5-Day Tour of Five Cities in East China Travel Guide including Shanghai
Dragon Boat Festival mini-holiday is here! Want to step into the world of martial arts heroes and stay overnight in the fairyland-like Oriental Salt Lake City? Or experience the dreamy nightscape of Wuzhen West Scenic Zone? All-inclusive price, easily explore Shanghai and other places! Quickly grab this 6-day travel guide and start your high-energy holiday!
🚩Recommended route: Travel through Jiangnan, night tour of ancient towns, explore the martial arts world!
This itinerary is compact, taking you to experience the charm of Jiangnan water towns and the martial arts world!
Day 1: 🚢 Huangpu River Night Cruise
Depart from Huangpu River, board the ship at Shiliupu Pier, enjoy the bustling night view on both sides of the river, and feel the modern urban style of Shanghai.
Day 2: 🏯 Nanjing Historical and Cultural Tour
Visit Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area to appreciate the charm of the ancient capital Nanjing—explore Yuhuatai to commemorate the martyrs—travel to Maoshan Oriental Salt Lake City and stay overnight, as if entering the martial arts world.
Day 3: 🏞️ Wuxi and Wuzhen’s Nature and Culture
Stroll through Yuantouzhu to feel the beauty of Taihu Lake—visit Lion Grove Garden to experience the exquisite Suzhou gardens—head to Wuzhen West Scenic Zone, tour the ancient town by day, and immerse yourself in the dreamy nightscape of West Scenic Zone by night.
Day 4: 🌸 Hangzhou West Lake and Songcheng Tour
Visit Wuzhen East Scenic Zone to enjoy the ancient town’s morning atmosphere—go to Hangzhou West Lake, walk along Su Causeway, and enjoy the lake and mountain scenery—stroll through Hefang Street scenic area to savor old Hangzhou’s charm—at night, visit Hangzhou Songcheng to experience the culture and style of the Song Dynasty.
Day 5: 🏞️ Water Town Ancient Town Tour
Visit Nanxun Ancient Town to feel the charm and historical culture of Jiangnan water towns—then go to Zhouzhuang, stroll along the quaint streets, as if traveling back in time.
Day 6: 🛫 Return
End your pleasant journey through Jiangnan water towns and the martial arts world, depart from Shanghai, and return home with full memories.🌟
This route combines Jiangnan’s natural scenery, historical culture, and martial arts elements, allowing you to fully experience China’s charm in a limited time!
Must-visit attractions:
1. Yuantouzhu ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address: No.1 Yuantouzhu Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City
Opening hours: April to November, Monday to Friday 08:00-16:30; weekends 08:00-17:00
Duration: 1 day
The beautiful landscape of Taihu Lake and the vast garden clusters await your exploration, not to be missed!
2. Lion Grove Garden ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address: No.23 Garden Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City
Opening hours: March 1 to October 31, 07:30-17:30
Duration: 1-2 hours
Wander through the stone lion maze and fully appreciate the charm of classical gardens.
3. Hangzhou Songcheng ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address: No.148 Zhijiang Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Opening hours: May 6 to August 31, 09:30-21:00
Duration: 1 day
Every step reveals a scene, crossing ancient and modern times, the Jiangnan charm of Songcheng will captivate you.
4. Nanxun Ancient Town ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address: No.51 Renrui Road, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Opening hours: Open all day
Duration: 3-4 hours
A blend of Chinese and Western styles in this ancient town, enjoy lotus viewing, reading, and peaceful moments.
5. Zhouzhuang ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Address: No.43 Quanf Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
Opening hours: 08:00-20:00
Duration: 1 day
An ancient town surrounded by water, the beautiful scenery of small bridges and flowing water homes is fully in view.
Travel Preparation: 🧳 Essential items to bring when going to Shanghai and other places
👗 Clothing:
In June in Shanghai, short sleeves, shorts/skirts are a must, bring a light jacket for the cool evening breeze. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses for sun protection and style!
🎒 Accessories:
Bring chargers, power banks, and a camera to capture beautiful scenes. Umbrella or raincoat for unexpected rain. Comfortable shoes to avoid tired feet wherever you go.
