Comparison · Beijing vs Shanghai · China
Beijing vs Shanghai
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Beijing for Forbidden City and Great Wall; choose Shanghai for The Bund, Pudong skyline and a milder winter. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,067 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,067 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Beijing
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Shanghai
- April–May and October–November
Side by side
| Beijing | Shanghai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | China |
| Known for | Forbidden City, Great Wall and Peking duck | The Bund, Pudong skyline and Xiaolongbao |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$230 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 2°C (36°F) | January, 8°C (46°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | PEK, PKX | PVG, SHA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Beijing for…
Forbidden City and Great Wall. Beijing has been China's capital for most of the last 800 years, and its imperial core still lines up along a north–south axis from the Temple of Heaven through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to the Drum and Bell Towers. Around it, grey-brick hutong…
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Choose Shanghai for…
The Bund, Pudong skyline and a milder winter. Shanghai splits along the Huangpu River: on the west bank, the 1920s and 1930s banks and hotels of the Bund, the Old City around Yu Garden and the plane-tree streets of the former French Concession; on the east bank, the Lujiazui towers led by the 632-metre…
Top sights compared
| # | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forbidden City (Palace Museum) | The Bund |
| 2 | Great Wall at Mutianyu | Yu Garden |
| 3 | Temple of Heaven | Shanghai Tower |
| 4 | Summer Palace | Oriental Pearl Tower |
| 5 | Tiananmen Square | Shanghai Museum |
Food compared
| Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|---|
| Peking duck | Soup dumplings |
| Noodles with soybean paste | Pan-fried pork buns |
| Dumplings | Red-braised pork belly |
| Jianbing | Scallion oil noodles |
Which is cheaper?
Beijing and Shanghai cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$230 in Beijing and $130–$250 in Shanghai (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Beijing on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,067 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Beijing or Shanghai cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$230 in Beijing and $130–$250 in Shanghai (estimates).
+Is Beijing or Shanghai better for a first trip?
Pick Beijing for Forbidden City and Great Wall, or Shanghai for The Bund, Pudong skyline and a milder winter.
+How far is Beijing from Shanghai?
About 1,067 km in a straight line.