For a Whole Day

Songjiang: About 30km (19 miles) from the southern outskirts of Shanghai, Songjiang has much to see that is of interest. A Square Pagoda dates to the Song Dynasty (AD960-1126) and the oldest Buddhist structure in Shanghai, the Toroni Sutra Stela, dates from AD859 and is now incorporated within the grounds of a school. Another ancient attraction is the 14th-century mosque. There are also picturesque old streets away from the centre. Shanghai Transportation Bureau sightseeing 1A Bus Line leaves from Shanghai Stadium to the Square Pagoda, every 30 minutes, daily 0730-1730.

Suzhou: A famously picturesque silk town, Suzhou is located 70km (43 miles) west of Shanghai. Some 2,500 years old, the town is far older than Shanghai and a hot contender for the title of 'Venice of the East'. Among countless sights of interest are the towering North Temple, the Taoist Temple of Mystery and the leaning Yunyan Pagoda on Tiger Hill. Celebrated gardens are the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the Garden for Lingering In, the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lion Grove and the Blue Wave Pavilion. There is also the Suzhou Silk Museum and the Suzhou Museum.

The easiest, most efficient access is via rail: trains (journey time - 1 hour) leave hourly from Shanghai Station. Bus routes to Suzhou from Shanghai include hourly services, 0715-1615, from Hutai Lu, Zhongshan Bei Lu or Xujiahui bus stations and sightseeing buses leave from Shanghai Stadium at 0800 on weekends. The China International Travel Service office, Zhongguo Guoji Luxingshe, and other branches at the station and in Nanling Hotel, provide information on the city's many museums and attractions.

Zhouzhuang: A delightful water town, located 30km (19 miles) south of Suzhou, with canals and cobbled streets that draw hordes of local tourists. Yet Zhouzhuang still preserves an oasis of quiet tranquillity. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town has official residences, temples and gardens and is completely pedestrianised. A single ticket can be purchased which covers admission to all the major sights of the Old Town. Buses to Zhouzhuang from Shanghai include five services daily (more frequent at weekends) from the western end of Shanghai Stadium, as well as slower services from other stops.

Hangzhou: Located amid hills and tea plantations at the mouth of the Qiantang river, 180km (112 miles) from Shanghai, Hangzhou is incredibly popular. Some 2,200 years old, the town earns its tag as the 'tourist capital of China'. Hangzhou's West Lake has been immortalised in paintings and poetry, while its Lingyin Temple, with a 20m (66ft) camphor-wood Buddha, is a place of pilgrimage for innumerable tour groups. Other sights include the mausoleum of the heroic Song Dynasty commander, General Yue Fe, and the Six Harmonies Pagoda, once a lighthouse for river traffic (reached by bus 308 from Pinghai Lu). Buses to Hangzhou leave from several stations including the long-distance terminals at Hutai Lu and Zhongshan Bei Lu and the tourist bus terminal outside Shanghai Stadium. Journey times to Hangzhou are about two hours. Frequent trains leave Shanghai's main station, with a journey time of about two hours 30 minutes.