Shanghai & Suzhou: China's Modern Metropolis & Classical Gardens
Colonial waterfront, Art Deco boulevards and the most beautiful gardens in China
From
£2,795pp
About this tour
Shanghai is the most surprising city in China and arguably in Asia. It should not exist as it does — a global financial centre built on a mudflat at the mouth of the Yangtze, with more Art Deco buildings than anywhere outside Miami, a colonial waterfront built by British merchants, and a contemporary skyline that makes New York look conservative. And yet it is unmistakably Chinese, in the smells from the food stalls, the pace of the streets, the calligraphy shops in the old lanes, the Buddhist temples that survived the Cultural Revolution. Hannah Forsythe leads this small-group tour with the affection of someone who has lived in the city for seven years. Her background in art education makes her particularly good at reading buildings — at explaining what the Bund's colonial facades mean, what the Art Deco villas of the French Concession reveal about their owners, what the contrast between Pudong's futuristic towers and Puxi's preserved 1930s lanes says about China's relationship with its own history. Beyond Shanghai, the tour extends to Suzhou — the classical garden city an hour away by high-speed rail — and to Hangzhou's West Lake, one of China's most beloved natural landscapes. Both are genuinely beautiful and genuinely different from Shanghai, and together they provide the classical context that Shanghai's modernity otherwise lacks.
“Led by Hannah Forsythe, our Shanghai-based small-group specialist with 8 years in China.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Hannah Forsythe's art-education background makes Shanghai's architecture extraordinary
- The PuLi Hotel: intimate 5-star in Jing'an, the most characterful district
- Suzhou's classical gardens: the most beautiful garden design tradition in the world
- Hangzhou West Lake: the landscape that inspired Chinese poetry for 1,000 years
- No Great Wall or Terracotta Warrior visits — a genuinely different China experience
- Shanghai's food scene: from hole-in-the-wall xiao long bao to Michelin rooftops
- Max 12 guests — small group, Hannah's full attention
Request a Callback
Price per person — based on two travelling together.
We respond within 1 working day · No obligation
Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Shanghai
Shanghai
Arrival dayThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Welcome to Shanghai
Shanghai
Group transfer from Pudong Airport. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the Former French Concession — Hannah's neighbourhood, her favourite table.
2The Bund & Pudong Skyline
Shanghai
ModerateThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
The Bund & Pudong Skyline
Shanghai
Morning walk along the Bund — the 1.5km colonial waterfront where HSBC, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, the Customs House and 20 other international institutions built their headquarters from 1850 to 1941. Hannah explains what each building represents in the story of colonial Shanghai. Cross the river to Pudong for the contrast: the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Tower (the second tallest in the world) and the Shanghai IFC. Return by Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.
3French Concession Art Deco Walk
Shanghai
GentleThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
French Concession Art Deco Walk
Shanghai
A morning dedicated to the French Concession — Hannah's speciality. Art Deco villas built by Jewish, French and British residents in the 1920s and 30s, now housing boutiques and restaurants. Former residences of Sun Yat-sen and Zhou Enlai. The 1,000-year-old Longhua Temple, still active, with monks in residence. Afternoon free.
4Yuyuan Garden & Old Town
Shanghai
ModerateThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Yuyuan Garden & Old Town
Shanghai
Morning: Yuyuan Garden — a Ming dynasty classical garden in the heart of Shanghai's Old Town. Then the adjacent bazaar. Afternoon: Shanghai Museum (one of the finest collections of Chinese antiquities — free entry). Evening free.
5Suzhou Classical Gardens
Suzhou
ModerateThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Suzhou Classical Gardens
Suzhou
High-speed train Shanghai–Suzhou (25 minutes). A full day in Suzhou — the classical garden city that gave China its most sophisticated garden design tradition. The Humble Administrator's Garden (the largest in Suzhou, 16th century, UNESCO), the Master of Nets Garden (the smallest and most perfectly composed), and a canal boat through the old city. Return to Shanghai by evening.
6Shanghai: Tianzifang & Xintiandi
Shanghai
GentleThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Shanghai: Tianzifang & Xintiandi
Shanghai
Morning: Tianzifang — a shikumen (stone gate house) neighbourhood converted into studios, galleries and cafés, the most authentic remaining example of Shanghai's 1920s residential fabric. Xintiandi — the upscale version, with the building where the Chinese Communist Party was founded in 1921. Afternoon free.
