🗺️ Beijing and Shanghai: comparison of travel, housing and food prices

Beijing and Shanghai often force a choice. You have to pick between a capital with a thousand-year history and a financial megacity. Both cities are huge, and both are almost unavoidable on any itinerary through the country. Good news for readers from Europe: citizens of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and several other countries can enter China visa-free (as of 09/2026, official website of the Chinese embassy). In Beijing, imperial palaces and hutongs await you. In Shanghai, the water town of Zhujiajiao, Sheshan Hill, and skyscrapers. Below is a comparison of travel, accommodation, food, entertainment, and shopping to help you match the city to your vacation.

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Beijing and Shanghai: a quick comparison

💡 In short:

Choose Beijing for imperial palaces, Tiananmen Square, and temples.
Choose Shanghai for the water town, skyscrapers, and the best shopping.
The most convenient way to travel between the cities is by high-speed train: from center to center, no transfers.

The table below will help you quickly understand the difference.

Criterion	Beijing	Shanghai
Role in the country	capital and political center	financial megacity
Main sights	Forbidden City, Tiananmen, Temple of Heaven	Zhujiajiao, Sheshan Hill, Shanghai Museum
City pace	calmer and more historic	faster and more expensive
Best for	history and palace lovers	fans of modern Asia and shopping
Price level	lower	higher

How to get to Beijing and Shanghai

The easiest way to fly to China from Europe is a direct flight. Beijing handles international flights at two airports, and so does Shanghai. Flights from Frankfurt, Munich, and Amsterdam operate regularly, with a travel time of about ten hours. From the airport to the center, take the city express or metro; a taxi costs more and takes longer during rush hour.

Before buying tickets, check your country's visa rules. Citizens of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and several other European countries can enter visa-free for up to 30 days; the policy has been extended until December 31, 2026 (as of 09/2026, Chinese consulate).

The most convenient way to travel between Beijing and Shanghai is by high-speed train. G-class trains depart from central stations almost every hour, and the journey takes less than half a day. A ticket costs less than a flight, and the stations are centrally located, so the trip takes less time than flying with security checks. Book train schedules and tickets on Trip.com in advance: seats sell out quickly during holidays.

If you are short on time, choose a plane. The flight between the cities takes about two hours, but add the trip to the airports and security. Sometimes an evening train is a better deal: you arrive right in the city and do not pay for an extra night.

Food prices in stores and restaurants

Food in China is cheaper than in Europe. To save money, buy vegetables and fruit at markets: locals do the same. Get grains, sweets, and alcohol at supermarkets. Do not be surprised by a five-liter plastic bottle of Chinese vodka on the shelf; it is a regular product.

If you do not like stores, go to a restaurant. The city's signature dish is, of course, Peking duck. Two well-known duck restaurants: Peking Duck Private Kitchen and Dadong Roast Duck. At the first, you book a table and dishes in advance, otherwise you wait over an hour. The second is more expensive, but there are almost always free tables.

The average bill depends on the class of the establishment. At a simple canteen you can have lunch for a couple of dozen yuan; at a good restaurant the bill is several times higher. Prices change every season, so check the menu on site.

In Shanghai, food costs more than in Beijing. The tastiest food here is served in unassuming eateries, not in expensive dining rooms. Shanghai cuisine often comes in a dark sauce, so do not order a lot at once; the taste is unusual. Meat lovers will enjoy Muslim restaurants with beef and lamb. Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the local German bakeries. Ice cream is sold on every corner in Shanghai.

Accommodation: where to stay

Modern hotels appeared in Beijing only in the late seventies. For a long time the Beijing Hotel remained the main one, and later hostels were added. Near Tiananmen Square, the inexpensive Forbidden City Hostel operates. If hotels seem expensive to you and hostels feel cramped, rent an apartment. The price depends on the district, proximity to the metro and stores, the condition of the property, and the amenities the owner offers. The closer to the center, the more expensive.

Glass facade of Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel among trees

In Shanghai, rent is noticeably higher. The duration affects the price: short-term rental, under six months, is especially expensive. There are many hotels here, for every taste and budget. Among the well-known options are New asia hotel, You you hotel, and Grand central hotel, with prices rising from the first to the third. Find a hotel in Beijing or Shanghai on Trip.com conveniently in advance: during the season, available rooms run out.

Entertainment in Beijing

Start getting to know Beijing at Tiananmen Square. Every morning the flag is raised here, and both locals and tourists come to watch. On the square itself stand the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Opera House, and in the center is the Monument to the People's Heroes. Come early in the morning: by noon the crowds get very large.

Next, your route leads to the Forbidden City, Gugong. This palace complex occupies the city center, and legend attributes almost ten thousand rooms to it. You can only verify this on site, wandering through endless corridors. The Gugong Museum was created on the basis of the palace: the halls are restored and look the same as they did many centuries ago.

