I would like to visit a few water towns near Shanghai but want to run this by all of you and see if what I am planning makes sense. Especially from a travel logistics point of view. We will be in Shanghai for a few days then head off to one of these nearby water villages. The ones I would like to see are:
Xi Tang, Tongli, Zhouzhuang, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. I have plenty of time and don't want to rush this trip, my second one in China. A slow travel pace is what I am looking for.
So...it seems these towns are fairly close to each other and somewhat along a route to Hangzhou. Is there a preferred order based on travel logistics? We fly into and out of Shanghai and will be doing a circle from there to Huangshan to Xi'an to Beijing and back to Shanghai. Stopping off in various places along the way (water towns, Pingyao, a week in Beijing and a week in Shanghai). We have just short of 7 weeks to do this loop.
I was thinking if necessary, we could do a few initially on our way to Hangzhou and hit what we missed when we are back in Shanghai. Maybe that makes sense for Suzhou?
I would sure appreciate your input on this. We start this trip March 17th and finish on May 3rd (yes, that is the May holiday week and I was planning to hang out in my friends house in Shanghai to avoid the crowds that week).
Thanks!
Craig
First tip: Skip Zhouzhuang, please.
I think you're going to have trouble with transport on your route if you're going from Huangshan to Xi'an.
Here's my suggestion: Shanghai -- bus -- Jiashan -- bus/share-taxi -- Xitang -- bus/share-taxi -- Jiashan -- Suzhou -- bus -- Tongli -- bus -- Suzhou -- overnight train (might be difficult to buy from Suzhou though since it originates in Shanghai, might have to go back to Shanghai) -- Huangshan -- bus -- Hangzhou -- train -- Xi'an -- overnight Z train -- Beijing -- overnight Z train -- Shanghai.
Cheers!
why do you say skip ZhouZhuang - everything I read and photos i have seen - plus people who have been there recently loved it and highly recomend it
I am staying near the train station in Shanghai for 6 days and am beginning to plan two day-trips by train to water towns. I am currently thinking of a one-day trip to Suzhou and a few days later, a second day-trip to Hangzhou. This is easily managable by train as an out and back in the same day. I can't figure out how to get to the other water towns like Xitang, Tongli, etc and back in a day. Is there an easy way to travel to other water towns by train or should I just stick to Suzhou and Hangzhou?
#2, Zhouzhuang is a tourist circus and much too commercialised. The people who've loved it probably didn't know any better about the less touristy options out there!!
#3, I've replied you on your own thread.
Cheers!
There is a train from Huangshan to Zhengzhou and Luoyang via Bozhou which might take care of that transport problem ellyse mentions. From both Zhengzhou and Luoyang it's easy to get to Xi'an. Bozhou, by the way, makes for a nice stopover if you're interested in Chinese medicine.
Great help! Thanks! Yes, I know it is a difficult schedule. But, we will make it somehow (#5 Great recommendation!).
I have another question. If you were to spend a night in one of these watertowns, which one would you recommend? I know there is not much to do, but want to take my time and enjoy one or two of these beautiful towns before moving on. I am leaning towards Suzhou.
Thanks!
Ok, that does help somewhat. If OP is taking that route then I would recommend doing Huangshan -- Luoyang, going to see the Longmen Grottoes and etc, then moving on to Shaolin Temple before going to Zhengzhou to catch the train to Xi'an. It's easier to get tickets for Zhengzhou -- Xi'an rather than Luoyang -- Xi'an.
Cheers!
trusted partner
