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Overview
Over nine days, the journey takes you from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Shenzhen. In Shanghai, visits will include Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum, The Bund, Shanghai Tower, and People's Square. On Day 4, the itinerary moves to Hangzhou via high-speed rail from Wukang Road, with a walk along West Lake on Day 5. Day 6 includes a flight to Shenzhen, followed by visits to Huaqiangbei, Shekou, and Nantou Ancient City. Intercity train times, local services in Hangzhou, and optional venue tours will be confirmed in writing according to your travel dates.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Please share your travel dates, number of fellow travellers, and passport details. Local services in Hangzhou, intercity transport, and Shenzhen venue visits will be confirmed according to your dates and specified in the written quote.
Why you'll love this trip
- Visiting Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen in sequence, the itinerary covers The Bund, West Lake, Huaqiangbei, and Nantou Ancient Town; specific services at each location are subject to order confirmation.
- From Old Town gardens to circuit board floors, witness modern China in 9 days.
- As night falls, stand on The Bund with your guide: one side reveals a century of historic trading buildings, the other rises with Pudong’s modern skyline—a city gazing across the river at its own reflection.
- On the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, try to read the city rather than just taking photos: your guide will point out the river, the historic Bund on the opposite bank, and the grey rooftops beyond, transforming the route you walked yesterday into a living map.
- Spend an afternoon at the marriage market in People's Park, where parents come in person to find partners for their grown-up children, and your guide will explain what qualities they look for and why.
- Follow a guide on a walking tour of Huaqiangbei’s electronics market to see components, development boards, and finished devices. Specific stalls and floors will be adjusted according to operating conditions.
- Visit Shekou and Nantou Ancient Town to explore Shenzhen’s modern industrial development and historic old-town streets.
- Three nights in Shanghai, two in Hangzhou, and three in Shenzhen. The specific hall and entry time slot at the Shanghai Museum are subject to order confirmation.
Things to do
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Heritage
Museum
Riverfront
Skyline
Art
Local Life
City
Tech
City
Self-drivingHeritageMuseumRiverfrontSkylineArtLocal LifeCityTechCitySelf-drivingHeritageMuseumRiverfrontSkylineArtLocal LifeCityTechCitySelf-drivingItinerary
Arrivals
Shanghai · Day 1 - Day 3
· Arrival in Shanghai
Pick up at the confirmed flight time and head to your hotel in Shanghai. Enjoy free time upon arrival.
· Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum & The Bund
Start with the Yu Garden and Old Town, then visit the Shanghai Museum, and in the evening, admire the views of the Huangpu River from the Bund.
· From the Observation Deck to People's Park
In the morning, climb Shanghai Tower; in the afternoon, visit a contemporary art gallery, then head to People's Park for its famous matchmaking corner.
High-speed rail
Hangzhou · Day 4 - Day 5
· Plane trees, then the rails
Explore Wukang Road in Shanghai in the morning, then take a high-speed train to Hangzhou in the afternoon and stay overnight there.
· A Day in West Lake
This day is dedicated to West Lake and the lakeside districts, with specific walking routes arranged according to your travel dates.
FlightTime TBC
Shenzhen · Day 6 - Day 9
· Hangzhou to Shenzhen
Proceed to Shenzhen via the confirmed intercity transport. Check into the hotel upon arrival. The day is primarily dedicated to transit.
· Huaqiangbei Electronics Market
Visit the electronics traders in Huaqiangbei to observe how components, prototype boards, and finished devices circulate through the market.
· Shekou and Nantou Ancient City
Start at Shekou and then head to Nantou Ancient City, viewing Shenzhen's districts from different eras along the way.
· Return from Shenzhen
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule; if you have any free time, you may enjoy some leisure time in the vicinity.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Ruizhenmeili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Nestled along the Suzhou Creek on Beijing East Road, enjoy breathtaking views of the Shanghai Bund.
Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel Nanjing West Road, Jing'an Temple, Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel: A vibrant accommodation option located in the Jing’an Temple business district of Shanghai, just a three-minute walk from Line 14 of the metro.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Hangzhou
Nestled in the far north-west corner of West Lake — along Lingyin Road — with lake views and mountain-facing gardens, this residence sits as quietly as it commands the view.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Hangzhou Grand Hyatt Hotel, located on Hubin Road, frames the eastern shoreline of West Lake as a vista from every guest room.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Ruizhenmeili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Nestled along the Suzhou Creek on Beijing East Road, enjoy breathtaking views of the Shanghai Bund.
Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel Nanjing West Road, Jing'an Temple, Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel: A vibrant accommodation option located in the Jing’an Temple business district of Shanghai, just a three-minute walk from Line 14 of the metro.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Hangzhou
Nestled in the far north-west corner of West Lake — along Lingyin Road — with lake views and mountain-facing gardens, this residence sits as quietly as it commands the view.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Hangzhou Grand Hyatt Hotel, located on Hubin Road, frames the eastern shoreline of West Lake as a vista from every guest room.
