14 Days in Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong: A Modern China Itinerary of Skylines, Street Food, and Culture

From the Bund to Canton Tower to Victoria Peak, this two-week itinerary blends historic neighborhoods, high-speed trains, and unforgettable eats across Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
Stunning night view of Guangzhou
Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels

Welcome to a two-week journey through three dazzling cities—Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong—where ancient lanes meet megacity skylines and breakfast dumplings yield to late-night neon. You’ll trace the Huangpu, Pearl, and Victoria harbors, wander colonial streets, and ride cutting-edge rail in a region that helped define global trade for centuries.

In Shanghai, Art Deco mansions and the Bund’s riverfront facades recall the city’s 1920s heyday, while Lujiazui’s trio of supertall towers declares its present ambition. Guangzhou—formerly Canton—pairs 2,000 years of Lingnan culture with contemporary design around Zhujiang New Town. Hong Kong stacks mountain, sea, and skyline into a single cinematic frame.

Practical notes: Foreign cards can be linked to Alipay and WeChat Pay; in Hong Kong, use the Octopus card. Many travelers can use visa-free transit in the Shanghai region (144-hour) and separate entry for Hong Kong; confirm requirements before departure. High-speed rail is efficient for intra–Greater Bay Area hops, while flights save time between Shanghai and the south.

Shanghai

China’s most cosmopolitan city feels like a time-lapse: lilong alleyways and plane trees in the Former French Concession, turn-of-the-century banks along the Bund, and the rocket-like Shanghai Tower leading a skyline across the river. This is also a city to taste—soup dumplings, sesame-slick noodles, and refined Jiangnan cooking.

Getting in & around: Fly into PVG or SHA. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From PVG, the Maglev to Longyang Rd. takes ~8 minutes, then metro to downtown. Shanghai Metro is extensive and bilingual.

Days 1–5: The Bund, French Concession, Yuyuan & Water Town

  • The Bund & Lujiazui: Stroll the Bund’s historic embankment at golden hour, then cross to Lujiazui for observation decks—Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl—glittering above the Huangpu.
  • Old City & Yuyuan Garden: Ming-era pavilions, zig-zag bridges, and a steaming basket of xiaolongbao nearby. Go early to beat the crowds.
  • Former French Concession: Wander tree-lined streets, lilong lanes, and galleries. Stop for coffee and boutique browsing around Anfu Rd. and Ferguson Lane.
  • Day trip to Zhujiajiao: Shanghai’s “Venice” of stone bridges and canals pairs perfectly with a wooden boat ride and tea in a riverside courtyard.
  • Night on the water: A Huangpu River cruise frames both historic and futuristic skylines—photogenic from every angle.

Recommended tours & tickets (Viator):

Where to stay:

Eat & drink (curated picks):

  • Breakfast/coffee: Manner Coffee (third-wave espresso, grab-and-go); %Arabica (single-origin pour-overs near the Bund); Pain Chaud (French bakery in the Concession).
  • Lunch: Nanxiang Steamed Bun (Yuyuan, classic xiaolongbao); Jia Jia Tang Bao (beloved soup-dumpling specialist); Yang’s Dumplings (pan-fried shengjianbao).
  • Dinner: Lost Heaven (Yunnan flavors in a moody townhouse); Fu He Hui (elegant vegetable-driven tasting menu); Da Dong (crisp-skinned roast duck, polished service).
  • Night: Speak Low (hidden-door cocktail institution); FLAIR (rooftop at Ritz-Carlton Pudong for skyline views); The Nest (seafood plates and craft cocktails by the river).

Next city travel (Day 6 morning): Shanghai → Guangzhou is fastest by flight (~2.5 hrs, ~$90–$180). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Prefer trains? G-trains take ~7–8 hrs, second class ~¥550–¥780 ($75–$110); check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou—Canton to traders for centuries—made dim sum a ritual and the Pearl River a highway to the world. Today, it swings between the incense and woodwork of Chen Clan Academy and the LED crown of Canton Tower.

Neighborhoods like Xiguan preserve traditional arcaded qilou buildings; Shamian Island adds European facades and banyan-shaded promenades. Food is the city’s heartbeat: steamed, roasted, wok-kissed—best shared over pots of tea.

