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Overview
Everyone photographs the Bund. Almost nobody asks why the city is standing there at all. It is standing there because of the water, so this plan follows the water rather than the skyline: a pond inside a Ming garden wall, a river that decided where every building went, a commuter ferry that crosses it for about the price of a bus ride, and a canal town an hour out where the water is the street itself. One hotel, three nights, no domestic flights, nothing before nine in the morning. Once you are home, you will catch yourself looking at your own city's river and asking what it was ever for.
— LyrikTrip travel designers
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we will tell you two things in writing: what these days cost, and which parts of the week are settled and which are not. If the seven-day version is not ready for your dates, we will say so and quote you the four days instead. First reply within four hours; a written statement of what is priced and what is open, within one business day.
Why you'll love this trip
- One base, four days out. The old city quarter, museum bronzes, a water town canal and the tower deck, with English-speaking guides.
- 7 days from a walled garden pond to a public ferry deck. Understand a city through its water.
- Cross the Huangpu on the public commuter ferry, standing on the open deck with people on their way to work, for the fare of a bus ride: you arrive on the far bank having done what the city does, not what visitors do.
- Stand on the Bund at dusk with your guide beside you from start to finish: a century of stone banks on one side of the water, a skyline of towers on the other, and nobody interrupting you to practise their English.
- Step into a Ming dynasty garden within the old city walls, where a pond, rockery and covered walkway transform a corner of the delta's liveliest city into a haven of tranquillity.
- Take a hand-rowed boat down a canal in Zhujiajiao, where the doorsteps go down into the water and the lanes come up to meet the bridge, and stop talking without deciding to.
- Unpack once. Three nights in one Shanghai hotel, with the water town as a half-day out and back, so nobody moves a suitcase to see it.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Shanghai · Day 1 - Day 4
· Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive on land, and do nothing. The city can wait until tomorrow morning.
· Yu Garden, the museum, the Bund
Water inside a wall, then water as a border. Two versions of the same city, six hours apart.
· Plane trees, the ferry, the deck
The city at street level, at water level, and from the top. Find out which one tells you the most.
· Zhujiajiao
The morning the street turns into water. Then the plan hands over to what is still being built.
Private vehicle
Suzhou · Day 5
· Jiangnan extension, Suzhou
Designed, not yet bought. We would rather say so here than after you have paid.
Private vehicle
Hangzhou · Day 6
· Jiangnan extension, Hangzhou
Same answer as yesterday, and for the same reason.
Flight
Shanghai · Day 7
· Departure day
The last day is honest about itself. The way home is not settled yet.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Rezen Meili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Rezen Meili Hotel: classic European style in central Shanghai, steps from People's Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road.
Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel, Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel: a vibrant stay in Shanghai's Jing'an Temple district, three minutes from Metro Line 14.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Suzhou
Pullman Suzhou Zhonghui
International luxury hotel in Suzhou with modern facilities and polished service.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Rezen Meili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Rezen Meili Hotel: classic European style in central Shanghai, steps from People's Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road.
Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel, Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel: a vibrant stay in Shanghai's Jing'an Temple district, three minutes from Metro Line 14.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Suzhou
Pullman Suzhou Zhonghui
International luxury hotel in Suzhou with modern facilities and polished service.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Rezen Meili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Rezen Meili Hotel: classic European style in central Shanghai, steps from People's Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road.
Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel, Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, Shanghai
CitiGO Huan Ge Hotel: a vibrant stay in Shanghai's Jing'an Temple district, three minutes from Metro Line 14.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake
Suzhou
Pullman Suzhou Zhonghui
International luxury hotel in Suzhou with modern facilities and polished service.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Airport pickupPrivate air-conditioned vehicle and Shanghai airport pickup on day one, timed to your arrival
- Hotels3 nights in Shanghai, the nights of days one, two and three, breakfast included in the room rate
- Meals3 hotel breakfasts, on the mornings of days two, three and four
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle on day two and day three in Shanghai, and on day four to Zhujiajiao and back
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on days two, three and four, with the Bund evening accompanied from start to finish
- Admissions and experiencesYu Garden with the old city quarter · Shanghai Museum, admission and the timed reservation booked by us · the Bund and the Pudong skyline in the evening, guide accompanied, no admission charge · the former French Concession and Wukang Road on foot, no admission charge · the Huangpu River ferry, public commuter fare included · Shanghai Tower observation deck · Zhujiajiao, the hand-rowed boat fare, Kezhi Garden admission, and Fangsheng Bridge with the stone lanes
- AlsoTravel accident insurance
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into and out of Shanghai. Shanghai has nonstop service from all seven of our source markets, so no connecting leg is needed to reach it
- VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who require a Chinese visa, including all US guests on this route
- The Jiangnan extensionEverything on days five, six and seven: the Suzhou night, the two Hangzhou nights, and the ground services, admissions and inter-city transport that go with them
- Airport drop-offNot priced today, as the departure day has not yet been confirmed. Once it is, it will appear in the table above
- MealsBeyond the three hotel breakfasts above: all lunches and all dinners, recommended and booked by your guide, on your own account
- In-park and in-venue transportShuttles, electric carts and sightseeing boats where a site charges separately. This plan needs none of them: the only boat in the price is the Zhujiajiao hand-rowed boat
- In-venue spendingAnything bought in the old town quarter, the museum shop, the water town lanes or the Wukang Road shops, with any shipping, customs or tax-refund cost it brings
- PersonalTips, single room supplement, personal expenses, and anything not listed in the table above
Special Notes
A few things on this route are still in flux. Here they are, told straight.
