Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou in 7 days
Shanghai · Suzhou · Hangzhou
7Days
3Cities
Mar–May, Sep–NovBest time
A relaxed week in the Yangtze delta: a megacity, classical gardens, a water town and West Lake, all under an hour apart by train.
Relaxed paceGood first trip
The route
- High-speed train · about 25–40 min
- High-speed train · about 1.5–2 h
Journey times are typical. Check 12306 or Trip.com for trains on your date.
Day by day
- Day 1Shanghai
Arrive, evening on the Bund.
- Day 2Shanghai
Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Tower at sunset.
- Day 3Shanghai
Zhujiajiao water town by metro in the morning, French Concession in the afternoon.
- Day 4Suzhou
Train to Suzhou. Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road in the evening.
- Day 5Hangzhou
Morning in Suzhou, train to Hangzhou, walk or cycle around West Lake.
- Day 6Hangzhou
Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea village.
- Day 7Shanghai
Train back to Shanghai Hongqiao for your flight.
Book before you go
- Shanghai Museum (People’s Square) Booking requiredEveryone needs an exhibition ticket, checked against your passport. Buy on Trip.com (the museum names it for overseas visitors), the museum’s WeChat mini-program, or at the ticket office on site.
- Yu Garden Booking recommendedReal-name booking with your passport on the official WeChat account or Trip.com. The ticket office at the gate can help if slots remain.
- Shanghai Tower observation deck Booking recommendedBuy online (Trip.com, official WeChat) or at the counter. Sunset slots sell out first.
Similar routes
Good first tripBeijing → Xi'an → ShanghaiFirst trip classic: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai in 10 daysThe Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and the Bund, linked by fast trains. The route most first-timers should start with.
Good first tripBeijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → ShanghaiChina highlights in 12 days: palaces, pandas and karst peaksThe classic five: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. Busy but doable with trains and two short flights.