7 days · Shanghai + Hangzhou + Suzhou
A comfortable Yangtze River Delta itinerary using short high-speed rail hops from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Day-by-day timeline
Day 1
Arrive and check in.
Walk Nanjing Road or People's Square after setting up payment.
See The Bund skyline.
Metro Line 2 or ride-hailing from Pudong or Hongqiao.
Xiaolongbao and simple Shanghainese dishes.
Choose a hotel with direct metro access to reduce taxi costs.
Keep the day easy after your international flight.
Day 2
Visit Yu Garden and Old City streets.
Explore the Former French Concession.
Dinner in Jing'an or Xintiandi.
Metro plus short rides.
Shengjianbao, scallion oil noodles, and seasonal vegetables.
Neighborhood restaurants away from major sightseeing exits offer better value.
Use this day to get comfortable with metro and payment apps.
Day 3
Visit Shanghai Museum East, West Bund, or M50 depending on interest.
Cross to Pudong for skyline views.
Optional Huangpu River cruise.
Metro and ferry are both useful for river crossings.
Try a modern Chinese restaurant or dumpling shop.
Pick either a paid observation deck or a river cruise; both may feel redundant.
Reserve popular museums before the day starts.
Day 4
Take a high-speed train to Hangzhou and check in.
Walk part of West Lake and visit a lakeside garden.
Dinner near Wulin or West Lake.
Use Hangzhou East Railway Station and metro or taxi to your hotel.
Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp.
Lake-area hotels cost more; Wulin Square can be better value.
Do not try to loop all of West Lake on foot.
Day 5
Visit Lingyin Temple early.
Explore Longjing tea fields and the China National Tea Museum.
Relax around Hefang Street or the Grand Canal area.
Use taxis for tea-field hops; they are not always metro-friendly.
Try Hangzhou-style vegetables and lotus root dessert.
Tea tastings vary widely in price; ask before sitting down.
Carry mosquito repellent in warmer months.
Day 6
High-speed train to Suzhou.
Visit Suzhou Museum and Humble Administrator's Garden.
Walk Pingjiang Road or Shantang Street.
Check station names carefully before booking.
Suzhou-style noodles and seasonal snacks.
One or two gardens are enough; do not pay for every garden in one day.
Overnighting in Suzhou makes evening canal streets more pleasant.
Day 7
Visit Lingering Garden or Tiger Hill.
Return to Shanghai by train for departure or final night.
Easy final dinner near your Shanghai hotel.
Frequent trains connect Suzhou and Shanghai.
Keep dinner simple if you have a next-day flight.
Book flexible train times if you prefer a slower morning.
Allow extra time if transferring from a railway station to Pudong Airport.
Travel kit
Printable route kits are planned for travelers who want addresses, booking reminders, daily timing, and backup notes in one compact file.
Book the major transport, first hotel, and any hard-to-get attraction tickets. Leave meals, neighborhood walks, and backup stops flexible so the route can absorb jet lag, weather, and station delays.
Keep the anchor stop, remove one paid attraction, and use taxis or ride-hailing for the longest city hops. A calmer route is usually better than rushing through every item.
Free PDF checklist
Use the PDF to confirm documents, payment, apps, hotel addresses, transport plans, food basics, and emergency phrases before your first sightseeing day.
Use it before you fly and again on arrival day.
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