The second largest in the world — China is a land of breathtaking contrasts, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with cutting-edge modernity. From the sprawling Great Wall to the futuristic skyline of Shanghai, the country offers a series of unforgettable experiences for travelers. Furthermore, China is packed with cultural landmarks, delicious local food, and thrilling, one-of-a-kind experiences!
Whether you’re a history buff eager to explore Beijing’s ancient imperial past or a lover of modern design and cosmopolitan vibes drawn to Shanghai’s cutting-edge energy, this itinerary is designed to give you the best of both worlds.
This is my second time visiting China, where I mostly explored the city of Beijing for 3 days. But this time around, I am exploring two notable cities, including Beijing and Shanghai for 7 days! Thus, if you’re traveling to China anytime soon, here’s the ultimate travel guide to Beijing and Shanghai for 7 days!
Table of Contents
How to get from the Philippines to China?
Several major cities in the Philippines have direct flights to different destinations in China. Here are some of the popular routes:
- Manila to Beijing: Direct flights are available with airlines such as Cebu Pacific, Air China, Philippine Airlines, or China Eastern Airlines. It takes about 4 hours to fly from Manila to Beijing.
- Manila to Shanghai: You can find direct flights from Manila to Shanghai on airlines like China Eastern Airlines, Philippine Airlines, or Spring Airlines. It takes about 4 hours to fly from Manila to Shanghai.
In our case, we flew from Manila to Beijing. We had a short layover in Shenzhen and flew with Shenzhen Airlines and then flew to Beijing with Air China. Both are full-service carriers and we had meals and even a blanket during the flight. Then our exit point was from Shanghai to Manila.
Tourist Visa Requirements for China for Filipinos
For Filipino passport holders, you need to obtain a Chinese tourist visa upon entering China. Thus, here are some of the requirements for your Chinese tourist visa application:
- Passport
- Photocopy of Bio page and Emergency contact page
- Old passport
- Visa application and the confirmation page with Signatures
- One photo (Taken within 6 months) 48mm x 33mm size with a white background
- Proof of legal stay or residence status in the Philippines
- Photocopy of previous Chinese Visa
- Roundtrip ticket
- Hotel Accommodation
- Travel Itinerary
Moreover, here are the additional requirements for first-time Chinese tourist visa applicants:
- Bank Certificate (including 6 months bank statement) and the receipt for payment of this certificate
- BIR-Stamped Income Tax Return Form
- COE (detailing the salary and the length of employment)
- Business Registration Certificate (if you are the owner)
- Professional ID/Student ID (if applicable)
- Other relevant documents proving the applicant’s economic condition/employment supporting the applicant’s travel to China or explaining the travel purpose (if applicable)
Beijing to Shanghai (vice versa)
High-Speed Train
One of the most popular and convenient ways to travel between Beijing and Shanghai is by high-speed train. The trains are fast, comfortable, and relatively affordable, making them a great choice for travelers. The travel time is approximately 5 to 6 hours.
You can book train tickets online via Trip.com or Klook (to get discounts!) It’s recommended to book your tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
Plane
If you want to save much more time, you can opt to fly from Beijing to Shanghai or vice versa. The travel time only takes about 2 hours. Flights depart from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) and arrive at either Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
In our case, our entry point was Beijing, and opted to fly from Beijing to Shanghai via Hainan Arlines!
Getting around China
Getting around China is very straightforward. You can either take the bus, subway, or even taxi. The cheapest way and easiest way to get around China is by taking the train. For taxis, it’s cheaper to use the application DiDi, which is the leading ride-hailing service in China that’s similar to Uber. You can install this app on your mobile before coming to China.
When is the best time to travel to China?
The best time to visit or to travel to China depends on your preference. China has four seasons, thus, it’s still up to you when you should visit China. To give you an idea, here’s the time of four different seasons in China:
- Spring (April–May)
- Autumn (September–October)
- Summer (June–August)
- Winter (December–February)
Based on experience, I’ve been to China during autumn and spring which are the most beautiful times of the year!
Beijing – Shanghai Itinerary for 7 Days
Day 1
- Arrival in Beijing
- Check-in at our hostel
- Olympic Village
- The Bird’s Nest
- The Cube
Day 2
- The Great Wall of China
- Wangfujing Street
Day 3
- The Forbidden City
- Tiananmen Square
- Beijing Zoo
- Jingshan Park
- Fly to Shanghai
Day 4
- The Bund
- The Bund Promenade
- People’s Square
- Shanghai National Museum
- Shanghai Old Town
- Yu Garden
- Nanjing Road
Day 5
- Shanghai Disneyland
Day 6
- Starbucks Reserve
- Jing’an Temple
- Shanghai Tower
Day 7
- Depart from Shanghai to Manila
Beijing – Shanghai Budget & Expenses
To give you an idea of how much we spent on our travel to China for 7 days, here’s the breakdown of our expenses (as of this writing):
| Chinese Tourist Visa Processing | PHP 2,898 |
| Philippine Travel Tax | PHP 1,620 |
| Total Flight Expenses | PHP 14,664 |
| Total Accommodation (each) | PHP 3,911 |
| Great Wall of China | PHP 2,490 |
| Shanghai Disneyland | PHP 3,911 |
| Taxi to Airport (Shanghai) | PHP 348 each |
| Total Expenses | PHP 29,842 |
Please note that food and other personal expenses are not included in the total breakdown of expenses. Moreover, the prices above are subject to change.
Where to Stay in China?
Beijing
GreenTree Inn Beijing
Shanghai
Simu Boutique Hotel
Kindly note that you can book these hotels via Agoda. Also, these are the places where we stayed during our trip to China.
Top Must-See Attractions in China
Beijing
- The Great Wall of China (you can book this via Klook)
- Forbidden City
- Temple of Heaven
- Summer Palace
- Tiananmen Square
- Beijing Zoo (to see pandas!)
Shanghai
- The Bund (iconic skyline views)
- Yu Garden (a historic classical garden)
- Shanghai Tower (observation deck with amazing views)
- Nanjing Road (shopping street)
- Jade Buddha Temple
Essential Travel Guide & Tips
- Tap water in China is not drinkable, so stick to bottled water during your stay.
- While China offers delicious street food, be cautious if you have a sensitive stomach.
- Expect that locals will find it difficult to communicate with you. Thus, you can use Google Translate for your guidance.
- ATMs are widely available in both Beijing and Shanghai. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept international debit and credit cards. However, smaller businesses may prefer cash.
- Install the DiDi app on your mobile phone just in case you will need to take a taxi in both cities.
- Make sure to purchase e-SIM with VPN for China.
Despite the geopolitical issues between the Philippines and China, it would still be a great opportunity to visit China once in your life. China is known for its diverse culture so it would be amazing to experience it first-hand.
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Hey, my name is Ara Patria—a solo female traveler who is in her quest of traveling the world. I write and learn about life through the lenses of my camera, personal experiences, and adventures. Join me as I unravel the mystery of life through exploring the wanders of the world.
