Shanghai is where most visa-free transit trips should start. Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) are both designated ports, the whole municipality is inside the permitted area, and so are Jiangsu and Zhejiang on either side, which puts Suzhou, Hangzhou and the canal towns within a day trip. It also has more third-country departures than any other Chinese airport, so the exit flight the transit rule requires is easy to find.
This itinerary assumes you land in the afternoon or evening of Day 0 and use three full days. Under the 240-hour rule the clock starts at 00:00 the day after you enter, so those three days plus a fourth for onward travel still leaves you six days for a second city. If you have not read the rules yet, start with the 240-hour visa-free transit guide; everything below stays inside its permitted areas.
Before you land
- Onward ticket to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours. Tokyo, Seoul, Osaka, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok all have many daily flights from Pudong.
- Hotel: for a first trip, stay between People's Square and the Bund (Huangpu district) or in the former French Concession (Xuhui). Both are on Metro Lines 1, 2 and 10, both walkable at night.
- Phone and payments sorted before departure: apps and eSIM, how to pay.
- Airport to city: the Maglev from Pudong to Longyang Road takes 8 minutes, then Metro Line 2 into town; total under an hour. Metro Line 2 all the way is about 75 minutes and cheaper. A DiDi to the Bund area is 45 to 70 minutes depending on traffic.
Day 1: The Bund, the old town, and Pudong at night
Morning. Start on the Bund early, before nine, when the promenade is quiet and the light is on the Pudong skyline. Walk the full length from Waibaidu Bridge south to Yan'an Road, then cut inland into Nanjing Road East for a look, without stopping to shop.
Midday. Walk or take a short ride south to the Old City area: Yu Garden (Yuyuan) and the bazaar around it. The garden itself is worth the ticket; the bazaar is for photographs and a xiaolongbao lunch. Go on a weekday if you can; weekends are shoulder to shoulder.
Afternoon. Cross the river to Pudong. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is a novelty; Metro Line 2 from Nanjing Road East to Lujiazui is one stop and faster. Pick one tower: Shanghai Tower (highest, fastest lift), the World Financial Center (the glass floor), or the Oriental Pearl (the classic). Book the timed ticket online the day before.
Evening. Back across the river for the Bund lit up. The lights on the Pudong side go off at 22:00 on weekdays (later on weekends), so eat first and walk after. Dinner in the lanes behind the Bund; the Rockbund area has restaurants at every price.
Day 2: French Concession, Jing'an, and the museums
Morning. Walk the former French Concession: plane-tree streets between Huaihai Road and Fuxing Road, around Wukang Road, Anfu Road and Tianzifang. Tianzifang is touristy, though the lanes themselves are old; Wukang Road is the better walk. Coffee culture here is serious, and it is where Shanghai residents actually spend weekends.
Midday. Xintiandi for lunch: restored shikumen houses, now restaurants. The Site of the First National Congress museum is next door and free with a passport.
Afternoon. Choose one: the Shanghai Museum (People's Square branch for bronzes and ceramics, or the new East building in Pudong), the Power Station of Art for contemporary work, or the Propaganda Poster Art Centre, a small private collection in a basement in Xuhui that most visitors miss.
Evening. Jing'an Temple at dusk, gold roofs against office towers, then dinner along Nanjing Road West or in the streets north of the temple. If you want a show, the ERA acrobatics performance at Shanghai Circus World is the reliable choice; book ahead.
Day 3: A day out, then back for one last evening
Pick the day trip that matches your interest. All are inside the permitted area (Jiangsu and Zhejiang are fully covered) and all are day-return by high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao or Shanghai Station. Book tickets the evening before; morning trains fill up.
- Suzhou (25 to 35 minutes by train). The classical gardens: Humble Administrator's Garden and the Master of the Nets Garden are the two to see; Pingjiang Road for the canal-side walk. Half a day is enough; add Tiger Hill if you have the afternoon.
- Hangzhou (45 to 60 minutes). West Lake, walked or cycled around the eastern shore, then Longjing tea fields in the hills to the west. A long day; leave on an 8 am train.
- A water town. Zhujiajiao is inside Shanghai municipality and reachable by Metro Line 17, so it needs no train. Wuzhen and Tongli are prettier but need a train plus a bus or taxi. For a first trip, Zhujiajiao is the sensible choice.
Back in Shanghai by evening. Last dinner on the Bund side, or a river cruise from the Shiliupu pier (around 45 minutes, best at 19:30 when both banks are lit).
Where this trip goes next
You have used three of your ten days. The two obvious continuations, both inside permitted areas:
- Beijing by high-speed rail. Hongqiao to Beijing South takes 4.5 hours on the fastest services, running roughly hourly. Beijing is a full municipality in the scheme and has plenty of third-country departures for your exit. Our Beijing 240-hour itinerary picks up from the station.
- Straight out. Pudong to Tokyo is three hours, to Seoul two, to Hong Kong two and a half. If Shanghai and the water towns were the trip, finish here.
Either way, start from the outbound flight and work backwards. If you want the days filled in for you, plan a route with Pudong as the entry and your exit airport as the end, and the train connections come already checked.
FAQ
Is Shanghai included in the 240-hour visa-free transit?
Yes. Shanghai is one of the 24 covered regions, both Pudong and Hongqiao airports and the cruise port are designated entry ports, and the whole municipality is a permitted stay area. Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces next door are also fully covered.
Can I do a day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou on the transit exemption?
Yes. Both cities are in provinces fully inside the permitted area (Jiangsu and Zhejiang), so you can travel there freely and return to Shanghai, or continue on to another covered region.
Can I enter Shanghai and leave from Beijing?
Yes. Entering through one designated port and leaving through another is allowed, as long as your exit is to a third country or region and within 240 hours. Shanghai to Beijing by high-speed rail takes about 4.5 hours.
How many days should a first-timer spend in Shanghai?
Three full days covers the Bund and Pudong, the French Concession and museums, and one day trip. Two days works if you skip the day trip. More than four and you are better off adding a second city.
What is the best area to stay in Shanghai for a first visit?
Around People's Square and the Bund for sights within walking distance, or the former French Concession for tree-lined streets, cafés and restaurants. Both are on the main metro lines; avoid staying in Pudong unless you have a specific reason.
Do I need to book train tickets to Suzhou in advance?
For morning departures, yes, the evening before at least. Trip.com or the 12306 app both accept foreign passports. Tickets are tied to your passport; you scan it at the gate.
Last updated 22 September 2026. Opening hours, ticketing and train timetables change; confirm before you go. Visa-free transit rules are summarised in our 240-hour guide and published by the National Immigration Administration.