Shanghai itinerary: the Bund, the old lanes and a water town
Shanghai splits in two: the old city and the Bund on one side of the Huangpu, the Pudong skyscrapers on the other. Day trips to canal towns sit an hour or two away. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan each side at the right time of day, with xiaolongbao stops and the metro lines to use.
The prompt
- Plan a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Shanghai itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] in [MONTH]. Our hotel is near [AREA]. Include the Bund at night, Yu Garden and the old city, Nanjing Road, a long walk in the former French Concession (Wukang Road, Tianzifang), the Shanghai Museum and one Pudong observation deck. Add a day trip to [DAY TRIP] with train or bus times. Include a dumpling stop each day (xiaolongbao, shengjian bao) and one [EXTRA]. Give the metro line for each move and tips on payment apps for visitors. Email me a PDF with links to official sites. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". Two days for the city, plus a day for a water town.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "two friends", "a couple on a stopover", "family with a 6-year-old".
- [MONTH]: E.g. "April". Spring and autumn are best; summer is hot and humid.
- [AREA]: E.g. "People's Square", "Jing'an", "the Bund", "Lujiazui".
- [DAY TRIP]: E.g. "Zhujiajiao", "Wuzhen", "Suzhou's gardens", "Hangzhou's West Lake".
- [EXTRA]: E.g. "Huangpu river cruise", "jazz bar", "Shanghai Disneyland day".
Example result
- Shanghai in 3 days, two friends in April
- Staying near People's Square · food, walking, one day trip
- Day 1: Old city and the Bund
- • Morning: Yu Garden, the Ming-era garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions. Go early, before the crowds.
- • The old city bazaar and the zigzag bridge; xiaolongbao for lunch nearby.
- • Afternoon: Shanghai Museum on People's Square for bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy.
- • Walk Nanjing Road East to the river.
- • Evening: the Bund after dark, when the 1920s banks and the Pudong towers across the water are lit up. Optional Huangpu river cruise.
- Day 2: French Concession and Pudong
- • Morning: plane-tree streets of the former French Concession: Wukang Road, Anfu Road, the Wukang Mansion corner.
- • Lunch: shengjian bao, pan-fried soup buns.
- • Afternoon: Tianzifang's lanes, then Xintiandi's restored shikumen houses.
- • Sunset: metro Line 2 to Lujiazui and one observation deck (Shanghai Tower or the World Financial Center). Look back at the Bund.
- Day 3: Suzhou
- • High-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao or Shanghai station (about 25 to 40 minutes).
- • The Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road canal street, the Suzhou Museum by I. M. Pei.
- • Back for dinner in Jing'an.
- Prefer a water town?
- • Zhujiajiao is the closest (about an hour by metro and bus). Wuzhen is larger and lovely at night but is better as an overnight.
- Good to know
- • Set up payment and ride-hailing apps before you arrive; cash is rarely used.
- • Bring your passport for train tickets and some museums.
- • Check opening days and ticket rules on official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, month, area, day trip and extra.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or send it on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent plans each side of the river at the right time and emails a PDF with metro lines.
- Reply with changes like "swap Suzhou for Hangzhou" and book trains and tickets yourself.
Tips for a better result
- See the Bund twice: once in daylight for the architecture and once after dark for the skyline lights.
- Ask your agent to put Yu Garden first thing in the morning. It is one of the busiest sights in the city.
- For a water town, go on a weekday. Weekends bring big crowds to Zhujiajiao and Zhouzhuang.
- Suzhou's gardens and Hangzhou's West Lake are both under an hour by fast train. Your agent can compare them for your interests.
Shanghai itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Shanghai? Two days covers the Bund, Yu Garden, the French Concession and Pudong. Three or four days lets you add Suzhou or a water town.
- Which water town is best from Shanghai? Zhujiajiao is the easiest half-day trip. Wuzhen is the most atmospheric, especially at night, and works best with an overnight stay.
- Do I need cash in Shanghai? Rarely. Most payments use mobile apps that now accept international cards, but carry a little cash as a backup.
- Can todo.is add Beijing to the trip? Yes. Ask for Shanghai and Beijing together and your agent will add the high-speed train, which takes about 4.5 to 6 hours.
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