Journey: Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → Shanghai

From Shanghai Pudong International Airport, take the Maglev and subway to reach downtown Shanghai. First, visit Yu Garden. After lunch, head to Shanghai Tower for a panoramic view. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum and the Bund. However, the weather starts to turn gloomy, so have dinner and return to the hotel early. The next morning, travel to Suzhou. Take the train to Suzhou. Note that ticket gates close 3 minutes before departure, so make sure to arrive at the station with plenty of time to spare. The journey from Shanghai to Suzhou takes about 40 minutes. Upon arrival in Suzhou, explore the city at your own pace. Start with the Yunyan Pagoda, which has a leaning structure reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Next, visit the Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's Four Great Gardens, as well as one of Suzhou's Four Great Gardens. Afterward, head to Shantang Street, which evokes the charm of Venice in the East. To experience more of the water town atmosphere, take a taxi to Zhouzhuang Town, which is about an hour away and costs around 2000 yen. Alternatively, you can take the subway to Tongli and then a taxi from there to save on costs. Zhouzhuang Town feels like an upgraded version of Shantang Street. If you enjoy water towns, it's worth visiting. Personally, I liked it. Return to Suzhou city for dinner and try the famous Squirrel Mandarin Fish. Its appearance is striking, showcasing impressive culinary skills. However, the ketchup-based sweet and sour sauce felt a bit monotonous. I thought it could be even better with a different sauce, but it was still an interesting experience. After dinner, stroll along Pingjiang Road and sample Suzhou's local delicacies. The next morning, have breakfast at the highly-rated Tongdexing, known for its Suzhou noodles. It's even Michelin-recognized and absolutely delicious. Although I initially planned to return to Shanghai after touring Suzhou, I managed to cover most of Suzhou in one day. Since I had time, I decided to extend my trip to Hangzhou. Traveling from Suzhou to Hangzhou by train takes about an hour and a half. Hangzhou is famous for West Lake. Walk or rent a bike to explore the lakeside. The full loop is 15 kilometers, so take a taxi if needed. Don't forget to try the local specialty, Dongpo Pork. On the southern shore of West Lake, visit Leifeng Pagoda for a panoramic view of the lake. The scenery is stunning. Afterward, visit the Grand Canal. While it may look like an ordinary river at first glance, it’s fascinating to experience this ancient engineering marvel. Feeling satisfied, return to Shanghai. In the evening, explore Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and the Bund before heading to the airport for your flight home.