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Pudong Complex, Shanghai, China
Home Destinations North and Central Asia China Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou

Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou

A city of contrasts, Shanghai has two distinctly different faces, one old and one new, and is evolving at a rapid pace. It is a dynamic place with an extremely exhilarating pace and lifestyle.

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Appearing to have leapt straight from its 19th-century splendour of merchant’s offices, banks and hotels that were built along the famous Bund, to the glass skyscrapers now appearing on the newly reclaimed land of Pudong on the opposite river bank.

Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai, China
Shanghai, China

Old Shanghai

The old parts of the city are worth a visit where beautifully designed hidden gardens such as the Yu garden, a typical Chinese courtyard style garden, are tucked away down the many side alleys and traditional street markets still occur where locals trade fresh produce and handicrafts among other more tourist orientated items.

Old and new seem to blend effortlessly in Shanghai, and a day’s travel can include sampling traditional Chinese dumplings from a small street stall to gazing at one of the many magnificent skyscrapers from an opulent restaurant.

Maglev Train Shanghai
Maglev Train, Shanghai, China

What's nearby?

Shanghai is a vibrant city with a fabulous museum, ancient temples and gardens, good nightlife and international cuisine including Shanghai’s own famed seafood making the city a firm favourite for all who visit. Shanghai is a city that never sleeps.

Close by and easily visited for the day are numerous pretty water towns, crisscrossed with intricate canals and attractive stone bridges. Suzhou is famed for its silk weaving trade and is also home to a number of beautiful traditional gardens. Other water towns include Hangzhou with its tranquil west lake and lavish temples, Zhouzhuang, one of the oldest in the country and Luzhi, often less visited and home to around 41 well preserved ancient stone bridges of different style and size.

The newly introduced Shanghai – Kumming High-Speed railway has been newly introduced since 2017. A total journey time of 12 hours, passing through four provincial capitals.

Buddha in the Bamboo Forest, Hangzhou Park, China
Hangzhou, China

Take a side trip to Huang Shan

Reached by air and rail from Shanghai or overland from Hangzhou, Huang Shan or Yellow Mountain is well worth a visit. The Huang Shan mountain range is made up of 72 peaks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pine trees jut from unusually shaped granite rocks and towering mountains rise above seas of cloud giving the whole area a truly ethereal feel. There are some wonderful walking trails or cable cars ascending the mountains. Hot springs are also abundant in the region and nearby traditional villages give a taste of rural Chinese life.

Experiences

What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.

Huangshan in Fog, Huangshan, China
 

Huang Shan Mountains

Take a side trip to the mountains, hot springs and rural scenery of Huang Shan; explore on foot or by cable car.

Shanghai Xintiandi and Shikumen building
 

Explore Xintiandi

Visit the Xintiandi district of Shanghai, an area of converted residential blocks, now home to restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Bund, Shanghai, China
 

Stay on The Bund

Stay in one of the historic Bund hotels, whose waterfront locations have welcomed guests such as Charlie Chaplin.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Maglev Train Shanghai
 

Board the Maglev Train

Travel from the airport on board the Maglev train; the journey on a high speed magnetic levitation line takes just over seven minutes to travel 30 kilometres.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shangai, China
 

Visit a Water Town

Take a day trip from Shanghai to one of the nearby water towns; known for the ancient art of silk weaving and peppered with pretty canals, stone bridges, traditional gardens and temples.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Alleys of Shanghai, China
 

Shanghai by Bike

Join the locals on two wheels and take a bicycle tour through the hidden alleys of Shanghai.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, China
 

Shanghai Museum

Stroll through the fabulous exhibits at the Shanghai museum.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Aerial View of Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, Shanghai, China
 

Shanghai Sunset River Cruise

Cruise Shanghai’s Huangpu River at sunset and see the neon lights of the city skyline.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Discover more experiences

Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Amanfayun £££££

  • China

Hidden in a picturesque valley, a short drive from Hangzhou, Amanfayun is surrounded by tea fields, natural forest, quaint villages and a pilgrimage circuit of five significant Buddhist temples. Many of the 47 rooms, suites, and villas date back more than a century and once housed villagers who worked in the nearby tea fields. Simple and elegant in style, most rooms open onto private or semi-private courtyards with informal outdoor dining and lounging areas. The Fayun Pathway, once the villages’ main thoroughfare, runs through the resort and provides access to the various restaurants, the Aman spa, and heated pool.

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Alila Anji £££££

  • China

Alila Anji is tucked away in a little know area of China, south west of the buzzing city of Shanghai. The peaceful lakeside setting, surrounded by mountains, tea plantations and bamboo forests is an area dedicated to preserving the natural environment. The hotel fuses traditional and elegant styles with contemporary comforts and has been designed to resemble a traditional Chinese village. Most of the 74 villas and rooms have a private balcony or terrace offering wonderfully elevated views across the lake to the hills and mountains beyond.

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Banyan Tree Hangzhou £££££

  • China

Banyan Tree Hangzhou sits within China’s first wetland reserve, home to a wealth of plant and bird life. The 72 rooms and villas are designed like a Jiangnan-style town, with slate grey tiled roofs and are surrounded by lakes and waterways. Oriental interiors are themed around the colours of the four seasons and some have indoor hot tubs, outdoor jet pools and spacious balconies with water views. The lush gardens house the spa with the indoor swimming pool close by.