📄 Documents:
ID card, cash, and bank cards—the three travel essentials. Be prepared and also bring a small amount of cash for emergencies.
🧴 Daily necessities:
Sunscreen is a must to avoid sunburn! Also bring personal medications, band-aids, stomach medicine, etc. Tissues and wet wipes are also useful!
All-inclusive price, worry-free travel! Quickly click the product card below to start your carefree journey!
It's worth the visit if this is your first time in Shanghai. The skyline view from the river was good, it could be nicer if it didn't rain.
Excellent cruise along the river. Can also pay for upgrade to VIP lounge and private outdoor area once on the cruise (free snacks and drinks included).
A cruise that you shouldn't forget to include in your itinerary. It showcases the beauty of Shanghai at nighttime.
The entire cruise terminal is only equipped with three small buildings with simple lines and a height of no more than four floors, surrounded by large green areas and waterfront platforms with riverside characteristics. On this landscape shoreline with an elevation of 7.4 meters, in the "Sky Garden" with a green coverage rate of 52%, the designer also built a group of elegant and undulating curved glass sheds, named "Pujiang Cloud". The lowest point is about 9 meters and the highest point is more than 20 meters, just like a colorful cloud floating in the distance. "Pujiang Cloud" and three small buildings with stone finishes form a dialogue between modern and traditional materials, naturally transitioning the huge era contrast between the old Bund buildings in Puxi and the Lujiazui buildings in Pudong; and in terms of shape, they interweave and echo each other, becoming an endless main line in the general map, and also a new experience of modern riverside expression.
On the boat, you can see the beautiful scenery of Shanghai's classic and modern architecture. The cruise departs from Shiliupu Wharf, stops at Binjiang Avenue, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai International Convention Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, then turns around along Qinhuangdao Wharf, continues to visit North Bund, Magnolia Square, Waibaidu Bridge and the Bund International Architecture Expo Group, and finally returns to Shiliupu Wharf. The whole journey takes about 45 minutes.
Shanghai Shiliupu Wharf is located on Zhongshan East 2nd Road, Huangpu District, and is a famous wharf on the Bund. Its history can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. It was once the largest wharf in the Far East and the water gateway of Shanghai. In 2004, the passenger terminal was moved to Wusong, and was later renovated and reopened during the 2010 World Expo. Now known as Shiliupu Tourist Wharf, it has 855 meters of shoreline and 17 berths. It is the Huangpu River water tourism center, and also has riverside green space, commercial restaurants and parking garages and other facilities.
I strongly recommend buying boat tickets on Ctrip, which is much cheaper than the pier! Personal experience, my child wanted to take a boat trip while visiting the Bund. I saw that there were boat tickets along the Bund, so I bought a ticket for 120 yuan. When I arrived at the pier, it was not yet time for the boat to leave, so I searched on Ctrip and found that it was 68 yuan per ticket that day! OmG, I calculated the refund fee and made a decisive decision. It is also cost-effective to refund the ticket and buy a new one on Ctrip!
After years of silence, Shiliupu Wharf has regained its former prosperity. During the 2010 World Expo, the area not only became the home port for Huangpu River cruise ships, but also a new choice for citizens and Chinese and foreign tourists to enjoy the riverside scenery. Many Shanghai citizens have a special affection for Shiliupu Wharf. The large platform on the ground of the new Shiliupu stretches from north to south. This is a wide pedestrian path for sightseeing, tourism, dining and resting. Visitors strolling in the winding path can touch the lush greenery of flowers, plants and trees, and look up to see the undulating curves of the glass ceiling; if you are tired, you can sit and rest in the three small ground buildings, or you can go to the underground shopping and entertainment through elevators, escalators, ramps, steps and other transportation facilities, and you can walk to the waterside to enjoy the river breeze. Walking on the riverside landscape platform, on the west side is the old Bund building complex representing the city's history, and on the east side is the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, which symbolizes a bright future. The new Shiliupu is like a time and space corridor that can overlook Shanghai's past and future. It is a must-visit place for taking photos and checking in when visiting Shanghai.