7Hangzhou West Lake
Hangzhou
ModerateThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Hangzhou West Lake
Hangzhou
High-speed train Shanghai–Hangzhou (45 minutes). West Lake — China's most celebrated natural landscape, the "heaven on earth" that Marco Polo described in 1275. Boat across the lake to the island pavilions, walk the Su Causeway, visit the Lingyin Temple Buddhist complex in the forested hills above the lake. Return to Shanghai by evening.
8Shanghai Tower & Food Walking Tour
Shanghai
GentleThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Shanghai Tower & Food Walking Tour
Shanghai
Morning: observation deck at the Shanghai Tower (118th floor — the highest viewpoint in China, 546 metres above the city). Afternoon: Shanghai street food walking tour with Hannah — from the Nanxiang xiao long bao shop to the scallion pancakes on the Old Town lanes to the pineapple cakes in the French Concession.
9Zhujiajiao Water Town & Farewell
Shanghai
GentleThe PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
Zhujiajiao Water Town & Farewell
Shanghai
Morning drive to Zhujiajiao — a 1,700-year-old water town 40km from central Shanghai, with stone bridges, canals and Ming-dynasty temple and market buildings largely intact. Group farewell dinner in the evening.
10Shanghai Departure
Shanghai
Departure day
Shanghai Departure
Shanghai
Final morning free. Group transfers to Pudong Airport.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Shanghai and surroundings at a considered, unhurried pace. No early morning starts. Maximum 5km per activity day. Afternoons regularly free.
Walking
Maximum 5km on any day. All city walks are on flat ground. Suzhou and Hangzhou gardens involve gentle paths. Shanghai Tower is reached by lift.
Transport
Air-conditioned coach. Two high-speed trains included (both under 1 hour). No domestic flights required.
Altitude
Shanghai at sea level. Hangzhou at 7m. Suzhou at 3m. No altitude concerns.
Heat / Climate
Shanghai spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are ideal. Summer (June–August) is hot and very humid. Winter can be cold and damp.
Accommodation
Your hotels
The PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
★★★★★Jing'an District, Shanghai · 9 nights
An intimate 229-room luxury hotel in the Jing'an district — the most characterful neighbourhood in Shanghai, with Art Deco heritage buildings, plane-tree boulevards and the finest independent restaurants in the city. An outstanding spa, exceptional breakfast and a rooftop bar.
- Jing'an district — most characterful neighbourhood
- Award-winning spa
- Rooftop bar with city views
- Outstanding breakfast
- Walking distance to French Concession
Enhance your trip
Beijing Extension
+£1,095
Add 4 nights in Beijing with Wei Zhang before arriving in Shanghai — Forbidden City, Great Wall and the hutong neighbourhood. Flight Beijing–Shanghai included.
per person supplement
Tongli Water Town
+£125
Add a second water town visit — Tongli, slightly further from Shanghai than Zhujiajiao and with more intact Song dynasty buildings and a renowned erotic garden (Garden of Retreat and Reflection).
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,795
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£695 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£695 pp · Single supplement waived November 2025 for solo travellers
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 9 nights at The PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai (5-star, Jing'an)
- Expert small-group guide Hannah Forsythe throughout
- High-speed train Shanghai–Suzhou (25 min, included)
- High-speed train Shanghai–Hangzhou (45 min, included)
- Shanghai Tower observation deck
- West Lake boat trip and Lingyin Temple
- Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden and Master of Nets Garden
- Zhujiajiao Water Town excursion
- Shanghai street food walking tour
- All entrance fees throughout
- Daily breakfast; welcome dinner, farewell dinner and meals as noted
- All group road transfers
- ATOL financial protection
Not included
- China visa
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Hannah Forsythe
Hannah has lived in Shanghai since 2017 and knows the city's streets, restaurants, galleries and architectural heritage with the depth that only years of daily life produces. Her background in art history education makes her Shanghai walking tours some of the most intellectually stimulating in our portfolio.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
Hannah makes Shanghai make sense
“Shanghai could be overwhelming without a guide who understands it. Hannah grew up (professionally) in this city and her Art Deco walk through the French Concession was genuinely revelatory. We had no idea how many extraordinary 1930s buildings survive. The Suzhou garden day was one of the most beautiful experiences either of us have had in Asia.”
