6-Day Shanghai Huangshan and Suzhou Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

   Welcome to Shanghai, the most prosperous city in China! After arriving, a local driver will be waiting for you at the exit holding a sign with your name written on it. Then you will be escorted to a hotel in the city center in a private air-conditioned car. You can explore this metropolis at your own pace during the remaining time.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

2. Day 2: Shanghai City Exploration
   Soar above Shanghai's Past and Future

   As the most representative international metropolis in China, Shanghai perfectly blends its long history with modern prosperity.

   After breakfast, your private Shanghai guide will first take you to visit the Shanghai Museum (closed every Monday), a cultural center located in People's Square that houses over a million precious cultural relics. Professional explanations will take you through time, from the jade artifacts of the Neolithic Age to the paintings and calligraphy of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Behind each exhibit lies a fascinating historical story.

   Then we go to the Yu Garden. This Jiangnan-style classical garden was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559, the Sichuan Governor of the Ming Dynasty, to support his father's retirement. More than 40 scenic spots such as the Nine Curve Bridge in the park are cleverly arranged, and the rockery corridors are adorned with century-old trees and koi ponds. After the sightseeing, you can visit the adjacent Yu Garden by the way, and feel the atmosphere of the old city.

   

   After lunch, follow your guide to climb the 492 meter high Shanghai World Financial Center, a skyscraper with three observation platforms. The most stunning is undoubtedly the 100 storey suspended glass walkway. Standing at an altitude of 474 meters, you can overlook the magnificent scene of the Huangpu River winding into the sea (those who are afraid of heights can choose the 97th floor indoor observation deck).

   Then walk along Nanjing Road, the "No.1 Commercial Street in China". This pedestrian street, which was built in 1851, gathers time-honored brands. It is recommended to taste fresh meat moon cakes, butterfly cakes and other snacks.

   

   At dusk, we arrive at the Bund, where 52 century old buildings form the "World Architecture Exhibition Group". From the neoclassical Peace Hotel to the Art Deco style Customs Building, each building is engraved with the legend of Shanghai’s Bund. When night falls, you can choose to experience the Huangpu River night tour at your own expense to end your itinerary in the dazzling lights.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

3. Day 3: Drive from Shanghai to Suzhou
   Wander through Ming Gardens and China's First Leaning Pagoda

   After breakfast, we will depart for the "heaven on earth" Suzhou, which is about a 1.5-hour drive away from this 2500-year-old ancient city. Suzhou is renowned for its exquisite silk craftsmanship and exquisite classical gardens.

   On your first stop, you will visit the World Cultural Heritage Site – Lingering Garden. This Ming Dynasty garden, built in 1593, is one of the four famous gardens in China. With the ingenious use of the gardening technique of "changing scenery with every step", it is divided into four distinctive regions, featuring rippling lotus pool, the hall buildings of the carved beams and painted rafters, the idyllic landscape, and the verdant rockery.

   

   Afterward, take a stroll along Shantang Street, known as the "Number One Street in Wuzhong". This ancient street, built under the leadership of Bai Juyi (a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty), fully preserves the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walking on the cobblestone road, admire the white walled and black tiled houses, or take a rowing boat (optional, extra fee).

   In the afternoon, we go to Tiger Hill, which is known as the "Number One Mountain in Wuzhong". The Huqiu Pagoda, built in 961, is the first leaning pagoda in China, with a tilt of 3°59', more than 200 years earlier than the Leaning Pagoda of Pisa in Italy. Climbing to the top, you can look into the distance, one can take in the panoramic view of the city of Gusu.

   

   The last stop of the itinerary is Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, where you will witness the entire process from silkworms spinning silk to weaving beautiful silk fabrics, and experience this intangible cultural heritage technique that has been passed down for thousands of years.

   After the tour, your guide will transfer you to check in at a local comfortable hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Suzhou

4. Day 4: To Huangshan by High-speed Train
   Trace 49 Bridges to UNESCO Gardens' Mirrored Ponds

   After breakfast, we will leave Suzhou and head to Tongli Ancient Town, known as the "Venice of the East". This water town, founded in the Song Dynasty, is only a 45 minute drive from Suzhou. 15 rivers crisscross the town, and 49 ancient bridges connect the entire area, forming a typical "small bridge, flowing water, home" landscape.

