The itinerary is primarily on foot; elevators are available in the buildings at Huaqiangbei Market. The ground transfer area is subject to order confirmation.

Overview

九天从上海走到杭州、深圳。上海段依次走访豫园、上海博物馆、外滩、上海中心和人民公园;第四天从武康路乘高铁赴杭州,第五天沿西湖步行。第六天计划搭乘航班前往深圳,随后走访华强北、蛇口与南头古城。城际班次、杭州当地服务及可选场馆参观均按出行日期书面确认。

— LyrikTrip 旅行设计师

告诉我们您的出行日期、同行人数和所持护照。杭州当地服务、城际交通及深圳场馆参观安排将按您的日期核实,并在书面报价中列明。

Why you'll love this trip

  • Visiting Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen in sequence, with stops at the Bund, West Lake, Huaqiang North, and Nantou Ancient Town; local services are subject to order confirmation.
  • From Old Town gardens to circuit board floors: nine days that showcase China today.
  • As night falls, stand on the Bund with your guide: on one side, a century of historic commercial architecture; on the other, Pudong’s soaring skyscrapers—a city gazing across the river at its own reflection.
  • On the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, put down your camera and start reading the city instead: your guide will point out the river, the Old Bund across the water, and the sea of grey rooftops beyond it—all of it now becoming the map of the route you walked yesterday.
  • Spend an afternoon at the matchmaking corners of People's Park, where parents come in person to find a partner for their adult children; your guide will tell you what they’re looking for and why.
  • Join a guided tour of the Huaqiangbei Electronics Market to explore components, development boards, and finished devices; specific vendors and floors are subject to change depending on business conditions.
  • Explore Shekou and the Nantou Ancient City to witness Shenzhen's modern and contemporary industrial development alongside its old-town lanes.
  • Three nights in Shanghai, two in Hangzhou, and three in Shenzhen. The specific wing and entry time slots at the Shanghai Museum are subject to order confirmation.
Tour route mapTour route: Shanghai, Hangzhou, ShenzhenShanghai · ArrivalsD1–D3HangzhouD4–D5Shenzhen · DeparturesD6–D9

Things to do

Yuyuan Garden & the Old City, Shanghai
01
Shanghai Museum, Shanghai
02
The Bund, Shanghai
03
Shanghai Tower, Shanghai
04
Shanghai Art Center, Shanghai
05
Shanghai Blind Date Corner Tour, Shanghai
06
Former French Concession & Wukang Road, Shanghai
07
Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen
08
Shekou & Nantou Ancient Town, Shenzhen
09
Shenzhen Autonomous Driving Experience, Shenzhen
10

Itinerary

Shanghai · Day 1 - Day 3

Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai

Day 1 · Arrive in Shanghai

Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the confirmed flight time and taken to your hotel in Shanghai. You are free to rest at leisure once you arrive.

Airport pickup We will arrange a private airport pickup according to your confirmed flight and transfer you to your hotel in Shanghai. Meeting details are subject to the order confirmation.
Shanghai through the window On the way to the hotel, you can view Shanghai's elevated highways and street scenes from the car window; the specific views will vary depending on the arrival time.
Upon Arrival Enjoy free time upon arrival. Dinner is at your own expense; if you’d like us to recommend or book a restaurant, please confirm this in your booking, and dining charges apply separately.

Day 2 · The Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum & The Bund

Start with Yu Garden and the Old City area, then visit the Shanghai Museum, and in the evening, stroll along the Bund to take in views of both banks of the Huangpu River.

Yu Garden and the old city Stroll from the ponds and rockeries of the Yuyuan Garden to the old city’s lanes beyond; from the Nine-Bend Bridge, you can look back at the garden’s roof ridges and the distant high-rises.
Shanghai Museum Visit exhibition halls featuring bronzes, ceramics, and calligraphy and painting. The specific museum area, reservation time slot, and entry method are subject to your confirmed booking.
The Bund after dark Walk along the Huangpu River promenade to view the historic buildings of the Bund and the skyline of Pudong on the other side.

Day 3 · From the Viewing Platform to People's Park

In the morning, climb to the top of the Shanghai Tower; in the afternoon, visit a contemporary art venue, then head to the matchmaking corner in People's Park.

Shanghai Tower observation deck From the observation deck, spot the Huangpu River, the Bund, and the old town neighborhoods you explored the day before.
A contemporary art venue Visit Shanghai's contemporary art venues; specific locations to be confirmed in the written itinerary.
People's Park marriage market Visit the People's Park matchmaking corner to observe publicly posted dating profiles and see how parents introduce their children and desired partner criteria; please do not photograph personal information.
高铁

Hangzhou · Day 4 - Day 5

Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou

Day 4 · Plane trees, then the rails

Spend the morning strolling along Wukang Road in Shanghai, take a high-speed train to Hangzhou in the afternoon, and stay overnight in Hangzhou.

