Shanghai's illuminated modern skyline reflected in the Huangpu River

Three cities reinventing the everyday

Modern China China Itinerary

Read contemporary China through Shanghai's global urbanism, Hangzhou's digital confidence, and Chongqing's spectacular vertical infrastructure and nightlife.

7 / 10 / 14 days3 citiesBest 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

The route

Shanghai → Hangzhou → Chongqing

This route is curated, not generated. Every duration uses the same geographic logic and only expands the time inside each city.

Plan Shanghai →Plan Hangzhou →Plan Chongqing →

Day by day / Map linked

Open a day. See where you are.

Begin with Shanghai's global façade and end inside its fine-grained residential fabric.

Morning

Walk the Bund early, reading the historic waterfront façades.

Afternoon

Cross into lilong streets around the Former French Concession.

Evening

Return to the river for the skyline after dark.

Eat around: Huangpu and the Former French Concession
Book ahead: Reserve any observation deck separately; the route itself needs no ticket.
Fallback: Use an architecture museum and covered lane cafés during heavy rain.

Do not miss

Signature experiences

Cross Shanghai from Art Deco lanes to Pudong
See digital services embedded in everyday Hangzhou
Navigate Chongqing's stacked streets and metro

Season check

Build in flexibility

summer: All three cities can be hot; protect midday for indoor design and culture.

winter: Shanghai and Hangzhou feel damp, while Chongqing is often overcast.

Before departure

Make the route executable

Set up payments, rail identity details, connectivity, and map backups before arrival.

Read Travel Essentials →

China State Railway Group Ministry of Transport of China Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China