We're going to Shanghai for two weeks in September. We're looking at spending 7 days in Shanghai and then roaming around in the vicinity to Hangzhou etc. Probably by train. Can anyone suggest an itinierary for a week in the area surrounding Shanghai? Thanks.

Can I come with you, Panda?

I will ask Mrs. Panda. Unbelievably enough, after being stuck with Bob so often, she is wary of Fodorites. I tricked her into going to the LA GTG, by telling her that we were going to see some hollywood stars.

Cool! Is this your first trip to China? Seven days sounds long for Shanghai to me, but I'm not a big city person.

Besides Hangzhou you should definitely visit Suzhou and perhaps another water town. For something off the usual Western (alas not Chinese) tourist track, consider Putuoshan, one of China's sacred sites - totally unedited pix at kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/287618, password putuoshan. There are ferries to/from Shanghai - I did an overnight on the ferry, but I think there are faster ones available.

I am going to China in April and May, to go on the silk road route and maybe to central Asia. Any one wants to join me please email me. I am interested in culture/out of the way places, photography, gardens and faces but no 4 star hotels. but not a backer either. Artists welcome. sketch and paint!

Great pictures of Putuoshan. Thanks Kathy.

wouldn't you think the OP would buy a guide book to see what might interest him....

Maybe a Fodors guidebook?

Glad you liked the pix, Andy. Where are you going besides China?

We have several guidebooks. However, we've found that the input of Fodorites gives depth to the flat recitations contained in guide books.

We're just going to China. We can only get two weeks off at a time. Unlike certain unnamed Needhamites, we are still productive members of society. At least Beth is.

I hope you are going to see your brethren up near Chengdu! Please post whatever you know of your itinry (as they say in the Europe section) here so we can comment.



I hope you have studied, and taken appropriate notes on, my COMPLETED AND VERY WELL RECEIVED, THANK YOU report about my trip from 2007!

Of course I've poured over your trip report. That's exactly why I'm being so firm with your UNCOMPLETED REPORT.

So far, I think we're going to spend the first four days and last three days in Shanghai at the Royal Meridien. The purpose of this thread is to accumulate ideas on how we spend the other seven days. Possibly, we may just take some trains around Shanghai to relatively close destinations.

What, pray tell, did you "pour" over it? (sorry, boof-head, I could not resist!)

I am so happy that you are going! And I will be finishing up very soon--did you notice that I added a couple of installments?

"We're just going to China. We can only get two weeks off at a time" - drag. Any special reason why you picked Shanghai?

We got a very good fare BOS-PVG, $1000,2 with a simple BOS-EWR-PVG 220 hour trip. The fares had been running $1500. Of course, I checked today and it's only $989. y

Just wondering why Beijing and other locations are not on your itinerary unless you have been to China before.

Of course, Beijing is still a possibility. We're mulling over our options and want to see what is availabel. We can't possibly "do" China in two weeks, so we will have to go back sometime.

Andy - definitely consider Beijing - by plane or train. Shanghai has a first class museum, and it's certainly a great example of the "new" China, but I'd take Beijing every time when it comes to sights.

Pandas have to climb the Great Wall!

Can we get some more ideas here for destinations to combine with Shanghai? Either day trips or places that can be easily accessed by comfortable train? (I am trying to work up a plan to please two friends who want to accompany me to Asia in early 2010)

Panda, what did you decide? (Next paw?)

EK -- How many days? thursdaysd suggested Suzhou (daytrip) and Hangzhou (overnight), another day for a watertown, that takes up 4 already. Wuxi is easy to get to by train too.