Wollongong City Council documents have revealed costs and further details about the planned eight-day delegation, which Cr Bradbery announced at a business meeting last month.

He told the Mercury the trip would be a chance to boost international relations and establish stronger trade links.

According to council documents, the trip will also provide links with Wollongong's sister city and help to "promote Wollongong as a place to invest ... and to visit".

Mayor's China visit to 'benefit' Wollongong

"The purpose of the trip is to strengthen existing business relationships in China, to promote investment and tourism in Wollongong and to renew relations with our Friendship City, Longyan," council documents said.

The Lord Mayor will leave for Shanghai on September 22 and return on September 29, visiting Shanghai, Shandong Province and Longyan during his trip, according to a "tentative itinerary" laid out by council staff.

The planned itinerary will include trade visits with government agencies, meetings with the Shanghai Bank and talks with businesses including Pactera, Bisalloy Steel and Jinan Steel.

Council staff said the proposed visit had been considered under the draft Civic Relations Policy - which was recently on public exhibition - and was thought to be "appropriate".

In June, Cr Bradbery said it was culturally important for a civic leader such as the Lord Mayor to be part of any delegation to China, and was adamant the trip would not be a "junket".

"I have been instructed that if I can go it will add a certain level of weight to our desire to do business in China," he said.

"But I want to stress that this has to stack up in terms of economics ... because this council is very scrupulous now in terms of conferences and overseas trips to make sure we get maximum value for our investment."

Councillors will vote on the visit at next Monday's meeting.