Shanghai & Hangzhou
Between West Lake's hills and the city's old lanes, letting kids touch Jiangnan's traditional crafts with their own hands
9 Days/ 8 Nights
Pickup Location: Shanghai
2 to 10 travelers
Accommodation: 4-Star Hotel
Drop-off Location: Shanghai
Meals: 3 meals /per day
From ￡1,900 Per Person
This route is designed for families travelling with children, linking Hangzhou's lakes and hills with Shanghai's city energy, and passing through two classic Jiangnan water towns, Wuzhen and Zhujiajiao, along the way. It keeps the essential landmarks — West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda, the Bund, Shanghai Disneyland — but slows the pace, and adds a hands-on traditional craft at every stop: indigo tie-dyeing, hand-fired tea, painting a folding fan, pressed-flower bookmarks, sugar painting and dough figurines. The idea is for children to touch Jiangnan's craft and way of life through play, rather than looking at it through glass.
Hotels are kept in the central districts of both Hangzhou and Shanghai for easy access to the sights, and most days leave a block of free time so families can pace themselves around their children's energy. Meals lean toward mild, universally kid-friendly dishes; let us know in advance about any dietary needs or the children's ages so we can fine-tune the plan.
— A hands-on indigo tie-dyeing class at a traditional dye workshop in Wuzhen's East Scenic Zone
— A boat ride on West Lake, a climb up Leifeng Pagoda, a stroll along the Su and Bai Causeways with a stop at the Broken Bridge
— An early-evening family bike ride around West Lake, timed for the sunset
— Painting your own oil-paper umbrella or folding fan together at the Qiaoxi Historic District
— A hands-on tea-firing session at the China National Tea Museum, ending with a cup of Longjing you made yourself
— A traditional handicraft masterclass at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (choose from tie-dyeing, seal carving or herbal sachets)
— An AR-guided walk through the China Wetland Museum, followed by a pressed-flower bookmark workshop
— A hand-rowed boat ride through Zhujiajiao's canals and a walk across Fangsheng Bridge
— A full day at Shanghai Disneyland
— Traditional street handicrafts in Yuyuan's old lanes — sugar painting, dough figurines or paper-cutting
— A hands-on studio session in Tianzifang: pottery, candle-making or leatherwork
— An evening walk along the Bund as the skyline lights up over the river
Day 01
Shanghai Arrival — Wuzhen Tie-Dyeing Workshop — Hangzhou
Pick-up at Shanghai airport at 10:30am (flight SU 208), then a drive of roughly two hours to Wuzhen. In the afternoon, explore the East Scenic Zone, with its traditional workshops and folk museums, and join a hands-on family tie-dyeing class at a local indigo dye workshop, making your own dyed cloth to take home. In the early evening, continue on to Hangzhou (roughly ninety minutes), with dinner and hotel check-in on arrival.
Day 02
A Deep Dive into West Lake
Morning visit to the Yue Fei Temple, followed by a boat ride on West Lake and a stroll through Flower Harbor Park. In the afternoon, climb Leifeng Pagoda for a view over the whole lake, then walk the Bai Causeway to the Broken Bridge for photos. In the early evening, a family bike ride around the lake (tandem bikes available) closes the day with the sunset over the water.
Day 03
Old Streets, Handicrafts and Tea
Morning at the Qiaoxi Historic District, visiting the Hangzhou Museum of Arts and Crafts' umbrella and fan halls, then joining a hands-on family workshop painting an oil-paper umbrella or a folding fan, turning the traditional silk and bamboo frames into a child's own canvas. In the afternoon, the China National Tea Museum (Shuangfeng branch) introduces the culture of tea-picking and tea-making, with a hands-on tea-firing session and a cup of Longjing you brewed yourself.
Day 04
Intangible Heritage and Natural Wonders
Morning at the Hangzhou Museum of Arts and Crafts' Intangible Cultural Heritage hall, joining a traditional handicraft masterclass (choose from tie-dyeing, seal carving or herbal sachet-making, all suited to the whole family). In the afternoon, the China Wetland Museum offers an immersive AR-guided exploration of wetland ecology, followed by a pressed-flower bookmark workshop, turning today's plants and blossoms into a keepsake.