Elizabeth & Paul Worthington
Bath · 2025-04-21
The perfect China introduction
“I wanted to try China but found Beijing too daunting. Shanghai with Hannah was a perfect entry point — cosmopolitan, accessible, extraordinary food, and enough historical depth to feel genuinely educated. The Bund in the early morning was spectacular.”
Tom Pickering
Manchester · 2025-03-09
Nine nights in one hotel was exactly right
“Staying in one hotel for nine nights sounds unusual for a tour but it was ideal — we unpacked once, settled into the PuLi's rhythms (the breakfast, the spa, the bar), and used it as a base for daily adventures. Hannah's recommendation of the xiao long bao stall in Ferguson Lane was a life-changing culinary event.”
Diana & Robin Cobb
Kent · 2024-11-16
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
Tourist L visa required. Through CVASC. Approx £155. 4 business days.
Currency
Chinese Yuan (RMB). Mobile payments (WeChat Pay) essential — Hannah helps set up on Day 1. Credit cards at all hotels.
Tipping
Hannah: £15–20/day. Hotel staff: 20–30 RMB per service.
Electricity
220V. Type A and I sockets. Universal adaptor.
Health & vaccinations
Hepatitis A, Typhoid recommended. Air quality generally good in Shanghai. Tap water not safe.
Flights
Fly London to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) with Virgin Atlantic (direct, 11 hours) or via Gulf hub. Frequent direct flights. Return from Shanghai.
Local transport
Air-conditioned coach for day trips. Two included high-speed trains (both under 1 hour). Shanghai Metro for independent exploration. No domestic flights.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
Keep exploring
You might also like
China
Beijing & Xi'an: China's Imperial Heartland
China's two greatest ancient cities — Forbidden City to Terracotta Army
From
£2,895pp
China · Hong Kong
China Highlights: Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin & Hong Kong
Ancient capital, global megacity, mountain river — and the city that stands apart
From
£4,295pp
Japan
Japan Highlights: Tokyo & Kyoto in Nine Days
Japan's two great cities and a night in the mountains — the essential journey
From
£3,195pp
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Shanghai safe and easy to navigate independently?
Shanghai is very safe and, with Hannah's guidance, completely navigable. The Shanghai Metro is excellent and has English signage throughout. Didi (the Chinese Uber) works reliably. WeChat Pay covers most independent spending. Hannah briefs the group on all logistics on Day 1 and is available throughout for questions.
What are xiao long bao and why does everyone talk about them?
Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) are Shanghai's most famous food — thin-skinned steamed dumplings containing seasoned pork and a soup filling created by gelatin that melts during cooking. The technique requires years to master. You bite a small hole in the skin, let the soup fill a spoon, add a little ginger and black vinegar, and eat. Hannah's recommended stall at Ferguson Lane produces approximately 4,000 of them every morning. They sell out by noon.
What is the difference between Suzhou and Hangzhou?
Suzhou is known for its classical private gardens — some of the most sophisticated garden design in the world, built by retired officials and scholars in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Hangzhou is known for its West Lake landscape and Buddhist temples. Both are day trips from Shanghai. Suzhou is more urban and architectural; Hangzhou is more natural and poetic. Both are beautiful.
Does staying in one hotel for 9 nights limit the experience?
No — it enhances it. Shanghai and its surrounds provide 9 days of genuinely varied experience. Having one base means no packing and unpacking, no checking in and out, and a settled feeling that allows proper exploration rather than hotel-to-hotel tourism. The PuLi's Jing'an location puts you in the city's most interesting neighbourhood.
What is the Shanghai Tower observation deck like?
The Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest building in the world (632 metres). The observation deck at the 118th floor (546 metres) provides a 360-degree view over the entire Shanghai metropolitan area — the colonial Bund below, the Pudong towers around you, the river delta reaching to the sea. On a clear day the visibility extends 70km. Hannah visits on Day 8 when weather tends to be clearer.
Can I add Beijing to this tour?
Yes — the Beijing Extension add-on gives you 4 nights in Beijing with Wei Zhang before flying to Shanghai for the main tour. Many guests combine this to create a comprehensive first China experience.
Let’s make it happen
Ready to plan your holiday?
Speak to one of our Asia specialists — no obligation, no hard sell. Just expert advice on the holiday that’s right for you.
ATOL Protected
Your money is safe
Refundable deposits
Book with confidence
No obligation
Free expert advice
Part of Halo Holidays
4,500+ verified reviews