Last Updated on 27 November 2025 by Cycloscope
Some great things to do and see in Zhejiang, China
The best weekend getaways and day-trips
near Shanghai and Hangzhou
If you’re visiting Shanghai and Hangzhou, why limit your trip to just those crowded cities? Are you living in there? Maybe you’re stressed by your job, the crowds, and the pollution?
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We compiled this (open) series of articles about the best weekend getaway or day trips from Shanghai or Hangzhou, or from any other city in Zhejiang Province. The Zhejiang region is vast and beautiful, with many stunning places sure to steal your heart.
There are many things to do and see in Zhejiang; it’s a quintessential part of Eastern China where you can experience rural life, astonishing mountains, ancient towns, rivers ideal for bathing, rugged islands, and even the Great Wall!
We live in Zhejiang and are trying to explore it as much as we can in our free time. We want to share our impressions about some of the best places we’ve visited here.
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7 great things to do and see in Zhejiang Province
1 – Shenxianju Taoist Mountains
Shenxianju National Park, also known as Jingxing Xianju Cliffs Scenic Area, is one of the most impressive in Zhejiang and Eastern China, and an absolute must-visit attraction if you live in or are traveling through Hangzhou, Shanghai, or anywhere else in Zhejiang province.
These are the kind of peaks China is famous for, similar to those in Zhangjiajie, which inspired the movie Avatar’s scenery.
The place is absolutely thrilling, but maybe not suited for everyone; the vertiginous heights of balconies and platforms may be too much for those prone to panic attacks. If that’s not the case, start planning your visit to this place right now; you won’t regret it.
A lot of nice bathing spots can be found here, deep and wide ponds where you can swim freely and even dive from the rocks.
Around this area are a few tiny settlements where some hotels are; those look like amazing places to spend time if the weather is warm, you’ll go down from your room and jump into the river, besides having an astounding view of the Shenxianju cliffs. Please read our guide about the area.
2 – Zhoushan and Donji Dao, the Eastern Pole Islands
Tired of the chaos and pollution of Eastern China’s big cities? Dreaming of clean air, expansive views, and maybe a lovely beach? A weekend trip to Zhoushan and Dong Jji Dao may be just what you need.
Although you won’t find pristine waters here, the scenery and laid-back atmosphere of these islands make for a perfect getaway from Hangzhou or Shanghai’s city life. In Zhoushan and Zhujiajian, you’ll find the best beaches of Zhejiang, fishermen’s villages, and great seafood.
The Dong Ji Islands are stunning. Upon arriving, they greet you with a completely different landscape, almost Mediterranean with its low vegetation, yellow grass, and barren rocks.
It reminded me a bit of Favignana or even some part of Sardinia. The most interesting things here are the traditional tombs; they are everywhere, dotting the landscape with their peculiar shapes. Read the whole article here.
3 – The Great Wall of Zhejiang in Linhai
The Great Wall of China is indeed great, stretching from the northwestern province of Gansu to the subtropical region of Zhejiang. Most people tend to visit the Beijing section of the Great Wall of China, which is often so crowded that it is hard to enjoy the experience.
Linhai, instead, is where the southernmost part of the wall is located, just 2 hours by train from Hangzhou and three from Shanghai. If you live or are traveling in one of these beautiful cities, then this might be your best option to see the Chinese Great Wall without getting trampled by the crowd.
The scenery here is beautiful, with mountains, forest, the river, and great views of the city. The wall rises and then descends steeply, following the hillsides. There are many watchtowers and three restoration points, where you can purchase drinks and snacks. Read the full article by clicking here.
4 – Sanmen and Shepan Island: caves, wetlands, and crabs
Sanmen is a really off-the-beaten-path getaway town in Zhejiang, perfect for a weekend out or even a day trip from Hangzhou or Shanghai.
The county of Sanmen is pretty big, comprising mountains, seaside, and wetlands. The highlight of Sanmen County is surely Shepan Island, home to the best caves in Zhejiang, but the town itself and the nearby wetlands are also really worth a visit.
Sanmen was once famous for its artistic stone windows, carved with intricate, beautiful designs. There are many of those old windows in the old town, together with an incredible variety of drywalls, made in different patterns and with various kinds of stones.
Sanmen is mainly known for its crab, bred in the fascinating wetlands, where thousands of artificial ponds have been created.
