GETTING THERE

British Airways (0844 493 0787; www.ba.com) offers flights direct to Shanghai from £538 return. Get your visa at least a couple of weeks in advance from the very efficient Chinese government service – go to www.visaforchina.org.uk for details.

PACKAGES

Audley (01993 838220; www.audleytravel.com) can tailor-make trips to China. A nine-day trip, including three nights in Beijing and two in Xian, with two nights in Shanghai at The PuLi, costs from £2,900 per person. The same trip, but with two nights in Hangzhou at The Amanfayun, costs from £3,100.

An 11-night trip, including two nights at the Aman and two nights at The PuLi, costs from £3,550. Prices include BA flights, transfers and excursions.

THE INSIDE TRACK

    * Instead of a taxi from Pudong airport try the futuristic Maglev shuttle then swap to the cheap and efficient Metro into town. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, but get someone to write down the address in Chinese.

    * The 200mph high-speed trains from the vast Hongqiao station to Hangzhou, Beijing and elsewhere are a bargain, as well as an experience (£13 first class return Shanghai-Hangzhou). Driving between the cities takes forever.

    * Book in advance for the remarkable light-and-dance show on Hangzhou’s West Lake, created by the designer of China’s Olympic opening ceremony.

    * Get up early and join the dawn chanting at Longyi Temple, and enjoy the warnings from loudspeakers disguised as rocks against the fortune-tellers outside.