D1Arrive ShanghaiTransfer
Met at Pudong or Hongqiao. Evening on the Bund, walking north to south, then the ferry across to Pudong rather than the tourist tunnel. Both banks light up within minutes of each other at dusk.
D2Yu Garden, the old town and the French ConcessionIn town
A Ming-dynasty scholar's garden with a timed morning entry before the groups, then the old town bazaar. Afternoon among the plane trees and art deco villas of the French Concession, finishing at Xintiandi.
D3Suzhou classical gardens≈ 200 km
Thirty minutes by high-speed rail. The Humble Administrator's Garden and the Master of the Nets Garden, both UNESCO-listed, plus the canals of a city that predates Shanghai by two thousand years. Return to Shanghai in the evening.
D4Hangzhou and West Lake≈ 180 km
An hour by rail. West Lake by boat to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the Su and Bai causeways on foot, and Leifeng Pagoda at sunset. Overnight in Hangzhou rather than returning.
D5Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea hills≈ 40 km
A working Buddhist monastery founded in 328 AD, with 340 Buddhas carved into the limestone cliffs outside it. Then the Longjing tea villages, where you watch the pan-firing and buy direct from the farm.
D6Return to Shanghai and departureTransfer
Morning train back to Shanghai, and an airport transfer. We can add a water town such as Zhujiajiao or Zhouzhuang if you have a late flight.
