How to Spend 6 Days in Shanghai - Shanghai 6 Days Itinerary Plans 2025/2026

Plan A: Shanghai Hangzhou&Suzhou/Huangshan

Option One: 6 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Exploration

Hangzhou and Suzhou, as neighboring cities of Shanghai, are usually the first choice for around Shanghai, and most travelers will visit Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou at the same time. This 6-day itinerary will ensure you will have enough time to explore the three popular destinations to fully appreciate the charm of Jiangnan area.

Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Travel Map (click to enlarge)

Day 1: Arrival - Shanghai Circus World

After you arrive in Shanghai, you can take a short rest and then head to Shanghai Circus World located in the northern part of Jing'an District to watch the entertaining acrobatic show, including breathtaking "balls of death" acts, chair balancing, hula hoops, juggling of benches, walking in the air, and other wonderful performances.

Day 2: Oriental Pearl Tower/Shanghai Tower/Jinmao Tower - Shanghai Museum East - Wukang Road - Nanjing Road - The Bund

First go to Shanghai Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) area, and choose one of the skyscrapers such as Oriental Pearl Tower - the most famous landmark in Shanghai / Shanghai Tower - the tallest building in China and second tallest one in the world with the total height of 632m / Jinmao Tower - one of the most tallest skyscrapers in Lujiazui area to enjoy the amazing panoramic view of downtown Shanghai. Then visit Shanghai Museum East, also in Pudong area, which is dubbed "Textbooks of Chinese Art History" to appreciate remarkable ancient Chinese arts through rich collections of the bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphic works, etc. Continue transfer to Puxi (west of the Huangpu River) area and spend some leisure time in Wukang Road, an old foreign community has been well-preserved with massive early 20th century western-style mansions, which is a hot city walk area with leafy trees side by. Next head to Nanjing Road, which is the oldest shopping street in Shanghai that has been extended to the Bund. Then you can walk directly to The Bund to enjoy the dazzling night view along the Bund, the Huangpu River and the Lujiazui area.

Day 3: Wuzhen Water Town

Departing from Shanghai today, take the morning high-speed train to Tongxiang, which takes about an hour to arrive. Then transfer to Wuzhen Water Town. As a classic water town of Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) style, Wuzhen is reputed as "the Venice of the East" with peaceful environment and ancient architectures. Here you can find old buildings situated along the winding river, and various workshops, stores and museums are the highlights of the romantic and tranquil little town, which all make Wuzhen a very poetic and romantic place in China. When you finish your water town tour in Wuzhen, you can transfer directly to Hangzhou, which about 80 kilometers (1.5 hours by car) away from the city center of Hangzhou.

Day 4: West Lake - Feilai Peak - Lingyin Temple - China National Tea Museum - Meijiawu Village

First, make the symbolic visit to the picturesque West Lake, which is the iconic site of Hangzhou and a pretty UNESCO World Heritage. Cruise on West Lake is a good way to experience the beautiful scenery. Next, go to Feilai Peak, which features in over 300 Buddhist carvings lining the riverbanks and hillsides and tucked away inside grottoes. Continue to the adjacent Lingyin Temple of nearly 1,700 year, which is the oldest and one of the most popular temples in Hangzhou. After that, go to China National Tea Museum to learn systematically about Chinese tea culture including the history, procession, customs and classification of tea, and admire diverse kinds of tea wares, machines, displays, etc. Then, transfer to Meijiawu Tea Village, a refreshing wonderland surrounded by mountains with a large area of emerald Dragon Well tea plantations in neat lines and curves. Walk among the tea plantations with fun and take beautiful photos.

Day 5: Suzhou Silk Museum - Tiger Hill - Lingering Garden - Shantang Street

Departing from Hangzhou today, take the morning high-speed train to Suzhou, which only takes about an hour to arrive. First go straight to Suzhou Silk Museum, which is the first museum that specializes in silk in China and well demonstrates the thousand years’ Chinese silk history, displays silk relics, fragments, garments and tapestry, etc. Next come to Tiger Hill, with a history of over 2,500 years, which enjoys lots of historical legendary as well as old buildings. The leaning pagoda is the most highlighted part which makes Tiger Hill a must-see. Continue go to Lingering Garden, one of the Four Greatest Gardens in China as well as the perfect representative of traditional Suzhou Gardens, which synthesized almost all the classic features of Suzhou gardens and will give you a visual treat. After visiting Lingering Garden, move on to nearby Shantang Street, a prosperous ancient street block built in 852 AD. Visiting this old place, you will see many featured old houses selling local food, delicate handicrafts and feel the real flavor of old Suzhou and Wu culture in ancient times.

Day 6: Tongli/Zhouzhuang Water Town - Leave

Today transfer to one of the famous water town in Suzhou, Tongli or Zhouzhuang, which respectively about 30 kilometers (50 minutes by car) and 40 kilometers (70 minutes by car) away from the city center of Suzhou. Tongli is one of the top six ancient towns in Jiangnan area (south of Yangtze River), which is world reputed as the "Oriental Venice" with its more than 1000-year-old history, authentic features of old buildings, rich old rivers, simple folk culture of locals. Zhouzhuang is not only the "No. 1 Water Town in China" but also one of the top ten tourist attractions in China favored by European people. Here you can feel its long history of about 1000 years and admire the authentic features of water town in regions south of the Yangtze River in China. When you finish your water town tour in Suzhou, you can transfer directly to Shanghai, which respectively about 90 kilometers (2 hours by car) and 70 kilometers (1.5 hours by car) away from the city center of Shanghai.

