9 Days China Tour: Shanghai Suzhou Hangzhou Huangshan

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   This tour of China which lasts for 9 days visits both Shanghai and Huangshan. Your driver will wait for you at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport when you arrive and he will send you to your selected hotel. The transfer cost from Pudong Airport to your destination will be slightly higher than normal. The rest of the day in Shanghai is free for you to get familiar with this cosmopolitan city.

   If you find activities and tourist destinations, here are some recommended options to follow. The ERA Acrobatics Show presents an essential performance which combines traditional Chinese acrobatic performance with modern stage technology and lighting and sound systems. The Huangpu River Night Cruise is the ideal way to experience Shanghai's skyline because it enables you to see both the historical Puxi buildings and the modern Pudong architectural designs.

   Vehicle

   Shanghai local 4-star hotel
2. Day 2: Shanghai Highlights
   Experience the Past and Present of the Magic City

   Your guideand driver will arrive at your hotel to take you to the Shanghai Museum which holds more than 120000 valuable cultural artifacts. Chinese civilization developed through time from Shang and Zhou bronze ware until Ming and Qing calligraphy and painting which all shows this historical process. The next step takes you to Yuyuan Garden which represents classical architecture. The traditional Jiangnan garden includes rock formations which create winding pathways and a Nine Curve Bridge together with structures from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Your guide will take you to the former French Concession so you can "see" Shanghai's history spanning from 1849 until 1943.

   A local restaurant serves lunch which offers authentic Shanghai dishes. Your next destination will be the Shanghai World Financial Center where you will observe the Huangpu River from an elevated position. Your guide will show you Nanjing Road after which you can decide whether to taste local snacks. Walk along the Bund after sunset to see different buildings and experience the stunning night view of the Huangpu River.You will be transferred back to the hotel at the end of the day.

   

   Vehicle

   B

   Shanghai local 4-star hotel
3. Day 3: Shanghai to Suzhou by High Speed Train
   Wander around Exquisite Gardens

   After breakfast, your Shanghai guide will escort you to catch the bullet train to Suzhou. Upon arrival, you will meet your private Suzhou guide at the exit.

   Your Suzhou exploration begins at Lingering Garden which stands as one of China's four most famous gardens together with Beijing's Summer Palace and Chengde's Mountain Resort and Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden. The lake area contains its most popular section which showcases Small Penglai Isle. Shantang Old Street - the next destination - functioned as a major commercial center during its peak time which lasted for more than 1100 years. The area still retains its prosperous atmosphere while displaying the traditional way of life that local people used to live.

   After lunch, go to Tiger Hill Scenic Area which has existed for more than twenty-five centuries. The small island of Huqiu which exists today started its life as a bay island which remained submerged until it finally became a hill that stands apart from the surrounding flat terrain. The Yunyan Pagoda leaning at the peak of the structure reaches 48.2 meters in height and contains 7 levels. The UNESCO site known as the "Number One Scenic Spot in Wuzhong" includes attractive gardens plus historical sites from ancient times.

   Last, be transferred to the first modern silk factory in China which opened its doors in 1926 - Suzhou's No.1 Silk Factory. The facility presents all steps needed to produce silk which begins with boiling silkworm cocoons and ends with traditional loom weaving. From your guide, you can learn why Suzhou silk was once offered to Chinese emperors as a royal gift, starting from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

   After that, the guide will accompany you to a local hotel for check-in.

    

   

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B

   Suzhou local 4-star hotel
4. Day 4: Suzhou to Hangzhou by Bullet Train
   Feel the charm of China’s No. 1 Water Town

   As you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou in the afternoon, your private Suzhou guide will help you check out the hotel after breakfast. Please pack your belongings in advance. We will spend a whole morning exploring the Suzhou Museum.

   The museum combines traditional Suzhou architectural style, placing the museum between courtyards to harmonize the building with its surrounding environment. There are four basic displays, where you can learn about Suzhou folk customs with a history of more than 2500 years through the exhibited study furnishings, porcelain, jade, ornamental miscellaneous items, folk items, etc. In addition, you can see some prehistoric pottery and jade artifacts; Spring and Autumn period bronze ware; and Burial objects from the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

   At noon, you will have local cuisine in a famous restaurant. Then we will head to Zhouzhuang, which enjoys a reputation as China's No. 1 water town. Standing on a stone bridge, you can see a peaceful scene of well-preserved residences lining the waterways and old-style boats floating on the water.

   After visiting the old town, your guide will escort you to the train station to catch the bullet train to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, your private Hangzhou guide will welcome you at the exit and transfer you to the downtown hotel for a good rest.

   

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B

   Hangzhou local 4-star hotel
5. Day 5: Hangzhou's Scenery
   Explore around West Lake and Enjoy the Tea Culture

   After breakfast, meet your guide and then travel to West Lake, the main attraction of Hangzhou because its beautiful view exists throughout all seasons. West Lake representing one of Jiangnan's three main lakes appears on the reverse side of the RMB 1 banknote. The scenic area contains more than 100 park attractions featuring Su Causeway in spring and Lotus Pool in summer and Moon over the Peaceful Lake in autumn and Broken Bridge in winter as its most popular locations. Your guide will show you the best places to take pictures while she/he shares with you the romantic legends that took place at this place.

