Dream trip #1: Here’s what my ideal family trip to Shanghai and Suzhou would look like

This momma is planning her first ever trip to China with the kiddos, and Shanghai and Suzhou seem like a good place to start. I’ve yet to embark on this trip, but thought I’d share my months of research and planning with fellow families here, in case you might find it useful.

If you’re an eldest daughter and Capricorn like me, you’ll agree that planning a trip is half the fun. Trawling through social media and the world wide web to find the best eats, best hotels, and best places to visit with the fam – *sigh* it almost feels like you’re already travelling, vicariously of course.

So after months of (intense) research and bouncing ideas with my assistant planner, Kimi AI, I’ve got an itinerary and travel checklist that (I’d like to think) is pretty solid – and I’d like to share it with you. Here’s a glimpse of what my dream trip to Shanghai and Suzhou would look like with the kiddos.

Why visit Shanghai and Suzhou

China is a popular travel destination among Singaporeans in recent years. It’s not hard to understand why: wide range of attractions, ranging from historical to futuristic; opportunities for cultural stays and scenic adventures; and let’s not forget the food (hotpot, anyone?). Plus, you’ve probably seen reels about robot waiters and food orders being delivered via drones. Needless to say, convenience is another thing that I value as a parent.

As this will be the kiddos’ first trip to China, I wanted them to have a good mix of cultural, historical, and contemporary experiences. Shanghai is one of the cities that stood out for me, a cosmopolitan city where old meets new, as well as a variety of kid-friendly attractions.

I also wanted to include Suzhou as I’ve always wanted to see the city’s famous classical gardens. It’s also a good contrast to the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. More importantly, it’s just a 30-minute journey from Shanghai via the high speed rail.

When to visit Shanghai and Suzhou

A common advice when it comes to visiting China is to avoid travelling during the Golden Week and Chinese New Year season. That’s when flight and room rates peak, and you’ll have to deal with the crowd from domestic travels.

Golden Week 2026: 1-7 October
Chinese New Year 2027: 4-12 February

Public holidays aside, you might also want to avoid visiting in June as it’s the rainiest season of the year. Depending on how you feel about the cold, you might want to avoid the bitterly cold winter months from December to February. Having said so, these are also the months when hotel rates are the lowest.

At a glance: My dream Shanghai and Suzhou itinerary with the kids

Where to stay in Shanghai with kids

Trust me when I said I spent the most time researching this. Shanghai has lots of hotels and many of them are family-friendly: choose from family-style layouts or serviced apartments; ultra luxury or easy on the wallet. Some of them even provide free self-service laundry facilities and complimentary supper.

In short, the challenge isn’t about finding a family-friendly hotel; it’s about choosing a neighbourhood or area that fits your family’s preferences. Personally, we prefer an area that’s not too busy, has lots of food options, and is within walking distance to the metro.

For that, I narrowed my search to hotels within the Jing’An district. It’s not within the high-traffic Bund and People’s Square area, but not too far to travel to; and it’s well-connected to the rest of Shanghai via the Jing’An Temple Shanghai Metro station.

But, if you want the best views and don’t mind the constant crowd, hotels on the Bund and Lujiazui are where you should look. Just remember to book a Bund-facing or river-facing view room.

Where to stay in Suzhou with kids

For Suzhou, I knew I wanted to stay within the Gusu district as that’s where most of the classical gardens are located. There are many popular hotel chains – local and international – within walking distance to the gardens, which also means that you’ll get some of the most picturesque room views.

Alternatively, you can enjoy the luxe life with the fam at hotels around Jinji Lake. Most of the luxury hotels are located here, with some offering resort-style facilities – including indoor play areas for the kids. Plus, you’ll get to watch the light and music show from the comfort of your hotel room.

What to do with the kids in Shanghai

Theme parks

Shanghai is home to a number of theme parks, such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Legoland Shanghai Resort, Haichang Ocean Park, and more. Personally, theme parks aren’t a big thing for my family at the moment, but fingers crossed the kids will be up for visiting (and have the patience to queue) these cool theme parks soon.

Pro-tip: Did you know that Shanghai Disney Resort is home to the largest Disney castle in the world, paying tribute to all Disney princesses? And Legoland Shanghai Resort has life-sized Lego replica of Jiangnan’s water villages, so cool!

