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A 10-Day China Journey from Hangzhou to Shanghai

Follow the route from Hangzhou through Wuzhen and Suzhou to Shanghai. Check current entry requirements, admission arrangements, transport schedules and payment options before travelling. AliPay and WeChat Pay were usefu…

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Plan notes

Useful context before you go

Follow the route from Hangzhou through Wuzhen and Suzhou to Shanghai. Check current entry requirements, admission arrangements, transport schedules and payment options before travelling. AliPay and WeChat Pay were useful for everyday purchases, so set up a payment method that works for you before relying on it. Leave flexibility for queues and busy weekends, especially at popular gardens and historic streets. Prices mentioned in the notes reflect the creators’ visit and may change.

Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Days 1–3: Hangzhou, West Lake and Longjing tea country

**Getting around:** Longjing Tea Cultural Village is about a 30-minute taxi ride from the West Lake area. **Evenings and food:** The lively pedestrian streets near the creators’ hotel were an easy place to find dinner. They found potato and shrimp cakes, used WeChat Pay for an early purchase, and returned another evening for the atmosphere, people-watching and mango ice cream. A Dairy Queen was nearby. After the lake cruise, Wulin Night Market offered food-hall stalls and souvenir stands; it wa…

  1. Chenghuang Pavilion (City God Pavilion)Chenghuang Pavilion, Hangzhou, China

    The hilltop, seven-floor pavilion has exhibits about Hangzhou and views from higher up. Its illuminated profile is especially striking after dark.

  2. West LakeWest Lake, Hangzhou, China

    West Lake is a natural anchor for exploring Hangzhou, with lakeside sights, temples, pagodas and islands. A traditional-style boat cruise is a memorable way to see more of the lake; the creators paid 50 yuan per person.

  3. Wulin Night MarketWulin Night Market, Hangzhou, China

    A lively evening market stop after the lake. The food-hall area has many stalls and kitschy souvenirs; it was opening around 5 p.m. when the creators visited.

  4. Longjing Tea Cultural VillageLongjing Tea Cultural Village, Hangzhou, China

    The hillside tea fields offer a change of scenery from the lake and city. The creators took a taxi here, about 30 minutes from the West Lake area. In the village, they paid 10 yuan to enter a site and received a complimentary green tea tasting from a welcoming local tea seller who shared tea knowledge. Longjing green tea is highly sought after.

Days 4–5: Wuzhen’s canal lanes and illuminated West Gate

**Getting there:** The creators travelled from Hangzhou to Wuzhen by ride-hailing car, about 1 hour 23 minutes. At their hotel they noticed free traditional-style outfits guests could try. **Exploring:** Admission is separate for the East and West scenic areas. The East Gate felt more lived-in, while the larger West Gate was a highlight after dark. Crowds and tour groups can make the lanes busy. The West Gate closes at 10 p.m.; arriving later may mean fewer crowds, and the creators stayed until…

  1. Wuzhen East Scenic ZoneWuzhen East Scenic Zone, Tongxiang, China

    Explore the East Gate’s canal-side houses and lanes for a more lived-in feel. Admission is separate from the West Gate, and the creators found the streets busy with tour groups.

  2. Wuzhen West Scenic ZoneWuzhen West Scenic Zone, Tongxiang, China

    The West Gate is especially atmospheric at night, with historic buildings, canals, bridges and illuminated temples. Allow time for both the busy restaurant-and-bar lanes and quieter restored religious and historic sites, including shrines associated with Buddhism, Taoism and local folk deities. The creators found a relaxed canal-side restaurant for pizza.

Days 6–7: Suzhou’s gardens, old streets and Panmen

**Getting there:** The creators travelled from Wuzhen to Suzhou by long-distance bus, booked at the bus facilities by Wuzhen’s West Gate. **Stay and access:** They spent two nights at Pan Pacific Suzhou, a traditional palace-inspired property with gardens, courtyards, fortress-style walls and wooden corridors. Guests could access the adjoining Panmen garden complex for free by showing their room number. **Planning around crowds:** Their Saturday visit to Humble Administrator’s Garden met a very…

  1. Pan Pacific SuzhouPan Pacific Suzhou, Suzhou, China

    A palace-inspired stay with gardens, courtyards, fortress-style walls and wooden corridors. The creators stayed two nights and used accumulated travel points. Hotel guests could enter the adjoining Panmen garden complex for free by showing their room number.