Important: the palace does not sell tickets on the day of the visit. All visitors, including foreigners, book tickets online in advance and show a passport at the entrance (as of 09/2026, official museum website). Plan your visit several days ahead, otherwise there will be no tickets for the date you need.

The National Museum of China houses the Jade Prince, weapons from the Opium War era, and artifacts about the country's path to independence. The Gongwangfu palace and park ensemble grew out of the estate of Prince Gong, and its theater hall seats two hundred people. The Summer Imperial Palace, called the Garden of Peace and Harmony, still retains its grandeur.

Tiananmen Square with flagpole and gate at sunset

In Beijing, you should also see the temples: the Big Bell Temple, the Confucius Temple, the Temple of Heaven, and the Yonghegong Buddhist monastery. For families with children, a large amusement park operates: a super train, water cars, a Cinderella-style castle, and a cinema with additional effects. Route details for the city are collected in a separate Beijing guide.

Guided tours of Beijing on GetYourGuide save time: you do not stand in ticket lines or look for entrances on your own.

Entertainment in Shanghai

In Shanghai, start with Sheshan Hill. You will not find landscapes like this anywhere else: a safe cable car and a view of the treetops from above await you. If you are lucky, you can catch the park's monthly festival, a sand sculpture festival, or the Lan Sun festival.

The water town of Zhujiajiao resembles Venice. Ancient streets, architecture, local customs, and waterside scenery recreate a picture of old China. The Automobile Museum will tell you the story of car evolution and show rare specimens. Then choose museums by interest: the Shanghai History Museum, the Jewish Refugees Museum, the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Postal Museum, and the large Shanghai Museum.

Sheshan Mountain with basilica and observatory in Shanghai

The underwater hotel near Tianmashan Hill deserves special attention. The building has almost twenty floors, and roughly half of them go underwater. The hotel is five-star, a night here is expensive, but you can look at the wonder from outside for free.

Tours and tickets

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Food: what to try

Street food says the most about a city. In Beijing there is so much of it that your eyes wander. Try different kinds of meat, from chicken to exotic options, and fresh seafood. Many come here for the unusual: silkworm larvae, fried grasshoppers, and other insects on skewers. Noodles and deep-fried dumplings here are very tasty. For dessert, get fruit, from bananas to durian; the selection is large.

night street food stalls with red lanterns

Shanghai cuisine does not differ much from Beijing cuisine. The tastiest food here is also sold on the street, and much of it is grilled right in front of you. Food is served on skewers and cooked in front of you. Noodles are the most popular here. For lunch, Shanghai locals get "Hot Pot" with chicken, celery, and greens, in the style of clay-pot dishes. You should also try the large bivalve mollusks, a local delicacy.

Shopping in Beijing and Shanghai

Almost everything in the world is made in China, so shopping here is a must. In Beijing, the best discounts come during holidays: in sale season, prices drop by almost half. The Friendship shopping center attracts with fixed prices, and at the Zhongyou department store you will find branded goods from around the world. The main rule of Beijing is haggling: bring the price down even in an expensive store, and you will often get a deal.

In Shanghai, silk is at your service, from bed linen to dresses. Traditional Chinese medicine remedies, tea, and porcelain figurines are popular. Shopping starts on any street; there are plenty of stores here.

Antique lovers will especially enjoy Shanghai. Antique shops offer rare items from around the world. Look for jewelry at the First Asian Jewelry Market. Hundreds of stores operate on Nanjing Road, and the Yatai Jinan market sells goods of every kind. The three-story Sunshine shopping center has the best souvenir selection.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

What to choose for a first trip to China?

If this is your first time, start with Beijing. In three days you will see the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven, and in the evening you can relax in a quiet neighborhood. Save Shanghai for a second visit or add it at the end of your itinerary.

How much time do you need for Beijing and how much for Shanghai?

Beijing needs three full days, and Shanghai needs two. You can realistically combine both cities in a week: one day goes to travel between them. Do not try to cover everything; instead pick three main sights in each city.

How to get from Beijing to Shanghai?

The best value is the G-class high-speed train: it takes less than half a day and arrives right in the center. A plane is faster, but add the trip to the airport and security. Book tickets in advance, especially during holidays, when demand is especially high.

Do you need a visa to travel to Beijing and Shanghai?

Citizens of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and several other countries can enter China visa-free (as of 09/2026, list of visa-exempt countries). The visa-free terms are described in the travel section. Before your trip, check your country on the official list.

Where is it cheaper to stay and eat?

In Beijing, food and accommodation are usually cheaper than in Shanghai. The most budget-friendly option is to eat at street eateries and markets, and to stay in a hostel or an apartment slightly away from the center.

In short: what to book

If you only have a few days, pick one city and do not spread yourself thin. The logic is simple. If you love history, choose Beijing. If you want a modern megacity and shopping, choose Shanghai. If you have a week, combine both and travel between the cities by train. Book palace tickets and train tickets in advance: during the season, available spots sell out quickly. Start with accommodation: compare hotels on Trip.com.

Beijing or Shanghai: which city to choose for your first trip