Shanghai Disney Resort, No. 310 Huangzhao Road, Chuansha New Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai
Legoland Shanghai Resort, No. 999, Lebin Road, Fengjing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai

Yu Garden and bazaars

Built in the Ming dynasty, Yu Garden is an expansive classical Chinese garden that you can visit during the day and night. Visit during day time with the kiddos to explore the pavilions and cool rock formations; or go for a post-dinner stroll to enjoy the lights and lanterns at the bazaar area.

Yu Garden, No. 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

North Bund

Want the best view of Shanghai’s skyscrapers? Head to the North Bund instead. It’s significantly less crowded and has lots of photo spots. You can also find many cafes around that area so you and the little ones can dine with a view.

Zhang Garden

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is a popular shopping stretch in Shanghai, but it can get really busy and overwhelming for the kiddos. Some tour guides recommended checking out Zhang Garden instead, another cultural landmark that’s located just off Nanjing Road. Originally a private estate, it’s now a lifestyle hub that still retains the iconic Shanghai shikumen architectural style. You’ll find lots of cafes and retail shops here too.

Zhang Garden, No. 258 Maoming North Road, Jing’An District, Shanghai

Shanghai Greenhouse Garden

Looks like Gardens by the Bay? Shanghai Greenhouse Garden made headlines a year ago due to some similarities with Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Being a vibrant indoor garden, it definitely is one of the kid-friendliest spots in town to visit with the fam.

Shanghai Greenhouse Garden, 199 Jiming Road, Shanghai World Expo Culture Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Shanghai Astronomy Museum

Here’s an attraction that’s out of this world. Kids will be blown away by the immersive VR experiences as well as seeing actual space artifacts on display. It’s also the largest astronomy museum in the world. Don’t miss the Starry Sky Tour experience, where you and the kids will get to journey through space.

Shanghai Astronomy Museum, 380 Lingang Avenue, Nanhui New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Better than a zoo, Shanghai Wild Animal Park offers families a safari-like experience, and you could even get up close and personal with some friendly animals. You can visit the park during day or night time – and I read that this is when the tigers and lions are most active.

Shanghai Wild Animal Park, No.178 Nanliu Road, Pudong District, Shanghai

What to do with kids in Suzhou

Classical Gardens of Suzhou

Suzhou is home to 69 classical Chinese gardens, eight of which are in the UNESCO World Heritage List. What makes them so special? I believe you’ve gotta see them for yourselves to find out. Most of these gardens are built by scholars, so not only do they follow the Chinese style of mimicking natural sceneries (think rivers and mountains in a much smaller scale), some of the landscapes were even inspired by classical Chinese poetry.

Here’s the thing: you can’t possibly cover all the classical gardens, not even if you choose to focus on the UNESCO World Heritage List ones. And let’s be honest, the kiddos will probably be bored by the second garden due to the amount of walking (the gardens are huge!). So just one or two to visit, or three if you’re staying in Suzhou longer.

I narrowed my personal list to two gardens – Lingering Garden and Lion Forest Garden. Lingering Garden is known for its winding corridors and windows that ‘frame’ the gardens like paintings, a great ‘introductory’ garden for the little ones. To keep things exciting, I included Lion Forest Garden for its maze and mini ‘mountain caves’ and ‘tunnels’, so the kiddos can have some fun.

Lingering Garden, No. 338 Liuyuan Road, Changmenwai, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Lion Forest Garden, No. 23 Yuanlin Road, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Suzhou Museum

There’s one thing that the Suzhou Museum and the Louvre in Paris have in common – they both have structures that are designed by the same architect. I. M. Pei, who designed the Louvre Pyramid, was also responsible for the museum’s Western New Pavilion.

Suzhou Museum, 204 Dongbei Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street

Did you know that Marco Polo referred to Suzhou as the “Venice of the East”? You’ll see exactly why when you stroll along Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street. These are the preserved streets that run along the city’s canals and waterways, with what used to be homes and shops repurposed into restaurants and retail outlets.

Pro-tip: Book a river cruise, the kids will enjoy it. You should also visit these areas in the evenings for the amazing night view.

What to eat in Shanghai and Suzhou

As both cities are within the Jiangnan region, you’ll notice that Shanghai and Suzhou cuisines share a few similarities. Seafood and freshwater produce are pretty much staples, while soy sauce seems to be the preferred seasoning. And don’t worry about the spice level for the kiddos – there are many iconic Shanghai and Suzhou dishes that are non-spicy and kid-friendly.

