Since you've arrived today and it's already evening in Shanghai local time, keep the morning relaxed and local: enjoy a late start with a leisurely breakfast at Wuyue Plaza's cafés or a neighborhood dim sum spot, then wander through the leafy lanes of Fuxing Park where you can watch locals practice tai chi and morning dances. Follow this with a peaceful stroll and tea break in Tianzifang, exploring its narrow alleys of art studios and boutique shops to ease into Shanghai's rhythm before the afternoon's deeper explorations.
Head to the vibrant French Concession for an easy, late-afternoon immersion-wander the plane-tree-lined streets around Sinan Road, pop into boutique galleries and stop for coffee at Bookworm Café for people-watching. As light softens, explore the nearby riverside promenade of Xintiandi, enjoy an early dinner of Shanghai-style xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, then finish with skyline views from the historic Bund area at Huangpu River promenade as evening lights begin to shimmer.
As night falls, wander the neon-soaked lanes of Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, dipping into lively food stalls and boutique malls, then duck into Jing'an Kerry Centre for a rooftop cocktail with city views. Finish with a late-night river cruise on the Huangpu River Night Cruise to see the Bund and Pudong illuminated - a relaxing, iconic way to punctuate your first day and set the tone for tomorrow's deeper explorations.
Start your day with a traditional Shanghai breakfast at a local lane-side eatery near People's Square, then explore the nearby cultural cluster beginning at the Shanghai Museum to admire its world-class jade, ceramics and ancient calligraphy. After the museum, stroll through the tree-lined plazas to Moller Villa (Shanghai Art Museum former site) and the adjacent Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to trace the city's architectural evolution, finishing with a leisurely tea and pastry at a café along Huaihai Road before heading into the afternoon's neighborhoods.
Spend the afternoon in the imperial and commercial heart of old Shanghai beginning with a guided walk through Yuyuan Garden to admire classical Ming-era pavilions and rockeries, then browse the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar for tea shops and traditional snacks like shengjian. From there, take a short stroll to the nearby Old City God Temple area to soak up temple rituals and sample street-food specialties, finishing with a serene teahouse break at Huxinting Teahouse overlooking the canal - a calm, culturally rich progression from your museum morning.
As dusk deepens, wander the atmospheric lanes of Tianzifang (Taikang Road) for craft shops and lantern-lit courtyards before heading to The Bund's Waitan Modern Art Space for contemporary exhibits with a river backdrop. Afterward, enjoy an intimate Shanghainese dinner at Xiao Nan Guo followed by a late-evening rooftop dessert or cocktail at Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar in the Pudong IFC tower to savor panoramic city lights and reflect on the day's cultural discoveries.
Catch an early train from Shanghai to Suzhou and begin with a peaceful walk through Lingering Garden, admiring its artful rockeries, pavilions and scholar's courtyards before the crowds arrive. Follow this with a boat ride along the old canals departing near Pingjiang Road, then pause for a traditional Suzhou breakfast of sweet soy milk and savory bing at a local stall before wandering the historic lanes and boutique silk shops lining Pingjiang Historic District.
After your morning garden and canal strolls, wander the elegant lanes toward Panmen Gate Scenic Area to explore the ancient city wall, the picturesque Panmen Water Gate and the nearby Wu Gate Bridge, where you can join a short guided walk explaining Suzhou's defensive and waterway history. Follow this with a relaxed lunch at a riverside teahouse in Shiquan Street, sampling local freshwater fish dishes and chilled osmanthus jelly, then rent a bicycle to ride along the willow-lined paths beside Shantang Street, popping into artisan workshops and small museums that trace the city's silk and craft traditions.
As twilight settles, wander the atmospheric alleys around Shiquan Street toward the historic Pingjiang Wharf, where lantern-lit canals and old stone bridges create picture-perfect reflections; stop at a waterside teahouse such as Luzhi Teahouse for jasmine tea and local snacks while watching sampans glide by. Finish with a mellow concert of traditional Kunqu or Suzhou ping opera at Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum (check evening performance times) or enjoy a riverside dinner at Songhelou to sample classic Suzhou dishes under soft lantern light, rounding out your day with music, history and local flavor.
