Shanghai Arrival

Pudong International Airport - Upon arrival, guests will be warmly welcomed by a local tour guide at the airport or train station and accompanied to their hotel for check-in. Once settled, guests are free to explore the city at their leisure for the remainder of the day.

Shanghai Exploration

Wukang Road - Wukang Road stretches just 1.17 km, with each house and its details narrating its unique stories and history.

The Wukang Building is the most renowned structure on Wukang Road. Designed by the famous architect Hudec, this building, resembling a giant vessel, was the most celebrated English-style building in Shanghai during the 1930s.

Locals refer to Wukang Road as “the mini Xintiandi” due to its distinctive shops and restaurants. Spend half a day strolling along Wukang Road for a unique Shanghai experience.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan) - Nestled in downtown Shanghai, Yu Garden is a collection of antique buildings and is one of the city’s most famous attractions. Built during the Jiajing and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty, Yu Garden boasts a history of over 400 years.

Originally a private garden of Pan Yunduan, the son of Pan En, a minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Yu Garden is grand in scale and offers stunning scenery. It has been praised as “the most beautiful garden in the southeast” and “the most famous garden in the southeast.”

The Town God Temple in Shanghai is an ancient Taoist temple and a popular site, featuring many historical buildings and cultural relics. It is also an excellent place to purchase traditional handicrafts and sample Shanghai cuisine, such as the famous Xiaolongbao.

Shanghai Tower - Located in the heart of the Lujiazui Financial Zone in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, Shanghai Tower is a majestic skyscraper with 127 floors above ground and 5 below. Of the 578,000 square meters of total construction space, 410,000 square meters are above ground, with 168,000 square meters underground. The project covers an area of 30,368 square meters. The building includes business, hotel, entertainment, and sightseeing facilities. At 632 meters, Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world.

The Shanghai Tower sightseeing route includes the “Top of Shanghai Exhibition Hall” on floor B1, “Top of Shanghai Observatory” on floor 118, and “SKY632 Art Space” on the 125th and 126th floors.

Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road) - Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s premier shopping destination, known as the world’s longest shopping street, stretching approximately 6 km and attracting over 1 million visitors daily. It is a lively hub for holiday celebrations, including Chinese New Year and New Year’s Eve.

The street features a blend of historic and modern architecture, with some buildings and malls hosting spectacular fireworks displays. Nanjing Road is home to Shanghai’s oldest and largest department stores, a variety of local retail shops, and traditional eateries with rich histories.

The Bund - The Bund is a captivating boulevard where history is preserved through its stunning architecture. It features 22 exquisite buildings designed by renowned architects, making it a magnificent showcase of modern China. From the Bund, visitors can admire iconic landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Building, Shanghai World Finance Center, and Shanghai Tower. With historic charm on one side and a futuristic skyline on the other, visiting the Bund offers a truly unforgettable experience in Shanghai.

Shanghai to Hangzhou

West Lake (Xi Hu) - Located in Hangzhou, West Lake is one of China’s most renowned tourist attractions. For centuries, it has been celebrated for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, reflecting the history of past dynasties. The West Lake area encompasses surrounding hills, historical sites, and the lake itself, which covers approximately 60 square kilometers, including 5.68 square kilometers of water.

Beyond its breathtaking scenery, West Lake is steeped in cultural heritage and legends passed down through generations, blending natural beauty, historical figures, and artistic traditions. It is the setting for many classic tales of love and tragedy, notably “The White Snake” and “The Butterfly Lovers.” Recognizing its historical and cultural importance, West Lake was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Lingyin Temple - Located northwest of West Lake in Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple is one of China’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temples. As the largest temple in Hangzhou’s Wulin Mountains, it boasts a long history and captivating scenery. Lingyin Temple attracts thousands of visitors and Buddhist devotees daily with its serene atmosphere and rich cultural heritage.

Longjing tea fields - Situated in the mountainous southwest of the West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Longjing Village is renowned for producing premium West Lake Longjing tea, earning it the title “No. 1 village of the tea town.” Longjing tea from this village is considered the finest. According to legend, Emperor Qianlong visited Hugong Temple under Lion Peak Mountain in Longjing Village to savor this famous tea.

