This is the excursion for runners treating the days after the marathon as the start of a proper holiday rather than a quick add-on. It pairs Hangzhou's gentle lakeside recovery with Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), one of China's most dramatic landscapes, and asks considerably more of the legs than any other option on this list.
The route runs by high-speed rail throughout: Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou in around 45 minutes, then an onward high-speed connection from Hangzhou to Huangshan North station. Spend the first two nights in Hangzhou recovering properly before the more demanding Huangshan leg.
Hangzhou first
Follow the same pattern as the two-night Hangzhou itinerary for the opening days: West Lake by taxi and short walks, Lingyin Temple once legs feel stronger, and lakeside tea houses for genuine rest. Do not shortcut this recovery phase; Huangshan is more physically demanding than anything in Hangzhou, and arriving there still sore is a mistake.
Yellow Mountain (Huangshan)
Huangshan is famous for granite peaks, wind-sculpted pine trees and a sea-of-clouds effect that is especially striking in late autumn. Cable cars reach most of the main viewing areas, removing the worst of the climbing, but the mountain still involves sustained walking on stone steps between viewpoints, and full days at altitude. This is not a gentle add-on: treat it as the active, adventurous half of the trip rather than a continuation of the recovery pace set in Hangzhou.
Practicalities
Warm, waterproof layers are worth packing regardless of the Shanghai forecast; Huangshan's weather at altitude runs noticeably colder and can change quickly. Mountain-top accommodation exists for anyone wanting to catch sunrise from the peaks, but a well-organised single day using the cable cars is enough to see the main sights without an overnight stay on the mountain itself.
Getting back
Return via the same high-speed rail route: Huangshan North back to Hangzhou, then Hangzhou to Shanghai Hongqiao. Book the Huangshan-to-Hangzhou leg a day or two ahead in peak autumn viewing season, when seats sell out faster than on the Shanghai-Hangzhou corridor.