China tours from Shanghai
Shanghai is the best base in China for short trips: two UNESCO-listed water towns are under an hour away, and the high-speed network puts half the country within a morning.
Day trips that are genuinely worth it
| Place | Time | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Suzhou | 25 min by rail | Classical gardens and canals; go at opening |
| Hangzhou | 45–60 min by rail | West Lake at dawn, Longjing tea hills |
| Water towns (Zhujiajiao, Xitang) | 1–1.5 h by road | Canals, stone bridges, fewer crowds on weekdays |
Our guides for both cities are here: Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Do not do Suzhou and Hangzhou on the same day. They are 25 and 60 minutes from Shanghai but two hours from each other, and both reward an early start.
Longer trips that start here
- Beijing by rail — 4.5 hours, city centre to city centre.
- Guilin and Yangshuo — 2.5 hours by flight, then the Li River.
- Huangshan — 2.5 hours by rail plus a cable car; two nights minimum.
- The Yangtze — fly to Chongqing, cruise downstream to Yichang, fly back.
What Shanghai itself needs
Two full days: the Bund at night, the former French Concession on foot, Yu Garden early, and one museum. The Bund is best after 19:00 when the buildings are lit; Yu Garden is best at 08:30 before the tour groups.
How this becomes a route
Shanghai is the finish of most of our routes — Grand China, Wonders, Li River & Skyline. If you are starting here instead, we reverse the order; the transport works either way.
Suzhou or Hangzhou for a day trip?
Suzhou for gardens and canals, Hangzhou for landscape and tea. With two days, do both.
Can we do a day trip without a guide?
Yes, both are easy by high-speed rail. A guide adds the garden context that makes Suzhou worth the trip.
How do we get to Beijing?
High-speed rail, 4.5 hours, every 20–30 minutes. Book two weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
Is Huangshan possible in two days?
Two nights yes, one night no — the mountain needs a full day and the cable car queues decide your timing.
Can a tour start in Shanghai and end in Beijing?
Yes, and it is often cheaper on flights. We run routes in either direction.
Send your dates, get a written plan
Within 24 hours: a day-by-day outline and a line-by-line price. Nothing is charged until you approve it.