Skip to content
Water towns

Shanghai — Hangzhou

Shanghai → Hangzhou

  • 5 days · 4 nights
  • 1 transfer
  • ≈ ¥2 543

Shanghai and Hangzhou, an hour apart by train: canals, West Lake, temples and tea fields.

When to go: March–May and September–November. Longjing tea is picked in April.

Times are approximate and update when you replace a stop.

Day 1

Shanghai: the Bund and the Old City

Overnight: Shanghai
  1. 10:0011:30
    The Bund
    Photo: Georgio · CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Bund

    Colonial facades and the Pudong skyline across the river.

    1 h 30 minFree
  2. ≈ 20 min · on foot
  3. 11:5013:50

    Yu Garden and the Old City

    A classic Ming-era garden ringed by a bazaar and teahouses.

    2 h¥40
  4. ≈ 30 min · metro
  5. 14:2016:20

    Shanghai Tower observation deck

    Floor 118, best at sunset. Online tickets beat the box office.

    2 h¥180
Day 2

Shanghai: a water town

Overnight: Shanghai
  1. 10:1014:10
    Zhujiajiao water town
    Photo: BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Zhujiajiao water town

    Canals and stone bridges on metro line 17. The town itself is free.

    4 hFree
  2. ≈ 1 h · metro
  3. 15:1017:40

    The French Concession

    Plane trees, villas and cafés along Wukang and Anfu roads.

    2 h 30 minFree
  4. ≈ 20 min · metro
  5. 18:0019:00
    Jing’an Temple
    Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0

    Jing’an Temple

    Golden roofs in the middle of the business district.

    1 h¥50
Day 3

Train to Hangzhou and West Lake

Overnight: Hangzhou
  1. 09:4510:45

    Bullet train: Shanghai → Hangzhou

    Hongqiao → Hangzhou East, trains every 10–15 minutes.

    1 h¥73
  2. ≈ 30 min · metro
  3. 11:1515:15
    West Lake: Su Causeway and a boat
    Photo: Louisa Salazar · CC BY-SA 3.0

    West Lake: Su Causeway and a boat

    Walk the causeway, then a boat to the islands. Price is the boat.

    4 h¥55
  4. ≈ 15 min · on foot
  5. 15:3016:30
    Leifeng Pagoda
    Photo: lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0

    Leifeng Pagoda

    A view over the lake at sunset.

    1 h¥40
Day 4

Hangzhou: temples and tea

Overnight: Hangzhou
  1. 09:1012:10
    Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng
    Photo: Denis Yuen · CC BY-SA 2.5

    Lingyin Temple and Feilai Feng

    Buddhas carved into the rock and one of China’s great temples.

    3 h¥75
  2. ≈ 30 min · DiDi taxi
  3. 12:4015:10
    Longjing tea plantations
    Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Longjing tea plantations

    The tea museum and a tasting in the hillside village.

    2 h 30 minFree
  4. ≈ 30 min · metro
  5. 15:4017:10

    Hefang Street in the evening

    An old trading street, sweets and the Huqingyutang pharmacy.

    1 h 30 minFree
Day 5

A last morning and departure

Departure day
  1. 10:0011:30
    China National Silk Museum
    Photo: Siyuwj · CC BY-SA 4.0

    China National Silk Museum

    Silk from cocoon to gown, free.

    1 h 30 minFree