Itinerary guide

7 Days in Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuzhen & Hangzhou

If this is your first trip to China, this 7-day route gives you time for gardens, a water town and the lake. You’ll follow Shanghai → Suzhou → Wuzhen → Hangzhou, with arrival and departure days counted in the plan.

  • 7 days
  • 4 cities
  • Check conditions for your chosen dates
  • Moderate pace
  • 3 min read

By Jamie Lim

Canal houses and boats in Wuzhen’s West Scenic Area
AI-edited from a historical location photograph; details and usage rights await review.

Route at a glance

  1. Shanghai2 nights
  2. Suzhou1 night
  3. Wuzhen1 night
  4. Hangzhou2 nights
On this page

At a glance

Ideal for
First-time visitors who prefer a focused route
Travel style
Gardens, a water town and the lake
Best time to go
Check conditions for your chosen dates
Pace
Moderate pace
Highlights
Shanghai → Suzhou → Wuzhen → Hangzhou

Introduction

You don’t need to fit every nearby attraction into one trip. This route follows Shanghai → Suzhou → Wuzhen → Hangzhou, with 6 nights and clear space for arrival, departure and changes of base.

Gardens, a water town and the lake. The daily suggestions keep the focus on one or two outings rather than a long sightseeing list. Adjust optional walks to your energy, and treat travel days as travel days.

This is a planning guide rather than a booked package. Confirm connections, accommodation, opening arrangements and any reservations for your actual dates. The 7 days begin on arrival in China; international flights may need additional travel days.

Day-by-day itinerary

Shanghai

Days 1 – 2

Time for Shanghai

Use Shanghai as your base for this part of the route. The daily plan leaves space for travel and rest; arrange accommodation and any required reservations for your dates.

  1. Day 1Shanghai: Arrive and settle in

    Arrive in Shanghai and take time to settle in. Keep the rest of the day light so you can rest after the journey. Route: Arrival point to your accommodation in Shanghai Stay: Shanghai Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    Illuminated historic buildings along the Bund
    • Overnight in Shanghai

  2. Day 2Shanghai: Gardens and the riverfront

    Start with Yu Garden and finish by the Bund. The contrast gives you two different sides of Shanghai without a long list of stops. Route: Yu Garden (Yuyuan) and the Bund (Waitan) Stay: Shanghai Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    A pavilion reflected in the pond at Yu Garden
    • Overnight in Shanghai

Suzhou

Day 3

Time for Suzhou

Use Suzhou as your base for this part of the route. The daily plan leaves space for travel and rest; arrange accommodation and any required reservations for your dates.

  1. Day 3Suzhou: One garden, then the old streets

    Give the Humble Administrator's Garden time rather than collecting several gardens. Follow it with a short walk through the old streets if your energy allows. Route: Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozhengyuan) Stay: Suzhou Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    A pavilion beside water and rocks in a Suzhou garden
    • Overnight in Suzhou

Wuzhen

Day 4

Time for Wuzhen

Use Wuzhen as your base for this part of the route. The daily plan leaves space for travel and rest; arrange accommodation and any required reservations for your dates.

  1. Day 4Wuzhen: Stay for the water-town evening

    Move on to Wuzhen and explore the West Scenic Area. Staying overnight means you can leave some of the walking until later rather than rushing straight out again. Route: Wuzhen West Scenic Area (Xizha) Stay: Wuzhen Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    Canal houses and boats in Wuzhen’s West Scenic Area
    • Overnight in Wuzhen

Hangzhou

Days 5 – 7

Time for Hangzhou

Use Hangzhou as your base for this part of the route. The daily plan leaves space for travel and rest; arrange accommodation and any required reservations for your dates.

  1. Day 5Hangzhou: An afternoon beside West Lake

    Continue to Hangzhou and settle in before walking by West Lake. Keep the lake as your main outing instead of adding several attractions after the move. Route: West Lake (Xihu) Stay: Hangzhou Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    A pavilion and stone lanterns beside West Lake
    • Overnight in Hangzhou

  2. Day 6Hangzhou: A day around Lingyin

    Spend the day around Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak. Keep the rest of the afternoon flexible rather than adding the wetlands as well. Route: Lingyin Temple (Lingyinsi) and Feilai Peak Stay: Hangzhou Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    The entrance to Lingyin Temple beneath green trees
    • Overnight in Hangzhou

  3. Day 7Hangzhou: Leave room for departure

    Leave Hangzhou according to your onward travel plans. Keep the day clear for packing and the journey to your departure point. Route: Your accommodation to your departure point in Hangzhou Tip: Check the day's reservations and transport before setting out.

    A pavilion and stone lanterns beside West Lake

    Why this route works

    • A clear route

      Follow Shanghai → Suzhou → Wuzhen → Hangzhou with the overnight bases listed separately, so you can see where each change of accommodation belongs.

    • Room for the journeys

      Arrival, departure and transfer days count towards the total. They are not treated as extra full sightseeing days.

    • A focused daily plan

      Give the main outing time, then decide on optional walks according to your energy rather than adding every nearby attraction.

    Before you go

    • Confirm each connection

      Choose intercity and local connections for your travel dates, including station or airport transfers. The suggested transport modes are not booked services.

    • Reservations and opening arrangements

      Check each attraction’s current opening arrangements and reservation process before fixing the order of your days.

    • Images and editorial review

      Images are AI-edited previews based on historical location photographs. Usage rights and visual details await review. Travel-day photographs illustrate the destination, not a promised visit.

    Sources

    Plan My Trip