China Adventure: Shanghai, Wuzhen, Beijing & Guangzhou - An 8-Day Itinerary
Just back from an incredible trip to China and I had to share all the details! I am so grateful for the travel community's help in planning this journey.
My China Itinerary: 8 Days of Exploration
Day 1: Shanghai Arrival & Wuzhen Charm
Our journey began with a flight to Shanghai, including a 2-hour layover in Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines. Despite transit time concerns, everything worked out smoothly. Arrival cards completed beforehand saved a little time.
Upon landing at Hongqiao Airport, we navigated immigration and headed directly to Hongqiao Railway Station. We boarded a high-speed train to Tongxiang, followed by a taxi to Wuzhen. Be aware that train station gates typically open just 10-15 minutes before departure, so allow for potential queues.
Wuzhen is incredibly beautiful at night! I highly recommend staying within the ancient town. However, be prepared for higher prices. A simple meal of rice, fried eggs, and stir-fried vegetables cost nearly 300k VND (Vietnamese Dong). It's best not to convert currencies and just enjoy the experience.
Wuzhen at night is magical with the lanterns lit. Surprisingly, I encountered more Vietnamese tourists than Chinese!
Day 2: Wuzhen to Shanghai - City Exploration
After spending the morning in Wuzhen, we caught a bus back to Shanghai at 11 am. Our stay at the Eton Hotel was fantastic - a convenient location, lively ground-floor eateries, and a diverse breakfast buffet.
In the afternoon, we took the metro to Tiantong Road and followed a scenic route: Shanghai Postal Museum -> a bridge offering stunning views of the skyline -> Rock Bund -> The Bund.
This route is highly recommended for its beauty and convenience. Keep in mind that The Bund's lights might not switch on precisely on time, so prepare your camera a few minutes early. The timing can vary each day! I recommend avoiding hairy crab noodles; they are overpriced and often use frozen crab meat in the summer.
The evening concluded with a stroll along East Nanjing Road and a visit to Yuyuan Garden.
Day 3: Shanghai's Bund & Artistic Streets
We returned to The Bund in the morning for better photos after the previous day's rain. We also explored Jiulong Road, Changzhi Road, and North Bund.
The afternoon was dedicated to Wukang Road and Anfu Road. Wukang Road offers great photo opportunities, though the architecture is similar to The Bund. Anfu Road features the trendy Wiggle store, but expect crowds and a need to queue for photos at Gentle Monster. Dress up or you may feel underdressed!
At night, we visited Liujiazui for iconic views of the three skyscrapers. Head towards the base of the Grand Hyatt hotel to find photographers who can capture stunning shots for around 30 RMB per photo.
Day 4: Xintiandi & Overnight Train to Beijing
Another morning at Rock Bund – it's just too beautiful! Then we explored Xintiandi, a beautiful and relaxing shopping district with three phases worth a full day's exploration. Try all the delicious pastries you can find!
After Xintiandi, we grabbed our luggage and headed to Shanghai Railway Station for our overnight train to Beijing.
Initially, we had planned to take train D08, but it was unexpectedly canceled. We decided to travel to Nanjing, then catch train D18 to Beijing. The Chinese were very helpful, even assisting with our luggage. However, the 6-bed sleeper carriage to Beijing had an unexpected guest: a person with a respiratory issue that made for a sleepless night!
Note that the charging sockets only accepted USB cables, not standard plugs or Type-C chargers.
Day 5: Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace
Arriving in Beijing in mid-June, the weather was surprisingly cool at 16°C, despite social media reports of extreme heat. Pack layers!
We joined a tour via Klook to visit Mutianyu Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Expect a 2-3 hour wait for the toboggan ride at Mutianyu. The Summer Palace is vast and stunning, deserving at least two days to explore.
Afterward, we collected our luggage and took a taxi to our hotel.
We stayed at Zhongyu Select Hotel. We were shocked by how good this hotel was at such a good price, about 600k VND a night! It is near the metro and Tiananmen Square. The hotel sits behind a large shopping mall, opposite Beijing West Railway Station. The area is lively at night, contrary to other Beijing areas with shops that close early.
The area near the hotel has many malls and restaurants open until late, serving Railway Station patrons. There's a Siji Minfu branch here, easier to access than the downtown locations. The hotel is clean and beautiful, exceeding expectations for its price. One downside is the 10 minute walk to the Railway metro station, and the fact that many homeless people sleep near the station.
Taxis are incredibly affordable in Beijing, often cheaper than in Vietnam. A 22km ride cost only around 80k VND. Unlike Shanghai, you can easily book taxis without needing premium services. For groups, taxis are a convenient option.
Day 6: Universal Studios Beijing
We dedicated the day to Universal Studios Beijing. It's much better than Disneyland with many more amazing rides. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is breathtaking, and the Minions area is adorable. Butterbeer is a must-try!
Day 7: Beijing - Nanluoguxiang, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven
Start your day early at Nanluoguxiang around 8 am. Then walk towards the Forbidden City. After the Forbidden City, take a taxi to the Temple of Heaven. Although we purchased tickets online, we still had to pay an additional fee to enter the gate.
From there, take a taxi to Caoqiao Metro Station and the Express train to Daxing Airport for our transit flight back to Guangzhou. China Southern Airlines provided complimentary transit hotel accommodation.
Day 8: Guangzhou - Food, Shopping & Skyline
We left our luggage at airport storage and took the MRT to Guangzhou. We exited at Haizhu Square and walked towards Beijing Lu, where we found delicious breakfast options selling noodles and hot crullers. For me, the best cuisine of the trip!
We shopped at a mall and then took the Metro to Dongshankou. Many recommend Dongshankou, but I found it just okay. After Dongshankou, we took a taxi to Tianhe Zhihui Park. This is great spot for photos! After Tianhe we got Ahma Handmade tea near the Canton Tower Plaza. Then we took the APM to Haixinsha for the best views of the Canton Tower. Guangzhou's skyline is beautiful at night, especially from Haixin Bridge. Afterward, we returned to Beijing Lu to visit Dafong Temple and see the street at night. Finally, we took the Metro back to the airport to return to Hanoi.
I hope this helps you plan your trip!
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