Nicole Anderson explores areas in and around this mega metropolis of captivating Shanghai, China.
Shanghai is recognized as China’s largest city with a population of 26.3 million. Staying at a hotel in central Shanghai and looking out the windows on any side, James and I seriously couldn’t see where the skyscrapers end as we scanned the horizon.
Having just arrived by flight from Chongqing (the actual largest populated region in China with 31 million) we had just completed an amazing cruise through the Yangtze River and 3 Gorges which was a serene experience and very different to the fast-paced city of Shanghai.
Nevertheless, if you are a fan of the outdoors, there are several worthwhile places to visit within just a few hours from Shanghai which are beautiful and fascinating spots that will enrich your visit. Indeed, there are also things that are worth seeing and doing while within Shanghai itself which I will include here as well.
The two main centers some distance from Shanghai that we stayed at to explore were the smaller cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. We based ourselves in these cities before returning to Shanghai as this would mean less time traveling and more time at these attractions.
Taking in turn in the order of places we visited from Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, read on to see the highlights of our time in this part of China.
Contents
Suzhou
This city of 13 million was our first base, some 600km west of Shanghai.
The Lingering Gardens
Included within UNESCO’s World Heritage List as one of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, the Lingering Gardens are situated at 338 Liuyuan Road, outside Changmen Gate in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and recognized as one of China’s four most famous gardens.
According to UNESCO, the gardens of Suzhou “represent the development of Chinese landscape garden design over more than two thousand years,” and they are the “most refined form” of garden art. Looking at some of the photos taken that day and shown here, perhaps you would agree.
The Lingering Gardens were first built in 1593 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) by a retired official named Xu Tai. The garden is a wonderful creation and arrangement of plants, stones, ponds, sculptures, and architectural beauty occupying some 6 meticulously maintained acres.
The garden is divided into four sections: artificial hills in the west, pastoral scenery in the north, hall and pavilion structures in the east, and hills and waters at the center. A winding corridor of over 1,000 meters links them and it was lovely just to take a leisurely walk through the whole area.
These are definitely not Western-style gardens. You will see strangely shaped rocks, disordered landscapes, well-tended bushes, and artificial hills. This is the Chinese way of finding the perfect balance between the human world and nature. According to experts, these gardens represent the aesthetic goals and values that you can find in other art forms such as Chinese landscape painting, calligraphy, and poetry. It was a delight to visit.
Cruising The Grand Canal of China
The city of Suzhou is one of many locations in Asia to be known as ‘The Venice of the East’.
Suzhou has a number of canals and is best known for being bestowed the Venice title from famous explorer, Marco Polo, who visited there in 1276.
He did this because of the extent of the canals and stone bridges in this area.
Significantly though Suzhou’s canals are connected more broadly to a network of canals and river sections to form ‘The Grand Canal of China’. This Grand Canal (or artificially created river) is both the oldest (starting construction 2500 years ago) and longest in the world stretching for some 1776 kms or 1104 mi from Hangzhou to the outskirts of Beijing.
The Grand Canal of China is the only waterway in the country that runs north to south, rather than west to east. Not as famous as The Great Wall of China, this network of canals actually connects the two longest rivers in China: the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.
We journeyed through the narrow Suzhou canals, one of the oldest in the world in traditional boats that were not far off the water. This cruise afforded great views as you plied the waterways observing the historic buildings that are still occupied and traveling under ornate bridges still in use today.
Not surprisingly, the Grand Canal of China overall is another significant UNESCO World Heritage Site. Suzhou is well known as a place to experience the traditional canal cruise where parts of the canal have hardly changed at all for over two thousand years.
Yet you can travel to the modern side of Suzhou close by which has more high-rise buildings and is also a main manufacturing center for many products, including laptops, IT-related goods, and textiles. It’s quite amazing how these areas can exist within the same city of Suzhou and yet be worlds apart.
Suzhou Brick Museum
Having a bit of time to kill before our drive onto Hungzhou, the group we were traveling with took a detour to visit the Suzhou Brick Museum.
Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick is located in Xiangcheng District in Suzhou, which is mainly for protecting historical ruins, and displaying cultural relics such as Jin Zhuan (literal translation is Golden Brick) and related cultural impacts.
The information on the process of ancient brickmaking and how this influenced society was very interesting and the displays of architectural buildings and the culture through the ages were so detailed.
