takes around 45–75 minutes depending on traffic; the metro is cheaper but less comfortable with luggage. Arrange your onward transfer before landing, and keep your hotel address written in Chinese. Head first to The Bund for an easy 45-minute riverside stroll and a first look across the Huangpu River at the skyline. It’s free and open all day; if your flight arrives later than planned, shorten the walk rather than rushing.
Walk inland to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and explore a short stretch for about 45 minutes. It’s lively and crowded, so keep an eye on your belongings and take a breather in a café if the flight is catching up with you. Continue to People’s Square, a few minutes’ walk away, for half an hour among the gardens and open spaces before checking in or taking a proper rest. The three stops are close enough to link on foot, but taxis are easy to find if you’re tired or carrying bags.
Keep dinner casual at Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Road, near People’s Square. Expect roughly ¥40–80 per person for soup dumplings and a simple meal; go earlier rather than late, as popular fillings can sell out and hours may vary. Take care with the hot broth inside each dumpling, then call it an early night—tomorrow’s exploring will be more enjoyable after some sleep.
Start at Yu Garden in the Old City, where the rockeries, ponds and covered bridges are best enjoyed before the busiest part of the day. Allow about 1½ hours, then take a little time to wander the surrounding lanes. The garden generally opens Tuesday–Sunday, around 9am–4:30pm, and is usually closed on Mondays; check the current schedule and ticket price before setting out (typically around ¥30–40). The nearest metro stop is Yuyuan Garden.
Stay nearby for Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, known for its soup-filled xiaolongbao. Budget roughly ¥50–100 per person, and expect a queue at busy times; ordering a few dishes to share is a good way to try different fillings. After lunch, take Metro Line 10 from Yuyuan Garden and change to Line 2 for Lujiazui, then walk to Shanghai Museum East. Set aside about two hours for its Chinese art and history collections. Entry arrangements can change, so check the museum’s official site for opening hours and whether advance reservation is needed.
From the museum, head to Lujiazui Riverside Promenade for an easy hour-long walk beside the Huangpu, with the historic riverfront and city skyline spread across the water. Finish at Shanghai Tower, a short walk away, and go up to the observation deck in the late afternoon for the changing light over the city. Allow around 1½ hours, including security and queues; tickets commonly cost about ¥180–268, and booking ahead can save time. It’s worth checking visibility before buying—on a hazy day, the views may be limited.
After your early arrival, drop your bags and head to the Central–Mid-Levels Escalator. It runs roughly 6am to midnight and is free; ride a section, then hop off to explore SoHo’s sloping lanes and shopfronts. Give yourself about an hour, including time to wander rather than treating the escalator as a straight-through ride.
Walk to Tai Kwun, the former Central Police Station compound, now a handsome mix of restored colonial buildings, courtyards and contemporary art spaces. Entry to the grounds is free; exhibitions may charge, so check the day’s programme and allow around 1½ hours. For lunch, head to Mak’s Noodle on Wellington Street for wonton noodles—budget about HK$60–120 per person. The portions are famously modest, so order an extra side if you’re hungry.
Make your way to the Central Star Ferry Pier in time for a harbour crossing near sunset. The ride to Tsim Sha Tsui takes only a few minutes, but allow about 30 minutes for the terminal and a possible wait; check the current timetable before setting off. From the pier, stroll the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade for about an hour, taking in the skyline as the lights come on. The ferry is inexpensive, and an Octopus card makes the simple tap-on boarding especially easy.
After landing at Beijing Capital International Airport, allow around 45–75 minutes to reach central Beijing by taxi, or take the Airport Express and change at Dongzhimen for the subway. Drop your bags first; the day works best with an early flight and a light carry-on. Head to the Temple of Heaven and give its grounds and historic halls about two hours. The park usually opens early, while hall opening hours and ticket prices vary by season; budget roughly ¥15 for the park or ¥34 for a combined ticket, and check the current schedule before setting out.