Former French Concession and Wukang Road Stroll along Wukang Road’s tree-lined streets, historic residences, and street-side boutiques before heading to the station.
Afternoon rail to Hangzhou Take the high-speed train to Hangzhou in the afternoon; the ticket is included in the base quote. Specific train numbers, seat classes, and transfers at both ends will be confirmed in writing.

Day 5 · A Day in West Lake

This day is reserved for West Lake and its lakeside neighborhoods, with the specific walking route arranged according to the travel date.

West Lake Lakeside Take a walk along West Lake and allow time to enjoy the shoreline and nearby neighborhoods; the exact route will be confirmed in your written itinerary.
Hangzhou Itinerary Arrangements Two nights of accommodation in Hangzhou are included; the scope of local transportation, guiding services, entrance tickets, and other paid experiences will be confirmed in writing upon booking.
航班时刻待定

Shenzhen · Day 6 - Day 9

Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen

Day 6 · Hangzhou to Shenzhen

Proceed to Shenzhen by the confirmed intercity transportation. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. This day is primarily dedicated to transit.

Hangzhou to Shenzhen Fly to Shenzhen; airfare is included in the base rate, with flight details, cabin class, and airport transfers to be confirmed in your written booking.
Flexible Time Before Departure If transportation allows, you may enjoy free time in Hangzhou; please refer to the written itinerary for the final decision on whether to join any other activities.
Arrival in Shenzhen Upon arriving in Shenzhen, proceed to your hotel; the evening is free for your own activities. Hotel and transfer arrangements are subject to order confirmation.

Day 7 · Huaqiangbei Electronics Market

Visit electronics merchants in Huaqiangbei to observe how components, prototype boards, and finished devices move through the market.

Huaqiangbei Visit electronic retailers on each floor of Huaqiangbei to observe components, prototype boards, and finished devices; specific floors and stores are subject to on-site conditions.
DJI Sky City (Optional) To arrange a visit, please confirm the facility's visitor policies for your travel date. Inclusion and fees are subject to written quotation.
After the tour After the walking tour through the market, there will be free time; subsequent arrangements are subject to the written itinerary.

Day 8 · Shekou and Nantou Ancient City

First, visit Shekou, then head to Nantou Ancient City, viewing neighborhood blocks from different eras of Shenzhen along the way.

Shekou Walk along the Shekou waterfront to learn about its role in Shenzhen’s early industrial development.
Nantou Old Town Pass through the ancient gate of Nantou City, then stroll along the streets and alleys to see historic buildings standing alongside modern districts.
Shenzhen Urban Planning and Industrial Exhibition Center (Optional) Please verify opening hours and entry rules based on your travel date if you wish to visit. Scheduling and fees are subject to a written quote.
The last evening Enjoy free time in the evening. Overnight in Shenzhen.

Day 9 · Return from Shenzhen

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the airport according to your flight time; if you have any spare time, feel free to enjoy some leisure activities near the hotel.

Free Time Before Departure If your flight schedule allows, you can enjoy some free time near the hotel. Please make sure to allow plenty of time to get to the airport.
Airport drop-off Airport transfers are scheduled per the written itinerary; exact times are subject to the flight and airport confirmed in your booking.
Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

  • Private vehicleThe ground transfers in Shanghai and Shenzhen, the airport pickup in Shanghai on Day 1, and the airport drop-off in Shenzhen on Day 9 are subject to confirmation via written quotation. Local transportation in Hangzhou is not included in the base price.
  • HotelsThe base fare includes 8 nights of accommodation throughout the trip: 3 nights in Shanghai, 2 nights in Hangzhou, and 3 nights in Shenzhen. Specific hotel and room type will be confirmed in the written order.
  • Intercity TransportationThe base fare includes the high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou on Day 4 and the flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen on Day 6; specific schedules, seat or cabin class, and transfers at both ends are subject to written confirmation.
  • DiningHotel breakfast is confirmed for Days 2–4 in Shanghai and Days 7–9 in Shenzhen, for a total of 6 servings. The inclusion of two breakfasts in Hangzhou will be specified in the written order; lunch and dinner are subject to order confirmation.
  • GuideEnglish-speaking guide services for sightseeing days in Shanghai and Shenzhen are subject to order confirmation and include the Bund night cruise on the second day. Guided services in Hangzhou are not included in the base price.
  • Admission & Tours, ShanghaiSeven designated inclusions: Yu Garden & the Old Town · Shanghai Museum (venue and reservation time slots confirmed by date) · The Bund & Pudong skyline night view · Walking tour of the former French Concession & Wukang Road · Observation deck of Shanghai Tower · One Shanghai arts venue (specific name in the written itinerary) · People’s Park matchmaking corner (public area)
  • Admission & Sightseeing, ShenzhenGuided walking tour of Huanqbei Electronics Market, level by level, with expert commentary · Hiking tour of Shekou and Nantou Ancient City. These are the only two Shenzhen itineraries included in the base fare.
  • InsuranceTravel accident insurance; specific coverage details are subject to the written booking.