I’ve included a few images here to give some idea of this attraction. While I might not have chosen this option as a place to visit as such, I did enjoy the experience.
After going through the main building and surrounding exhibits in the grounds, we then boarded the coach and headed for Hangzhou, some 123 kms to the south taking two hours or so away by road.
Hungzhou
This is a city of 12 million some 163 kms south-west of Shanghai which has so many high standard hotels to book into while you explore the general area.
Meijiawu Tea Village
The Hangzhou region outside of the city is known as the Tea Capital of China and is just a beautifully scenic place. We paid a visit to a Tea House in The Meijiwu Tea Village in the hinterland of West Lake Park, considered as one of the most important Longjing Tea production areas in China.
Hungzhou has long been a major center of tea production in China – the cultivation of the plant here goes back well over 1000 years. Fertile soils, pure water and a pleasant climate combine to produce the region’s famous Longjing – or dragon well – green tea.
Here we had the opportunity to wander through some of the tea plantation, pick and taste some leaves prior to entering the tea house. At the tea house our group was given information on how tea is produced while tasting different teas and of course making purchases to take home.
Aside from the educational aspect of the visit here, the outlook onto the plantation fields and hills was lovely, not to mention how well the gardens within the tea house grounds were. It all made for a very calming and serene atmosphere.
West Lake
Another significant wonder recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, West Lake is surrounded on three sides by ‘cloud-capped hills’ and on the fourth by the city of Hangzhou.
This place was a real highlight of our trip showcasing the tranquil beauty of China. We arrived a short distance from the lake and walked there and then skirted the shores of the lake where we passed between this gorgeous lake and the architectural beauty of temples and traditional buildings. There were many people there that had come to enjoy the lake also but this area still provided a very peaceful and inspiring atmosphere.
To quote Lonely Planet:
“The very definition of classical beauty in China, West Lake is utterly mesmerising: pagoda-topped hills rise over willow-lined waters as boats drift slowly through a idyll of leisurely charm. Walkways, perfectly positioned benches, parks and gardens around the banks of the lake offer a thousand and one vantage points for visitors to admire the faultless scenery.
Originally a lagoon adjoining the Qiantang River, the lake didn’t come into existence until the 8th century, when the governor of Hangzhou had the marshy expanse dredged. As time passed, the lake’s splendour was gradually cultivated: gardens were planted, pagodas built, and causeways and islands were constructed from dredged silt.”
The cruise we took around the lake gave us even more beautiful views looking back to the shore from the tranquillity of the lake. West Lake itself covers 6.4 sq kms (2.5 mi) with a perimeter of around 15km. It has an average depth of 2.3 meters, the deepest part being around 5 meters and the shallowest being less than a meter. On three sides the lake looks onto numerous pavilions, bridges amidst lovely nature with dozens of hills in the background. While the hills themselves do not exceed 400 meters in height, they appear graceful with unique peaks, rock formations and elegant springs. The other side of the lake looks over to Hangzhou city in the background.
The boat ride was gloriously calm as we glided through the still waters taking in the amazing views and atmosphere and we enjoyed it immensely. It is indeed hard to believe this whole area is just off the large city of Hangzhou.
Captivating Shanghai
Having stayed in Suzhou and Hangzhou we returned to the mega-metropolis of Shanghai to see some places and experience things for which this city is famous.
The Bund
The Bund is perhaps Shanghai’s most iconic sight and is the city’s most famous mile. A symbol of colonial Shanghai, the Bund is lined with legation buildings, banks and hotels in a typical early 19th century architectural style.
The Bund stretches 1.5km on the west bank of Huangpu River. It begins at Waibaidu Bridge in the north and ends at Yan’an Road in the south, which crosses Suzhou Creek. The Bund (also called Waitan) is a representation of Shanghai’s 1920s economic boom, is an incredible contrast to the district of Pudong which sits on the east side of the Huangpu with its countless modern-day skyscrapers.
Shanghai is essentially the financial capital of China with the Bund housing the main buildings as well as a huge statue of a bull close to the main walkway along the Huangpu riverfront. Interestingly this area is also home to one of the richest collections of art deco architecture in the world.
However, the Bund is not all buildings and architecture. The Bund walkway that runs alongside the river facing the Pudong CBD district is very wide, kept so clean and also has a number of lovely plants and greenery in this unique location.