From the temple, take a taxi or subway toward Qianmen Street for an hour among its old shopfronts and nearby lanes. Then sit down at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant in Qianmen for Beijing roast duck; allow roughly ¥150–300 per person, and book an early dinner if you want to make sunset at the next stop. A taxi to Jingshan Park takes about 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic. Climb to the pavilion for the view over the Forbidden City; the park’s hours vary seasonally, so check its closing time and leave enough time for the climb. In October, sunset comes relatively early, making an early Quanjude reservation especially helpful.
Take an early flight from Beijing and allow for check-in and transfers at both ends; after landing, the trip across Chengdu to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding can take around 45–75 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic. The base is generally open from about 7:30am to 6pm, with admission around ¥55; book ahead with your passport details. Plan on roughly three hours there, but be realistic: an early flight still may not get you to the pandas in the morning, when they’re usually liveliest. If a morning visit is a priority, it’s better to shift the base to another morning rather than rush through it after your flight.
From the panda base, take a taxi toward Wenshu Monastery; allow roughly 30–45 minutes, traffic permitting. Give the temple and its quiet courtyards about an hour, then walk to Chen Mapo Tofu nearby for lunch. Budget around ¥60–120 per person, and expect a spicy, warming introduction to Sichuan cooking—ask for a milder version if you prefer. The monastery is typically open during the day, but check its hours before setting out.
Finish at Kuanzhai Alley, around a 10–15-minute taxi ride from the monastery. Set aside about 1½ hours to browse its historic lanes, small shops and teahouses; it’s a pleasant place to slow down after the flight, though the busiest stretch can feel crowded. For an easy first evening, stay nearby for dinner or tea rather than adding another cross-city trip.
After your early flight from Chengdu, allow time to collect your bags and get across Beijing to Haidian; traffic can make the airport-to-city transfer unpredictable, so keep the morning flexible. Head to the Summer Palace for 2½–3 hours among the lakeside paths, pavilions and gardens. The grounds generally open early, but hours and ticket options vary by season; budget around ¥30 for an entry ticket in peak season, with some halls and boat rides costing extra. A combined ticket can be worthwhile if you want to enter several of the paid sights.
From the Summer Palace, take a taxi or ride-hailing car to Peking University—usually around 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic—and leave about an hour for a campus stroll if visitor access is available. Check the university’s current visitor rules and reservation requirements before setting out; access can be restricted, and a booking is not always guaranteed. If entry is unavailable, enjoy the university’s tree-lined surroundings instead of counting on a gate-side visit.
Stay in Haidian for dinner at a convenient Haidilao Hot Pot branch, perhaps around Wudaokou or Zhongguancun, depending on where you finish. Expect roughly ¥100–200 per person; popular branches can have a wait, so join the queue through the restaurant’s app or in person and take the time to enjoy the dipping sauces and table-side service. A relaxed meal is a good finish after the flight and a long afternoon on foot.
If your flight is late enough, spend 1½–2 hours at 798 Art District, wandering its converted-factory lanes, galleries and cafés. Individual galleries keep their own hours and some close on particular days, so check the places you most want to see before setting out. It’s a sprawling site; wear comfortable shoes and leave a little buffer to find your way back to the main road.
Head to the Sanyuanqiao area for lunch at a convenient local restaurant; budget around ¥50–120 per person. From 798, allow roughly 20–35 minutes by taxi to get there, depending on traffic. Then take the Beijing Capital Airport Express from Sanyuanqiao to Beijing Capital International Airport—the ride takes about 20–30 minutes and costs roughly ¥25. Add time for the walk to the station, the train, and airport check-in and security.
For your flight from Beijing Capital International Airport to the UK, aim to arrive well ahead of departure and follow your airline’s check-in guidance; international flights commonly call for around three hours at the airport. Expect roughly 10–12 hours in the air, depending on your UK destination and routing.
No packing list attached yet.