   Next head to Lingyin Temple which serves as one of China's oldest and most important Buddhist temples to experience 1,700 years of Buddhist traditions. Then walk to Feilai Peak. The journey will present you with opportunities to see both the exceptional natural beauty and the numerous Buddha sculptures which show different postures and sizes that decorate the cliffs.

   In the afternoon, you will be led to Meijiawu Tea Village, which is encircled by hills fully planted with Longjing Tea. The native plant life will provide a refreshing experience while you drink tea and enjoy the view of the tea gardens. After that, it is the last stop at China National Tea Museum for you to continue studying Chinese tea traditions.

   After the whole day’s visit, get back to your hotel.

   

   Vehicle

   B

   Hangzhou local 4-star hotel
6. Day 6: Hangzhou to Huangshan by Bullet Train
   Stroll around an Ancient Block in Downtown

   After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to Huangzhou train station to take a bullet train to Huangshan, the last destination of this East China Tour. After meeting your private Huangshan guide, you will be led to a popular restaurant to have a hearty lunch.

   The most prosperous block in downtown area, which features traditional Hui-style buildings from the Southern Song and Ming and Qing Dynasties, will be our first stop after lunch - Tunxi Ancient Street. The area features many time-honored brands, which make it the perfect place to purchase local specialties that include Four Treasures of Study and Huangshan tea.

   Then, your guide will accompany you to check into a hotel. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement.

   Tips: It is recommended you prepare something for the coming Mt. Huangshan hiking tour, like snacks, hiking poles, comfortable shoes, and a jacket. Since the weather is changeable, packing a raincoat is also necessary.

   

   High Speed Train, Vehicle

   B

   Huangshan local 4-star hotel
7. Day 7: Mt. Huangshan Hiking
   Being in the Midst of a Huge "Landscape Painting"

   Mount Huangshan is one of the greatest mountains in China boasting strange pines, queer rocks, a sea of clouds and hot springs. Today is the time to begin your wonderful Huangshan hiking tour officially!

   After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up and drive for about 1 hour to Huangshan Mountain. Then a shuttle bus will take you to Cloud Valley Temple where you will take a cable car up to White-Goose Ridge. The staircases first lead to Beginning-to-Believe Peak, a good place for sunrise watching, then to Black Tiger Pine, about 700 years old, one of the top ten pines in Mount Huangshan; and the breathtaking views of North Sea, Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion and last to West Sea Valley.

   The entire hiking trip will require approximately three hours of time. You can proceed to Sky Sea Scenic Area after your current exploration if you are still in excellent physical condition. The area offers beautiful views at Bright Summit, the second peak of Mount Huangshan and Flying-over Rock, 12 meters high and weighing about 360 tons.

   You will spend the night at a mountain hotel to see the sunrise which will occur the following day.

   Notes: Due to many stone steps to hike, travel light and wear comfortable shoes. The Xihai Grand Canyon is closed from December to March because of heavy snow.

   

   Vehicle, Cable Car

   B

   Huangshan Mountain 4-star hotel
8. Day 8: Huangshan Mountain Exploration
   Enjoy Breathtaking Sunrise and Strange Peaks

   Today you will leave the hotel in the early morning to witness the incredible sunrise. Your guide will lead you to occupy a vantage point to catch the thrilling moment.

   After that, go back to the hotel to have breakfast. Then take a hike to explore the Lion Peak, which looks exactly like a crouching lion, the Dawn Pavilion, and an interesting rock called "Stone Monkey Watching Sea".

   Then you will go down the mountain by cable car, and the 2-day Huangshan hiking tour comes to an end.

   Your guide will escort you back to the hotel in the downtown area. The rest of the day is free for your own arrangement. If you are interested, you can visit the ink making, gold drawing, and inkstone making workshops at Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory. The air is filled with the unique scent of pine smoke and gum. You can experience the core craftsmanship of Huizhou ink production. Under the guidance of the master, you will use a wooden hammer to hammer the mixed ink and repeatedly rub it to make its texture uniform. Then fill the ink into the mold and compact it into shape to make your own ink stick.

   

   Vehicle

   B

   Huangshan local 4-star hotel
9. Day 9: Huangshan Departure
   Relaxing Tour in Ancient Villages with Traditional Residences

   You will study Huangshan's traditional rural lifestyle through two intact villages today. The first destination after breakfast will be Hongcun Village which dates back 800 years. The complete village presents itself as an ox which lies across the stream that flows from the mountain when viewed from above. The ancient buildings here display Huizhou architectural style which features pink walls and blue tiles and upward-extending eaves and corners. The historic site of Hongcun currently maintains more than 140 residential buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties which you can see such as Moon Marsh and South Lake and Nanhu Academy and Chengzhi Hall.

   Then, move on to Xidi Ancient Village. It is well-known as "the treasure house of ancient residential architecture". Besides enjoying traditional residences, you may have a special experience chatting with locals, if interested, to better understand their lifestyle and unique local traditions.

   When the visit is over, your guide and driver will transfer you to the train station/airport for your departure train/flight. This 9 days private China tour package of Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huangshan ends here. Wishing you a pleasant journey!

   

   Vehicle

   B