Weekend Trips from Shanghai
After a busy trip in crowded Shanghai, a few places nearby the metropolis can offer you a different experience for weekend trips and help you to relax from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here are 9 best weekend getaways from Shanghai, all tailored for that one or two day weekend break:
Recommendation rate: 
Location: Qingpu District, about 2 hours' metro ride from the downtown area
Tour Plan:
Start off at 8 o'clock and take Metro Line 17 to the Zhujiajiao Station. After arrival, wander in the Yuanjin Temple and Kezhi Garden. For lunch, taste local dishes cooked on firewood. Then, appreciate several ancient bridges in the town and pay a visit to some unique stores. After having some snacks for dinner, you can take the metro back to the city.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
As the closest water town from Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is an ideal place for your weekend getaway and it features old buildings and ancient bridges in different shapes. Kezhi Garden is the largest classic garden in the town with unique design, where the ponds with rockeries, delicate pavilions, bridges over streams make a perfect painting. The streets lined with stores and tasty snacks will add fun to your journey.
Recommended Tour: 
2 Days Shanghai Tour with Zhujiajiao from $309
Book a Zhujiajiao Water Town ticket
Location: Qingpu District, about 2 hours' metro ride from the downtown area
Tour Plan:Start off at 8 o'clock and take Metro Line 17 to the Zhujiajiao Station. After arrival, wander in the Yuanjin Temple and Kezhi Garden. For lunch, taste local dishes cooked on firewood. Then, appreciate several ancient bridges in the town and pay a visit to some unique stores. After having some snacks for dinner, you can take the metro back to the city.
Local Attractions or Highlights:As the closest water town from Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is an ideal place for your weekend getaway and it features old buildings and ancient bridges in different shapes. Kezhi Garden is the largest classic garden in the town with unique design, where the ponds with rockeries, delicate pavilions, bridges over streams make a perfect painting. The streets lined with stores and tasty snacks will add fun to your journey.
Recommended Tour: 2 Days Shanghai Tour with Zhujiajiao from $309 Book a Zhujiajiao Water Town ticketRecommendation rate: 
Location: About 90 km west of Shanghai, 2 hour's bus ride or 30 minutes by high speed train
Tour Plan:
Day 1: Take a high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Suzhou Railway Station on Saturday morning. After arrival, go to the Lion Grove Garden first. In the afternoon, visit the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Suzhou Museum nearby. Day 2: Sightsee in the Master of Nets Garden, Canglang Pavilion, and Lingering Garden, and then take a train back to Shanghai.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
There is no doubt that this will prove one of the best weekend trips from Shanghai. Suzhou's classic gardens are famous in China for the intricate design, unique layout and harmonious beauty between man and nature. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the most typical and largest garden in Suzhou. The Lion Grove Garden features the strange manmade rockeries, which are like a pack of lions in different shapes. The Master of Nets Garden is the smallest one while it boasts delicate layout. As for Lingering Garden, the pavilions and corridors will undoubtedly catch your eye.
Recommended Tour: Suzhou Day Tour from Shanghai from $149
Location: About 90 km west of Shanghai, 2 hour's bus ride or 30 minutes by high speed train
Tour Plan:Day 1: Take a high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Suzhou Railway Station on Saturday morning. After arrival, go to the Lion Grove Garden first. In the afternoon, visit the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Suzhou Museum nearby. Day 2: Sightsee in the Master of Nets Garden, Canglang Pavilion, and Lingering Garden, and then take a train back to Shanghai.
Local Attractions or Highlights:There is no doubt that this will prove one of the best weekend trips from Shanghai. Suzhou's classic gardens are famous in China for the intricate design, unique layout and harmonious beauty between man and nature. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the most typical and largest garden in Suzhou. The Lion Grove Garden features the strange manmade rockeries, which are like a pack of lions in different shapes. The Master of Nets Garden is the smallest one while it boasts delicate layout. As for Lingering Garden, the pavilions and corridors will undoubtedly catch your eye.
Recommended Tour: Suzhou Day Tour from Shanghai from $149Recommendation rate:
Location: in Huangshan City of Anhui Province, 420 km southwest of Shanghai, 2.5 - 3.5 hours by high speed train
Tour Plan:
Set out from Shanghai by a high speed train and arrive at the Yellow Mountain at noon. After that, take a cable car from Cloud Valley Temple and then visit the attractions along the way. In the evening, enjoy the sunset and stay overnight on Bright Peak Summit. Day 2: Catch the sunrise view and walk to sightsee in other spots. Then go down the mountain and enjoy the hot spring.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
A wonderful weekend escape from Shanghai is going to the Yellow Mountain. The Yellow Mountain is famous for its four wonders: namely Strange Pines, Absurd Stones, Sea of Clouds and Hot Springs. The most well known pine tree is the Guest-Greeting Pine, standing on the hillside to welcome tourists. The stones on the peaks have strange shapes and some of them are like animals and humans. The most attractive scenery is undoubtedly the sea of clouds. The clouds float together around the peaks to form a magnificent scene.
