The jewel of Hangzhou and the reason poets have been obsessing over this city for centuries, You can walk the causeways, rent a paddleboat, eat at lakeside restaurants, or just sit on a bench and watch the world go by.

One of China's oldest Buddhist temples, tucked into a lush forest at the foot of Lingyin Mountain. The grounds are peaceful and the surrounding trails are full of ancient stone carvings. Even if temples aren't usually your thing, the setting alone is worth the visit. Get there early to beat the crowds.

Hangzhou's main shopping strip, right on the eastern shore of West Lake. You'll find international luxury brands, local boutiques, department stores, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. It's a nice area to wander even if you're not buying anything, since the lake is literally right there as your backdrop.

NanShan Road is scenic, and culturally rich street along the southern bank of Hangzhou's West Lake. It is famous for its romantic ambiance, lined with parasol trees that turn golden in autumn, and is a hub for art galleries, cafes, and historic sites.

Hefang Street is a bustling pedestrian street and the city’s only well-preserved ancient thoroughfare, offering a glimpse into the culture and commerce of the South Song Dynasty. It is famous for its traditional Ming-Qing architecture, century-old shops, local snacks, and vibrant evening atmosphere, often featuring traditional lanterns and cultural performances.

EKA Tianwu is located in Pudong 535 Jinqiao Road, it's a trendy urban renewal project that is transformed from the Shanghai Marine instrument general factory into a creative park with unique architecture, art installations, cafes, restaurants and retail spaces.

West Bund is a premier waterfront cultural corridor located in the Xuhui District, featuring a "Museum Mile" with galleries like the West Bund Museum and Center Pompidou. This revitalized artsy area has extensive, scenic public parks, recreational areas, and modern architecture. Its a gorgeous, less crowded and modern version of the bund.

A pedestrian-friendly shopping and entertainment district in Shanghai, famous for transforming traditional Shikumen houses into upscale cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries

Zhangyuan has been renovated into Shanghai's No 1 Public Space that blends fashion and culture, as well as a shopping destination for top brands. Adjacent, North Maoming also is a great place to shop and walk around.

A classical Chinese garden right in the middle of Shanghai's Old Town, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It's compact but beautifully designed, with koi ponds, rockeries, pavilions, and winding corridors. The surrounding bazaar area is packed with food stalls and souvenir shops, so grab some xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) while you're there.

If you're up for a full day of fun, Shanghai Disneyland is well worth it. The TRON roller coaster and Pirates of the Caribbean ride are standouts, and the Zootopia area is unique to this park. It's easy to reach by metro and the nighttime fireworks over the castle are genuinely spectacular.

This is honestly one of my favourite places to shop in Shanghai. Its located right next to Disneyland, with a row of nice restaurants near the lake. There are a ton of international and unique popular Chinese brands. They do tax refunds and I was able to get 10% back!

I love this place, its got so much going on. Theres a pedestrian street full of milk tea, street food, snacks, a Starbucks Reserve, really nice bakeries, and restaurants. Its really close to Zhangyuan.

A shopping centre in Pudong. It's pretty nice.

Located 1.5 hours from Shanghai or Hangzhou, its a renowned 1,300-year-old water town often called the "Venice of the East". This place is absolutely gorgeous and so insanely fun. There are a lot of cultural elements, shops and restaurants to explore within the network of the water town.