April 16, 2014

Hangzhou and Shanghai China: A Five Day Travel Itinerary

I can't believe this trip is over. I also can't believe we managed to do and see so much in a span of five days in a country where none of us knew the language, considering that this trip was planned a little over a month before it happened. Check out our itinerary below.  


The 5 Day Hangzhou - Shanghai Itinerary

Day 1 (Arrival)
23:45 Arrival at Shanghai Pudong Airport.
Midnight Snack and Sleep at the airport's Burger King (comfy couches)

Day 2 (Hangzhou, China)
07:00 Wake up and look for the Long Distance Bus Terminal and buy Tickets.
On the way to the Bus Terminal, you will see the Shanghai Train terminal. Buy a 3 day tourist train pass. This will save you a lot of money!
08:30 Bus departs for Hangzhou
12:00 Arrival at Hangzhou - Wulinmen Square
12:30 Arrival/Check In at Bokai Business Hotel (Rest and Refresh)
13:00 Lunch
14:20 - Onwards Boat Ride in Hangzhou West Lake (you can go to 3 Pools Mirroring the Moon)
Just walk around, you won't run out of things to see. Even when you feel like you've already covered half of the area, when you check the map you'll realize you've only seen a fraction of West Lake.
20:00 Dinner at New Life Fried Buns (beside Bokai Business Hotel)

Boat ride at West Lake, World Heritage Site Sign,
Long Distance Bus Ride, 
Day 3 (Hangzhou, China + Shanghai China)
09:00 Cab to Leifeng Pagoda
There's a ticket station here so we already bought our bullet train tickets to Shanghai with the help of tourists from Hong Kong.
09:30 Explore Lei Feng Pagoda
10:30 Explore Su Causeway (short walk from Pagoda)
11:30 Lunch
12:30 Check-out of Hotel
02:30 Bullet Train to Shanghai.
I mistakenly told my companions to book at the Hangzhou East Railway Station which was so far so always double check and make sure you pick the station nearest to your hotel.
03:30 Arrival at Shanghai Train Station
04:00 Take Subway to Hotel
Download the "Explore Metro" app or you can do it how we did it using the old fashioned train map. You'll never get lost because the train system is so efficient.
05:30 Late Check in at New Asia Hotel (Rest and Refresh)
06:30 Take Subway train to East Nanjing Road for dinner and shopping (F21, Uniqlo, Zara, Etc.)

Leifeng Pagoda, Su Causeway and Shanghai Train Station that looks better than our Airport!
Day 4 (Shanghai, China)
09:00 Subway to Xintiandi + French Concession Area
11:30 Train to visit Yuyuan Gardens + Ate Xiao Long Bao
02:00 Train to go to Tianzifang (Tourist trap, haggle very well. Souvenir items are cheaper at Yu Yuan)
04:00 Train to go to People's Square (also near Shanghai Museum)
06:00 Hotel to rest
07:00 Xiao Long Bao Dinner inside a mall in Middle Huaihai Road Commercial Zone (South Shaanxi Road Station)
09:00 Visit the Bund

Wandering around and getting hungry. We got tired of dumplings and finally had McDo.
Day 5 (Shanghai, China)
10:00 Buy souvenirs
12:00 Hotel Check Out
12:30 Lunch
01:30 Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory + Explore Pudong
04:30 Train to go to Mr. X Game House
05:00 Arrival at Mr. X. Game House
07:00 Back to the hotel to get Luggage
07:45 Train to Shanghai Pudong International Airport
09:30 Arrival at airport, dinner at Burger King
10:30 Airport Check In

SWFC, Pudong Financial District and Mr. X Game House

Shanghai's (and China's) train system was so efficient, it makes it so easy to get around that you don't really need to book a tour. All you need to do is research, plan ahead and be very flexible (and resourceful) in case your plans fall through.

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