Shanghai
Hangzhou
Suzhou
China · Multi-city itinerary
Shanghai & the Water Towns itinerary — May 2027
By Tripsapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
May 2027 is one of the best times for the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip (Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou). Daytime highs run from about 26°C / 79°F to 27°C / 81°F across the stops. Plan around 5–7 days for the full Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou loop. Tripsapien checks every place on your list against your exact dates — hours, closures and booking pressure at each stop.
The route
About 5–7 days · 2 cities
The lower Yangtze delta: cosmopolitan Shanghai, the West Lake and tea hills of Hangzhou, and the canals and classical gardens of nearby Suzhou. Bullet trains connect them in under an hour each.
Shanghai
Shanghai in May
Temperature
78°F / 64°F
25.6°C / 17.8°C
Precipitation
10d
3.3in · 84mm
Daylight
13.6h
May is one of Shanghai's best months, warm enough for Bund evenings before plum-rain humidity arrives.
May is one of Shanghai's best months, warm enough for Bund evenings before plum-rain humidity arrives.
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.
Top sights
Ranked for May 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★ · 7,247outdoorThe 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★ · 2,066outdoorOpen 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★ · 887outdoorThe 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
- 5Oriental Pearl Tower
- 6Huangpu River ferry
- 7French Concession lanes
- 8Jing'an Temple
- 9People's Square & Shanghai Museum
- 10Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
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 May
Temperature
81°F / 63°F
27°C / 17.3°C
Precipitation
14d
5.1in · 130mm
Daylight
13.5h
May is warm and green, with good cycling before summer heat builds.
May is warm and green, with good cycling before summer heat builds.
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.
Top sights
Ranked for May 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★ · 1,130indoorThe 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★ · 750indoorOpen 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★ · 12indoorThe 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
- 5West Lake
- 6Bai Causeway and Su Causeway
- 7Xixi National Wetland Park
- 8Liuhe Pagoda
- 9Grand Canal and Gongchen Bridge
- 10Hefang Street and Wushan Square
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.
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.
Best time to do the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip
In May, the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip runs daytime highs from 26°C / 79°F to 27°C / 81°F, with nights down to about 17°C / 63°F at the coolest stop. It is one of the wetter months, with up to 14 rainy days at the wettest stop. Weighed across both stops, May is one of the best times to travel.
The most comfortable months across Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou are October, November and May, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at every stop. May 2027 is one of the best months to go.
Check this route against your dates
Tripsapien starts with the sights on this page or places you paste, then checks hours, closures, booking pressure and neighborhoods for your exact May dates — across every city on the Shanghai & the Water Towns trip.
Plan this Shanghai & the Water Towns tripCommon 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, Hangzhou are October, November and May, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at each stop. May is one of the best times — see the per-stop weather below for the exact picture in May 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 the standout side-trip along the way. Each city below has its own May weather, events and top-sights list.
- Will the sights be open during my May Shanghai & the Water Towns trip?
- Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season and public holiday, and they differ from city to city on a multi-stop trip. Paste your Shanghai & the Water Towns list into Tripsapien and it checks every place in Shanghai, Hangzhou against your exact dates, flagging closures and what needs booking ahead before you go.