The 5-day Shanghai–Suzhou–Hangzhou itinerary bases you two nights on the Bund in Shanghai, slips out to Suzhou’s classical gardens for a day, then settles two nights by West Lake in Hangzhou. Expect roughly ¥650 / US$90 a night in Shanghai and ¥520 / US$72 by the lake — both walkable to the sights and on a metro line.
Quick Answer
Five days, two hub cities, five nights, with Suzhou as a day trip rather than an overnight. That balance keeps packing to a minimum while still giving you the modern skyline, a Ming garden, and China’s most famous lake. The trains between all three are frequent and under 45 minutes each, so you’re never far from your next hotel.
- Day 1 — Shanghai: the Bund at dusk, Nanjing Road, Pudong skyline.
- Day 2 — Suzhou day trip: Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road.
- Day 3 — Train to Hangzhou; West Lake boat and lakeside walk.
- Day 4 — Hangzhou: tea terraces at Longjing, Lingyin Temple.
- Day 5 — Morning lake, then fly or train out.
- Bases — near the Bund (Shanghai) and West Lake (Hangzhou).
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Shanghai: The Bund, Nanjing Road & Pudong
Check in near the Bund, then walk Nanjing Road east to the waterfront. The Bund’s 1920s facades face the Lujiazui towers across the Huangpu — go at dusk when both sides light up. Cross on the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or the free ferry (¥2) to see Pudong’s Oriental Pearl up close. Metro Lines 2 and 10 meet at East Nanjing Road, two minutes from most Bund hotels.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: The where to stay near the Bund (Shanghai) guide lists blocks in Huangpu that keep you walking distance from the river. Keep this room two nights.
Day 2 — Suzhou Day Trip from Shanghai
A 25-minute G-train from Shanghai Hongqiao drops you at Suzhou, where the Humble Administrator’s Garden is a 10-minute taxi away. Spend the morning among the ponds and pavilions, then stroll Pingjiang Road’s canal lanes for lunch. Trains back run until late evening — I like the 6 p.m. return, which lands you in Shanghai for a hotpot dinner.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Back in your Shanghai hotel. No need to haul a bag to Suzhou; the day-trip rhythm beats a one-night move.
Day 3 — Shanghai to Hangzhou: West Lake
Morning G-train from Hongqiao to Hangzhou East (about 45 minutes, ¥73 / US$10). Drop bags at your West Lake hotel, then rent a paddle boat or take the public ferry to the lake’s center. Walk Su Causeway at golden hour; the willow-lined water is exactly the postcard you’ve seen.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Lakeside in Hangzhou. The where to stay near West Lake (Hangzhou) piece explains why the north shore beats the busy south for a calm first night.
Day 4 — Hangzhou: Longjing Tea & Lingyin Temple
Morning in the Longjing (Dragon Well) terraces — tour a family farm, taste the pan-fired green tea, and buy a tin to take home. Afternoon at Lingyin Temple, one of China’s great Buddhist sites, set in a forested valley with carved grottoes. Evening back at the lake for a slow dinner.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Same Hangzhou hotel, final night.
Day 5 — Hangzhou: Morning Lake & Departure
A last slow walk around the lake, maybe the Baochu Pagoda hill for a panorama, then taxi to Hangzhou Xiaoshan airport or the fast train back to Shanghai for an international connection. I’ve timed the lake-to-airport ride at 40 minutes off-peak — leave two hours before a domestic flight, three for international.
Where to Stay
| Base area | City | Nightly (¥ / US$) | Nearest metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bund / Huangpu | Shanghai | ¥600–950 / US$83–132 | Line 2, Line 10 |
| People’s Square | Shanghai | ¥520–800 / US$72–111 | Line 1, Line 2, Line 8 |
| West Lake (north shore) | Hangzhou | ¥480–760 / US$67–105 | Line 1 (Longxiangqiao) |
I put most guests on the Bund side: Line 2 reaches Hongqiao for both the Suzhou and Hangzhou trains, so you’re never far from a platform. The train station vs airport hotels guide helps if you’d rather sleep next to Hongqiao than the river — a real option on Day 2’s early departure.
Getting Between Cities
This triangle is the easiest rail in China. Shanghai–Suzhou is 25 minutes; Shanghai–Hangzhou is 45; Suzhou–Hangzhou needs a change in Shanghai or a direct D-train around 90 minutes. Book all on Trip.com or 12306 (China Railway (12306)) with your passport number. Seats are rarely scarce except on the Friday-evening Hangzhou run, when everyone flees the city for the weekend.
Honest caveat: Hangzhou East Station is huge and the signage, while bilingual, sends you through long walks to the taxi rank. Build 25 minutes of buffer between train arrival and any hotel check-in you’ve promised.
The how to use Trip.com as a foreigner walkthrough covers the passport-field quirk that trips up first bookings.
Foreigner Check-in & Payment Tips on the Road
Two cities, two check-ins, two police scans — routine, but keep the passport on you because you’ll show it at Suzhou’s garden ticket office too (foreign ID gets the same price, no discount card needed). Shanghai deposits ran me ¥800 at a 5-star; Hangzhou held ¥400 at a lakeside boutique. Both pre-authorizations cleared within five days.
The China hotel deposit & foreign credit cards guide explains the hold mechanics if yours lingers. When I paid the Bund hotel with a US Amex, the desk processed it without a blink — Shanghai is the most foreign-card-friendly city in the country. For smaller Hangzhou teahouses, carry yuan; cards are hit-or-miss.
Book rooms via book on Trip.com so your English confirmation matches the front desk’s records.
When to Go & What It Costs
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — West Lake’s willows are green and the humidity hasn’t arrived. I’d skip the July–August sauna and the National Day week, when Hangzhou’s lakefront is a human carpet. Suzhou’s gardens are loveliest in April when the peonies bloom.
| Season | Shanghai | Hangzhou | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 17°C, fresh | 19°C, green | Best for gardens |
| Summer | 31°C, humid | 33°C, muggy | Avoid midday |
| Autumn | 22°C, clear | 23°C, dry | Best overall |
| Winter | 6°C, damp | 7°C, cold | Cheap, quiet |
Mid-range daily budget per person:
- Hotels: ¥520–950 / US$72–132 (two bases).
- Trains: ¥73–150 / US$10–21 across the triangle.
- Food + entries: ¥180–320 / US$25–44.
All-in you’re around US$200 a day, ferries and teas included. Hangzhou’s tea festival in late March is worth timing around if you love greens, and the Suzhou gardens’ single ticket is fairly priced even if the annual pass isn’t worth it for a day trip.
