You won’t be at a loss for things to do in Eastern China. It showcases both ancient history, and the bright lights and futuristic flair of Shanghai. This small area of China highlights the diversity you’ll find in greater China, making it a perfect spot to spend a holiday or longer. There’s state-of-the-art transport, so moving from place to place is a breeze, comparatively. You’ll still be amongst the people, since many of the area’s top attractions are largely populated cities, and are vacation destinations for folks from China and abroad.
The best times to visit Eastern China are spring and fall when temperatures are most comfortable. Just note that the first weeks of May and October are national holidays, so public transport will be jam-packed with Chinese residents going home to see their families. Summers are hot and muggy, and the winter is bitterly cold. Summer does have one thing going for it, however—the Dragon Boat Festival, which is well worth experiencing.
Eastern China is well set up with public transport, making it easy to travel between and within its cities. There are high–speed railway lines connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou, plus regular–speed trains that run regularly and reliably. Larger cities have subways for cheap and easy travel, and there are always buses, taxis, or rideshares to get you where you need to be.
Like the rest of China, the residents of Eastern China love to eat. When traveling from place to place, seek out the local food. Even towns that border each other have food wars over seemingly similar foods. Suzhou residents swear pig knuckles in their city taste superior to neighboring Wuxi. Make sure you have plenty of room in your belly to make your own decisions about who does dishes best in Eastern China. Don’t leave without trying Shanghai soup dumplings, xiaolongbao or the region’s ginormous and delicious lion’s head meatballs, shizitou.