Day 05
Hangzhou — Zhujiajiao Water Town — Shanghai
Check out in the morning and drive from Hangzhou to Shanghai, stopping en route at Zhujiajiao (roughly two and a half hours total). After lunch in Zhujiajiao, explore the ancient water town, ride a hand-rowed boat through its canals, and walk across Fangsheng Bridge to take in the classic Jiangnan waterscape, with an optional tie-dyeing or paper-cutting workshop along the way. Arrive in Shanghai in the early evening for hotel check-in.
Day 06
A Full Day at Shanghai Disneyland
After breakfast, a full day at Shanghai Disneyland, with a route planned in advance around the children's age and height for the best mix of rides. Lunch and dinner are on your own within the park — a day of pure fun.
Day 07
City Landmarks
Morning visit to Yu Garden and the City God Temple, with the option to try traditional street handicrafts in the old lanes — sugar painting, dough figurines or paper-cutting, made on the spot. In the afternoon, take in the Lujiazui financial district's skyline across the river, then enjoy free time on Nanjing Road. In the evening, an after-dark walk along the Bund to watch the skyline light up.
Day 08
Arts District and Studio Time
Morning at Jing'an Temple, then on to the M50 Art District to wander among artists' studios and galleries and take in Shanghai's contemporary art scene. In the afternoon, Tianzifang's lane-house studios offer a free choice of hands-on workshops — pottery, candle-making or leatherwork — alongside the neighbourhood's boutiques and easygoing browsing. A farewell dinner closes out the evening ahead of departure.
Day 09
Departure (Transfer to Shanghai Airport)
After breakfast at the hotel, a private transfer to Shanghai airport closes out this journey of handicrafts and laughter across Jiangnan
What's included
A private English-speaking guide for the whole trip — not just at the big sights. Private driver and vehicle: airport pick-ups, drop-offs and high-speed train journeys in first class, as shown in your itinerary. Hand-picked hotels, 4★ minimum, in the centre of each city (double occupancy). All admission tickets and listed activities. Meals noted in the itinerary, with drinking water at every table. A VPN and eSIM setup guide so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram just work. 24/7 in-trip support on WhatsApp, from us, in London. Full financial protection (as agent for ATOL No. 10106; ABTA bonded No. Y6874)
What's not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees — though for most UK and EU travellers China is now 30-day visa-free; we confirm your exact status before you book
- Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary, and appreciated)
- Anything you add on the spot — which we'll happily arrange and quote in minutes
How do I secure my spot on this tour?
Click the ENQUIRE NOW button and fill in the enquiry form, or email us at info@jade-compass.com. Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling, and anything on your wish list — we'll come back within 24 hours with a real itinerary and a real price. There's no charge for this; it's how we work. Every Jade Compass tour is private, for your group alone. Once you're happy with the plan, a deposit secures your dates — the amount is shown clearly in your quote and goes towards your final balance. We don't ask for anything before you've seen the full plan and the price.
Is this trip guaranteed to run?
Yes — because it's private. Your tour runs from just two people: you and your travelling companion. There's no minimum group size, no "needs six more to confirm", no chance of cancellation for lack of numbers. Your dates and your itinerary are confirmed when you confirm your booking — and they stay confirmed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation & changes — the honest version
Plans change. Flights move, school holidays shift, family plans wobble. So here's our cancellation policy, written the way we'd want to read it — no small print, no "see our booking conditions".
Every booking starts with a 72-hour cooling-off period: cancel within 72 hours of confirming and it's a full refund, no questions — however close to departure you booked.
After that, the ladder applies from your booking date, not from the day you call to cancel:
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Booked more than 60 days before departure: full refund up to 60 days before; 50% refund up to 30 days before; 25% after that
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Booked 30–60 days before departure: 50% refund up to 30 days before; 25% after that
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Booked within 30 days of departure: 25% from the end of your cooling-off period
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Or change your dates instead — once, free of charge. We'll rebook your trip and only adjust for any real difference in cost.