Putuoshan — This holy island off the coast of Ningbo has some attractive monasteries. Take a cable car up the mountain (which is dedicated to the Guanyin, the bodhisattva of mercy) for some great views.

Chongming Island — The biggest alluvial island in the world, Chongming is now more accessible than ever thanks to a new bridge. Its wetland ecosystems and quiet roads are good for cycling.

Wuzhen — Another water town, Wuzhen in Zhejiang Province is known as the Venice of the East (aren’t they all?) It was the birthplace of revolutionary writer Mao Dun was born, and appears in several of his books.

Moganshan — Done to death by every yuppy in town, but still worth a trip if you haven’t been already Moganshan’s bamboo forests and cool mountain breezes are welcome relief from Shanghai’s summer smog.

Zhouzhuang — This water town in Jiangsu close to Suzhou is one of the most famous in the Yangtze delta. It’s bridges, temples and towers are worth a look if you can swing a mid-week trip. Weekends are hellish.

Nanjing — The southern capital is only a couple of hours away by train, and has a wealth of historical hotspots to keep you busy for a weekend. There’s Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum, a Confucius Temple, and the Folk Museum for starters.

Zhujiajiao — The closest water town to Shanghai lies inside Qingpu district, and is easily reached by bus from People’s Square. It’s getting more and more touristy, so see it sooner rather than later.

Songjiang – Sit on Line 2 all the way to the end, and you’ll find yourself in something like countryside. There’s an observatory and cathedral on Sheshan, and a theme park with rollercoasters. Songjiang is also home to Thamestown, a weird urban development that’s a carbon copy of an English village.

Tongli — This pretty water town is home to the Sex Museum that used to be in Shanghai. As well as giant phallus statues, the town also has some pretty bridges and picturesque canals.

Wuxi — According to its motto, the city of Wuxi is “full of warmth and water”. Whatever that means. Located in Jiangsu Province, it has a population of over 4 million, and is a good alternative to Hangzhou if you’re looking for a pretty city to explore.