- Days five to seven are in final product review — the Jiangnan extension through Suzhou and Hangzhou is designed but the ground handling is not yet in place, so it is not priced and not promised here. Bookings for the seven-day version are not open. Before you pay anything, we tell you in writing whether you are being quoted the seven days or the four-day Shanghai and Zhujiajiao plan.
- Inter-city transport — the rail legs of the designed route carry no stated cabin class yet and have not been checked against this season's timetable, so none of them is in the price. They are quoted, with cabin class in writing, once the extension is settled.
- Shanghai Museum — Entry runs on a timed reservation and the booking system carries limited English support, so we book your slot. We check the museum's opening status against your own departure dates before taking your booking; if it is closed on your day two, day two and day three swap over and the museum runs on day three.
- The Bund evening — guide accompanied start to finish. Street approaches there work on visitors in their first nights in the city, so we never sell that evening as something you do alone.
- Zhujiajiao — a half day out of Shanghai and back, in the same vehicle, with no change of hotel and no suitcase to move for it. The hand-rowed boat is open to the sky: in December, bring a warm layer and gloves for the morning on the water.
- National holiday week — no departures between 1 October and 7 October. Yu Garden, the Bund and Zhujiajiao all run at peak crowd levels that week, and the plan does not read well in a crowd.
- Confirmation and changes — these terms are being finalised with our ground partners. Until they are settled, your quote states its own confirmation deadline and its change and refund conditions in writing, and no booking is taken without them.
- Hotels — named in your written confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and a comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.
Is Seven Days Your Length?
Is seven days your length?
Is seven days the right length for you?
Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the length around you.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Arrival
- Day one is the arrival day and includes no touring, so you do not need to arrive a day early. Airport pickup and that night's hotel are included in the price.
- Ports
- Shanghai in, Shanghai out. Shanghai has nonstop service from all seven of our source markets on both the arrival and the departure side
- Language
- English-speaking licensed guides on every touring day
- Season
- This page is written for departures from October to December 2026. Autumn here is clear and mild; December is cold and damp, and the outdoor items, the ferry deck and the canal boat, want a warm layer.
- Visa window
- The 30-day visa-free policy currently runs to 31 December 2026. Because this is a 7-day plan, departures on or before 25 December 2026 finish inside that window; later dates are quoted after the official renewal announcement
- Payment
- Bookings are not open yet. When this route opens, these are the terms. From 1 guest. A 10% deposit (minimum $399) locks your dates. The balance is due 14 days before departure. "Or similar" never means a quiet downgrade.
- Flexibility
- Walking distances adapt to your pace throughout, and the two Shanghai touring days can be swapped if a venue's opening day requires it.
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Four days are settled and three are not. The Shanghai and Zhujiajiao days have contracted suppliers, named admissions and a price. The Suzhou and Hangzhou days are designed but the ground handling there is not yet placed, so we will not price them and will not describe experiences we cannot yet deliver. You lose nothing by asking: we tell you in writing which version you are being quoted, and the four-day plan stands complete on its own.
Most of our guests do not. These passports currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days: British · French · German · Dutch · Belgian · Italian · Spanish · Portuguese · Greek · Nordic · Central European · Irish · Canadian · Australian · New Zealand. US passports do need a Chinese tourist or business visa for this route, and the fee and appointment are your own; a 10-year multiple-entry visa works. We check your entry permission against your dates before you pay anything.
Yes, and it is deliberate. The cruise shows you the skyline you already saw from the Bund, from further away, with a commentary. The ferry costs about the same as a bus fare, runs all day, and puts you on an open deck among people going to work, with the barges and container tugs that are the whole reason this city exists passing close by. If you also want the cruise, we will book it separately and tell you the fare.
We book the timed slot for you rather than leaving it to you, because the museum's own reservation system carries limited English support. We cannot guarantee any single date: slots are released on the museum's own schedule and popular days go. If your day two cannot be booked, we tell you before you pay and name the replacement in writing, and the two Shanghai touring days can swap over so the museum runs on day three instead.
On purpose. Shanghai is the wrong city in which to prepay set menus: the range runs from a bowl of noodles under a plane tree to a dining room with a view of the river, and tastes diverge by the second day. Breakfast is included at the hotel each morning; for the rest, your guide recommends and books around what you actually feel like eating, and you pay for it there.