Shanghai
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai International Resort)
Royal Garden Hotel Shanghai: a luxurious garden hotel adjacent to Pudong Airport and Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service to both.
Shanghai
Ruizhenmeili Hotel (Shanghai City Centre, The Bund)
Nestled along the Suzhou Creek on Beijing East Road, enjoy breathtaking views of the Shanghai Bund.
Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel Nanjing West Road, Jing'an Temple, Shanghai
CitiGO Hotel: A vibrant accommodation option located in the Jing’an Temple business district of Shanghai, just a three-minute walk from Line 14 of the metro.
Hangzhou
Four Seasons Hotel West Lake Hangzhou
Nestled in the far north-west corner of West Lake — along Lingyin Road — with lake views and mountain-facing gardens, this residence sits as quietly as it commands the view.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhonggang Hui Hotel
The Pullman Shanghai South Harbour, located in Dapuqiao and adjacent to Tianzifang, is just steps away from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Shenzhen
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Locatted in the Futian CBD, close to major landmarks and metro lines. Featuring over 500 elegant guest rooms and suites with exclusive executive floor services.
Hangzhou
Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
Hangzhou Grand Hyatt Hotel, located on Hubin Road, frames the eastern shoreline of West Lake as a vista from every guest room.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleThe scope of ground transportation in Shanghai and Shenzhen, including the airport pickup in Shanghai on Day 1 and the airport drop-off in Shenzhen on Day 9, is subject to written quotation confirmation. Local vehicles in Hangzhou are not included in the base price.
- HotelsThe base rate includes 8 nights of accommodation throughout the journey: 3 nights in Shanghai, 2 in Hangzhou, and 3 in Shenzhen. Specific hotels and room types are subject to written order confirmation.
- Intercity transportThe base fare includes the high-speed rail journey from Shanghai to Hangzhou on Day 4 and the flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen on Day 6; specific schedules, seating or cabin classes, and transfers at both ends are subject to written order confirmation.
- MealsConfirmed hotel breakfasts are included on days 2 to 4 in Shanghai and days 7 to 9 in Shenzhen, totalling six meals. The inclusion of the two breakfasts in Hangzhou will be specified in the written booking; lunches and dinners are subject to order confirmation.
- GuideEnglish-speaking tour guide services for the sightseeing days in Shanghai and Shenzhen are confirmed per booking, including a night cruise of the Bund on the second day. Tour guide services in Hangzhou are not included in the base price.
- Admission tickets and sightseeing, ShanghaiSeven designated inclusions: Yuyuan Garden and the Old Town · Shanghai Museum (venues and reservation slots confirmed by date) · Bund and Pudong skyline at night · Walk along the Former French Concession and Wukang Road · Shanghai Tower observation deck · One Shanghai arts venue (specific name to be provided in the written itinerary) · People’s Park dating corner (public area)
- Admission & entry, ShenzhenLayer-by-layer walking tour of Huaqiangbei Electronics Market, with guided commentary; hiking walk through Shekou and Nantou Ancient City. These are the only two Shenzhen inclusions in the base price.
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance; specific coverage is subject to the written order.
Not Included
- International flightsFlights into Shanghai and out of Shenzhen
- VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who require a Chinese visa
- MealsAll lunch and dinner meals. Assistance with recommendations or bookings is available upon request, with fees applied separately.
- Ground services in HangzhouThe inclusion of local vehicles, guides, admission tickets, and paid experiences in Hangzhou is subject to the written order; two nights of hotel accommodation and two inter-city transport segments are included in the base quote.
- DJI Sky KingdomNot included in the base price. If you wish to visit, visitor policies and fees must be confirmed for your travel date.
- Shenzhen Urban Planning and Industrial ExhibitionNot included in the base price. If you wish to visit, please verify opening times and entry rules for your travel date.
- Meet local operatorsThis itinerary does not guarantee or promise any meetings with local practitioners in Shanghai, Hangzhou, or Shenzhen. No such meetings are included in the itinerary, nor does anything in the above text imply that such meetings will be arranged.
- Robotaxi RidesSold as an add-on only, priced separately when selected; never included in the base price or counted towards any part of this route’s commitments.
- IndividualGratuities · Single room supplement or extra bed charges · Personal expenses, including any items purchased or paid for on-site: shopping, shuttle services, cable cars, boats · Any items not mentioned above
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow the calendar, a supplier's confirmation or a venue's door policy. Here they are, told straight.
- Confirm before booking — This route is available to book. The basic rate includes 8 nights' accommodation, the high-speed rail from Shanghai to Hangzhou, and the flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. The specific hotels, train and flight details, local services in Hangzhou, Shanghai Museum bookings, Shenzhen venues, and meal arrangements will be confirmed item by item in the written order.
