My 9-Day Solo Adventure Through Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen, and Suzhou
I've just wrapped up an incredible 9-day, 8-night journey through China, exploring Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen, and Suzhou. As this was my first time traveling independently, I wanted to share my experiences to make your planning easier. Feel free to ask any questions; most of my discoveries came from trial and error, as independent travel reviews in Vietnamese were surprisingly scarce.
Navigating China with Ease
My travel philosophy revolved around cost-effectiveness. For shorter trips within 20 yuan, I'd opt for Didi (China's ride-hailing service). If it was pricier, I'd switch to cycling, the metro, or buses. Once you're in China, all you really need is Alipay and Baidu Maps, and you're practically unstoppable �C it's that straightforward. You can even pay for metro tickets using Alipay. If you prefer not to buy individual tickets, you can activate an automatic deduction feature within the transport section of Alipay for seamless travel. Buying bus tickets works similarly. For bike rentals, just scan the QR code on the bike with either Alipay or WeChat. Ordering food is also a breeze with Meituan and Taobao.
Day 1: Shanghai Arrival and City Lights
My adventure began with a 2 AM flight on Juneyao Airlines landing at Pudong Airport. This flight was fantastic; I managed to eat and sleep, arriving refreshed. I was particularly impressed by a handsome flight attendant, though the food was less than stellar.
Upon landing, I joined the flow of people to fill out the immigration declaration form. After completing it, I proceeded to immigration. The officer asked a few simple questions about my trip duration and companions, nothing too complex. After clearing immigration, I collected my luggage as usual.
For my journey to the hotel, I took the Metro Line 2 (green line). Using the Baidu app, I searched for my destination and selected the public transport option, which clearly indicated which exit to use. My hotel for the first two nights was Yitel - 和颐至尚酒店(上海火车站地铁站店), costing 2550 yuan for two nights. Be warned, the Wi-Fi here was practically non-existent, and the rooms were quite small, so I wouldn't recommend it. It was raining heavily upon arrival, and we were too lazy to walk, so we took a Didi for 9 yuan to the hotel. Since we couldn't check in yet, we left our luggage and took another Didi (11 yuan) to grab a bite.
Our first culinary stop was Ren He Guan, a Michelin-recommended restaurant. We arrived at 10:30 AM, got a number, and explored the vicinity. By 11 AM, the queue had spilled out of the lobby and stretched far down the street! The restaurant itself was beautiful, evoking a nostalgic Republican-era Shanghai vibe, and the service was incredibly warm. Our first meal cost 279 yuan, but it was only decent, not outstanding. The stir-fried vegetables were so oily I felt like I could have fried another two bunches with the excess oil �C quite overwhelming.
After eating, the rain continued, so we took a Didi back to the hotel to rest until 6 PM. We then ventured out to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower for some photos, finally catching a Didi back at 1:30 AM. Shanghai at night is absolutely breathtaking, with its brilliantly lit skyline. If you're not confident with your photography skills, don't hesitate to hire a local photographer; just agree on the price beforehand.
Day 2: A Magical Day at Disneyland
Energized and ready for adventure, we set off at 9 AM for Disneyland. We cycled from our hotel to the nearest metro station, making a stop to find a local spot for breakfast before catching the metro. (Again, Baidu Maps was our guide for the route). I booked our Disneyland tickets seven days in advance for 1227 yuan for two people �C remember to bring your passports for entry. Disneyland is vast, and we spent the entire day there, finally heading back around 11 PM. It's incredibly beautiful, and I highly recommend you don't miss it! A single day felt insufficient, and it was quite tiring. Consider bringing some snacks and water. We returned to the hotel via the metro.
Day 3: Journey to Hangzhou
We checked out of our Shanghai hotel in the morning and prepared to head to Hangzhou. After leaving our luggage with the reception, we cycled to the metro station and headed to Nanjing West Road for some photos. We then returned to the hotel to collect our bags and made our way to the train station. The journey to Hangzhou took over an hour. I had booked my ticket in advance through Trip.com for around 700,000 VND, but I missed my original train and had to pay over 100,000 VND to change it.
Arriving in Hangzhou in the afternoon, we took the metro to our next hotel, Mcsrh Mai Jia Shi Qu Hotel (Hangzhou West Lake District Branch), which cost 1426 yuan for two nights. This hotel was lovely, with much better Wi-Fi, though it was a bit far from the metro. The reception staff were helpful, and it was close to West Lake, easily accessible by bike.
In the evening, we took a Didi to Intime in77 (Yintai in77) to try Thai food at Lanna. The food was quite good, and the staff were attentive. This meal cost over 200 yuan. Afterward, we made our way back to the hotel using a combination of metro and cycling.