There is a saying in Sanmen for advertising the crab, “Sanmen crabs, walking all over the world.” Sanmen is just two hours away from Hangzhou by bullet train! Read our article about Sanmen here.
5 – Shibawo tea terraces and waterfalls in Pan’an
One of the best weekend trips from Hangzhou or Zhejiang is the Scenic Resort of Shibawo, in the village of Jianshanzhen, Pan’an County, Zhejiang province. The area is beautiful and features some of the best tea terraces in China (or at least in Zhejiang).
There are two scenic areas here, Shibawo and Wolongxia, along with Dapanshan Geopark, another natural attraction situated south of the city of Anwen, quite far from Jianshanzehn.
But the best of this place is not one of these; it’s instead free, and you can find it with the help of this little guide about things to do and see in Pan’an County.
This is also home to one of the most beautiful traditional villages we’ve ever seen in China.
The dwelling is astounding, with so many different house styles: top floors made of wood, dry walls of various colors, mud houses, and a lotus pond in the middle of the village.
From the village, you can easily enter the fields, head towards the river, and be rewarded with one of the most amazing views you can find in Zhejiang.
The gorge will open before you, with marvelous tea terraces all around, going steeply down in the canyon, a vegetable garden forming geometric patterns, and last but not least, the incredible sight of the big waterfall.
Find everything you need to know about Shibawo in our full article.
6 – WuYi Hot Springs of Zhejiang
When the gloomy winter days bring you down, maybe after a week of rain in a stressful city like Shanghai or Hangzhou, that’s one of those moments when you could really use a lovely hot spring and SPA.
WuYi is a county under the administration of Jinhua City, Zhejiang, China, and it’s indeed famous for its many hot springs.
Just 1 hour away by bullet train from Hangzhou, the hot springs of WuYi make for one of the best weekend getaways from Hangzhou or Shanghai, if relaxation is what you’re seeking.
There are a few hot spring resorts in Wuyi County. We stayed at Tanfeng Hot Spring Resort, which was ranked the best by Ctrip.
The hot spring area comprises about 30 pools with varying temperatures and water quality; some are open-air, while pavilions shelter others. With so many pools, it’s possible to find your tranquility even if the place is a bit crowded.
There’s one main pool, big enough for a short swim, while the others are small, beautifully set into the artificial landscape. Our full review of this resort is here.
7 – The holy mountains of Tiantai
Another excellent day trip from Hangzhou or Shanghai (although staying at least one night would be better) is the historical and naturalistic area of Tiantai.
Tiantai has a long history indeed; it’s the birthplace and home of one of the most critical Buddhist sects, Tiantai Buddhism, with many followers across China, Japan, and South Korea.
Tiantai Mountain is sacred to both Taoism and Buddhism, with thousands of pilgrims visiting each year; it’s also one of the most famous tourist spots in Zhejiang province.
The area has many attractions: Qiongtai Xiangu Scenic Area, with its impressive cliffs; Guoqing Temple, with its thousand-year history; and Tiantai Hot Spring. Relaxation is what you’re after. Check our complete Tiantai travel guide here.
8 – Qiandaohu – the Thousand Islands Lake of Zhejiang
Qiandaohu, literally One-Thousand Islands Lake, is a man-made freshwater reservoir that has become one of the most popular tourist spots in Zhejiang Province, China. Just a 2-hour bus ride from Hangzhou and 3 hours from Shanghai, this lake is really worth visiting despite its controversial history.
While you might be disappointed by the growing “development” (read “devastation”) of the lake area near Chun’an City, bear in mind that the lake is enormous and still “undeveloped” in 99% of its location.
The Qiandaohu is enormous, with many branches extending in all directions, each featuring beautiful scenery and interesting local communities. There are plenty of things to do and attractions around the lake, including cycling, kayaking, hiking, diving to a 2000-year-old city, boat cruising, and swimming!
Especially if you’re an outdoors lover, you could easily spend 3/4 days here without getting bored. Read our full article about the Thousand Islands Lake.
Best VPNs for China
To access most of the internet in China, you’ll need a VPN app (Virtual Private Network). Most of the biggest websites are banned in China, including:
- all Google products (even Gmail)
- and many others
The best VPNs are Express and Astrill. we have used Express VPN for a couple of years and have never had any major problems, absolutely recommended and worth the price.
There are also numerous free VPNs but many do not work or have a limited time during the day, usually an hour.
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