The Yangtze Delta is the easiest part of China to travel slowly. Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai are connected by short high-speed trains, so you can change cities in the morning and still have an afternoon.
Route at a glance
Nanjing (2 nights) → Suzhou (2 nights) → Shanghai (3 nights)
- Nanjing–Suzhou: about 1–1.5 hours by high-speed train.
- Suzhou–Shanghai: about 25–35 minutes.
- Book trains a few days ahead; check 12306 for current times.
Day 1: Arrive in Nanjing
Land or arrive by train, check in near the old city, and take a first walk along the city wall. Nanjing is leafy and less rushed than Shanghai; use the evening to settle in.
Day 2: Ming walls and museums
- Ming city wall and Zhonghua Gate.
- Nanjing Museum or the memorial sites, depending on your interests.
- Dinner in the old south of the city.
Book the museum if it requires a reservation. Keep one major sight in the afternoon, not three.
Day 3: Train to Suzhou
Morning train to Suzhou. Drop your bag and walk Pingjiang Road before the day-trippers arrive.
- Humble Administrator’s Garden or the Master of the Nets Garden; book ahead.
- Suzhou Museum, if you can get a slot.
- Evening by the canals.
Day 4: A slower Suzhou
Use the morning for a second garden or a canal walk. In the afternoon, visit a silk workshop or take a short boat ride. Suzhou is small enough that the best parts are between the sights.
Day 5: Train to Shanghai
Take the short train to Shanghai and check in around the Former French Concession or Jing’an.
- Afternoon walk in the French Concession.
- The Bund at dusk, then the ferry to Pudong for the skyline.
Day 6: Shanghai
- Yu Garden at opening, then the old city streets.
- Shanghai Museum or the West Bund museums.
- Dinner in Jing’an or a neighbourhood restaurant away from the Bund.
Day 7: Shanghai, slowly
Choose one: a contemporary-art day, a long walk through the former concessions, or a day trip to a water town. Do not add a second city on the last full day.
Day 8: Departure
Fly out from PVG or SHA, or continue by train. Leave three hours for an international flight and check the airport express times.
Where to stay
Nanjing: near the old city or the wall. Suzhou: Pingjiang Road or the garden district. Shanghai: French Concession or Jing’an for walkability, Pudong only if you need the airport or skyline.
Booking notes
- Trains: passport required; check 12306 and book popular morning departures early.
- Gardens and museums: timed entry is common; check the official site.
- Entry: verify the current visa-free rules before booking.
- Weather: spring and autumn are the most comfortable; summer is hot and humid.
Sources & timing references
Train times and opening hours change. Re-check before booking. Last route review 29 October 2026.
Same shape, different pace.
We can adjust the cities, add a rest day, swap a museum for a food walk, or turn the whole thing into a family-friendly route.