Shopping
Shanghai shopping is just legendary. Shanghai is often referred to as the “Paris of the East” or the “New York of the Orient.” Luxury designer boutiques and shops are found in numerous districts dedicated to retail. Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Ermenegildo Zegna, Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, you name it, they are all here.
Also, there are several domestic brands available which offer anything from handcrafted silk slippers to porcelain tableware, antiques, and tourist souvenirs. Added to this are so many restaurants offering Chinese and a range of other world cuisines. The range is incredible from really great value food outlets all the way up to world class fine dining options.
Silk Factory and wholesale
Silk and the quality of this beautiful material is synonymous with China. Shanghai has many silk factories which welcome tourists. We went to one which provided interesting detail on the silk creation and manufacturing process.
The knowledgeable guide showed us both the traditional and modern ways of manufacturing silk to the highest standard. The history of silk was quite fascinating and seeing a demonstration of how this was produced firsthand showed how painstaking and laborious this process is. To this day, Shanghai is the major silk export center to the rest of the world.
We then were invited into their showroom where we were able to purchase some wonderful silk products. The range of genuine silk products was quite amazing and obtaining silk from the home of this lovely material was worthwhile.
The Shanghai MagLev Train
Having recently traveled through central China via 2 bullet trains, we were quite intrigued to learn that Shanghai was home to the MagLev Train (the name ‘MagLev’ being the shortened version of the term Magnetic Levitation).
Using the German Transrapid technology, the MagLev is the fastest train in the world. It is capable of a cruising speed of 431 km/h (or 268 mph). This train operated at this unbelievable cruising speed on every trip until May 2021. It then reduced its cruising speed to just over 300 km/h following a serious Maglev accident in Germany. This change in speed effectively makes the Shanghai MagLev travel at the same fast speed as the domestic modern bullet trains. Its record test speed was 501 kph (311 mph), making its entry into the Guinness Book of World Records back in 2003.
Experiencing a trip on the MagLev is not all about speed though. The feeling you have knowing that you are on a train with no wheels being propelled by the power of magnets where the train hovers slightly above the track at such a fast speed is pretty amazing. It is every bit as stable and comfortable as the bullet trains except you are rocketing toward your destination on a pillow of air.
Running on ‘clean energy’, this train is truly environmentally friendly, using half the comparative energy of buses and only a quarter of the energy used by planes, and does not produce any pollution. As these trains don’t touch the railway line, it makes them smoother and quieter than other trains.
The MagLev can not travel on any other track than one designed for this train, the same way that bullet trains can not travel on conventional train tracks. The cost of building this MagLev technology is exorbitant so it is hard to imagine this technology ever becoming mainstream for train travel. The external shape of this train looks distinctly different to either conventional or bullet trains and the interior is every bit as luxurious and well-maintained as the bullet trains. It’s a bit like comparing jet planes to the Concord in that its sleeker, carriages perhaps slightly smaller but classier, and of course considerably faster.
Also known as the Shanghai Transrapid, the Shanghai MagLev Train is the world’s first commercial high-speed MagLev and operates just between two stations. This train travels either east to Longyang Road Station (Shanghai Subway Line 2), or west to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. This is a distance of 30 km (19 mi) which it comfortably does in 8 minutes.
We traveled the Shanghai MagLev train for the sake of experiencing this technology in contrast to the bullet train trips we have taken previously. We took two trips to achieve this: from Longyang Road Station to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and then return to Longyang Road. It was certainly an enjoyable and memorable experience. Aside from taking photos of our trip on the MagLev, we were told that it would be pretty impossible to snap an image of the other MagLev passing us going in the other direction. It proved to be correct. By the time you realized the train entered into your image frame, it had gone before you could hit the shoot button to capture it!
Huangpu River Night Cruise
A tributary of the legendary Yangtze River, the Huangpu River runs right through the city of Shanghai before emptying out into the South China Sea. Also referred to as the Mother River of Shanghai, the river itself is 113 km (70 mi) long having a width between 300-770 m (984-2,526 ft), and runs through 10 districts in the city.
Also known as Huangxiepu or Chunshen, the Huangpu River is a landmark of Shanghai, separating the city into two parts, Pudong (the main city center) and Puxi (where the Bund is located).