   The guide will take you to visit some essence scenic spots in Tongli in depth. Retreat and Reflection Garden, listed as a world cultural heritage, is famous for its exquisite pavilions, exquisite rockeries and poetic lotus ponds. Pearl Tower was first built in the Ming Dynasty and is a three storey wooden structure tower. Climbing to the top, you can have a 360 degree panoramic view of the ancient town. Mingqing Street, restored in 1996, has a total length of 160 meters and fully preserves the typical Jiangnan town pattern of "two streets sandwiching a river". If you are interested, you can take a rowing boat at your own expense to experience the artistic conception of "boats walking in the river, people swimming in the painting".

   

   After lunch, drive back to Shanghai, where you can take the high-speed railway to Huangshan. After arrival, you will be transported by a private car to the hotel for check-in procedures.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Huangshan

5. Day 5: Mt. Huangshan Hiking & Sightseeing
   Hike Huangshan's Peaks amid 800-Year-Old Pines and Clouds

   After breakfast, your exclusive guide will wait for you in the hotel and then take you to Mount Huangshan, which is known as "the most wonderful mountain in the world". This world cultural and natural heritage site is renowned for its five wonders of " pine trees, strange rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow".

   After arriving at the scenic area, take an 8-minute cable car from Yungu Temple Station to Beihai Scenic Area. After getting off the cable car, hike to Begin-to-Believe Peak (1668 meters above sea level), which is one of the best places to enjoy the sea of clouds. Then follow the trail to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, passing by Black Tiger Pine trees over 800 years old on the way. Continue on to overlook the magnificent panoramic view of the West Sea Grand Canyon.

   

   If your physical strength allows, we recommend that you explore the West Sea Grand Canyon in depth. This 15 kilometer long canyon is known for its steepness, and it takes about 3 hours to cross the "First Ring Road" and "Second Ring Road" observation platforms. Along the way, we can see pine trees growing tenaciously on the cliffs, as well as various shapes of strange rocks. At dusk, you can climb the Bright Summit (1860 meters above sea level), which is the second peak of Mount Huangshan. It is not only a place to see the "Flying-over Rock ", but also an excellent place to watch the sunset.

   You will spend the night at the mountaintop hotel.

   Note: From December to March of the following year, the West Sea Grand Canyon may be closed due to ice and snow weather. So the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on Mt. Huangshan

   

6. Day 6: Huangshan Village Exploration, Departure
   Chase Dawn Clouds to Huizhou's Ink-painting Village

   At dawn, we will head to the " Refreshing Terrace" to welcome the sunrise. This is one of the three sunrise spots in Mount Huangshan. When the morning sun leaps out of the sea of clouds, thousands of golden lights shine on the strange peaks and rocks.

   After breakfast, we start a hiking trip to the famous " Stone Monkey Watching the Sea", which looks like a monkey looking at the sea of clouds. It is one of the most representative pictographs in Yellow Mountain.

   

   Then take the Yungu Cableway down the mountain, and the driver is waiting here, transferring you to Hongcun Village, the "countryside in Chinese painting". This Huizhou style ancient village, founded in the Southern Song Dynasty (1131), covers an area of 19 hectares and fully preserves the water system pattern of the "cow shaped village" and the Ming and Qing Dynasty ancient architectural complex.

   Stroll by the Moon Marsh, visit the Chengzhi Hall, also known as the "Folk Palace Museum", and experience the Huizhou culture of " theory that man is an integral part of nature" at Nanhu Academy. The distant mountains are like jade, with white walls and black tiles reflecting in the lake, like a long scroll of ink painting.

   At the end of the 6-day Shanghai Suzhou Huangshan tour, the guide will escort you to Huangshanbei Railway Station or Tunxi International Airport. (please book the ticket departing after 7:00 pm)

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A