5-Day Classic & Future China Tour: Shanghai and Hangzhou
Tour Overview
From Shanghai’s futuristic skyline to Hangzhou’s ancient tea terraces, this 5-day tour bridges two Chinas in one journey. Soar to the top of Shanghai Tower, stroll the Bund’s colonial waterfront and step into an XR world of digital heritage.
Board a high-speed train to Hangzhou: cruise West Lake, wander Lingyin Temple’s forest paths and pick fresh Longjing tea leaves. The future awaits too — dine in a robot-staffed restaurant, test AI gadgets and ride in a self-driving car.
Travel Destinations: Shanghai, Hangzhou
Suitable for: First-time visitors to China, Families with teens, Couples / leisure travelers, Tech enthusiasts
Tour type: Private
Tour at A Glance
|
Day
|
Destinations
|
What to See & Do
|
|
1 – 2
|
Shanghai
|
Shanghai Tower, 360° Lujiazui and Huangpu River panorama, Bund historic buildings, local lunch, XR immersive history/culture experience, Nanjing Road pedestrian street, optional Huangpu River night cruise
|
|
3
|
Shanghai → Hangzhou
|
High-speed train to Hangzhou, West Lake cruise, bridges and hills, Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway stroll, Lingyin Temple; free evening lakeside walk
|
|
4
|
Hangzhou
|
Longjing tea plantation picking, traditional roasting/processing intro, tea brewing and tasting, robot-theme restaurant lunch, robotics, autonomous driving experience
|
|
5
|
Hangzhou
|
Free morning, optional high-speed train or private car return to Shanghai
|
Highlights of This Tour
From the Bund to Lujiazui — Shanghai’s most iconic cityscape:
Stroll along the Huangpu River on the Bund to take in century-old historic buildings; ascend the Shanghai Tower for a bird’s-eye view of Lujiazui’s skyscrapers and the river below. Experience the city from both waterfront and skyline perspectives.
Try out new technologies firsthand — from robots to self-driving cars:
Get up close with AI, robotics, smart glasses and other cutting-edge tech, then take a ride in a driverless vehicle. Many innovations are already part of daily life in Chinese cities — now it’s your turn to try them.
Experience Longjing tea with your own hands:
Walk into a Longjing tea plantation, pick leaves alongside farmers, get a taste of traditional tea processing and brew a cup yourself. From garden to teacup, discover the tea culture of Hangzhou step by step.
Cruise West Lake — but also save time to walk along its shores:
Take a boat ride across West Lake to admire the banks, bridges, pavilions and distant hills from the water. After disembarking, don’t rush to the next attraction – take a slow stroll along the lake; this is the best way to enjoy it.
From local Shanghai snacks to robot restaurants:
In Shanghai, savor flavors like shengjian bao (pan-fried pork buns) and crab roe noodles. In Hangzhou, book lunch at a robot-themed restaurant. Beyond sightseeing, dining itself can become one of the most memorable parts of your trip.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Shanghai Arrival
Welcome to Shanghai. On arrival, your private guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Check in and rest after the long flight.
If you arrive early, you can walk around the hotel area or have some local Shanghainese dishes at a nearby restaurant on your own.
- Day 2: Old Shanghai to the FutureHistoric Buildings to Modern High-Rises, a Century-Spanning Tour
Begin your guided tour with Shanghai Tower where you'll take the high-speed elevator up to the 546-meter-high observation deck in just 55 seconds. From there, enjoy a 360°panoramic view of Lujiazui, the Huangpu River and a wider city skyline.
Overlook the city from Top of Shanghai Observation Deck of Shanghai Tower Go to the Bund for a leisurely walk. On the Puxi side are the historic buildings; across the river stand the modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui. If it's your first time in Shanghai, this is definitely a place worth slowing down here rather than rushing through.
For lunch, get a taste of local Shanghai delicacies such as Shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), crab-roe noodles and a few others that locals eat regularly.
Join an immersive XR experience. Delve into Chinese history and experience traditional culture in a new way through digital imagery, interactive scenes and multisensory technology.
Delve into chinese history through XR experience Stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and take in the sights of Shanghai's bustling century-old commercial area and daily urban life.
Optional Activity:
Take a night cruise on the Huangpu River to admire the illuminated views of the historical and modern architecture on both banks from the river.
Huangpu River night cruise and Shanghai skyline - Day 3: Shanghai to Hangzhou by High-speed TrainA Cruise across West Lake and Discovery into Secluded Lingyin Temple
Hop on a roughly 1-hour high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, the local guide will meet you and start your today’s tour at West Lake.
The scenic beauty of West Lake is featured on the 1-yuan banknote, and this is often the first place where foreign visitors gain an appreciation for Chinese landscape aesthetics.
You'll take a cruise on the lake to admire the shoreline, pavilions, bridges and distant hills from the water.
After getting off the boat, take a stroll and check out iconic sights like Broken Bridge and Bai Causeway. Interestingly, Broken Bridge isn't actually broken — the name comes from an optical illusion created when snow begins to melt on the bridge after a snowfall.
Broken Bridge in West Lake scenic view in spring Lunch is on your own. You can choose the restaurant that suits your taste and your guide can recommend some local specialties.
Head to Lingyin Temple in the afternoon, nestled among the woods and hills. Get a serene atmosphere that feels completely different from the urban landscape along West Lake.
The evening is free for you to explore. Take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore and enjoy Hangzhou's nighttime views.
Buddhist Halls in Lingyin Temple - Day 4: Hangzhou In-depth ExperienceA Taste of Traditional Tea Culture and Exploration of China’s Future Tech
Today you will gain an insight into the connection between Longjing Tea and life in Hangzhou.
At the Longjing tea plantation, join local tea farmers to carry baskets to pick tea leaves and get a brief introduction to the traditional tea-making process.
Learn how to brew Longjing tea and savor a cup of it after that.
Sip a cup of Longjin tea Go to a robot-themed restaurant for lunch. Here, it’s not just the robots that serve the food — you can see different robots involved in everything from stir-frying to making coffee and ice cream. While enjoying lunch, observe how technology is becoming part of everyday life in China.
Proceed to the Future Tech Experience Space to explore AI, robotics, smart glasses, robotic pets, and smart home products. Have a try at some devices yourself.
End today's tour with an autonomous driving experience. Rather than simply hearing your guide's explanation, hop aboard to get a real feel for it!
Watch the robot making coffee at the robot-themed restaurant - Day 5: Hangzhou Departure
Enjoy your free time this morning. If time permits, grab a coffee or browse for local souvenirs. Your driver will transfer you to the airport or railway station.
Departure Idea: If your international flight departs from Shanghai, we can arrange for you to return to Shanghai by high-speed rail or private vehicle as needed.
Tour Price Per Person
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Accommodation For This 5-Day Shanghai & Hangzhou Tour
For your China private tour, the choice is in your hands: you can select luxury 5-star hotels for unparalleled comfort, cozy 4-star accommodations, or value-for-money 3-star options.
All our partner hotels are handpicked for their prime locations, conveniently situated near bustling commercial areas. Every room is equipped with standard amenities like air conditioning, hot water, 24-hour showers, reliable Wi-Fi, and windows for natural light.
In some hotels, there are English-speaking staff who are committed to providing attentive service. Should you have any special requests, feel free to ask - they are always ready to assist.