Day 4: Temples and West Lake Serenity
We started our day by cycling to the bus station to visit Fayun Temple (法喜寺) (10 yuan entry) and Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) (free entry). The bus system was incredibly convenient and easy to use. To pay, open the transport section in Alipay, find the public bus option, and activate a virtual card. Tap it when you board, and the fare (2-5 yuan per trip) will be deducted automatically. There's also a shuttle bus service between the two temples for 10 yuan. Lingyin Temple was smaller and less crowded than Fayun Temple, which offered many beautiful photo opportunities.
After exploring the temples, we took a bus to eat at Intime in77 (Yintai in77) by the lake, which was satisfactory. We then cycled to West Lake for a leisurely stroll. While not dramatically different from Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake, the brightly lit reflections at night were quite captivating. I visited mainly for the iconic broken bridge, so I recommend allocating about an hour here. I missed out on visiting Xiaohe Street because I spent too long at West Lake. We cycled back to the hotel around 11 PM to rest.
Day 5: Wuzhen Water Town Charm
We checked out of our Hangzhou hotel and left our luggage. We then took a bus to the China Wetland Museum, a spacious and beautiful free attraction. The museum showcased videos about various Chinese cities, which were truly inspiring. It's quite extensive.
Around 1 PM, we took a bus back near our hotel, stopping at a street-side stall for a quick bite. From there, we took a carpool service (70 yuan for two people plus a 12 yuan highway toll) to Wuzhen. We had initially considered a bus but opted for the carpool as we had a lot of luggage. The carpool was cheaper than the bus and offered door-to-door service, booked through Haro Shunfengche on Alipay.
We arrived in Wuzhen in the late afternoon to torrential rain. I had booked accommodation at Bo Xin Shui She Boutique Homestay (within Dongshi) for over 600 yuan per night. The owner kindly picked us up and took us to Xishi (West Gate), which costs 150 yuan to enter. There were changing facilities nearby. The owner promised to pick us up whenever we were ready to leave. Despite the heavy rain, we were determined not to miss Xishi. However, the downpour made it impossible to take any photos, making the 150 yuan feel like a waste. At 10 PM, we exited and randomly chose a restaurant before heading back to Dongshi to rest.
Day 6: Suzhou's Gardens and Canals
The next morning, we explored Dongshi. The scenery in the morning light was absolutely stunning.
After wandering until 11 AM, we took another carpool to Suzhou (63 yuan plus a 20 yuan highway toll). Our hotel in Suzhou, Pei Xi Hotel (Suzhou Guanqian Street Leqiao Metro Station Branch), was our favorite, costing 2400 yuan for two nights. It was located on the main road, close to bus stops and relatively near the metro. In the afternoon, we visited the Suzhou Museum West Wing, the Eslite Bookstore with its grand reading staircase, and ended with a walk along Qili Shantang, which we found rather uninspiring.
Day 7: Humble Administrator's Garden and Stone Lion Garden
We spent the morning and afternoon at the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园), with an entry fee of 80 yuan. The bus from our hotel took us directly to the entrance. I strongly advise against visiting this garden; it's extremely crowded and hot. Instead, consider the Lion Grove Garden (狮子林), Liuyuan Garden (留园), or Wangshi Garden (网师园), which are cheaper, less crowded, and equally beautiful. We visited the Humble Administrator's Garden in the morning and then the Lion Grove Garden. We spent nearly an hour at the Lion Grove Garden, as we were a bit sleepy from sleeping in and had to leave by 5 PM.
In the evening, we had a casual dinner and returned to the hotel to rest.
Day 8: Temple Cafes and Ancient Shanghai
We checked out of our hotel in the morning and left our luggage. We then took a combination of metro and bus to visit a cafe within the Han Shan Shi Ba Man (寒山十八慢). The temple itself is exceptionally beautiful, with a 20 yuan entrance fee. The cafe is located on the second floor, and a meal costs 108 yuan.
After taking photos, we returned to the hotel and took a carpool to Guangfulin (广富林) in Shanghai (71 yuan plus a 32 yuan highway toll). We left our luggage at the Zhuque Gate entrance and explored the area, which is free to enter and quite picturesque.
Around 4 PM, we took another carpool (60 yuan) back to our final hotel, Shanghai Homey Youcheng Hotel (Shanghai International Tourism Resort Area Branch), costing 950 yuan for the night. This hotel is near Pudong Airport. The room was standard, and it lacked round-pin electrical outlets, though amenities were adequate. We had hotpot nearby for dinner, but it wasn't particularly good, so I won't mention the restaurant.
Day 9: Departure
We got ready and took a shuttle to the airport for our flight back to Vietnam.
Overall Expenses and Tips
My total expenditure was approximately 17 million VND, covering flights, accommodation, visa, SIM card, Disneyland tickets, and miscellaneous food and expenses, roughly amounting to 8-10 million VND. My tip for dining: trust your instincts and choose delicious-looking street-side eateries �C they often surpass the fancier establishments.
Thank you for reading! China is a remarkably beautiful country, even though I traveled during a period of storms. I'm already planning future trips for spring and winter to explore other regions. I hope my sharing proves helpful to you!