If you are staying in Shanghai, you really should take a cruise on the Huangpu, especially at night for the amazing lights of the city, a sight that would be hard to compare with any other city in the world. There are many cruise options to choose from, all varying in options starting from their duration and what they offer in amenities as well as dining and/or snack and drink choices. The best times of the year to take a cruise on the Huangpu River are March-May and September–November when the weather is really pleasant.
We arrived at the river cruise terminal close to a major shopping district to present our tickets which provided us access to a huge transit lounge where we relaxed until boarding time. When we were called, it was a short stroll out to the dock and the large, multi-level vessel. It was a modern boat, spacious and clean with windows surrounding the enclosed lounges as well as open upper decks, all designed to provide great views.
The boat started its journey on time and gently glided down this beautiful waterway with the lights of the city being reflected across the waves. Everyone on board was excited about this experience of traveling on a natural river going through one of the world’s greatest cities. It was like a meeting of nature with the most extreme concentration of human habitation.
On this river cruise, you see the famous Yangpu and Nanpu bridges and the old iron Waibaidu bridge. Looking across to the Pudong side you are presented with some of the tallest and most distinctive buildings in Shanghai including the Jinmao Tower, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Tower, and World Financial Center.
The Puxi side of the river of course has multiple beautiful buildings lit up as well, including the illuminated art deco architecture and looking over to the impressive Bund and financial district.
Witnessing this amazing spectacle, highlighted to me the tremendous differences that exist in this vast country. The sheer diversity we have seen of its history and culture set against its stunning natural beauty, traditional living, and values, contrasting to its modern, advanced, cosmopolitan cities makes China a truly wonderous place to visit.
We took this cruise on our last full day on this part of our journey across China and it was a nice way to end this trip as we subsequently got ready to depart the following evening.
What are your impressions of the attractions covered in this fourth leg of our China journey covering areas in and around Shanghai? Have you experienced this part of China or perhaps you would like to visit in the future? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Outdoor adventure enthusiast that loves nature having travelled locations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
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Shanghai looks absolutely mesmerizing in your post! The blend of modernity and tradition is captivating, especially the stunning skyline and rich cultural heritage. Your tips on exploring the city are incredibly helpful for any traveler. Thanks for sharing such an inspiring travel guide!
My pleasure David. Thank you for such a lovely comment. I agree it is indeed a lovely blend of modernity and tradition and surrounded by amazing beauty. China overall is a wonderful country to experience.
There is so much to see and do here. My best friend lived in pu dong for 3 years as a teenager studying and then stayed for another two years in Suzhou. She talked about the lingering gardens and grand canal a lot. I never got to visit her because she moved back but hope to see these one day. I’d also add the tea fields to that trip.
What a great experience your best friend had to spend that amount of time there, Nicole! I spent part of my schooling in Japan so have some idea of that immersive experience in Asia. So good to hear she talked about the Lingering Gardens and the Grand Canal. I’m sure you would love them as well as the tea village/plantations and perhaps even West Lake also. Thanks so much for sharing your impressions.
I was wondering what your trip would be like when you said you saw skyscrapers in every direction from your hotel, but it looks like you found so much nature in your trip! I love how the canals remind me a bit of Amsterdam, and the gardens look so lovely! Seeing everything lit up with the night cruise would be a highlight, too. You really made the most of your time there with all of the different things you did. Well done!
Thank you Jennifer! While we might stay in a city hotel after first arriving, the trick is to get as far away from metropolis to discover the real country, its people and natural beauty. Sure we enjoyed our time in Shanghai in many ways but getting away from cities is where we find most value. Thanks so much for reading and leaving such a lovely comment.
Some of the Shanghai images and architecture remind me of Beijing like Summer Palace and Forbidden city! I love gardens and lakes and Lingering Garden looks like a beautiful place to walk through and enjoy. It’s interesting to see a bamboo park like the one in Kyoto, Japan! I would love to visit Shanghai someday – which I missed in my trip to Beijing and Xian! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your impressions of this post and your visit to China, Jan. Whilst we also visited Beijing, Xian and the surrounding regions, Shanghai and its regions offer yet more, and distinctive beauty. Do have a look at those posts published prior to this one as a comparison to see what I mean. Having lived for a while in Japan I also appreciate the bamboo park you refer to. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
I missed Shanghai when I visited China. The Lingering Gardens remind me a lot of the Summer Palace in Beijing. I remember similar beautiful and peaceful gardens, alongside a lake, with pretty Chinese decorations everywhere. I would like to visit the Grand Canal area, it looks very rustic and authentic – like the old Shanghai used to look like in the past. It contrasts so much with the tall, glass only sky scrapers.