The village offers numerous tourist attractions, including the Imperial Tea Garden, Hugong Temple, 9 Creeks and 18 Gullies, and the Ten-Mile Hiking Trail of Langdang and Laolongjing. Among these, the eighteen imperial tea trees in the Imperial Tea Garden draw many visitors. Walking through the village, nestled among terraced tea fields, is refreshing. On rainy days, when the village is enveloped in mist, the vibrant green of the tea fields stands out, creating a natural oxygen bar. At the foot of the mountain, tea houses offer to taste the freshly harvested tea of the year.

Hangzhou to Suzhou

Humble Administrator’s Garden - Located on Dong Bei Street in the ancient city of Suzhou, the Humble Administrator’s Garden spans 5.2 hectares and is one of China’s four most famous gardens. Listed as a cultural relic of national importance in 1961, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1997. The garden’s eastern section is rustic and extensive, resembling a Jiangnan village settlement, while the middle section features Venetian scenes. The western part is notable for its opulence, with a winding and undulating roofed walkway.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden is renowned for its vast lotus ponds, with water covering one-fifth of the garden. Kiosks, terraces, and pavilions are strategically placed by the water, and over ten buildings are named after lotus blooms. The garden’s annual Lotus Blooms Festival is celebrated worldwide.

Pingjiang Road - Dating back 2,500 years, Pingjiang historical neighborhood is the best-preserved historical and cultural site in Suzhou’s ancient city area. It maintains the distinctive double chessboard layout of “water and land in parallel, canal and street side by side” and features the unique landscape of “small bridges, flowing water, households, and deep alleys,” typical of ancient water towns in the Yangtze River region.

Rich in cultural heritage, Pingjiang gathers a variety of historic relics and sites. The neighborhood boasts protected buildings, ancient bridges, wells, trees, and memorial archways (paifang). The remnants of the ancient city walls remain in their original locations. Historically, many literati, scholars, high-ranking officials, and nobles resided here. Today, the residents of Pingjiang still preserve their traditional lifestyle, maintaining the area’s historical charm.

Master-of-Nets Garden - A prime example of classical Suzhou gardens, the Master-of-Nets Garden was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The Astor Court and the Ming Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York were modeled after this garden’s courtyard and studio in the early 1980s.

Originally built during the Southern Song Dynasty by Shi Zhengzhi as the Hall of 10,000 Volumes with an adjacent garden called “The Fisherman’s Retreat,” the garden was redesigned and renamed during the reign of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. It was then called the Master-of-Nets Garden, reflecting its heritage and traditional design.

The garden retains its historic charm, featuring a landscape garden integrated with living quarters. The central part of the property houses the impressive landscape garden, while the eastern side hosts the main residential complex. In the western corner, a graceful courtyard fronts the Peony Studio, once belonging to the renowned landscape painter Zhang Daqian.

Suzhou Exploration

Tiger Hill - The Tiger Hill Scenic Spot, located in the northwest of ancient Suzhou, spans over 20 hectares and boasts a history of more than 2,500 years. Renowned as “the first scenic spot in Suzhou” since the Spring and Autumn Period, it was famously endorsed by the Northern Song Dynasty literary giant Su Dongpo, who remarked that a visit to Suzhou is incomplete without seeing Tiger Hill.

Historical highlights of Tiger Hill include the Tomb of Wu King Helu, Sword Pond, Thousand People Rock, Sheng Gong’s Platform, Han Han Spring, Sword-Testing Rock, Broken Beam Temple, the 3rd Spring under Heaven, and the Verdurous Mountain Villa. The majestic Tiger Hill Pagoda, built during the Five Dynasties, symbolizes Suzhou’s rich heritage.

Tiger Hill is also celebrated for its excellent springs and tea. The Bonsai Garden at the hill’s base features over 600 Suzhou-style bonsais. The site hosts a flower show in spring and a temple fair in autumn, traditions dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The Lingering Garden - Lingering Garden is a renowned classical Chinese garden, dating back to 1593. It is located at 338 Liuyuan Rd. Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China. The garden is divided into 4 themed sections connected by covered walkways. The central garden encircles a pond and a grotto constructed of yellow stone granite. It was created by the noted artist Zhou Binzhong.

