Things to Do Around Shanghai: Activities & Day Trips

If Shanghai’s vibrant urban energy has won you over, are you now dreaming of uncovering the hidden gems tucked away in the surrounding areas?

Great idea! The Yangtze Delta is brimming with authentic wonders less than two hours away by train: poetic classical gardens, ancient water towns, legendary lakes and lush green mountains. Suzhou, Hangzhou, Zhujiajiao, Tongli... there are so many beautiful things to discover just outside Shanghai!

Trip.com reveals its top excursions for exploring the Jiangnan region and enjoying unforgettable experiences around Shanghai!

Top Activities Around Shanghai 🎫

• 🏞️ Hangzhou & West Lake 🚤 Cruise from £5.81 – UNESCO Lake & Lingyin Temple 🏯
• 🌸 Suzhou & Classical Gardens 🏛️ Garden entry: £3-10 – 'Venice of the East' UNESCO 🌊
• 🏘️ Zhujiajiao Water Town 🛶 Free entry (boat trips £5) - An authentic village just 1 hour from Shanghai 📸
• 🌉 Tongli & Zhouzhuang 💧 Tours from £39 - Ancient water towns and stone bridges 🏡
• 🍵 Moganshan 🏔️ Trip: £35-50 – Mountain retreat and tea plantations 🌿

What to Do Around Shanghai Based on Your Stay

Depending on your travel style and the length of your stay, there are plenty of ways to explore the areas surrounding Shanghai. To help you plan the perfect trip, Trip.com has rounded up some top itinerary ideas and activities for every kind of getaway!

Top 5 Activities and Landmarks Around Shanghai 🏞️

Now that you know how much time to spend in the region, let’s explore the 5 top excursions you simply can’t miss around Shanghai. Here is our handpicked selection of the best experiences to enjoy, whether you’re travelling with family, friends, or as a couple:

Hangzhou and West Lake: Paradise on Earth

Located just 45 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train, Hangzhou is undoubtedly THE must-visit destination for a day trip from the city.

This elegant city is renowned throughout China for its West Lake (西湖 Xīhú), a UNESCO World Heritage site that has epitomised Chinese poetic beauty for centuries. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes: "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou!"

👆 Top tip: West Lake spans 6.5 km² and offers truly breathtaking scenery! Start your adventure with a scenic lake cruise (30-45 minutes, £13-21) to admire the "Ten Scenes of West Lake" – legendary vistas that have been celebrated in Chinese poetry and painting since the Song Dynasty. Don't miss a visit to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, one of the most iconic sights of all.

📌 Trip.com Tip: Set off early from Shanghai to make the most of your day. The lake can get quite busy at weekends – try to visit during the week if you can. The evening lights on the lake are truly magical!

Suzhou: The Venice of the East and its Legendary Gardens

The second must-visit city near Shanghai is Suzhou (苏州)! Dubbed the "Venice of the East" by Marco Polo himself, this ancient water city is just 30 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train.

This elegant city is world-famous for its classical Chinese gardens, true masterpieces of landscape art and UNESCO World Heritage sites, and its intricate network of historic canals that wind through the old town.

👆 Top sights: the true jewel of Suzhou is the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园 Zhuōzhèng Yuán), the largest and most famous of China's classical gardens. Built during the Ming Dynasty in the early 16th century, this garden spans 5 hectares and showcases a perfect harmony of elegant pavilions, poetic ponds, zigzag bridges, water-sculpted rocks, and lush greenery.

📌 Trip.com Top Tip: Buy a combo ticket to visit several gardens and save money. Visit the gardens early in the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the tour groups and enjoy the soft light – perfect for your photos!

Zhujiajiao: The most accessible water town from Shanghai

Zhujiajiao (朱家角), nicknamed the "Pearl of Jiangnan", is a thousand-year-old water town located just an hour's drive from the centre of Shanghai in the Qingpu District.

It’s the best-preserved ancient water town in the Shanghai region and the perfect choice for a half or full-day excursion if you’re short on time and can’t make it as far as Suzhou or Hangzhou.

💡 Did you know? A water town is an ancient city where canals replace streets, traditional boats replace cars, and time seems to have stood still since the Ming and Qing dynasties.

👆 Unmissable sights to explore:

• The village boasts 36 ancient stone bridges that elegantly span the canals, including the famous Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥), built in 1571 during the Ming Dynasty.
• Take a stroll along North Street (北大街), the main shopping street paved with ancient stones. Stretching for nearly a kilometre, it’s brimming with artisan boutiques, traditional restaurants, and tea houses.
• You'll discover local specialities like zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves), puffed rice cakes, and grilled fish skewers.

Tongli & Zhouzhuang: Authentic Water Towns

Staying with the water towns, next up are Tongli and Zhouzhuang—two must-visit destinations often combined on day trips from Shanghai or Suzhou.

👆 Everything you need to know about Tongli:

• Located 18 km from Suzhou and 80 km from Shanghai, this ancient village boasts over 1,000 years of history. What makes it truly unique is its wonderfully authentic atmosphere, which feels far less commercial than other water towns.
• Tongli is criss-crossed by 15 rivers, spanned by 49 stone bridges of various styles. These include the famous 'Three Bridges' (Taiping, Jili, and Changqing), which locals cross during significant moments in their lives to bring good luck and prosperity.
• The village is also home to stunning classic private gardens, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Retreat & Reflection Garden (退思园), and numerous ancient temples.

