5-Day Shanghai + Hangzhou Itinerary 2026: Skyscrapers and West Lake

Five days split between Shanghai (3 days) and Hangzhou (2 days) via 45-minute HSR. Covers the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, West Lake, and a water town side trip.

5 天

total trip length · 4–10月 best

18 公里

total walking (3.6 km/day avg)

UNESCO World Heritage sites

$880

total per person (mid-range)

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中国UNESCO世界遗产行程:长城、故宫、兵马俑等。

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Shanghai and Hangzhou are 45 minutes apart by HSR — combine them for a 5-day classic Jiangnan trip. Day 1-3 in Shanghai, Day 4-5 in Hangzhou with optional Wuzhen water town. Most visa-free for 30 days.

Day 1 · 周一

Shanghai: The Bund and Pudong

The Bund at sunrise — colonial facades + Pudong skyline · Nanjing Road walk east · Shanghai Tower (¥180) — 632 m observation deck · Evening: Pudong IFC Mall or Huangpu River cruise

09:00The Bund at sunrise
colonial facades + Pudong skyline
11:00Nanjing Road walk east
Nanjing Road walk east
13:00Shanghai Tower
¥180) 632 m observation deck
15:00Evening: Pudong IFC Mall or Huangpu River cruise
Evening: Pudong IFC Mall or Huangpu River cruise

🏨今晚住宿Bund area or French Concession· B: hotel · L: Din Tai Fung · D: Bund-view restaurant

Day 2 · 周二

Shanghai: Old City and Concession

Yu Garden and Bazaar (¥40) · City God Temple · French Concession walk — Tianzifang, Xintiandi · Evening: Shanghai acrobatic show

09:00Yu Garden and Bazaar
¥40
11:00City God Temple
City God Temple
13:00French Concession walk
Tianzifang, Xintiandi
15:00Evening: Shanghai acrobatic show
Evening: Shanghai acrobatic show

🏨今晚住宿same as Day 1· B: hotel · L: Yu Garden · D: French Concession

Day 3 · 周三

Shanghai: Museums or Day Trip

Option A: Shanghai Museum (free) + Long Museum + Power Station of Art · Option B: Day trip to Suzhou (25 min HSR) — Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill · Return to Shanghai by evening

09:00Option A: Shanghai Museum
free) + Long Museum + Power Station of Art
11:00Option B: Day trip to Suzhou
25 min HSR) Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road, Tiger Hill
13:00Return to Shanghai by evening
Return to Shanghai by evening

🏨今晚住宿same as Day 1· B: hotel · L: Suzhou noodles · D: Shanghai

Day 4 · 周四

Hangzhou: West Lake

HSR to Hangzhou East (45 min, ¥73) · West Lake — boat ride to the islands (¥55) · Lingyin Temple (¥75) and Fei Lai Feng · Evening: Hefang Ancient Street

09:00HSR to Hangzhou East
45 min, ¥73
11:00West Lake
boat ride to the islands ¥55
13:00Lingyin Temple
¥75) and Fei Lai Feng
15:00Evening: Hefang Ancient Street
Evening: Hefang Ancient Street

🏨今晚住宿West Lake area· B: hotel · L: lake-view restaurant · D: Dongpo pork

Day 5 · 周五

Hangzhou: Tea and Departure

Longjing tea plantation morning tour — taste Dragon Well tea at source · China Tea Museum (free) · Or: half-day Wuzhen water town trip (1.5h from Hangzhou) · Return to Shanghai or fly out from Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH)

09:00Longjing tea plantation morning tour
taste Dragon Well tea at source
11:00China Tea Museum
free
13:00Or: half
day Wuzhen water town trip 1.5h from Hangzhou
15:00Return to Shanghai or fly out from Hangzhou Xiaoshan
HGH