Shanghai
3 nights · People’s Square / Nanjing West Road
Central rail connections and a useful base between the Bund, old city and tree-lined western streets.
Shanghai · 3 nights
Hangzhou · 2 nights
Suzhou · 1 nightsRiver lights, tea hills and Suzhou canals
A week from Shanghai’s skyline to Hangzhou’s lake and tea hills, ending beside Suzhou’s canals.
Why this itinerary works
Three Shanghai nights leave room for the city beyond the skyline before moving on.
Stay in Hangzhou for a full temple-and-tea day, with the lake close enough for a shorter walk after arrival.
Finish in Suzhou with one garden and canal lanes; one night there keeps the evening from becoming a race for a return train.
The itinerary
Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) → Hangzhou East (杭州东)
Plan about 45–90 minutes aboard, depending on the service; allow at least half a day for station access and check-in.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Hangzhou
2 nights · Hubin / the east side of West Lake
A straightforward arrival base with lakeside walking nearby and transport onward to the temple and tea hills.
Hangzhou East (杭州东) → Suzhou (苏州)
Plan about 1.5–2 hours aboard; reserve the morning for rail, station access and the hotel transfer.
Planning estimate; choose a dated service before booking.Suzhou
1 nights · Pingjiang Road / Lindun Road edge
Walk to canal lanes and the northern garden district without changing hotels again.
The moments you’ll remember
First evening on the Bund, Pudong lights across the water.
The Bund (Viewing Platform) ›Morning pond reflections slip beneath Yuyuan’s tiled roofs.
Yu Garden ›
Morning coffee beneath plane trees, Wukang Road at walking pace.
Wukang Road ›Lake air on both cheeks along Bai Causeway after the train.
Start West Lake with Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway ›Morning incense drifts through the wooded valley at Lingyin.
Lingyin Temple ›Past a Suzhou garden doorway, pond ripples catch the afternoon light.
Humble Administrator's Garden ›Evening lights stretch across the canal beside Pingjiang’s teahouses.
Pingjiang Road ›7 moments · swipe →
Before you go
- Lingyin Temple — Reserve a morning or afternoon slot before the visit day. Seven-day slots open at 08:00. If full, join the online waiting list before 20:00 the day before entry; allocations run 17:00–22:00. Wait for successful confirmation before travelling.
- Humble Administrator Garden — Trip.com Adult (Non-Mainland Chinese Residents), product 18748974: order by 23:59 Beijing time on the day before visiting.
- Suzhou Museum (Benguan) — Suzhou Museum main building official website, WeChat account and 苏州博物馆全预约 mini-program: the reservation window covers seven calendar days, including the booking day.
Choose a dated rail or flight service before booking.
Day by day
MorningAfternoonEvening
Shanghai · 3 nights
Day 1
Shanghai after dark
Keep arrival light: check in, eat nearby and take a short riverfront walk.
Shanghai after dark
Free
Day 2
A garden and the skyline
Free
Day 3
The slower Shanghai streets
Leave the afternoon open for a favourite neighbourhood or a long lunch before the next day’s move.
Free
Free
Hangzhou · 2 nights
Day 4
Move to Hangzhou, then follow the causeway
Reserve the morning and early afternoon for rail, station access and check-in. Trim the Broken Bridge–Bai Causeway–Gushan walk to your remaining energy.
Free
Free
Day 5
Temple shade and tea hills
After Lingyin, make Longjing a village tea stop; skip the full Jiuxi walk today. Leave the evening free.
Free
Suzhou · 1 nights
Day 6
A Suzhou garden, then the canal lanes
The morning belongs to the train and hotel transfer. Keep the garden as the one substantial visit, with only a short canal walk afterwards.
Free
Day 7
Suzhou Museum, then the journey onwards
Use the main Suzhou Museum beside the garden district only if the timed visit fits departure. Returning to Shanghai for a flight is a separate onward journey.
Free
Free
Comes with the plan
Before you go
- Lingyin Temple — Reserve a morning or afternoon slot before the visit day. Seven-day slots open at 08:00. If full, join the online waiting list before 20:00 the day before entry; allocations run 17:00–22:00. Wait for successful confirmation before travelling.
- Humble Administrator Garden — Trip.com Adult (Non-Mainland Chinese Residents), product 18748974: order by 23:59 Beijing time on the day before visiting.
- Suzhou Museum (Benguan) — Suzhou Museum main building official website, WeChat account and 苏州博物馆全预约 mini-program: the reservation window covers seven calendar days, including the booking day.
Rail or flight legs need a dated service before booking.
On the ground
Buying and boarding trains →Shanghai practical card →Hangzhou practical card →Suzhou practical card →Perks on this itinerary
Make your hotel booking go further →A small extra at selected Shanghai shops →Browse perks and check eligibility →Your dates, checked
Use the calendar to check holidays and typical weather. Published sessions and opening days depend on your exact dates.
Check dates →Not quite your case? Ask it.
Make it yours
Pick your dates and review how the itinerary fits your trip.