Shanghai & the Water Towns itinerary — March 2027
For the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip (Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou), March 2027 is mixed for weather comfort. Across Shanghai and Hangzhou, daytime highs run from about 14°C / 57°F to 16°C / 61°F. Plan around 5–7 days for the full Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou loop.
In this order — about 5–7 days:
- Shanghai3 nights
- Hangzhou2 nights
- Route noteReserve the longest intercity leg first and keep transfer days free of timed sights.
By TripSapien · Updated November 1, 2026
Shanghai
Shanghai in March
TempTemperature
58°F / 45°F
14.4°C / 7.2°C
RainPrecipitation
12d
3.7in · 95mm
LightDaylight
11.8h
March is cool, wet spring; carry an umbrella for Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, and French Concession lane walks.
City overview
Shanghai is a Huangpu River city split between older Puxi and Pudong, whose Lujiazui skyline rose after 1990 across from the Bund's concession-era banks. First-timers need five mental districts: Huangpu for the Bund, Nanjing Road, People's Square, and the Old City; Jing'an for high-end westward shopping; the French Concession for lanes and cafes; Pudong for towers; and Hongqiao for transport.
Food & drink
Shanghai food leans sweet, rich, and river-delta specific: xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, hongshao rou, scallion oil noodles, drunken chicken, crab roe noodles, and hairy crab in autumn are the key dishes. Yuyuan Bazaar, Huanghe Road near Nanjing Road, the French Concession, and old-school local restaurants around People's Square make the map; the city is pricier than most mainland Chinese cities but still cheaper than Hong Kong or Tokyo for neighborhood meals.
Events & festivals
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
Planning lead · projected date · Source: TripSapien festival dataset
Holidays & observances
- Mar 8International Women's DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for March suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1The Bund
- 2Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
- 3Yu Garden & Old City
- 4Shanghai Tower & Lujiazui
- 5Oriental Pearl Tower
- 6Huangpu River ferry
- 7French Concession lanes
- 8Jing'an Temple
- 9People's Square & Shanghai Museum
- 10Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
1The Bund
4.7★ · 7,737outdoorThe Bund runs along the west bank of the Huangpu River with colonial-era banking and trading buildings from Shanghai's concession years. It faces Pudong's skyscrapers and is the city's defining evening walk.
Wikipedia
2Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
4.6★ · 2,299outdoorOpen dailyNanjing Road East runs from the Bund toward People's Square and is fully pedestrianized for the core commercial stretch. The broader Nanjing Road corridor is about 6km long and has been one of Shanghai's signature shopping streets since the 1930s.
3Yu Garden & Old City
4.6★ · 977outdoorThe Old City is the nearly 1,000-year walled core, and Yu Garden is the classical garden set-piece beside bazaar lanes. Use Yuyuan Garden station rather than trying to approach through Bund traffic.
Show 7 more sights
4Shanghai Tower & Lujiazui
Lujiazui in Pudong stacks the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, and Oriental Pearl Tower across the river from the Bund. The Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China.
Observation decks are weather-sensitive; haze or low cloud can make the Bund promenade a better value than tower tickets.
5Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower is the older Pudong skyline icon beside Lujiazui station and the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel exit. It works best as a landmark for the ferry-and-Lujiazui route.
Wikipedia6Huangpu River ferry
The local ferry from the Bund area to Pudong takes about 15 minutes and costs far less than the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. It is the practical way to turn the skyline view into a river crossing.
7French Concession lanes
The former French Concession keeps shikumen houses, plane-tree streets, small boutiques, cafes, and nightlife around areas such as Xintiandi, Tianzifang, Wukang Road, and Huaihai Road. It is the best district for slow walking after the Bund.
8Jing'an Temple
Jing'an Temple is a Buddhist landmark more than 1,500 years old, now surrounded by Nanjing Road West malls and towers. Metro lines 2, 7, and 14 make it a useful west-side anchor.
Wikipedia9People's Square & Shanghai Museum
People's Square sits on the former colonial racecourse and now holds one of Shanghai's busiest metro interchanges under the park. The Shanghai Museum at 201 Renmin Avenue anchors the south side of the square.
10Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
The museum on People's Square explains Shanghai through city models and development exhibits, making the Puxi-Pudong split easier to understand before a tower visit. It pairs naturally with Shanghai Museum.
Wikipedia
Neighborhoods
1Huangpu, Bund & People's Square
Huangpu is the ceremonial centre: the Bund, Nanjing Road East, People's Square, Shanghai Museum, Old City, and Yu Garden cluster around the river and metro Line 2.
2Pudong & Lujiazui
Pudong is the post-1990 skyline, with Lujiazui towers, malls, river promenades, Century Avenue, and the Maglev-side airport route. It is impressive but less intimate than Puxi.
3French Concession
The French Concession is Shanghai at walking speed: shikumen lanes, Xintiandi, Tianzifang, boutiques, cafes, Huaihai Road, and leafy residential streets.
4Jing'an & Nanjing Road West
Jing'an is high-end Puxi, with Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road malls, hotels, offices, and easy Line 2 airport-side movement.
5Xuhui & Xujiahui
Xuhui stretches the French Concession feeling southwest into Xujiahui shopping, churches, universities, and residential lanes. It is strong for cafes and longer stays.
6Hongqiao
Hongqiao is the transport-and-convention side, with the airport, railway station, exhibition traffic, and suburban hotels. It is practical for trains and business, not the first sightseeing base.
Getting around
Shanghai Metro is the visitor backbone, especially Line 2 for Pudong Airport, Longyang Road, Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road, People's Square, Jing'an Temple, Hongqiao Airport, and Hongqiao Railway Station. The Maglev runs from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road, while the cheap Huangpu ferry beats the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel for crossing between the Bund and Pudong.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou in March
TempTemperature
60°F / 44°F
15.6°C / 6.6°C
RainPrecipitation
15d
5.5in · 140mm
LightDaylight
11.8h
March brings spring rain and blossoms, good for West Lake between showers.