Days 6–9: Old Xiguan, Shamian, Canton Tower & Pearl River

  • Old Guangzhou: Explore Chen Clan Ancestral Hall’s exquisite Lingnan carvings, then stroll Liwan’s Lychee Bay and the qilou arcades along Enning Rd.
  • Shamian Island: A walkable capsule of colonial-era architecture; pair it with the nearby Qingping markets for traditional medicine and spices.
  • Huacheng Square to Canton Tower: A dramatic axis of fountains, museums, and the rainbow-lit tower. Ride up for sunset if skies are clear.
  • Pearl River by night: The skyline glows—river cruises glide past bridges and the tower’s changing colors.
  • Nature break (optional): Gulong Gorge’s glass skywalk and waterfalls in Qingyuan make a thrilling day out.

Recommended tours & tickets (Viator):

Where to stay:

Eat & drink (don’t miss):

  • Breakfast/tea: Tao Tao Ju (since 1880; shumai, rice rolls, egg tarts); Dian Dou De (beloved dim sum—expect a queue but fast turnover).
  • Lunch: BingSheng (roast goose and honey-glazed char siu); PanXi Restaurant by Lychee Bay (classic banquet dishes in garden pavilions).
  • Dinner: Yu Yue Heen (refined Cantonese tasting menus); Social & Co (modern bistro comfort after a week of Chinese flavors).
  • Sweet & sips: Nanxin Milk Desserts (steamed milk pudding); Party Pier bars for Pearl River views and craft beer.

Next city travel (Day 10 morning): Guangzhou → Hong Kong West Kowloon by high-speed train is ~0.9–1.2 hrs. Second class ~¥187–¥215 ($26–$32). Book on Trip.com Trains. Trains depart from Guangzhou South; arrive in West Kowloon with on-site immigration checks.

Hong Kong

Mountains plunge into neon harbors in this dense, dynamic city. Ride the historic Peak Tram, ferry across Victoria Harbour, then lose yourself in backstreets perfumed with incense, roast meats, and bakery butter.

Beyond Central’s towers lie serene temples, Song-dynasty relics, and outlying islands. Lantau’s Big Buddha and stilt houses of Tai O feel a world away—yet only a cable car ride from the MTR.

Days 10–14: Victoria Peak, Kowloon Nights & Lantau Day Trip

  • Hong Kong Island: SoHo and PMQ for design shops; Man Mo Temple’s coils of incense; Mid-Levels Escalator for urban theater. Summit with the Peak Tram for the classic skyline panorama.
  • Kowloon after dark: Temple Street Night Market buzz, neon-lit Nathan Rd., and the Symphony of Lights viewed from Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
  • Lantau Island day: Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Big Buddha, vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery, and a boat ride among the stilt houses of Tai O.
  • On the water: Cruise Victoria Harbour at sunset or under the city’s night sparkle—an unbeatable perspective on the skyline.

Recommended tours & tickets (Viator):

Where to stay:

Eat & drink (classics and insiders):

  • Breakfast/tea: Australia Dairy Company–style scrambled eggs at local cha chaan tengs; Tai Cheong Bakery egg tarts; The Coffee Academics for specialty brews.
  • Lunch: Mak’s Noodle (shrimp wonton soup); Yat Lok (crispy roast goose); Kau Kee (beef brisket curry noodles).
  • Dinner: Yardbird (yakitori and great sake list); Mott 32 (glossy Cantonese with signature applewood roast duck); Neighborhood (market-driven bistro plates).
  • Night: Ozone (sky-high cocktails in ICC); COA (agave-focused bar in Soho); a post-dinner ride on the Star Ferry for harbor breezes.

Departure: For flights home from HKG, compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Consider an airport transfer for comfort: HKG Private Transfer.

Logistics at a glance

  • Shanghai (Days 1–5): Architecture icons (The Bund, Shanghai Tower), Yuyuan Garden, French Concession, Zhujiajiao day trip, night river cruise.
  • Travel Day 6 morning: Fly or take G-train to Guangzhou.
  • Guangzhou (Days 6–9): Chen Clan Academy, Shamian Island, Huacheng Square to Canton Tower, Pearl River cruise, optional Gulong Gorge.
  • Travel Day 10 morning: High-speed train to Hong Kong West Kowloon.
  • Hong Kong (Days 10–14): Peak Tram and Sky Terrace, Central/SoHo, Kowloon night markets, Victoria Harbour cruise, full Lantau day trip.

Good to know: eSIMs are widely available, English signage is strong in metros, and contactless/mobile payments are the norm. Keep small cash for mom-and-pop shops in older districts.

With storied rivers, soaring towers, and kitchen-table traditions, this itinerary lets you taste, see, and ride the best of modern China and Hong Kong. By the time the skyline fades beneath your plane’s wing, you’ll be plotting what to eat—and where to wander—next.

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