Ease into your final day with a relaxed breakfast at Hengshan Road cafés, then wander the leafy lanes of the former French Concession to discover independent boutiques and street art along Anfu Road. Continue to the thoughtful modern collections at the nearby Power Station of Art for contemporary Chinese works, and finish the morning with a riverside walk and photo stop at the quieter east end of the Bund's promenade to bridge yesterday's historic sights with today's skyline views.
Spend a cultured afternoon exploring the contemporary side of the city beginning at M50 Creative Park, where converted factories house galleries and design studios-pop into a photography exhibit and a ceramics workshop to watch live demonstrations. From there, take a short taxi to Shanghai Natural History Museum for a brisk, engaging walk through its towering fossil halls and botanical displays, then finish with a late-afternoon tea and light bites on the outdoor terrace of Rooftop Bar at The Long Museum West Bund while watching the Huangpu River traffic and preparing for an evening skyline view.
As dusk falls, wander through the revitalized lanes of Xikang Road toward Longhua Temple, where the temple's illuminated pagoda and evening chants offer a peaceful contrast to the day's museum visits. Afterward, head to The Nest (NIO House) for a design-forward cocktail and small plates on its rooftop terrace, then finish with sweeping night views from Shanghai Tower's observation deck to close your trip on a modern, rooftop panorama that links the city's past gardens and canals to its futuristic skyline.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wuyue Plaza cafés (breakfast) | ¥40 |
| Fuxing Park | Free |
| Tianzifang | Free |
| Sinan Road (French Concession wandering) | Free |
| Bookworm Café (coffee/snack) | ¥45 |
| Xintiandi (riverside promenade) | Free |
| Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (xiaolongbao dinner) | ¥60 |
| Huangpu River promenade / The Bund | Free |
| Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street | Free |
| Jing'an Kerry Centre (rooftop cocktail) | ¥120 |
| Huangpu River Night Cruise | ¥120 |
| Shanghai Museum | Free |
| Moller Villa (Shanghai Art Museum former site) | Free |
| Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall | ¥60 |
| Huaihai Road (café/pastry) | ¥50 |
| Yuyuan Garden | ¥40 |
| Yuyuan Bazaar / Old City snacks | ¥30 |
| Old City God Temple | Free |
| Huxinting Teahouse (tea) | ¥80 |
| Tianzifang (Taikang Road) evening | Free |
| Waitan Modern Art Space (The Bund contemporary exhibits) | ¥50 |
| Xiao Nan Guo (Shanghainese dinner) | ¥150 |
| Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar (Pudong IFC) dessert/cocktail | ¥200 |
| High-speed train Shanghai to Suzhou (one-way) | ¥55 |
| Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) | ¥70 |
| Canal boat ride near Pingjiang Road | ¥50 |
| Pingjiang Historic District (walking) | Free |
| Panmen Gate Scenic Area (Panmen) | ¥60 |
| Shiquan Street riverside lunch | ¥100 |
| Bicycle rental along Shantang Street | ¥30 |
| Shiquan Street / Pingjiang Wharf (teahouse - Luzhi Teahouse example) | ¥60 |
| Suzhou Kunqu Opera Museum (performance ticket) | ¥120 |
| Songhelou (riverside dinner) | ¥150 |
| Hengshan Road cafés (breakfast) | ¥45 |
| Anfu Road (walking / boutiques) | Free |
| Power Station of Art | ¥40 |
| Bund east promenade (photo stop) | Free |
| M50 Creative Park (galleries) | Free |
| Shanghai Natural History Museum | ¥30 |
| Rooftop Bar at The Long Museum West Bund (tea/snack) | ¥120 |
| Xikang Road / Longhua Temple evening visit | Free |
| The Nest (NIO House) cocktail/small plates | ¥150 |
| Shanghai Tower observation deck | ¥180 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ¥3795 |