- The Hangzhou stretch — This nine-day itinerary spans eight nights, including two in Hangzhou, all included in the base fare. Day 5 features a West Lake tour; the scope of local transport, guides, entry tickets, and paid experiences in Hangzhou is subject to the written booking confirmation.
- Day six — Day 6 is primarily a transfer day from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. A flight is planned; the specific flight, transfers, and free time before departure will be as per the written itinerary for the travel date.
- Two Shenzhen venues — To visit DJI Sky City or the Shenzhen Urban Planning & Industry Exhibition Hall, please verify visitor policies and availability based on your travel dates. Whether arrangements are made, if included, and associated costs are subject to the written quote.
- The Shanghai Museum reservation — Verify the Shanghai Museum’s visiting zone and entry time slots according to the travel date. Specific reservation details and alternative plans in the event of insufficient availability will be confirmed in the written itinerary.
- Local practitioners — this route does not arrange conversations with local practitioners in any of the three cities, and nothing on this page implies one. If that is the thing you came for, tell us and we will say plainly whether we can build it for your dates rather than writing it into a plan first.
- Departure dates — This route is now available for booking. Scenic spot openings, hotel availability, and intercity schedules will be verified against the planned dates and included in the written order.
- Entry formalities — Visa or visa-exemption eligibility depends on your passport, port of entry, dates, and complete itinerary; please verify individual requirements against the prevailing official regulations before payment.
- Confirmation and Changes — Written orders specify the confirmation deadline, as well as amendment and refund conditions. Rescheduling may involve transport, hotels, and timed venue bookings; specific rules are subject to the order confirmation.
Is Nine Days Your Length?
Fewer than nine days?
Fewer than nine days?
The three cities come apart cleanly. Shanghai stands on its own at three or four nights, Shenzhen at two or three, and the Hangzhou stretch is the one that comes out first, which is also the eight-day version we would build today. Tell us your dates and we cut cities rather than cut the pace.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private tour; group size and scope of services are subject to written quotation.
- Pace
- Three cities in nine days: Shanghai 3 nights, Hangzhou 2, Shenzhen 3. Two of the nine days are travel days
- Effort
- City walking on flat ground, with a private vehicle between stops in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The longest continuous walk is a market building you go through floor by floor, with lifts
- Ports
- Shanghai in, Shenzhen out, open jaw: you do not return to the entry city. Airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day nine
- Visas
- Check visa or visa-exempt eligibility for each traveller based on their passport, entry date, and complete itinerary; specific requirements are subject to the official regulations in force at the time of travel.
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking local guides on all touring days in Shanghai and Shenzhen
- Payment
- This route is bookable. The timing for deposits and final payments, as well as change conditions, are subject to the written order.
- Season
- Attraction opening hours and transport schedules vary by date; available departure dates and daily itineraries are subject to the written booking confirmation.
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
That is exactly what this route is designed to avoid. There is one view from a height in nine days, and it is used as a reading exercise, with your guide pointing out the streets you walked the day before. Everything else is about people and machinery: parents in a park seeking spouses for their grown-up children, a market explored floor by floor from components to finished machines, and an old walled town that the city was built up against. If you want the skyline photo, you will get it in ten minutes on day three, and then we move on.
It is an optional add-on, booked by date in advance, priced separately when you choose it, and reconfirmed on the ground. We do not promise it, because the service runs on a commercial operator's own network and whether it runs on your day is not ours to decide. If the operator is not running, the ride is not charged and nothing is quietly substituted into your plan. What holds either way is the Shenzhen day itself: Huaqiangbei floor by floor with your guide is in the base price and does not depend on anyone else's fleet.
Honestly: that is not settled, and we would rather say so. The design puts a full day at West Lake there. What we have not done is place a ground partner in Hangzhou. That means the hotel, the vehicle, the guide and every admission there sit outside your base price; none of it is sold to you in advance. There are two working outcomes and you will be told which one applies to your dates before you are asked for anything: we place a ground handler and quote those two days properly, or the route is re-cut as an eight-day Shanghai and Shenzhen version. Shanghai and Shenzhen, which are the two cities this route is really about, are unaffected either way.
Because Beijing answers a question this route is not asking. This is a nine-day plan about how the country works now, and Shenzhen is the shortest way to see that: a market where a phone comes apart into its parts and its sourcing chain, and, twenty minutes away, an old walled town that was here before the city. Beijing, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors are all worth nine days of their own, and we build those routes too. Tell us if you want both and we will tell you honestly how many days that takes.
Most guests on this route do not. Visa-free entry for stays of nine days covers Western Europe: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium. It covers Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece. It also covers the UK, Ireland, the Nordic countries and Central Europe. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are covered too. We check your nine days plus any extra days in China against that window before you pay. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026. Departures on or before December 23, 2026 finish inside it; later dates are quoted after the official renewal is announced. United States passports are different: this route is not sold to United States guests, because there is no direct air service from Shenzhen to the United States. If that is your passport, tell us and we will point you at a routing that exits somewhere it can.