In 1997, the Lingering Garden was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with seven other Classical Gardens of Suzhou. The garden also contains two UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Arts; Pingtan and Guqin music.

Xiyuan Temple of Suzhou - Xiyuan Temple is a Buddhist temple in Wuzhong District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. It is located just to the west of Lingering Garden.

The temple was founded in the Yuan dynasty, was destroyed and then became part of a large classical garden, Xiyuan or West Garden (Chinese: 西园). The garden belonged to a Senior Government Official during the Ming Dynasty. When he died, his son donated the garden to the monastery. Most of the buildings were destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in 1860. It was rebuilt after the war.

The temple is known for its statues, Arhat Hall and Free Life Pond, where 2 famous long-life Asian Giant Softshell Turtles lived. One turtle died in 2007 at the age of 400, and the other has disappeared.

Shantang Street - As one of the most famous water towns in the southern Yangtze River region, ancient Suzhou features a layout of crisscrossed rivers, canals, lands, and streets.

Among Suzhou’s many streets and alleys, the historic Shangtang Street stands out as the foremost. This reputation is due to several factors: first, Shantang Street boasts a history of over 1,100 years; second, its layout exemplifies the traditional streets and alleys of Suzhou; and third, it is associated with numerous Chinese celebrities and rich anecdotes.

Suzhou to Shanghai

Tongli Town - Today’s destination will be either Tongli or Zhouzhuang, as per the choice of the guests (but not both).

Tongli Ancient Town, built during the Song Dynasty, boasts a history of over 1,000 years. The name “Tongli,” which is pleasant and easy to remember, originated from the Chinese characters “Fu” and “Tu.” In the Tang Dynasty, to remove its luxurious connotations, the town was renamed “Tongli,” meaning “within copper.” This name was further solidified during the Song Dynasty and has endured through the centuries.

In 1980, Tongli Ancient Town was designated as one of Taihu Lake’s National Scenic Spots. It was subsequently listed as a province-level cultural relic protection unit in 1982 and a province-level cultural relic protection town in 1992. The famous Retreat and Reflection Garden was also recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. In 2010, Tongli Ancient Town was ranked as a National 5A level tourist attraction.

Zhouzhuang Water Town - Today’s destination will be either Tongli or Zhouzhuang, as per the choice of the guests (but not both).

Renowned as the “No. 1 water town in China,” Zhouzhuang Village is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and is among the first ten historical and cultural towns in China. It was also part of the first batch of National 5A level scenic spots and is recognized as a national famous tourism town and the first Chinese characteristic landscape tourism town. Additionally, CNN named Zhouzhuang one of the “World’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Small Towns,” and it was designated an “Excellent Global Ecological Area” by the United States.

Zhouzhuang features over 20 scenic spots, including Zhang’s House, Shen’s House, The Twin Bridge, Fuan Bridge, Nanhu Autumnal Moon Garden, Quanfu Temple, The Ancient Platform, Yifei Museum, Xianjiang Fishing Singing, Ye Chucang Residence, The Enchanting Tower, Yuanfengshun Liquor Workshop, Chenxu Taoist Temple, Zhen Feng Street etc.

Leaving Shanghai

Pudong International Airport - The delightful journey concludes today, and the tour guide will accompany guests to the airport or another drop-off point within Shanghai, as per their request.

• Private transportation
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast
• Hotel Accommodations

• Airport and departure taxes
• Gratuities

Our tour offers a unique blend of historical and cultural experiences across Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. We provide personalized, small group experiences, ensuring a more intimate and engaging journey. Our knowledgeable English-speaking guides offer in-depth insights and local perspectives. The tour includes high-speed train travel, allowing you to experience China’s modern transportation system. You will stay in carefully selected, high-quality hotels that reflect the local charm. Special activities, like tea tasting at Longjing Village and a night show at the Master-of-Nets Garden, add exclusive experiences to your trip. We ensure comfortable, private transportation, enhancing your overall travel experience.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.