The capitals of East Asia

Beijing and the Forbidden City, Shanghai's Bund, Seoul's palaces, and Tokyo's neighborhoods, across three countries in two weeks.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Beijing → Shanghai → Seoul → Tokyo · 13–16 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

ChinaBeijing
Days
4
When
Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 40–70 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
ChinaShanghai
Days
3
When
Sep–Nov
Per person/day
Average 450–900 CNYMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
South KoreaSeoul
Days
3–4
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Nov
Per person/day
Average 160,000–260,000 KRWMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
JapanTokyo
Days
3–5
When
Mar–Apr · Oct–Dec
Per person/day
Average 20,000–30,000 JPYMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. The figures are the guide’s estimate.

Who it is for

For anyone who wants to combine Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo, with museums, palaces and metropolitan neighbourhoods in three countries.

Not for anyone who wants a slow pace, because there are four metropolises and journeys between three countries.

The strategy

The trip goes from west to east, from Beijing to Tokyo, with a short flight between each country. Beijing comes first because that is where the climb to the Great Wall starts.

What you will see

Forbidden City, Beijing. Imperial palace built between 1406 and 1420, with 72 hectares and about 980 buildings, home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors until 1924 and a World Heritage Site since 1987.
The Bund, Shanghai. About 1.5km of riverside promenade on the west bank of the Huangpu, with 52 buildings put up between 1900 and 1937.
Gyeongbokgung, Seoul. Joseon’s main palace, founded in 1395, destroyed during the 1592 invasion and rebuilt between 1865 and 1867, with further restoration since 1990.
Sensō-ji, Tokyo. Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, founded according to tradition in 628 and rebuilt in concrete in 1958 after the bombing.

Day by day