3 days · China itinerary
Shanghai in 3 days
Riverfront, old city, and French Concession walks — a city-only outline before adding Hangzhou or Suzhou HSR legs.
- 3 days
- Shanghai
- city base
An independent planning outline, not a booked package. Plan your accommodation and confirm current admission and transport arrangements.
Places on this itinerary
- C.City-centre reference
- 1.The Bund
- 2.Yu Garden
- 3.Former French Concession
Day by day
Day 1
The Bund + riverfront evening · Yu Garden and old-city streets
Plan your visit
The Bund: The Bund (外滩) is a viewpoint stop in Shanghai. Waterfront promenade facing Pudong’s skyline. Best at dusk for skyline light.
Yu Garden: Yu Garden (豫园) is a heritage stop in Shanghai. Ming-era garden complex beside Old City bazaars. Crowds peak midday; early entry is calmer.
Visit timing
About 3.5 hours on site (catalog estimate; travel and queues extra).
Use the city guide to plan travel between sights.
Admission & reservations
Check current admission and opening hours in the linked attraction guides.
Local planning notes
- Daylight first, then dusk lights if energy remains.
Day 2
Former French Concession wander
- Main activity
- Former French Concession wander
Plan your visit
Former French Concession: Former French Concession (法租界) is a neighborhood stop in Shanghai. Tree-lined streets, cafés, and heritage villas in central Shanghai. Wander rather than checklist — Wukang Road and side lanes reward unhurried walks.
Visit timing
About 3 hours on site (catalog estimate; travel and queues extra).
Use the city guide to plan travel between sights.
Admission & reservations
Check current admission and opening hours in the linked attraction guides.
Local planning notes
- Side lanes over a fixed checklist; cafés and heritage streets reward slow pacing.
Day 3
Neighborhood morning + departure or Delta decision
- Main activity
- Neighborhood morning + departure or Delta decision
Keep this day flexible for Hongqiao transfers or a planned Hangzhou/Suzhou hop — see corridor pages; demo timing only.
Useful guides
Where to stay
If staying overnight, compare neighbourhoods near your main sights and transport. Day trips may not need a hotel; no fixed number of nights is assumed.
Shanghai
Huangpu: Huangpu puts you near the Bund and Yu Garden with dense metro links — classic first-night location for short Shanghai stopovers.
Xuhui: Leafy Xuhui suits travelers who want cafés and quieter evenings after Bund sightseeing days.
Trains and transfers
These are optional onward connections, not transfers required by the itinerary.
Shanghai → Hangzhou (HSR)
Short Yangtze Delta hop popular for West Lake weekends. Demo duration and fare bands only — confirm live on official channels.
Shanghai → Suzhou (HSR)
Classic day-trip rail link for gardens and canals. Demo duration and fare bands only — confirm live on official channels.
Shanghai → Nanjing (HSR)
Yangtze Delta history corridor linking Shanghai’s hub with Nanjing’s republican-era landmarks.
Budget
Costs to plan
- Accommodation if staying overnight (confirm the number of nights)
- Meals, local transport and optional excursions
- Admission for the attractions listed on each day
What's included on this page
- Suggested daily activities and catalog visit-length estimates
- Links to verified ticket tariffs when the site has them
- Hotel-area orientation and published route guides
- No booking service, live availability or package total
Prices vary by travel date and provider. Only sourced admission prices are quoted within the relevant day cards; other costs are not assumed to be zero.
Before you go
Common questions
Is this a booked tour?
No. This is an editorial itinerary outline. You book travel and admissions independently.
Are the listed travel times and prices live?
No. Rail timings in the catalog are indicative. Confirm schedules, admission and fares for your specific dates.
How many hotel nights do I need?
That depends on when you arrive and leave. The itinerary counts calendar days, not a fixed number of hotel nights.
Sources and updates
This route uses ChinaTravelChina's destination and attraction catalog. Confirm current admission, opening hours and train information on official channels. Dated ticket sources apply only to the named attractions.