- Home
- Real trip budgets
- Dmitry's Russia trip: 7 days in Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou
Dmitry's Russia trip: 7 days in Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou
A 7-day backpacker trip through Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, budgeted at $1,300 (≈ $186/day).
real-trip-budgets2026-10-18
At a glance
- Traveler
- Dmitry
- Nationality
- Russia
- Travel style
- backpacker
- Month of travel
- May 2026
- Total cost
- $1,300
- Per day
- $186
- Days
- 7
Visa note
Russian citizens need a L visa. Applied at Chinese embassy in Moscow, 10 business days, $65.
Paying your way
Tinkoff Black Debit linked to Alipay. Sberbank card used for train ticket bookings. No major issues.
Highlights
- Moscow → Shanghai (Aeroflot, 9 hours direct)
- The Bund at all hours
- West Lake by shared boat at sunrise
- Suzhou canal boat at sunset
Cost breakdown
| Flights | $450 |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $280 |
| Meals | $250 |
| Transit | $120 |
| Attractions | $120 |
| Misc | $80 |
Day by day
Day 1 — Shanghai
≈ $186- Arrived Shanghai Pudong
- The Bund evening
Day 2 — Shanghai
≈ $186- Yu Garden (morning)
- French Concession afternoon
- Nanjing Road evening
Day 3 — Hangzhou
≈ $186- HSR Shanghai → Hangzhou (45 min)
- West Lake afternoon
Day 4 — Hangzhou
≈ $186- West Lake dawn (6 AM)
- Lingyin Temple (morning)
- HSR to Suzhou (25 min)
Day 5 — Suzhou
≈ $186- Humble Administrator's Garden (morning)
- Pingjiang Road afternoon
- Canal boat at sunset
Day 6 — Suzhou
≈ $186- Zhouzhuang water town (full day trip)
Day 7 — Shanghai
≈ $186- HSR Suzhou → Shanghai (25 min)
- Departed Shanghai Pudong