Zhejiang Sheng Travel Forum

I am planning to travel to Hangzhou, from April 25th till May 3rd (about 9 days)and would like to know if it is enough to cover the following places?

Hangzhou, Shuzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo and Putuoshan.

Actually if I want to include Nanjing in my plan, which one of the above-mentioned place I should drop?

FYI, I will fly in directly to Hangzhou.

Following are the additional informations I would like to know for my travel plan:

a) Travel itinerary order Hangzhou -> Shaoxing -> Ningbo -> Putuoshan -> Shuzhou. Where can I fit in Nanjing ?

b) Type of transportation and cost i.e. bus/train - Pls recommend for the above-mentioned places

c) Accomodation for all locations - Pls recommend budget hotel or hostel

d) How many days I should spent (at least) in each of the above-mentioned places?

e) Among the water village, which one is worth going? I would prefer less touristy places

C) Accomodation

Last year I went to Hangzhou in early May. I think it was for 4 or 5 days just for Hangzhou. But I like to take my time when I travel, I'm sure you can do it is less.

I stayed at the youth hostel on the lake. It has a great location. We have a double room with private bath. They also have dorms. The room was good value. I don't remember the price but we got to Hangzhou near the end of the May week holiday. So the price was a little more expensive the first two days when went down after the holiday was over. May holiday use to be a week long starting on May 1. It is my understanding that starting this year, the holiday will only be 3 days long.

The rooms have free wireless, they also have free computers (two I think) that you can use as long as there are not a lot of people waiting.

Should you get a double room, make sure it is at the end of the building that is closest to the late. The other end of the building is a disco and can be very loud.

I have the youth hostel web address at home and will post it later.

D1-D3:Hangzhou, including the first day you fly in;

D3 late afternoon or evening: Hangzhou-->Shaoxing, either by bus or train. Personally I prefer the train, but bus service is more frequent, the last bus departs at 18:50 and fare is RMB22.

D4:Shaoxing;

D5 afternoon or evening: Shaoxing-->Ningbo, by train or bus; the last bus leaves at 18:00 but more than 10 afternoon/night trains availabe; the fare for train is abt RMB54.

D6: Ningbo;

D7: Ningbo-->Putuoshan, bus+jetboat, the last bus leaves at 15:50; fare is abt RMB70.

D8: Putuoshan;

D9: Putuoshan-->Shanghai, jetboat service is only available at weekends, 12:30/13:00, fare starting abt RMB220; regular cruise is available which departs at 16:40 and the fare is abt RMB109+.

You may re-schedule above itinerary according to your preference but I suggest you to skip Nanjing if you have less than 10 days.

It's spelt Suzhou, not Shuzhou.
a) Nanjing after Suzhou. However I'm more curious to know how you intend to get to Suzhou after Putuoshan.
b) Hangzhou -- bus/train -- Shaoxing -- bus/train -- Ningbo -- ferry -- Putuoshan -- I'm wondering? -- Suzhou -- train/bus -- Nanjing. Bus is usually more expensive than hard seat on the train; or roughly equivalent to 1st-class seats on the best, D trains. D train is usually faster than bus.
c) Hangzhou: Plenty of IYHs. Suzhou: Suzhou IYH. Shaoxing: Lao Tai Men Hotel. Nanjing: Fuzimiao IYH, Jin's Inn (a couple of branches) etc.
d) Hangzhou: 1.5-2 days. Suzhou: Not a favourite, I would choose to skip; 1 day. Shaoxing: 1-1.5 days. Putuoshan: 2 days including transport. Nanjing: 2-3 days.
e) Xitang, Tongli or Luzhi.

I'm not so familiar with other citys ,but I know sth about putuo-shan.
so, just tell u sth about putuo-moutain.
For me ,It's really a very good place for u to stay at least 2 days .
yeah, It's an island admist the sea and the sky.and It's also a boodhist county . u can not only enjoy the beauty ,but also u can enjoy the seafood.
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^ HOTEL. there are many hotels on the putuo-shan. such as,putuo-shan hotel.3star hotel.or CITIC puotuo -hotel, also 3 star hotel. xilei xiaozhaung hotel,4star hotel, these hotels are very expencive, there are also many 2star hotels.
and if u like ,u can live in the local people's home .also very interesting. and the price is poor.
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^ TRANSPOTATION. if you from ningbo-putuo, you can take the bus (ningbo-shengjiamen),then take taix to banshengdong harbor ,then take the boat to putuo-shan,(about 15mins) .
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^ just for you ,hope it will be useful . and if you need some help in putuo -shan ,just please feel free to let me know .
jemie