Recommended Tour: 2 Days Shanghai to Huangshan Tour from $469
Location: in Huangshan City of Anhui Province, 420 km southwest of Shanghai, 2.5 - 3.5 hours by high speed train
Tour Plan:Set out from Shanghai by a high speed train and arrive at the Yellow Mountain at noon. After that, take a cable car from Cloud Valley Temple and then visit the attractions along the way. In the evening, enjoy the sunset and stay overnight on Bright Peak Summit. Day 2: Catch the sunrise view and walk to sightsee in other spots. Then go down the mountain and enjoy the hot spring.
Local Attractions or Highlights:A wonderful weekend escape from Shanghai is going to the Yellow Mountain. The Yellow Mountain is famous for its four wonders: namely Strange Pines, Absurd Stones, Sea of Clouds and Hot Springs. The most well known pine tree is the Guest-Greeting Pine, standing on the hillside to welcome tourists. The stones on the peaks have strange shapes and some of them are like animals and humans. The most attractive scenery is undoubtedly the sea of clouds. The clouds float together around the peaks to form a magnificent scene.
Recommended Tour: 2 Days Shanghai to Huangshan Tour from $469Recommendation rate:
Location: 130 km southwest of Shanghai and about 2.5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:
Start off at 7:50 from Shanghai Bus Terminal to the Dongzha in Wuzhen Water Town. Stroll around in the town and visit attractions including Yu Liuliang Coin Museum, Fanglu Pavilion and Hong Yuan Tai Dye House. In the evening, enjoy the night view at Xizha. Day 2: Pay a short visit to other attractions and enjoy the folk activities.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
The Wuzhen Water Town is mainly comprised of two parts – Dongzha and Xizha. At Xizha, the cultural sites including the Old Post Office, Chinese Foot Binding Culture Museum and Zhaoming Academy are very interesting and you can learn more ancient Chinese traditions and customs. Meandering on the streets to taste local snacks is also a must try. In the evening, taking a rowboat at Xizha to appreciate the night view of the water town can be very enjoyable. At Dongzha, you can enjoy the amazing folk activities like Chinese shadow puppetry and it is a less noisy place compared to Xizha.
Recommended Tour: 1 Day Wuzhen Water Town Tour from Shanghai from $149
Location: 130 km southwest of Shanghai and about 2.5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:Start off at 7:50 from Shanghai Bus Terminal to the Dongzha in Wuzhen Water Town. Stroll around in the town and visit attractions including Yu Liuliang Coin Museum, Fanglu Pavilion and Hong Yuan Tai Dye House. In the evening, enjoy the night view at Xizha. Day 2: Pay a short visit to other attractions and enjoy the folk activities.
Local Attractions or Highlights:The Wuzhen Water Town is mainly comprised of two parts – Dongzha and Xizha. At Xizha, the cultural sites including the Old Post Office, Chinese Foot Binding Culture Museum and Zhaoming Academy are very interesting and you can learn more ancient Chinese traditions and customs. Meandering on the streets to taste local snacks is also a must try. In the evening, taking a rowboat at Xizha to appreciate the night view of the water town can be very enjoyable. At Dongzha, you can enjoy the amazing folk activities like Chinese shadow puppetry and it is a less noisy place compared to Xizha.
Recommended Tour: 1 Day Wuzhen Water Town Tour from Shanghai from $149Recommendation rate:
Location: 100 km southwest of Shanghai City, about 2 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:
Day 1: Take the earliest bus at 8:30 from Shanghai Bus Terminal. Upon arrival, visit Milou Tower and Zhouzhuang Museum. Then go to admire Fu'an Bridge, Twin Bridges, and Zhang House. Enjoy performances in the evening. Day 2: Visit other attractions including Shen House, Chengxu Taoist Temple and then take a boat to go through the whole water town.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
As the China's No. 1 water town, Zhouzhuang is crossed with water lanes and the ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911) were built along the river. What's more, this is where the richest man of the Ming Dynasty had lived. Apart from the former residence of the once richest man, a group of ancient bridges are worth to visit. Taking a boat to enjoy the water town cozily while listening to the boat girls singing can surely be the highlight your weekend escape.