Kid-friendly restaurant chains in Shanghai and Suzhou

You’ve probably seen this on Tiktok – the famous Li Bai Xie crab roe noodles. While the restaurant has chains in many Chinese cities, the flagship restaurant is said to be at The Bund in Shanghai. Expect pure umami from its rich and creamy crab roe and crab meat sauce, we dare say the kids might love it too. And if you can’t get enough of it, there’s an outlet in Suzhou too!

Li Bai Xie, seven outlets in Shanghai and Suzhou

Did you know that the xiao long bao has a ‘cousin’ of sorts called sheng jian bao? This is a pan-fried variation that’s equally as juicy and delicious. You can find them in the popular chain restaurant, Yang’s Dumplings, which has several outlets in Shanghai, Suzhou, around China, and even Singapore!

Yang’s Dumplings, over 200 outlets in Shanghai and Suzhou

Here’s another viral spot – Butterful & Creamorous is a popular bakery chain that specialises in, you guessed it, pastries that are made with rich butter and cream. You and the kids will be spoilt for choice with the wide variety of savoury and sweet treats in store.

Butterful & Creamorous, 13 outlets in Shanghai and Suzhou

Kid-friendly restaurants in Shanghai

And of course, no trip to the Jiangnan region is complete without a taste of its famous export – xiao long baos. You can’t go wrong with Lai Lai Xiao Long, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant with three outlets around Shanghai.

Lai Lai Xiao Long, outlets on Tianjin Road, near Jing’An Temple, and Fengshengli

For classic Shanghai cuisine, I saw that locals recommend Mei Long Zhen and Ren He Guan. Both are known for serving classic dishes like red braised pork belly, crystal shrimp, and ‘lion’s head’ meatball. The latter’s Xuhui outlet is also a one-star Michelin restaurant.

Mei Long Zhen, 1081 Nanjing Road, Jing’An, Shanghai, China
Ren He Guan, outlets in Xuhui and Jing’An

If you crave a bit of western fare, head over to Yaya’s Pasta. Diners rave about its slow-cooked lamb ragu parpadelle, chicken parma, rigatoni carbonara, and tiramisu.

Yaya’s Pasta, 329 Tongren Road, Jing’An District, Shanghai

Kid-friendly restaurants in Suzhou

I can’t resist a good hot pot, especially if it’s plated so beautifully like in Suzhou’s Wan Yuan Hot Pot restaurant. This restaurant is famous for its nine-dish sets, all served in individual portions so you can taste a bit of each (great for small eaters as well). The tomato soup base is also a favourite among diners.

Wan Yuan Hot Pot, 57 Guanqian Street, 2nd Floor (across from Daoxiangcun), Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Another must-have in Suzhou is the Suzhou-style noodles, a meal that you can customise to your liking. The broth is usually made from pork, chicken, and eel bones; and served in either ‘white’ or ‘red’ style (simmered with soy sauce for over six hours). You can also choose your noodle’s ‘doneness’, plus there’s lots of toppings to pick from. Many restaurants specialise in this dish, some of the popular ones are Tong De Xing (Michelin Bib Gourmand) and Qiu Juan Snack Shop.

Tong De Xing, outlets at Pingjiang Road, Jiayu Fang, and Shiquan Street
Qiu Juan Snack Shop, Building No. 3, Xiyang’anbang, West Guangji Road, Gusu District, Suzhou

Dinner on a river cruise? Yes please! Gusu Boat Banquet is known for this experience, serving up iconic Suzhou dishes like squirrel mandarin fish, crab roe delicacies, white sugar sponge cake, and more.

Gusu Boat Banquet, outlets at Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street

How to travel between Shanghai and Suzhou

You can travel between these cities by train or car, with the former being the more popular option. Depending on your chosen train type, the travel duration can be less than 30 minutes. Train tickets are also quite affordable, going as low as RMB34 per pax per trip (about S$6.45), and kids under six year old get to travel for free. Tickets can be booked via the official high speed rail website or trusted third party sites like Klook, Trip.com, etc.

If you’re travelling with a big family, or you prefer flexible timing, a car ride will only take you one-and-half to two hours on the road.