To China... and Beyond!

Day Trips from Shanghai

Suzhou (苏州), Jiangsu Province

Suzhou is famous for its formal gardens, some of which are more than one thousand years old. It is sometimes called China's Venice because of the canals that wind through the city. The city was also a historical center of silk production in China, and its Silk Museum has interesting displays of ancient textiles — and live silkworms!

Superfast D trains make it possible to get to Suzhou in 40 minutes. Trains depart from the main Shanghai Train Station throughout the day. You can search for the exact schedules here.

Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang Province

Hangzhou's most celebrated tourist attraction is the West Lake. Walking around the lake is indeed beautiful, and you could fill a whole day exploring sites on the lake, including a botanical garden and many small parks, pagodas and tombs. Visit the Leifang Pagoda for great views of the lake. (Don't worry about the stairs if you're feeling tired — escalators and elevators mean you can get to the top almost without moving a muscle.)

Dragon Well (龙井, Longjing) green tea is produced near Hangzhou, and there is a museum about tea production just outside the city. You can also wander up and down tea terraces near Longjing Village, south of Hangzhou. (Hangzhou's city-run tourist buses will drop you off near the entrance to the terraces.)

There's enough to do in Hangzhou that it's definitely worth making more than a day trip, if you have the time. My mom and I stayed at the Zhongshan International Hotel (Zhongshan Dajiudian), which is a bit pricier than the hostels I usually recommend. If you book ahead, you can find rooms for less than 500 RMB. If you've been staying in hostels and need a break from all the sharing, this would be a relatively inexpensive but more comfortable option.

Superfast D trains go from Shanghai to Hangzhou in an hour and a half. They leave from the Shanghai South Train Station throughout the day. You can search for the exact schedules here.

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