Highlights of this Itinerary

• Wukang Road
• Wuzhen Water Town
• Lingering Garden
• Zhouzhuang Water Town

☛ 6 Days Shanghai Hangzhou & Suzhou High Speed Train Tour

Option Two: 6 Days Shanghai Highlights Tour with Huangshan Exploration

If you're a nature lover and want to enjoy the wonderful natural scenery while enjoying the cityscape, you can extend your trip to the nearby Huangshan Scenic Area, which can be reached by high-speed train in 2.5 hours.

Yangtze River Delta Travel Map (click to enlarge)

Day 1: Arrival - Shanghai Circus World

After you arrive in Shanghai, you can take a short rest and then head to Shanghai Circus World located in the northern part of Jing'an District to watch the entertaining acrobatic show, including breathtaking "balls of death" acts, chair balancing, hula hoops, juggling of benches, walking in the air, and other wonderful performances.

Day 2: Oriental Pearl Tower/Shanghai Tower/Jinmao Tower - Shanghai Museum East - Yu Garden - Nanjing Road - The Bund

First go to Shanghai Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) area, and choose one of the skyscrapers such as Oriental Pearl Tower - the most famous landmark in Shanghai / Shanghai Tower - the tallest building in China and second tallest one in the world with the total height of 632m / Jinmao Tower - one of the most tallest skyscrapers in Lujiazui area to enjoy the amazing panoramic view of downtown Shanghai. Then visit Shanghai Museum East, also in Pudong area, which is dubbed "Textbooks of Chinese Art History" to appreciate remarkable ancient Chinese arts through rich collections of the bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphic works, etc. Continue transfer to Yu Garden in Puxi (west of the Huangpu River) area to get a glimpse at classical Chinese garden architecture and abundant traditional culture, as well as experience the lively atmosphere of Yuyuan Bazaar and taste some local snacks. Next head to Nanjing Road, which is the oldest shopping street in Shanghai that has been extended to the Bund. Then you can walk directly to The Bund to enjoy the dazzling night view along the Bund, the Huangpu River and the Lujiazui area.

Day 3: Zhujiajiao Water Town

Today, head to the ancient town of Zhujiajiao, which located on the outskirts of Shanghai, 48 kilometers (about 1.5 hours by car) from Shanghai downtown. Zhujiajiao Water Town, reputed as the Venice of Shanghai, is a 1700-year-old town with old bridges, old streets, Ming-Qing dynasty architectures, old Buddhist and Taoist sites, etc. Relax yourselves in this exquisite old town for a half-day or one day trip from Shanghai. Since most of water towns are located in the suburbs far from the city downtown with inconvenient transportation, we strongly recommend you choose our Shanghai tour packages including water towns with English-speaking guide and private driver or customize the itinerary that includes the water towns according to your needs.

Day 4: Hongcun/Xidi Ancient Village

Departing from Shanghai today, take the morning high-speed train to Huangshan, which takes about 2.5 hours to arrive. Then transfer to one of the ancient villages in Huangshan, Hongcun or Xidi, which respectively about 65 kilometers (1.5 hours by car) and 50 kilometers (1 hour by car) away from the city center of Huangshan. Hongcun Ancient Village, a 900-year-old ancient village known for “Ancient Village in Chinese Paintings”, which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage site along with Xidi in 2000. It was also the filming location of famous Oscar-winner film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with typical Anhui-style architecture. Xidi Ancient Village, also a well-preserved and time-honored ancient village with history over 900 years, where still have 300 ancient dwellings left from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and 124 were well-preserved. It has enjoyed the reputation of “Household in Peach Blossom Garden”.

Day 5: Mount Huangshan

Today, transfer from Hongcun or Xidi to Huangshan Scenic Area, the distance is 30 kilometers (40 minutes by car) and 40 kilometers (50 minutes by car) respectively. Mt. Huangshan, also Yellow Mountain was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is famous for the five wonders – odd-shaped pines, spectacular rocky peaks, sea of clouds, hot spring and winter snow. Generally speaking, it takes about 3 hours for energetic hiker to hike from the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, via 1st Ring and 2nd Ring to the bottom and return to the starting point. For beginners, children, and senior travelers, you can decide the hiking length on your own, usually 2 hours for the 1st Ring and 2.5 hours for the 2nd Ring. To enjoy the beautiful sunset and sunrise scenery of Mount Huangshan, we recommend that you stay in the Huangshan Scenic Area for one night.

Day 6: Mount Huangshan - Leave

Get up early (usually around 5am to 6am) to enjoy the magnificent sunrise from Mount Huangshan. In good-weather days, you can see clearly the golden light of the sun piercing the mists, and rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. Then you can continue on your sightseeing or take a cable car to exit the Huangshan Scenic Area.

Highlights of this Itinerary

• Yu Garden
• Zhujiajiao Water Town
• Hongcun Ancient Village
• Sunrise from Mt. Huangshan

☛ 6 Days Shanghai Yellow Mountain Tour with Water Town Visit

Plan B: Shanghai Beijing/Xian/Zhangjiajie/Guilin/Yangtze River Cruise - Recommended for First Timers

If you want to enrich your trip beyond the essences of Shanghai, consider extending to other popular destinations, like Beijing with a captivating blend of imperial history and modern dynamism, Xian for the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors, Zhangjiajie for its towering sandstone pillars, Guilin for picturesque karst landform scenery, Yangtze River Cruise for leisure sightseeing sailing vacation, etc. These destinations provide a diverse and immersive experience, from ancient capitals and cultural treasures to dramatic landscapes and tranquil waterways, perfecting for those looking to delve deeper into China’s rich heritage and natural beauty. Check the recommended itineraries below to get inspired! Check more about China Tours from Shanghai >>

• Mutianyu Great Wall
• Terracotta Warriors and Horses
• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Li River