Explore Shanghai & East China — Practical Travel Help for Foreign Visitors

New to China? I’m a travel blogger based in East China. This Shanghai & East China Travel Guide is built to make your trip easy— with itineraries and day trips, plus tips on high-speed trains, payments, SIM/eSIM, ticketing rules, and where to stay. Use the shortcuts below to start planning in minutes.

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Day Trips from Shanghai

East China in 7 Days

Trip Essentials (Payments • SIM • Tickets)

Pick your path

Choose what you’re planning right now.

A realistic, first-timer itinerary with neighborhoods and easy transport rules.

3 Days in Shanghai

The best nearby cities and water towns—how to go, what to see, and how to time your day.

Day Trips Hub

Two ready-to-use itineraries that connect Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou (plus Nanjing & Huangshan).

7 Days

10 Days

High-speed trains, metro basics, payments, SIM/eSIM, and ticket booking rules for foreigners.

High-Speed Train Guide

Start with these Hub guides

Fast routes to the most important planning pages:

Destinations

Shanghai

Your best base for a first trip—walkable neighborhoods, iconic skyline, and the easiest transport connections.

Shanghai Travel Guide

East China (Suzhou • Hangzhou • Nanjing • Huangshan • Wuzhen)

Classic gardens, lakes, history, mountains, and water towns—connected by fast trains.

East China Overview

Suzhou

Hangzhou

Nanjing

Huangshan

Wuzhen & Water Towns

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Easy day trips from Shanghai

See all day trips →

About Explore With Shanghai

I’m an East China travel blogger. I write practical, step-by-step guides to help foreign visitors travel in China more easily—especially the parts that usually feel hard: apps, tickets, transport, and what actually works in real life.

New to China? Start here.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this page will guide you step-by-step.

Start Here

Payments Guide

SIM/eSIM Guide

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Latest Guides

If you’d like to learn more about Shanghai, click Shanghai (Wikipedia).