City overview
Hangzhou is the Zhejiang capital where West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea hills, Hefang Street, Xixi wetlands, and the Grand Canal terminus define the visitor map. The city pairs classical lake scenery with metro-connected business districts around Wulin, Qianjiang New City, Binjiang, and Hangzhou East Station.
Food & drink
Hangzhou food includes West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, beggar chicken, pian er chuan noodles, lotus-root starch, river prawns, and green tea. Lou Wai Lou, Hefang Street, Wushan night snacks, Longjing village tea houses, and canal-side restaurants are the first route.
Holidays & observances
- Mar 8International Women's DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for March suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Lingyin Temple
- 2Leifeng Pagoda
- 3Longjing Tea Fields and China National Tea Museum
- 4Liangzhu Museum and Archaeological Ruins
- 5West Lake
- 6Bai Causeway and Su Causeway
- 7Xixi National Wetland Park
- 8Liuhe Pagoda
- 9Grand Canal and Gongchen Bridge
- 10Hefang Street and Wushan Square
1Lingyin Temple
4.6★ · 1,189indoorThe major Buddhist temple west of the lake sits below forested hills and pairs with Feilai Feng grotto carvings on the same visit.
Wikipedia
2Leifeng Pagoda
4.4★ · 798indoorOpen dailyThe rebuilt pagoda on the south side of West Lake gives elevated lake views and connects to the White Snake legend.
Wikipedia
3Longjing Tea Fields and China National Tea Museum
4.8★ · 14indoorThe tea hills southwest of the lake explain Dragon Well tea production, tastings, terraces, and village roads around Longjing and Meijiawu.
Show 7 more sights
4Liangzhu Museum and Archaeological Ruins
The Liangzhu sites northwest of the city explain a Neolithic jade culture that predates the West Lake story by millennia.
5West Lake
The UNESCO-listed lake is Hangzhou core, with causeways, bridges, gardens, pagodas, boat islands, and classic views such as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.
Wikipedia6Bai Causeway and Su Causeway
The two lake causeways structure the best walking and cycling routes, linking bridges, lotus ponds, willow trees, and seasonal blossom views.
7Xixi National Wetland Park
The wetland park west of the center has waterways, reeds, boat rides, villages, and a different ecology from West Lake.
Wikipedia8Liuhe Pagoda
The pagoda above the Qiantang River gives river views and a southern counterpoint to the lake temples.
Wikipedia9Grand Canal and Gongchen Bridge
The northern canal district links Hangzhou to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, with museums, old warehouses, and water-bus routes.
10Hefang Street and Wushan Square
The old commercial street near the south lake side has medicine shops, snacks, souvenirs, restored storefronts, and night crowds.
Neighborhoods
1West Lake and Hubin
The lakefront is scenic and hotel-heavy, with Hubin parks, boat docks, malls, night fountains, causeways, and easy walking loops.
2Wulin and Gongshu Grand Canal
Wulin is commercial and central, while Gongshu adds canal museums, Gongchen Bridge, warehouses, restaurants, and water-bus access.
3Hefang, Wushan, and Qinghefang
The old south-lake side is snack-heavy and historic, with Wushan Square, medicine shops, restored lanes, and dense evening crowds.
- 4
Lingyin, Longjing, and Meijiawu
The western hills are temple-and-tea focused, with Lingyin, Feilai Feng, Dragon Well villages, shaded roads, and slower guesthouse stays.
5Xixi and Wenxin
The wetland side is greener and spread out, with boat routes, reeds, newer hotels, offices, and quieter weekends outside holidays.
6Qianjiang New City and Binjiang
The riverfront districts feel modern, with towers, light shows, convention spaces, offices, metro lines, and views across the Qiantang River.
Getting around
Hangzhou Metro connects the airport, East Station, West Lake edges, Wulin, Qianjiang New City, and outer districts, while buses, taxis, water buses, bikes, and QR-code tickets fill shorter gaps. West Lake is best walked, cycled, or crossed by boat rather than by car.
Planning the Shanghai & the Water Towns route?
Add your dates and we'll pace all 2 cities — every place checked for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in March.
Don't-miss stops along the way
Suzhou
The canal city of Suzhou and its UNESCO classical gardens are 25 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train — the easiest of the Yangtze-delta "water town" add-ons.
Weather by month for the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip
In March, climate averages for Shanghai and Hangzhou show daytime highs from 14°C / 57°F to 16°C / 61°F, with nights down to about 7°C / 45°F in the coolest of those cities. The rainiest of those cities averages about 15 rainy days. Based on climate averages for Shanghai and Hangzhou, March is mixed for weather comfort.
The most comfortable months for this route are October, November and May, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall in Shanghai and Hangzhou. March 2027 is mixed for weather comfort.
Common questions about the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip
- When is the best time to do the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip?
- The most comfortable months across Shanghai and Hangzhou are October, November and May, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall for those cities. March is mixed for weather comfort — see the city climate sections below for the averages in March 2027.
- How many days do you need for the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip?
- A comfortable Shanghai & the Water Towns trip runs about 5–7 days, allowing roughly Shanghai 3, Hangzhou 2 nights plus travel between stops. Add a day if you want a slower pace or extra day trips.
- What's the route for the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip?
- The classic order is Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou. Suzhou is a featured stop along the way. The detailed month sections below cover Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Ready to plan the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip?
Turn this route into a day-by-day plan for March 2027, every stop checked for closures and booking needs on your exact dates.