Self-guided China tour 5 days 4 nights

Morning:
Start at Tiananmen Square, a historical symbol of China.
Visit the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), exploring ancient royal architecture.
Lunch: Enjoy Beijing roast duck at a local restaurant near the Forbidden City.
Afternoon:
Visit the Summer Palace, a summer retreat with Kunming Lake and beautiful gardens.
Evening: Stroll along Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, enjoying street foods like tanghulu and grilled meat skewers.

Morning:
Take a bus or train to the Great Wall of China (Mutianyu section, less crowded than Badaling). Walk to explore this wonder of the world.
Lunch: Have lunch at a restaurant near the Great Wall area, try local noodles or dumplings.
Afternoon:
Return to Beijing, visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for good harvests.
Evening: Explore Nanluoguxiang ancient street, stroll through traditional alleys and enjoy milk tea or pastries.

Morning:
Take a high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an (about 4-5 hours).
Visit the Terracotta Army, the world-famous terracotta warriors, a symbol of the Qin Dynasty.
Lunch: Enjoy Liangpi cold noodles or Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) at a local eatery.
Afternoon:
Explore the Xi'an City Wall, walk or rent a bike to see the panoramic view of the city.
Evening: Stroll through the Muslim Quarter, enjoy Muslim dishes such as grilled lamb and fried dumplings.

Morning:
Take a high-speed train from Xi'an to Shanghai (about 6-7 hours).
Arrive in Shanghai, visit The Bund, admire the Huangpu River and the historical buildings opposite the Shanghai Tower.
Lunch: Have lunch at a restaurant near The Bund, try xiao long bao or Shanghai noodles.
Afternoon:
Explore Yu Garden, a classic garden with traditional Chinese architecture.
Stroll along Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping street in Shanghai.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Huangpu River, admiring Shanghai's night view.

Morning:
Visit Shanghai Tower, go up to the observation deck for a panoramic view of the city.
Visit Chenghuang Temple Old Street to buy souvenirs.
Lunch: Have lunch at a local restaurant, try Shanghai dim sum.
Afternoon:
Take the high-speed train from Shanghai back to Beijing.
Free time for shopping at Qianmen Street or Hongqiao Market to buy souvenirs such as tea and handicrafts.