Itinerary
A short break that pairs Shanghai's riverfront and food with West Lake, temple paths and tea hills, using a one-hour train instead of a flight.
At a glance
Shanghai → Hangzhou
Overview
This is the best short route if you want a real China trip without a multi-city marathon. Shanghai gives you an easy arrival, the Bund and strong food; Hangzhou slows the pace with West Lake, temples and tea country. The one-hour train makes the pair feel like one trip rather than two separate stops.
The plan below is a route, not a rigid schedule. Keep the order, but move a museum or a meal if weather, jet lag or a sold-out ticket changes the day. Every transfer includes a buffer.
Days
5 days
Cities
Shanghai · Hangzhou
Pace
Compact and calm
Arrive
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA)
Depart
Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH) or Shanghai
Best time
March–May or October–November
Before you book
Do these in order. Entry eligibility and the hard-to-get tickets matter more than a cheaper hotel.
Arrive PVG or SHA, leave from HGH if possible; otherwise return to Shanghai by train (about 1 hour).
Entry rulesTrains are frequent and take about 45–60 minutes. Book with your passport and arrive 30–45 minutes early.
Shanghai: People's Square or the Bund. Hangzhou: West Lake east side or near Longxiangqiao metro.
Where to stayThe lake is free, but boats and Lingyin ticketed areas are separate. Check current opening and ticket rules.
Alipay/WeChat Pay and a translation app make the trip smoother; keep a physical card as backup.
PaymentsDay by day
Each day has one main purpose. Transfer days are deliberately light; do not add a second city.
Day 1 · Shanghai
Land, check in and see the skyline after dark.
Day 2 · Shanghai
Old city, plane trees and one skyline view.
Day 3 · Shanghai → Hangzhou
A one-hour train and a slow afternoon on the lake.
Day 4 · Hangzhou
Temple paths, tea hills and a canal bridge.
Day 5 · Hangzhou
A short morning and a simple airport transfer.
Where to stay
A well-placed hotel saves more time than a cheaper room near the airport.
The Bund, old city, French Concession and the easiest arrival.
Stay: People's Square or the Bund
West Lake, Lingyin Temple and tea country at a slower pace.
Stay: West Lake east side or Longxiangqiao
What to eat
Book the one special meal; keep the rest spontaneous.
Soup dumplings and shengjianbao; go to a busy local shop before 09:00.
Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp and West Lake fish; order one or two rather than all three.
Buy tea at a reputable shop or tea village; taste before buying.
Getting around
The route assumes public transport plus Didi for the last mile. Book the long legs first.
PVG or SHA to People's Square by metro or taxi; allow 45–60 minutes.
High-speed rail, 45–60 minutes. Book with your passport.
Metro plus taxi/Didi; West Lake is walkable but large. Use a boat or bus for one leg.
HGH is 45–60 minutes from West Lake. If returning to Shanghai, add the train and 3 hours at PVG.
Budget
Prices change; use these as the categories to check, not a fixed daily total.
Two nights in each city; West Lake views cost more.
One short high-speed ticket; book early for a convenient departure.
Yu Garden, one skyline deck, Lingyin and a West Lake boat are the main extras.
Common mistakes
Five days is not enough for Beijing and Shanghai; keep the route compact.
The lake is the point; a remote hotel adds daily taxi time.
Go early; the temple and tour groups build quickly.
If your flight is from PVG, return the night before or allow a large buffer.
Alternatives
FAQ
Yes for a short break: two nights in each city and one 1-hour train. You will not see everything, but you get a real sense of both.
Start in Shanghai for the easier international arrival, then finish in Hangzhou for a calmer last day. If your flight is from Shanghai, reverse it.
The lake and most of the shoreline are free. Boats, some gardens and Lingyin Temple are ticketed; check current prices and opening hours.
Yes, but you will spend most of the day on trains and see only the lake. One night is much better.
West Lake is atmospheric in light rain. Carry a rain shell and swap an outdoor boat for a tea house or the Grand Canal.
Only if you have at least 3 full days. A 24-hour layover is better spent in Shanghai alone.
Updates
This is a living article, not a one-off post. The route keeps the same URL and is revised in place.
Updated the Shanghai–Hangzhou rail timings and added a clear airport-return plan for the final day.
This library is reviewed on a quarterly cycle. The route stays here, at this URL, so bookmarks and links continue to work after an update.
Sources & review
Officially sourced where the detail is volatile; recheck before booking.
Schedules, ticket rules and opening hours change. Check the official source for your dates before paying for non-refundable transport.
