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Question

Hello everyone. We’re thinking of a 9 day trip to Shanghai in April. We haven’t booked anything yet.

Thinking of upon arriving at Pudong airport, go straight to Suzhou for 3 nights, 1 day is to visit Wuxi. Followed by 1-2 nights Hangzhou and 4 nights Shanghai.

We’re 4 ladies each with a mid size luggage and will be taking public transport. Would this be a feasible itinerary? Are these cities/ towns reachable by high speed trains? Do we need to book the tickets in advance?

Hotel wise we are thinking of mid range and close to train stations so that we need not lug the bags far.

World appreciate inputs to help us plan. Thank you!

Answer

Your proposed 9-day itinerary for Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Hangzhou is generally feasible and well-paced, especially if you prefer to spend a few days in each city without rushing too much. These cities are all well-connected by China’s high-speed rail network, making travel convenient even with mid-sized luggage.

Here are some key considerations:

Arrival and Suzhou: Pudong Airport (PVG) to Suzhou is easily done by high-speed train via Shanghai. You will need to take a metro or taxi from Pudong Airport to either Shanghai Hongqiao Station or Shanghai Railway Station to catch the high-speed train. The train from Shanghai to Suzhou typically takes 30–40 minutes.
Wuxi day trip: Wuxi is very close to Suzhou (about 30–40 minutes by train). Doing a day trip is convenient without needing to change hotels.
Hangzhou: Suzhou to Hangzhou is around 1.5–2 hours by high-speed train. Spending 1–2 nights is reasonable to explore the main highlights such as West Lake and Lingyin Temple.
Shanghai: Hangzhou to Shanghai is approximately 1 hour by high-speed train. Four nights in Shanghai will give you enough time to explore key areas like The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, museums, and possibly day trips to nearby water towns if desired.

Transport tips:

High-speed trains between these cities are frequent, but April is a popular travel month in China, so booking tickets in advance (online or at train stations) is recommended to secure preferred times and seats.
Choose hotels near main train stations (Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai) to minimize luggage transfers. This is especially helpful if using public transport for most journeys.
Use metro, taxis, or ride-hailing apps like DiDi in each city to get around efficiently.

Additional tips:

Check if your mid-sized luggage fits easily in train luggage racks—high-speed trains have limited space, though it should suffice for 1–2 bags per person.
Plan your Suzhou day trips carefully, as some gardens and attractions have opening times and may get crowded during spring.
Consider buying tickets for popular attractions (like West Lake boat rides or Shanghai museums) in advance to save time.

Overall, your itinerary is practical and comfortable. Using high-speed trains and staying near stations will make public transport manageable, and 9 days allows a balanced exploration of each city.

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