The Summer Palace is definitely well known for its beautiful setting, Joanna and we loved our time around Beijing as well. I couldn’t agree with you more about the amazing contrasts between the fascinating historical and cultural beauty you can experience compared with the modern day cities like Shanghai. I’m sure you would love to see the Grand Canal area around Suzhou and West Lake as well from what you have said. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks for reminding me why I want to go back to China. I have been in the area around 20 years ago. I absolutely loved Souzhou and going back with more knowledge about Chinese garden would be fun. Shanghai changed a lot – that would be very interesting too.
Things would no doubt have changed a lot within Shanghai itself over 20 years, Natasha. However things such as the canal, Tea plantations, West Lake and the ancient gardens would still retain their beauty for many decades to come.
Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai…Such a gorgeous city that I am yet to visit! Soon I hope and I can’t wait.
Thanks Karen. Don’t forget to travel outside the city to see so much more.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time exploring Shanghai and would love to visit those places myself someday. All of them look absolutely breathtaking!
Thanks so much Angela. It really was such a lovely trip and I’m sure you would enjoy this area as well.
I love the sound of a trip on The Great Canal and a visit to the Tea Village!
We loved both of those experiences, Jenny. Although completely different, they are things you will always remember. Thanks for reading.
I have been to China twice but never got a chance to visit this part. The smaller cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou look great and interesting for an explorer like me.
Thanks for checking out this post Archana. Maybe you may be tempted to go for a third trip to see more, particularly this region? Lots to explore, that’s for sure.
Oh how lovely! What a beautiful place to visit so many lovely and peaceful sights!
That’s for sure Tammy. Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
oh wow! I had no idea Shanghai is that gorgeous wooooowwwww….I would love to explore this stunning city and areas around it, there is a lot to see, a lot! Thanks a lot for the amazing guide.
My pleasure Karen. I’m so happy you enjoyed this. There is so much to see there.
Never been to Shanghai, but I certainly would love to visit and explore this whole area someday. It looks beautiful!
There are indeed many things to find of beauty, Lynndee. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Great pictures! They bring back fond memories of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou/ I’ve been to Shanghai three times, Hangzhou twice, and Suzhou only once. I really enjoyed my visits. But it has already been more than 10 years. I see that the Shanghai has some new skyscrapers since my last visit.
A city that size is bound to continue to evolve, Michael. Great this generated some memories for you and thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
I’d love to visit Shanghai one day. Its overall beauty is captivating for sure!
Thanks Hari, I must admit I agree.
China sounds so fun and interesting place to visit. This is something that I would love to do. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Laura. Glad you liked this post.
The gardens here are just absolutely gorgeous! I’d love to be able to see them for myself one day.
The Lingering Gardens were definitely worth visiting, Elizabeth. No wonder they are recognised by UNESCO. The nature, art, and history coming together make for a fascinating and enjoyable experience.
I so would love to visit Shanghai some day! Your pictures are amazing and it looks like it was a memorable and incredible trip for you! Love it and adding this post to my travel bucket list!
Thank you Melissa. I’m sure you would enjoy this area of China as much as I did. There is just so much to see and do.
This sounds like such an awesome trip. I hope to be able to visit all these places in the near future. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Tiffany. I wish you well in your planning and hope you have a great trip also.
Wow! It’s so amazing exploring new places – and the gardens looked so lovely full of flowers I’ve never seen before. Thank you for sharing your adventures to Shanghai.
My pleasure Jupiter! Exploring new places, especially around the world’s natural beauty is always a lovely experience for me. China is a vast country and has so much to offer in this regard. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. What a blessing to travel to Shanghai and surrounding areas.
I totally agree, Rosey. We appreciated the whole experience and were so glad to have done this trip. Thank you for your comment.
I just stayed inside Shanghai! There is so much to see: gardens, canal. tea villages!
You bet Carol! And a whole lot more as well! Thanks for your comment.