👆 What you need to know about Zhouzhuang:

• Zhouzhuang, meanwhile, is located 60 km southeast of Suzhou and is considered the most famous water village in China, nicknamed the "First Water Town of China"! No less!
• Boasting over 900 years of history, this picturesque village is gracefully crisscrossed by 14 canals and boasts around a hundred ancient bridges. Among them are the iconic twin Shuangqiao Bridge (Double Bridge), dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, famously immortalised by painter Chen Yifei in the 1980s.

📌 Trip.com Tip: If you have to choose just one village, Tongli is more authentic and less crowded, while Zhouzhuang is more visually spectacular but very touristy.

Moganshan: Mountain Escapes and Tea Plantations

One last must-see stop: head to Moganshan for a nature escape that’s a world away from the water towns! Moganshan (莫干山) is a refreshing mountain resort located about 2.5 to 3 hours from Shanghai in Zhejiang Province.

Perched between 500 and 700 metres above sea level, this lush mountainous region is famous for its bamboo forests, terraced tea plantations, and a pleasant climate that has made it a popular getaway since the colonial era.

👆 Good to know: Moganshan was a favourite retreat for foreign diplomats and missionaries in the early 20th century, who built over 200 Western-style villas nestled among the bamboo (some of which have since been transformed into charming boutique hotels). The mountain takes its name from a 5th-century BC legend, which tells of the blacksmith Mo Ye forging legendary swords here.

👆 Unmissable activities:

• Hikes through giant bamboo forests and mountain trails offering panoramic views over lush green valleys (with several 2-5 hour trails available depending on your level),
• A visit to the tea plantations, where you can watch traditional tea picking and enjoy tastings of the local green tea,
• Discovering historic villas with their unique colonial architecture,
• Naked Stables Resort also offers a range of outdoor activities, including horse riding, mountain biking, and even yoga in the heart of nature.

📌 Trip.com Tip: Moganshan is the perfect spot for a 2-day/1-night getaway to truly switch off and immerse yourself in nature. In the summer, the mountains are a refreshing 7-10°C cooler than Shanghai, making it the ultimate escape from the city heat. Be sure to book your accommodation in advance, especially for weekends and summer trips.

Top Culinary Specialities Around Shanghai 🍜

What would a trip around Shanghai be without discovering the culinary delights of the Yangtze River Delta?

Jiangnan cuisine (江南菜) is renowned throughout China for its refinement, delicacy, and perfectly balanced sweet and savoury flavours.

Trip.com has handpicked the must-try local dishes for you to sample during your exploration:

• Dongpo Pork (东坡肉): Hailing from Hangzhou, this iconic dish features large cubes of pork slow-braised in a rich, sweet and savoury sauce made with soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, and sugar.
• Nanxiang Xiaolongbao: these famous ‘soup dumplings’ from the outskirts of Shanghai (Nanxiang) are filled with piping hot broth and minced pork. The real art lies in enjoying them without burning yourself or piercing the delicate skin! You’ll find the very best ones in Nanxiang Old Town, near Shanghai.
• West Lake Vinegar Fish (西湖醋鱼): An iconic Hangzhou speciality, this dish features freshwater grass carp cooked in a signature sweet and sour vinegar sauce.
• Taihu Lake Shrimp: Lake Taihu near Suzhou produces tiny, translucent freshwater shrimp that are incredibly fresh. They are often simply stir-fried with Longjing green tea (Longjing Xiaren) or steamed.
• Suzhou's Glutinous Rice Cakes: Suzhou is famous for its delicate and sweet glutinous rice pastries, such as 'Song Gao' (fragrant pine cakes) and mochi filled with red bean, black sesame, or jujube paste.
• Suzhou Noodles: Suzhou is renowned for its refined noodle soups, served in a clear broth with a variety of toppings, such as braised eel, red pork ribs, white fish, or prawns.
• Longjing Green Tea: Hangzhou’s famous "Dragon Well" tea is widely considered the finest green tea in China, with its flat, jade-green leaves and delicate chestnut aroma. A tasting at a traditional plantation is an absolute must!

Best Time for Activities Around Shanghai 🌤️

The areas surrounding Shanghai are a joy to explore all year round, but each season offers a completely different experience. The humid subtropical climate is characterised by four distinct seasons.

Here’s a comprehensive overview to help you pick the perfect time for your trip, based on your priorities and the activities you’re dreaming of:

💡Our Trip.com recommendation: April–May and September–November are the ideal times to explore the region. Avoid July–August (stifling heat and extreme humidity) and Golden Week in early October (massive crowds).

Day Trips Around Shanghai 🚄

Heading to Hangzhou

• By high-speed train: Direct trains depart from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station every 15-30 minutes (taking 45 mins–1 hr, 70-130 CNY / £8-14). It’s the fastest and most comfortable way to travel!
• By bus: From various bus stations in Shanghai (2-3 hours, 50-80 CNY / £5-9). A more budget-friendly option, though it’s a little slower.

Heading to Suzhou

• By high-speed train: frequent services from Shanghai Hongqiao or Shanghai Railway Station (25-35 mins, 40-60 CNY / £4-7). Super convenient!
• By metro (extension): the planned Suzhou-Shanghai metro line will make travelling even easier.

Heading to Zhujiajiao

• By public bus: From Puán Road (Metro Line 2), take the Hu-Zhu Express bus (1 hour, 12 CNY / approx. £1.30). Great value!
• By taxi/Didi: from central Shanghai (1h-1h 15m, around 150-200 CNY /£16-21).

Off to Tongli & Zhouzhuang

• Via Suzhou: Take a train from Shanghai to Suzhou, then a local bus to the villages (30-45 mins).
• Direct tourist bus: from Shanghai Stadium (2–2.5 hours, approx. 100–150 CNY / £11–16).

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