8-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen & Suzhou Tour: West Lake, Longjing Tea & Water Town
Tour Overview
Shanghai’s modern skyline, West Lake, Wuzhen’s canals and Suzhou’s classical gardens… this 8-day journey combines the city’s modern side with the landscapes and culture of Jiangnan.
Start in Shanghai with the Bund, Lujiazui skyline and a free day to explore the city at your own pace. Continue to Hangzhou for a boat ride on West Lake, a Traditional Chinese Medicine experience, and a visit to Meijiawu Tea Village to pick tea leaves, watch the pan-firing process, and brew a cup of Longjing tea yourself.
Stay overnight in Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area where lanterns and riverside buildings light up the canals after dark. Visit the floating market the next morning, try a Jiangnan-style breakfast and explore the quieter side of the water town.
Your last destination is Suzhou boatsing visits to the Humble Administrator’s Garden and Pingjiang Road, followed by a boat ride through the old canals with a live Pingtan performance.
Travel destinations: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen, Suzhou
Suitable for: First-time China visitors, culture lovers, families, and relaxed-paced travelers
Tour type: Private
Tour at a Glance
|
Day
|
Destination
|
What to See and Do
|
|
1 – 3
|
Shanghai
|
Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Tower, The Bund skyline, Huangpu River cruise, Free day
|
|
4
|
Hangzhou
|
High-speed train, West Lake boat ride, Lakeside walk, TCM experience, Moxa stick making, AI-assisted TCM consultation
|
|
5
|
Hangzhou → Wuzhen
|
Meijiaqu Tea Village, Longjing tea picking, Traditional tea making, Xizha Scenic Area, Water town night view, Canal boat ride
|
|
6 – 7
|
Wuzhen → Suzhou
|
Xizha Floating Market, Jiangnan-style breakfast, Morning old-town walk, Shantang Street, Suzhou night view, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Pingjiang Road, Canal cruise, Pingtan performance
|
|
8
|
Suzhou → Shanghai
|
Private transfer, Shanghai airport/train station, Departure
|
Highlights of This Tour
See Shanghai’s classic sights from different angles:
Wander along the Bund and a classic Chinese garden then ascend Shanghai Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the skyline. After dark, hop on a Huangpu River cruise to see Lujiazui lit up from the water.
Make the most of your free day in Shanghai:
You may hit Shanghai Disneyland or LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort, do some shopping or just sleep in and explore at your own pace.
Make your own moxa stick and try AI-assisted TCM:
Visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine museum to learn about medicinal herbs and healing, and even experience a robotic moxibustion.
Get to know Longjing tea in Meijiawu, from tea leaf to cup:
Join a local tea farmer to pick fresh leaves, watch them get pan-fired and learn how to brew it properly. Enjoy a freshly brewed tea you helped make.
Experience Wuzhen after dark and at dawn:
Stay overnight in the Xizha Scenic Area and take a boat through the canals at night with lantern-lit buildings reflected on the water. Visit the water market, try a Jiangnan-style breakfast and explore the old streets before the crowds arrive.
Cruise Suzhou’s waterways with a live Pingtan performance:
Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden and wander along Pingjiang Road and its old lanes before taking a boat through historic waterways, passing stone bridges and white-walled, black-tiled houses while listening to Pingtan.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Shanghai Arrival
Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport or train station and transfer you to your hotel marking the start of your Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou itinerary. If you arrive early, walk leisurely around the hotel, find a local restaurant to have a meal, or head to the Bund in the evening to see the skyline lights along both banks of the Huangpu River.
- Day 2: Shanghai City HighlightsExplore Classic Garden, Shanghai's Skyline, and Riverside Views
Your visit to Shanghai starts at Yu Garden. Stroll through the traditional Jiangnan-style garden to see the pavilions, rockeries, ponds and long corridors. Then, explore its surrounding old streets to try local snacks.