Really enjoyed myself reading this story because it brings back the precious memories I had when travel with my parents to Shanghai. Cheers
I’m so pleased this brought back some treasured memories for you Swee. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Shanghai looks like a fantastic city to visit and would love to do one day. But from what I read, Traveling to China is little more complicated than other countries. Your thoughts? Thanks!
Visa requirements may be more complicated compared with other countries, Hari, but in our case, we used an agent to prepare our application on our behalf. This didn’t take that long and everything was finalised and it was certainly worth it for all we managed to see and experience.
I love all of these photos. I have always wanted to visit Shanghai. It looks like a wonderful adventure with so much to see.
It sure is Amber, especially if you are prepared to travel outside of the city to explore.
I’ve never been to China but it’s always a country that has fascinated me. It seems like you did such an interesting and varied trip, so lovely to read about it x
Thank you very much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Rhian, much appreciated.
It’s amazing to see so much of Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou even if only through this post. The Lingering Gardens in Suzhou are peaceful and beautiful. I appreciate, through the map, why it is called the Grand Canal of China. Imagine, the canal starts in Hangzhou and goes all the way to Beijing.
I know what you mean, Ramil. To imagine a network of canals going that distance is quite amazing. Really worth visiting firsthand.
That is fully awesome. I don’t know why, but I’ve never pictured green spaces when I’ve ever thought of Shanghai. I had no idea it was so pretty.
Well to be fair, there isn’t massive greenery until you get away from the city, even though the city itself has some beautiful gardens and greenery in many sections you see along the streets. The Bund is an example of how they have used greenery to great effect.
Aaahhhh….it had been a while since I had last heard of Pudong. The gardens here are something I look forward to enjoying, for as long as possible. Thanks for this.
My pleasure, Michael. Nice to hear you have enjoyed this region as well. Hope you will make it there again to immerse yourself in the gardens.
Your post brought back some great memories of our visit to Shanghai and China. We could easily have spent more time there. And we did not even get to do day trips on our stay in Shanghai and missed some of the gems you visited! I can see why you would head to see the Lingering Gardens and cruise the Grand Canal in Suzhou. We had many tea ceremonies in China but did not get to visit the tea plantations around Hungzhou. Or see the charming West Lake area. I can see why this tranquil spot might be a highlight of your visit. We did not do a silk factory visit in Shanghai but did see some amazing embroidery. But we did do a night cruise and loved the vibrant colours of the skyline.
Thank you for sharing your memories of this part of China, Linda. While you may not have spent as long to see everything covered here, it’s great to know you would have been happy to extend your trip. Perhaps you may return someday to explore more in this amazing part of the world. Thanks again for sharing something of your experiences.
What an amazing trip and the photos are amazing, you have certainly captured just how beautiful it is
Thank you Samantha. Glad you liked this post.
Your exploration of Shanghai’s captivating highlights is truly inspiring! I love how you’ve captured the city’s vibrant culture and stunning sights, making me eager to visit! Night time cruise here I come.
Thanks very much, Joy! It’s a place that is easy to enjoy and appreciate. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Suzhou is a historic city and I love visiting there, looks like you had a great time in China and did a lot, thanks for sharing your journey with us.
My pleasure Kenny. Great to know you love visiting Suzhou as well.
It sounds like you did a fair amount of exploring there. It looks like the surrounding areas is very pretty, you took some wonderful photos.
Thanks, Melanie, I’ll pass that on to James who always takes most of the photos. Pleased you enjoyed this post.
I love the photos in your blog and your stories are very inspiring. Maybe I’ll travel some more.
It’s always a rewarding experience to explore and immerse yourself in beauty elsewhere, Richard. I think we all benefit as a result and develop more within ourselves. I hope you travel more also.
WOW, what a wonderful trip and your photos are stunning. I bet there was so much to see and do in Shanghai. I would love to visit their museum and their gardens. What a great post!
The history you see in the museums and the beauty of their gardens really captures something in you, Lisa. I’m sure you would love to visit as well. Thank you for your comment.
omg this is so beautiful! Shanghai is on my must see list and I can’t wait to explore this beautiful city. Gorgeous!!!
IT’s amazing the number of people who visit and love the experience, Karen. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
One of my best friends just went there and SHE IS LOVING IT….She said it wasn’t just the beautiful scenery, entertainment etc…She said the overall vibe and mood are out of this world! I am going there next year for sure! I can’t wait.
