Home › 240-Hour Routes › Shanghai, Water Towns & Hangzhou 6 Days Visa-Free
Shanghai, Water Towns & Hangzhou 6 Days Visa-Free
Shanghai's skyline and old lanes, Suzhou's gardens and canals, and Hangzhou's West Lake and tea villages, all within an hour or so of each other by train.
Day-by-day draft
A sample draft, not a fixed package. Open it in the builder to change dates, cities, pace and experiences; the builder re-checks the 240-hour rules, Monday closures, seasons and holidays for your dates.
- ShanghaiArrive; the Bund and Nanjing Road at night.
- ShanghaiYu Garden and Old Town; Former French Concession walk.
- Shanghai → SuzhouHigh-speed rail about 30 minutes; classical gardens and Pingjiang Road.
- Suzhou → HangzhouHigh-speed rail about 1.5 hours; West Lake by boat and on foot.
- HangzhouLongjing tea village and Lingyin Temple.
- Hangzhou → ShanghaiHigh-speed rail about 1 hour to Shanghai and depart from Pudong.
Watch out for
- June is the plum-rain season in the Yangtze delta; spring and autumn are best.
- Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1–7) for quieter gardens and lakes.
Why this route fits 240-hour transit
Fly into Shanghai from one country and out of Shanghai to a different one (for example Japan). Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are all permitted, and the short train hops leave more time for sights.
Check your passport and routing in the China visa checker, or read the 240-hour visa-free guide.
Questions
Can I fly in and out of Shanghai on 240-hour transit?
Yes, as long as you arrive from one country and leave for a different one. Shanghai Pudong in and Pudong out is fine; the countries before and after must differ.
Suzhou or Hangzhou if I only have one?
Suzhou for gardens and canals, Hangzhou for West Lake and tea fields. With six days you can do both.