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Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao £££££

  • China
  • Boutique

This renovated building houses a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty courthouse as the hotel lobby and a theatre from the Qing Dynasty at the heart of the building. Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao is certainly not lacking in history or character. The 35 villas each have a private courtyard and garden plus four villas have their own heated outdoor swimming pool.

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Peninsula Hotel Shanghai £££££

  • China
  • City

The Peninsula Shanghai occupies a splendid location, with direct frontage on the historic Bund. The interior design combines contemporary and Art Deco styles and some of the 235 rooms offer wonderful city views. Faultless service is combined with fine dining, an indoor swimming pool and spa for an extremely comfortable stay.

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Amanyangyun £££££

  • China

In a bold project, the creators of Amanyangyun have saved a slice of Chinese history by relocating and rebuilding 50 Ming and Qing dynasty villas and turning them into a peaceful retreat a short distance from Shanghai. The 24 courtyard suites and 13 antique villas are set amidst more than 10,000 camphor trees, also rescued and relocated when their original home was threatened by the construction of a reservoir.

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Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet
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Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
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China – Highlights of Yunnan
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Prayer flags in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China
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China – Shangri-La and Beyond
Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers wishing to experience remote, untouched and wild regions of China.
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Prayer Beads, Tibet
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China – Walled Cities and Buddhist Cave Art
This fabulous holiday idea to China showcases some of the classic sites as well as less known gems such as the walled city of Pingyao and the Buddhist caves at Datong.
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Roof, Hanging Monastery, Datong, China
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Yulong River, Guilin, China
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Need Inspiration?
Browse our China holiday ideas.

Our China experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.

Idea
China
Highlights of China including pandas and Tibet
This holiday to China includes many of the classic highlights as well as the chance to see one of the country’s most iconic residents, the giant panda, before flying to the Buddhist world of Tibet.
14 days from £4,545pp
Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
View Holiday Idea
Idea
China
China – Highlights of Yunnan
Travel from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La experiencing fascinating cultures and beautiful scenery en route.
13 days from £5,175pp
Prayer flags in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China
View Holiday Idea
Idea
China
China – Shangri-La and Beyond
Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers wishing to experience remote, untouched and wild regions of China.
12 days from £5,695pp
Prayer Beads, Tibet
View Holiday Idea
Idea
China
China – Walled Cities and Buddhist Cave Art
This fabulous holiday idea to China showcases some of the classic sites as well as less known gems such as the walled city of Pingyao and the Buddhist caves at Datong.
14 days from £6,040pp
Roof, Hanging Monastery, Datong, China
View Holiday Idea
Idea
China
Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise
This classic holiday encompasses many of the highlights China has to offer, including Beijing and Xian as well as a Yangtze cruise and the beautiful karst limestone peaks of Guilin. A great first holiday to China with a fabulous mix…
15 days from £4,600pp
Yangtze River, China
View Holiday Idea
Idea
China
Family Holiday to China
This family holiday includes many of the classic highlights of China with plenty of exciting things to both educate, excite and entertain the children.
12 days from £3,335pp
Yulong River, Guilin, China
View Holiday Idea
View all holiday ideas

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Paul Craven in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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Paul Craven

Paul is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Central Asia and the Silk Route.

Being from a family with Army connections I can from an early age remember travelling. From camping in Europe and then later being sent to boarding school when we lived in Germany at the age of eight, complete with shorts, long socks, a cap and my suitcase. In appearance not too dissimilar to the children evacuated to the countryside during the blitz.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980
Clare infront of traditional ger.
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Clare Higginson

It was my passion for languages that first encouraged me to leave the UK behind and grab my rucksack. Since then, it’s been a mixture of intriguing cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes and the wonder of seeing animals in their natural habitat that sees me continuously extending my travel wish list.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Explore other regions

Chengdu and giant pandas

Home to many of China’s natural wonders, wildlife preserves, archaeological sites, and historical buildings.

Giant Panda eating Bamboo, China

Xian

Chang An, as Xian was once known, was the start of the Silk Road to Europe through Persia and the Subcontinent.

Terracotta Warriors, Xian, Shaanxi, China

Beijing

In the North of the country, it is a veritable metropolis of epic proportions and offers more than just the entrance to…

Forbidden City Roofline, Beijing, China

Guilin and The Li River

Guilin's charm lies in its magical scenery which has inspired poets and artists for thousands of years.

Cormorant fisherman at sunrise, Li River, China

Yangtze Cruises

There's are few better way to experience China's stunning landscapes and ancient culture than on a Yangtze cruise.

Yangtze River, China

Lijiang, Shangri La and Yunnan

Yunnan, meaning 'Beautiful clouds in the South' is one of China's most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces.

Prayer flags in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China

Tibet

Tibet still exudes a magic that is hard to emulate.

Potala Palace, Tibet

The Silk Road

The Silk Road was the most well known international trade route for the Chinese Empire

Man and Camels, Silk Road, China

Pingyao and Datong

Easily reached by train from Beijing, Pingyao was China's most important trading city during the late Ming and Qing dynasties and is…

Buddha Statues, Yungyang Caves, Datong, China

Hong Kong

Great shopping, accessible beaches, local history and culture, sky-scraping modern architecture and a wide choice of restaurants.

Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, China

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

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