Shanghai then Hangzhou is one of the easiest pairs in China: two nights in the city, one short train, two nights by the lake. It gives you lights and food first, then water, tea and quiet. It also means you change hotels only once.
If you are travelling as a couple, or with someone who tires easily, it helps to know the days are built around rest. This plan keeps mornings gentle and evenings free.
Who is this plan for?
It suits couples, small groups of friends and comfort-minded travellers who want scenery without long drives. It is also a good second step after your first Shanghai visit. For a first-timer city focus, read the first Shanghai plan instead.
What does the route look like?
- Day 1: arrive in Shanghai, evening by the river
- Day 2: Shanghai at a slow pace
- Day 3: high-speed train to Hangzhou, first lake evening
- Day 4: West Lake, tea and a quiet afternoon
- Day 5: train to Shanghai and fly home
Day by day
Day 1: arrive in Shanghai
Check in and walk by the river on the Bund in the evening. Pudong airport is linked to the city by maglev, which covers about 30 km in about 8 minutes[1]. Take it, then change to the metro or a taxi.
Day 2: Shanghai without rushing
Spend the morning in the Former French Concession over a long breakfast, and the afternoon in a museum or a tea house. Dinner in the old town is a good last Shanghai meal.
Day 3: the train to Hangzhou
Take a mid-morning high-speed train. The fastest Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East trains take about 45 minutes over roughly 202 km, though Hangzhou West to Hongqiao takes about 78 minutes[2]. Check which station your train uses.
After you check in, walk to the lake. Most areas around West Lake have been free to enter since 2002[3], so an evening stroll costs nothing.
Day 4: West Lake, slowly
The West Lake Cultural Landscape was inscribed in 2011[4]. Walk the Su Causeway, built in 1089[5], and take a boat in the morning. Spend the afternoon in a tea house, away from the crowds.
Day 5: return and fly
Take the morning train back to Shanghai and go on to the airport. Leave a generous margin, since a delayed train and a flight do not mix.
Which seat class should you choose?
On G, D and C trains, second class has compact seats arranged 2+3 across the car[6]. First class has larger seats arranged 2+2 with more legroom[7]. Business class is available on G trains only, with electrically reclining seats and sometimes a complimentary meal[8].
For one short ride, second class is fine. Upgrade if you carry large bags or want a quieter carriage.
How do you book the trains?
China State Railway Group announced on 28 November 2023 that foreigners with ordinary passports can verify and buy tickets online via 12306[9]. A package can book for you. If you go DIY, note that tickets go on sale 15 days before departure[10].
Where should you stay?
In Shanghai, choose an area close to a metro station and the Bund. In Hangzhou, choose between the lake and the station area. Our West Lake hotel areas guide and the Hangzhou East station guide compare them.
What if the weather turns?
West Lake is lovely in light rain, but a heavy downpour is better spent in a tea house or museum. Keep Day 4 flexible: if the morning is wet, move the boat to the afternoon and do the tea house first. Carry a compact umbrella and a dry bag for the phone, and check the forecast the evening before each move.
How can you adapt it?
- Seniors: add taxis from the station, and skip the causeway walk if tired.
- Muslim travellers: Phoenix Mosque in Hangzhou has Tang or Song origins, with an existing prayer hall dating from 1281[11]. Look for the green 清真 sign and ask about the kitchen.
- Couples celebrating: see the couples route for a more romantic version.
- Wider trip: add Suzhou with the three-city route.
What helps a slow trip stay slow?
Choose one anchor per day and treat the rest as optional. Keep lunch long, book the train for mid-morning and leave a free evening on the lake.
If one of you tires, take a taxi and swap the walking for a tea house. Rushing is the only thing that can spoil this route, so build in the rest first.
What should the budget cover?
Count flights, four hotel nights, the train in your chosen class, meals, entry and taxis, plus travel insurance. First class costs more than second, so decide your seat class before comparing quotes. Use current prices rather than old ones, since seasons change the totals, and make sure each quote lists the same items.
What should you book ahead?
Book flights, the hotels and the train as early as the quote allows. Shanghai is rated medium risk for typhoons, mainly from flooding[12], so keep a flexible evening. Compare train and flight options with the rail versus flight tool, and work out costs in the budget planner.