Help! with this Beijing-Xian-Shanghai itinerary
 

Hi All,

We(couple in 30s) are planning a trip to China for 11 days. We are landing in Beijing and leaving from Shanghai. We are struggling to find a countryside/village/nature filled getaway for 2 days maybe after Beijing or after Xian. Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

So far we have got

1) Beijing: Reach in the afternoon (free)

2) Beijing: Tiananmen square, Forbidden Kingdom, roam and dinner in the city (maybe visit silk market too)

3) Beijing: Great Wall of China Mutianyu section, roam and dinner in the city

4) Beijing: Zoo (for pandas) and Summer palace. Overnight train to Xian

5) Xian: Roam in the city (still working on what to do on this day)

6) Xian: Terracotta Warriors

7) ??

8) ??

9) Shanghai: Bund and Yu Gardens and roam in the city

10) Shanghai: Daytrip to a Watertown, maybe Xitang?? Evening free

11 )Shanghai - French Concession + explore neighbourhoods (flyout in late evening)

We haven't booked our train tickets yet, would be booking it as soon as we can fill in the two days. Hoping the experts here can help us out.

Thank you so much!

There is much more to do in both Beijing than you can see in the time you have there -- maybe those things don't appeal?

I haven't been to Shanghai yet, but did visit Beijing and Xi'an -- and a number of places in between and around -- in 2010. You might find some ideas in my trip report -- just click on my screen name to find it.

Enjoy@

3 Days Xian Tour Package
Day 1 Xian
Arrive in Xian, meet our guide at the airport and take private transfer to your hotel for rest.
Then you will take private transfer to Xiamaling Street, where the Tomb of Dongzhongshu is located. Dong is one of the most important Confucianism Masters, who had outlined the doctrine of five elements in mutual promotion, and tried to interpret Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety with the force of mutual promotion among.
Then you will go west and pass the Wolong Temple, a famous Buddhism temple built in Han Dynasty, which have a history around 1,800 years.
City WallWalk along the City Wall and stop at the Forest Stone Tablet Museum. This museum focusing on displays of stone steles, epigraphs and stone sculptures from past dynasties, which is built based on Xian Confucius Temple. If you are interested in Chinese calligraphy, you cannot miss this museum.
Continue walk westward and cross Sanxue Street, you will arrive at the Shuyuanmen Culture Street, where lots of shops sell calligraphy, paints and local souvenirs. At the east exit of the street, you will pass the Guanzhong Shuyuan (now becomes Primary School of Xian Normal College), one of the 4 famous school in Ming & Qing Dynasty. Nearby, the Baoqing Pagoda stands at the busy downtown shopping area.
Cross the underpass and have lunch at Laowan Restaurant. Then you will visit the South Gate of the ancient City Wall. You can either walk on top of the wall or rent a bike and ride along the wall. After that, walk by the Xiangzimiao Street and turn right to Zhubashi Street. This street is famous for its wood & bamboo workshops in past times.
Cross the street and walk to the Drum Tower Square. Go west and you will pass the Xian City God Temple. Then turn right and walk in the Muslim quarter. You will visit the mosque at Daxuexixiang. As it is located at the west area of the Muslim quarter, it is also call the West Great Mosque. After that, enjoy your shopping time at the Muslim street which is lined with shops selling souvenirs and local snacks.
Your Muslim quarter visit will be finished at the Beiyuanmen, then take private car transfer back to your hotel.
Day 2 Xian
Meet our guide at your hotel and take private transfer to Xian railway station. Today you will take express bus to Lintong, the place where The Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was discovered.
Terracotta WarriorsThe Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. After enter the museum, you will watch a 360-degree movie about some background information and how the army was discovered.
There are more than 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta soldiers and horses excavated from this area which all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively. No. 1 Pit is the largest, first opened to the public on Chinas National Day, 1979. There are columns of soldiers at the front, followed by war chariots at the back. No. 2 Pit was founded in the year 1976, it contains a thousand warriors and 90 chariots of wood. No.3 pit has more than 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons.
In the late afternoon, take express bus back to the railway station and private transfer back to your hotel.
Day 3 Xian
Meet our guide at your hotel and take private transfer to airport/railway station for your departure.

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No, I would say, fortunately.....

You might want to consider going to maijishan and/or kongtongshan, two 'national parks' in Gansu province. If you want to make the most of your time, gettign a car and driver would work best.

But if you just want to do one and not the other, then you could probalby do Maijishan, which is a 3-hour train ride to Tianshui, and then a one hour bus to Maijishan. Kontongshan is near Pingliang.