In 13 days you cross China from the imperial north to the water towns of the Yangtze delta. Beijing gives you the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and a restored stretch of the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Xi'an holds the Terracotta Warriors and a Ming city wall you can walk. Chengdu brings giant pandas and a slower Sichuan pace, Nanjing the tomb of the first Ming emperor, and Suzhou its UNESCO-listed classical gardens. The route ends in Shanghai, on the Bund, with Pudong across the water. Entrance fees, high-speed rail, and the domestic flight are included, so tickets are arranged for you and you are not paying at every stop.
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