Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou

Question

We will be arriving in Shanghai for a 14 day trip in mid March. From Shanghai, we're thinking of doing a loop to Suzhou/Hangzhou and back to Shanghai. Is there any clear advantage whether we should arrange our itinerary in either of the following ways:

1) Shanghai - Suzhou - Hangzhou - Shanghai

2) Shanghai - Hangzhou- Suzhou-Shanghai

We will most likely be travelling by train but am open to shorter private transfers as well.

Also, are there any other locations nearby worth visiting? Thanks

Answer

Both itinerary options—Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → Shanghai and Shanghai → Hangzhou → Suzhou → Shanghai—are feasible, and the choice mainly depends on your preferences for pacing, train availability, and sightseeing priorities.

Here’s a breakdown of the considerations:

Option 1: Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → Shanghai
- Suited for a gradual transition from city to countryside. Suzhou’s gardens and canals are very close to Shanghai (roughly 30-40 min by high-speed train), making it a gentle start.
- After Suzhou, moving to Hangzhou (about 1–1.5 hours by train) allows you to enjoy the scenic West Lake and tea plantations, ending with a return to Shanghai. This provides a "city → garden → scenic" progression.
- This option minimizes backtracking and is convenient if you want to end in Shanghai for flights or train departures.
Option 2: Shanghai → Hangzhou → Suzhou → Shanghai
- Starting with Hangzhou offers a more scenic immersion early on (West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea fields), which can be refreshing after arriving in Shanghai.
- Then heading to Suzhou gives a more relaxed, historical experience before returning to Shanghai.
- This could be preferable if your accommodation in Shanghai is for the later portion of your trip, giving you a city-based base at the end.

Transportation:

High-speed trains connect Shanghai-Suzhou (~30–40 min), Shanghai-Hangzhou (~1 hr), and Suzhou-Hangzhou (~1–1.5 hrs) efficiently.
For shorter, flexible transfers (private cars or taxis), it’s easier if your itinerary flows in one direction to avoid retracing paths.

Other nearby locations worth visiting on day trips or short excursions include:

Zhujiajiao: Water town in the outskirts of Shanghai, ideal for a half-day trip.
Wuzhen or Xitang: Famous water towns located between Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Ningbo or Shaoxing: Further afield, but accessible via train if you want historical and cultural experiences beyond Hangzhou.

Overall, the choice of itinerary largely depends on whether you prefer a gentle start near Shanghai (Option 1) or to dive into scenic landscapes first (Option 2). Train travel is convenient in either direction, so both are equally practical.

Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou

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