Not Included

  • International flightsFlights into Shanghai and out of Shenzhen
  • VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who need a Chinese visa
  • MealsAll lunch and dinner meals. Assistance with recommendations or bookings is available on request, at an additional cost.
  • Ground Services in HangzhouThe specific inclusions for local vehicles, guides, tickets, or paid experiences in Hangzhou are subject to the written itinerary; two hotel nights and two intercity transfers are already included in the base quote.
  • DJI Sky CityNot included in the base price. To visit, please verify visitor policies and fees for your travel date.
  • Shenzhen Urban Planning and Industry ExhibitionNot included in the base price. If you wish to visit, please check the opening hours and entry rules for your travel dates.
  • Meet with local operatorsThis itinerary does not guarantee or promise any meetings with local professionals in Shanghai, Hangzhou, or Shenzhen. Such meetings are not included in the itinerary, and no part of the above content implies that such meetings will be arranged.
  • Robotaxi Ride RobotaxiSold only as an add-on and priced separately at the time of selection; it is never included in the base price nor in any part of what this route covers.
  • IndividualTips · Single supplement or extra bed fee · Personal expenses, including the purchase or payment for any items on-site: shopping, shuttle buses, 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.

  • Pre-Booking Confirmation — This itinerary is available for booking. The base price includes 8 nights of accommodation, the high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou, and the flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. Specific hotels, train and flight schedules, local services in Hangzhou, Shanghai Museum reservations, venues in Shenzhen, and meal details will be confirmed item by item in the written order.
  • The Hangzhou stretch — This nine-day itinerary includes eight nights, two of which are in Hangzhou, already covered in the base price. West Lake sightseeing is scheduled on Day 5. Inclusions for local Hangzhou transfers, guides, admission fees, and paid experiences are subject to the written order.
  • Day six — Day 6 is primarily a transition from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. We plan to fly; specific flight details, transfers, and free time before departure are subject to the written itinerary for the travel date.
  • Two Shenzhen venues — To visit the DJI天空之城 or the Shenzhen Urban Planning and Industrial Exhibition Hall, please verify visitor policies and quota availability for your travel dates. Scheduling, inclusions, and costs are subject to the final written quote.
  • The Shanghai Museum reservation — Museum districts at the Shanghai Museum and admission time slots must be verified against your travel dates. Specific booking details and contingency plans in case of unavailable slots are subject to 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. Opening hours of attractions, hotel availability, and intercity connections will be verified against your selected dates and confirmed in your written order.
  • Entry Procedures — Visa or visa-free eligibility depends on passport, port of entry, dates, and full itinerary; verify each traveler individually against official regulations in effect at the time of payment.
  • Confirmations & Changes — Written orders will specify the confirmation deadline, as well as change and refund policies. Rescheduling may involve adjustments to transportation, hotel bookings, and timed venue reservations, with specific rules determined by 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
Independent departure; final group size and scope of service are subject to the 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
Visa or visa-exemption eligibility is verified against each traveler's passport, entry date, and complete itinerary; specific requirements are subject to official regulations in effect at the time.
Language
Licensed English-speaking local guides on all touring days in Shanghai and Shenzhen
Payment
This tour is available for booking. Details on deposit timing, final payment, and modification conditions are subject to the written order.
Season
Attraction hours and transport schedules vary by date; confirmed departure dates and daily itineraries are subject to the written itinerary.

Your Private Concierge

Jenessa

Jenessa

Private China Route Concierge

“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”

Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.

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

China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler 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 traveler.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

That is exactly what this route is built to avoid. There is one view from height in nine days and it is used as a reading exercise, with your guide finding the streets you walked the day before. Everything else is people and mechanism: parents in a park looking for husbands and wives for their grown children, a market walked 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 picture 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 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.

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