That’s fantastic! So pleased to hear you have decided to go and experience it first hand. I hope you have a wonderful trip and enjoy it just as much as your friend. I’m sure you will, Karen!
What a glorious adventure you had visiting Shanghai! You have me in ‘travel dreaming’ mode. I would love to go to all of the places you experienced here. All of your photos capture the beauty of the place.
Thank you so much for this lovely comment, Stephanie. I am so happy you enjoyed this post and I hope you will make your own plans to visit and experience this one day.
Souzhou looks like it would be such a fun area to explore near Shanghai. I’ve been wanting to go for years, and you’re definitely pushing me to finally go and see this beautiful place for myself! Hopefully sooner, rather than later. 🙂
The Grand Canal as well as the Lingering Gardens were definitely the highlights of Suzhou for us, Emily, although the Brick Museum was still very interesting. Thank you for your lovely comment and I also hope you visit and see this for yourself.
These spots are all so scenic! I love the temples, water features, and the bamboo. What an amazing trip to be able to explore Shanghai.
Thanks Marysa. The combination of natural beauty and cultural art really creates some lovely sights and makes the trip so fulfilling.
China sounds like an amazing place to visit, it has a lot of fun places to visit. I would love to visits China someday thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Laura. Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
Very cool, this summer my partner and I planning to visit Shanghai and we are adding things to visit and do. This would be a great addition to our list. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome Frank. I hope you and your partner have a great trip.
The river cruise in Shanghai sounds amazing! The city lights reflecting off the water and the iconic buildings along the riverbanks create a vivid picture; it makes me want to experience this part of China for myself.
Being one of the world’s megacities with an amazing number of buildings, it is an experience you will always remember, Sonia. Thank you very much for reading and leaving your comment.
This was like our experience in Bangkok, where we also experienced a sunset dinner cruise. The buildings along the riverbank, as well as many temples, were stunning at night. The Huangpu River night cruise is the best way to see the city’s skyline. The changing lights and colors on the buildings remind me of the light show in Hong Kong.
Well, certainly the light show in Hong Kong is quite legendary, Ramil (not to mention the New Year’s Eve fireworks show staged there every year as well). Nevertheless, the Shanghai city lights are set against the backdrop of a river rather than a harbor. Both are quite stunning, just in different ways.
I loved the old Chinese architecture with low-lying structures amid trees at the gardens in Suzhou. The grand canal would surely be high on my list. The MagLev train sounds like quite an experience, albeit technology is a little scary at times. Hungzhou and Suzhou are my kind of places, bookmarked these. Your trip was truly dreamy.
Hangzhou and Suzhou are both within easy reach if you are visiting Shanghai and offer so much, Ambica. The Grand Canal was a real highlight as it is such an amazing achievement that has been in existence for so long. The MagLev is very futuristic and quite an inspiration. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your impressions.
I’ve heard Shanghai is beautiful. My old bosses used to go there to meet up with their vendors. I’d love the chance to go see it for myself. Your photos are stunning.
Thank you so much Christy. It really is a fascinating place to experience.
What a beautiful city! Shanghai is on my bucket list, so I’d love to visit this city and region someday soon with my husband. Thanks for sharing your guide and experience with us 🙂.
My pleasure Ana. I’m so pleased you enjoyed this post and also hope you will visit in the future.
Oh my-your photos are amazing. Shanghai is a phenomenal place, and it is on my bucket list to visit. The trains look futuristic, and everything looks clean and organized. Thank you for sharing your trip! I look forward to your next post.
Thank you very much, Kristine. If you enjoyed this post, another three articles have been published on our China trip to look at also. Thank you for reading.
Shanghai looks like such a cool place to visit! Definitely one of those amazing urban spots that you can explore, yet so close to natural beauty and things to do and see, as well.
That is so true Emily! There is just so much to see and so much natural beauty quite close by. Definitely worth exploring beyond the city.
Holy cow! Every single shot you shared is absolutely gorgeous. Shanghai and surrounds seems like one of those rare places where everything is beautiful.
Thanks so much Beth. James takes the majority of photos when we travel and I think he does take some lovely shots. It makes it so nice to look back on after the trip.
He really is very good! The photos on your blog work well with your stories to inspire me to travel more.
That comment will make his day when I tell him, thank you so much.