Shanghai, Huangshan & Hangzhou: 8 Days of Gardens, Peaks and Tea
Classical gardens in Suzhou, sunrise above the clouds on Yellow Mountain, Huizhou villages and the tea hills of Hangzhou — all by train from Shanghai.
- Route
- Shanghai → Suzhou → Huangshan → Hangzhou → Shanghai
- Best for
- Second-time visitors, photographers and walkers
- Pace
- Moderate, with one active mountain day
About this route
Eastern China’s great landscape painting tradition comes to life on this route. Huangshan is the mountain behind countless ink paintings, and the villages at its foot are the Huizhou merchant towns that funded China’s art and scholarship.
Trains link every stop. The only real effort is the summit day on Huangshan — cable cars do most of the climbing, but expect several hours of stone steps.
The itinerary
- Days 1–2
Shanghai
The Bund, Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum and the former French Concession.
- Day 3
Suzhou gardens
The Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Master of the Nets Garden, with lunch of Suzhou noodles.
- Day 4
To Huangshan via the villages
Afternoon at Hongcun village, a UNESCO site with its moon-shaped pond and Ming-Qing merchant houses.
- Day 5
Up the mountain
Cable car up from the eastern or southern side, then walk the summit circuit — Beginning-to-Believe Peak, Lion Peak, the West Sea Grand Canyon.
Field note: Pack an overnight bag only; leave the main luggage at your foothill hotel.
- Day 6
Sunrise and descent, train to Hangzhou
Sunrise from Lion Peak or Bright Summit, cable car down, afternoon train to Hangzhou.
- Day 7
West Lake and tea
Su Causeway at dawn, Lingyin Temple and tea tasting in Longjing village.
- Day 8
Back to Shanghai
Train to Shanghai Hongqiao for your onward flight.
Before you book
- Mountain weather changes fast — bring a rain shell and warm layer even in summer.
- Huangshan summit hotels are basic for their price; book early for weekends.
Regions on this route: Yangtze Delta, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). See also how to book trains and the visa checker.
Cities on this route
Shanghai
China’s most international city: the Bund, art deco neighbourhoods, world-class museums and an hour by train to classical Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Suzhou
Classical gardens, canals and silk — the most refined small-scale beauty in China, half an hour from Shanghai.
Hangzhou
West Lake’s causeways and pagodas, Longjing tea villages and Lingyin Temple — a city Marco Polo is said to have called the finest in the world.
FAQ
Is Huangshan too hard for older travellers?
With cable cars up and down, most reasonably fit travellers manage the summit circuit at their own pace. Porters and sedan chairs are available on the mountain.
Want this itinerary adapted to you built around your dates, pace and interests? Tell us what you have in mind and our desk will reply within 24 hours.
Commission a Private China Proposal
Tell us your travel window, interests, or hospital checkup requirements. Our specialists will return a tailored route blueprint — zero obligation.