Recommended Tour: Shanghai Day Trip to Zhouzhuang from $119
Location: 100 km southwest of Shanghai City, about 2 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:Day 1: Take the earliest bus at 8:30 from Shanghai Bus Terminal. Upon arrival, visit Milou Tower and Zhouzhuang Museum. Then go to admire Fu'an Bridge, Twin Bridges, and Zhang House. Enjoy performances in the evening. Day 2: Visit other attractions including Shen House, Chengxu Taoist Temple and then take a boat to go through the whole water town.
Local Attractions or Highlights:As the China's No. 1 water town, Zhouzhuang is crossed with water lanes and the ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911) were built along the river. What's more, this is where the richest man of the Ming Dynasty had lived. Apart from the former residence of the once richest man, a group of ancient bridges are worth to visit. Taking a boat to enjoy the water town cozily while listening to the boat girls singing can surely be the highlight your weekend escape.
Recommended Tour: Shanghai Day Trip to Zhouzhuang from $119Recommendation rate:
Location: No. 310 Huangzhao Road in Chuansha Town, 1 hour's metro ride from the downtown area
Tour Plan:
To have a better experience, it is suggested to stay overnight near the Disney Resort before the day or take Metro Line 11 to the park in the early morning. Visit some interesting attractions in the morning and have lunch in the park or prepare some fast food by yourself. In the afternoon, have fun in other entertainments or enjoy the shows and performances. In the evening, watch the fireworks show.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
A perfect weekend trip in Disneyland starts from the Mickey Avenue and the seven theme districts with different characteristics can surely satisfy your childhood dreams. Visitors who like excitement cannot miss the attractions including Soaring over the Horizon, TRON Lightcycle Power Run – Presented by Chevrolet, and Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure. The fantastic evening fireworks and parades with classic Disney cartoons will definitely leave you a deep impression.
Tips:
1. As the theme park can be very crowded on weekends, it is suggested to have a detailed schedule about the attractions in advance to avoid big lines.
2. Download the official APP of Disneyland to save you a lot of time.
3. Prepare a water bottle and some fast food since the food and water of the park may be a little expensive.
Recommended Tour: Shanghai Disneyland Day Tour from $39
Book Shanghai Disneyland Tickets.
Location: No. 310 Huangzhao Road in Chuansha Town, 1 hour's metro ride from the downtown area
Tour Plan:To have a better experience, it is suggested to stay overnight near the Disney Resort before the day or take Metro Line 11 to the park in the early morning. Visit some interesting attractions in the morning and have lunch in the park or prepare some fast food by yourself. In the afternoon, have fun in other entertainments or enjoy the shows and performances. In the evening, watch the fireworks show.
Local Attractions or Highlights:A perfect weekend trip in Disneyland starts from the Mickey Avenue and the seven theme districts with different characteristics can surely satisfy your childhood dreams. Visitors who like excitement cannot miss the attractions including Soaring over the Horizon, TRON Lightcycle Power Run – Presented by Chevrolet, and Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure. The fantastic evening fireworks and parades with classic Disney cartoons will definitely leave you a deep impression.
Tips:1. As the theme park can be very crowded on weekends, it is suggested to have a detailed schedule about the attractions in advance to avoid big lines.
2. Download the official APP of Disneyland to save you a lot of time.
3. Prepare a water bottle and some fast food since the food and water of the park may be a little expensive.
Recommended Tour: Shanghai Disneyland Day Tour from $39 Book Shanghai Disneyland Tickets.Recommendation rate: 
Location: 80 km southwest of Shanghai, 1.5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:
Take a tourist bus from People's Square at 9:15 and stroll on the West Street after arrival. In the afternoon, appreciate the Covered Corridor and then go to the bar street to have a drink. Day 2: Get up to enjoy the morning view of the town and buy some souvenirs. Then go back to Shanghai.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
Xitang Water Town has become one of the best weekend getaways around Shanghai because of its pristine beauty. You can still explore the local people’s life in the town and experience a happy night life. The most attractive part of the town, the Covered Corridor is filled with inns, restaurants and snacks shops. The ancient bridges and old lanes are another feature of the town. Wandering along the lanes paved with black flagstones, you can experience the unique tranquility of the old town.
Location: 80 km southwest of Shanghai, 1.5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:Take a tourist bus from People's Square at 9:15 and stroll on the West Street after arrival. In the afternoon, appreciate the Covered Corridor and then go to the bar street to have a drink. Day 2: Get up to enjoy the morning view of the town and buy some souvenirs. Then go back to Shanghai.