  2. Panmen Scenic AreaPanmen Gate Scenic Zone, Suzhou, China

    This garden complex is beside Pan Pacific Suzhou; hotel guests could enter for free by showing their room number. The creators explored its water features, pagoda, historic city gate and wall, then returned at night to see the grounds illuminated.

  3. Suzhou North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Pagoda)North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Pagoda), Suzhou, China

    The creators used the metro to start a day of temple and garden visits and made this pagoda their first planned stop. It is one of Suzhou’s striking historic pagodas.

  4. Humble Administrator’s GardenHumble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou, China

    Suzhou’s best-known classical garden was on the creators’ planned route, but a very long Saturday queue led them to skip entering. Account for weekend crowds before committing time to this popular stop.

  5. Lion Grove GardenLion Grove Garden, Suzhou, China

    When the queue at Humble Administrator’s Garden was too long, the creators found Lion Grove Garden easier to enter and got tickets right away. Built in 1342, it is known for lion-shaped rockeries and a maze of paths, caves and walkways.

  6. Pingjiang RoadPingjiang Road, Suzhou, China

    This historic pedestrian street has canals, old lanes, shops and restaurants, and was busy on a Saturday. The creators tried a soup dumpling while exploring the old streets; leave room to follow side lanes and discover places along the way.

  7. Xuanmiao TempleXuanmiao Temple, Suzhou, China

    The creators pointed out this temple beside the pedestrian shopping street whose name means “in front of the temple.” It is known for its scale and as one of southern China’s oldest surviving wooden structures.

  8. Guanqian StreetGuanqian Street, Suzhou, China

    A centuries-old pedestrian shopping street with shops and nearby historic sights. Its name means “in front of the temple,” referring to Xuanmiao Temple.

  9. Shanghai Railway StationShanghai Railway Station, Shanghai, China

    The creators caught the famous bullet train from Suzhou to Shanghai. The trip took about an hour, and they found the high-speed rail service fast, convenient and affordable.

Days 8–10: Shanghai’s riverfront, old streets and modern skyline

**Getting around:** The creators bought a three-day transit card for 45 yuan. They also crossed the Huangpu River by ferry for 2 yuan, a low-cost alternative to returning by subway. **Where to stay:** Their hotel was near the Yu Garden area, convenient for a first visit but surrounded by a very touristy, busy district. They found Shanghai hotels more expensive than those in the smaller towns on the route. The pedestrian lanes near the hotel were lively, and the illuminated buildings around Yu G…

  1. Yuyuan BazaarYuyuan Bazaar, Shanghai, China

    The creators explored this traditional-looking market area by day and returned after dark, when the illuminated buildings made it feel completely different. The architecture is modern rather than a surviving 16th-century market. It is close to the Yu Garden-area hotels but can be busy and touristy.

  2. The BundThe Bund, Shanghai, China

    The Bund brings together Shanghai’s waterfront and its colonial-era banking-district architecture, with the futuristic Pudong skyline across the river. The creators’ first visit coincided with a holiday light show; the skyline is illuminated at night.

  3. People’s Square ParkPeople's Square Park, Shanghai, China

    A green oasis in the city and a convenient place to begin a day of central Shanghai exploring. The creators picked up a three-day transit card for 45 yuan before setting out.

  4. Jing’an TempleJing'an Temple, Shanghai, China

    The creators noted the temple’s history, beginning in 247 AD, and its later restoration after it had served as a plastics factory. Entry was 10 yuan when they visited. With a full day ahead and several temples already on their route, they chose not to go inside.

  5. Nanjing RoadNanjing Road, Shanghai, China

    The creators expected an old historic street but found a modern pedestrian thoroughfare. They still recommend a stroll for its European-influenced feel and older buildings.

  6. LujiazuiLujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, China

    On the Pudong side, the creators wandered among downtown skyscrapers and viewed the Oriental Pearl Tower from nearby. The contrast with the older waterfront architecture across the river is part of the appeal.

  7. TianzifangTianzifang, Shanghai, China

    The creators explored this French Concession-area neighborhood on their last night. Its narrow alleys hold restaurants, shops and converted spaces where artists and designers moved into older buildings.