Local Attractions or Highlights:Xitang Water Town has become one of the best weekend getaways around Shanghai because of its pristine beauty. You can still explore the local people’s life in the town and experience a happy night life. The most attractive part of the town, the Covered Corridor is filled with inns, restaurants and snacks shops. The ancient bridges and old lanes are another feature of the town. Wandering along the lanes paved with black flagstones, you can experience the unique tranquility of the old town.
Recommendation rate:
Location: 190 km southwest of Shanghai City, 2.5-3 hours' bus ride or 1 hour by high speed train
Tour Plan:
Day 1: Take a high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Station. Upon arrival, spend a whole day around the West Lake. In the evening, go to the Qinghefang Street to taste local snacks. Day 2: Visit Lingyin Temple and the Song Dynasty Town.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
Hangzhou can be a good place to have a weekend trip from Shanghai and the West Lake is undoubtedly the highlight. Ten Views of the West Lake include Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset, Orioles Singing in the Willows, and Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond. Besides the West Lake, you cannot miss the Lingyin Temple, which not only houses a lot of important collections of the Buddhist treasures but also features hundreds of Buddhist grottoes with different statues. The Song Dynasty Town is a theme park of the culture of the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). The buildings were constructed in the Song Dynasty style and people in the town all wear the clothes in ancient styles. You will have an opportunity to experience the life at that time and the music dance show is attractive.
Recommended Tour: 2 Days Shanghai to Hangzhou Tour by High Speed Train from $339
Location: 190 km southwest of Shanghai City, 2.5-3 hours' bus ride or 1 hour by high speed train
Tour Plan:Day 1: Take a high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou East Station. Upon arrival, spend a whole day around the West Lake. In the evening, go to the Qinghefang Street to taste local snacks. Day 2: Visit Lingyin Temple and the Song Dynasty Town.
Local Attractions or Highlights:Hangzhou can be a good place to have a weekend trip from Shanghai and the West Lake is undoubtedly the highlight. Ten Views of the West Lake include Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset, Orioles Singing in the Willows, and Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond. Besides the West Lake, you cannot miss the Lingyin Temple, which not only houses a lot of important collections of the Buddhist treasures but also features hundreds of Buddhist grottoes with different statues. The Song Dynasty Town is a theme park of the culture of the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). The buildings were constructed in the Song Dynasty style and people in the town all wear the clothes in ancient styles. You will have an opportunity to experience the life at that time and the music dance show is attractive.
Recommended Tour: 2 Days Shanghai to Hangzhou Tour by High Speed Train from $339Recommendation rate:
Location: in Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province, 300 km southeast of Shanghai, 5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:
Take an early bus from Huangpu Tourism Bus Center and arrive at the Mount Putuo at noon. Have lunch and visit the Puji Temple, Hundred-Step Sands, Bukenqu Guanyin Temple and the splendid statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Taste some sea food in the evening and stay overnight. Day 2: Sightsee in the Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple, Heaven of the Sea and Kingdom of the Buddhists, and The Thousand-Step Sands. In the afternoon, you can return to Shanghai by bus.
Local Attractions or Highlights:
The Mount Putuo is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China and all the temples here worship the Guanyin Bodhisattva. The picturesque scenery and tranquil environment make it one of the best places for weekend trips. Puji Temple is the largest monastery on the mount and the pagoda near the temple is one of the Three Treasures of Putuo. The Guanyin Statue with a total height of 33m (108 ft) is the landmark and the Bukenqu Temple hides the most interesting legend. Also, those who love bathing in the sea or meandering along the beach can enjoy a good time on the Hundred-Step Sands and Thousand-Step Sands.
Location: in Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province, 300 km southeast of Shanghai, 5 hours' bus ride
Tour Plan:Take an early bus from Huangpu Tourism Bus Center and arrive at the Mount Putuo at noon. Have lunch and visit the Puji Temple, Hundred-Step Sands, Bukenqu Guanyin Temple and the splendid statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Taste some sea food in the evening and stay overnight. Day 2: Sightsee in the Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple, Heaven of the Sea and Kingdom of the Buddhists, and The Thousand-Step Sands. In the afternoon, you can return to Shanghai by bus.
Local Attractions or Highlights:The Mount Putuo is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China and all the temples here worship the Guanyin Bodhisattva. The picturesque scenery and tranquil environment make it one of the best places for weekend trips. Puji Temple is the largest monastery on the mount and the pagoda near the temple is one of the Three Treasures of Putuo. The Guanyin Statue with a total height of 33m (108 ft) is the landmark and the Bukenqu Temple hides the most interesting legend. Also, those who love bathing in the sea or meandering along the beach can enjoy a good time on the Hundred-Step Sands and Thousand-Step Sands.
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- Last updated on Mar. 01, 2024 by Kate Liu -