A solo traveler visited Yu Garden with China Xian Tour Spend some free time on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street to browse the shops or have a lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Head to Lujiazui in the afternoon and take the elevator to the observation deck of Shanghai Tower. Standing on the highest viewing platform in Shanghai at 546 meters, you can have sweeping views of the Huangpu River, the Bund and the city skyline.
Cityscape view from Shanghai Tower 118th floor observation deck Make your way to the Bund for a stroll along the Huangpu River. On one side are historical buildings and on the other are the skyscrapers of Lujiazui. Stay until the lights come on in the evening, when the city presents a completely different scene.
If you want to witness the night view from a different angle, choose a Huangpu River cruise to appreciate the Bund and Lujiazui from the water.
- Day 3: Shanghai Free DayExplore Shanghai at Your Own Pace
Today is free for you to explore Shanghai based on your interests.
Families can spend the day having fun at Shanghai Disneyland or Legoland Shanghai Resort. If you like art and design, visit Shanghai Museum East or check out a temporary exhibition. Want to go shopping? Head to Nanjing West Road or Huaihai Road, two of Shanghai’s main shopping areas.
Or simply sleep in, enjoy a leisurely meal at a local restaurant or cafe, and explore the city at your own pace.
Shanghai Legoland Monkie Kid Land - Day 4: Shanghai to Hangzhou by High-Speed TrainCruise West Lake and Experience Traditional Chinese Medicine
After breakfast, take a high-speed train to Hangzhou, a journey of about one hour. On arrival, meet your local guide and driver at the station and transfer to West Lake.
Enjoy a boat ride across the lake, taking in views of the lakeside landscapes, surrounding hills and pagodas reflected in the water. Then walk along the lakeshore to see some of West Lake’s best-known spots, including causeways, pavilions, pagodas, and bridges.
West Lake with green trees and blooming flowers in spring Continue to a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) museum, where you can get to know Chinese medicinal herbs and traditional healing practices. You can also try making moxa sticks and experience AI-assisted TCM consultation and robotic moxibustion.
Experience a robotic moxibustion at a Traditional Chinese Medicine museum In the late afternoon, return to the West Lake area. Relax with a cup of tea at a local teahouse or walk along the lake before the day ends.
- Day 5: Hangzhou to Wuzhen by Private VehiclePick Longjing Tea By Hand and Appreciate Water Town by Night
Spend the morning in Meijiawu Tea Village for an hands-on experience. Follow local tea farmers into a tea garden. Learn how to identify Longjing tea trees and select tender leaves, then try picking tea yourself.
Watch the farmers pan-fry the leaves by hand, learn basic brewing methods, and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Longjing tea.
Watch the farmers pan-fry the leaves by hand After lunch, drive about 1.5–2 hours to Wuzhen. Check in and explore the Xizha Scenic Area on foot. Wander along the old streets and stone bridges, passing traditional houses built along the canals. You can visit historic sites such as Zhaoming Academy and Wuzhen Old Post Office, or climb Bailian Pagoda for a panoramic view of the water town.
When night falls, lanterns and riverside buildings light up. Continue walking along the waterways or take a boat through the canals to see the the town’s night view from the water.
Take a boat ride in Wuzhen at night - Day 6: Wuzhen to Suzhou by Private VehicleEnjoy Characteristic Local Breakfast and Wander Through Old Streets
If you would like to experience the local life in Wuzhen Water Town, get up early and visit the Xizha Floating Market. Sit by the water, try the Jiangnan-style breakfast such as small wontons and Dingsheng cakes (rice cakes served for good luck) and watch the traditional boats pass.
Enjoy Morning Tea Guest in Wuzhen Take a walk along the river after breakfast. With fewer tourists, the waterways and the old streets are much quieter than during the day, making it an ideal time to photograph.
Then leave Wuzhen for Suzhou by private vehicle, which takes about 1.5 hours.
In the late afternoon, visit Shantang Street and take a walk along the river, crossing the stone bridges. After dark, the street comes alive with lights on both banks. Stroll around while enjoying the night view of Suzhou's old city. Tonggui Bridge and Xinmin Bridge are good spots for photos. You can also sample local snacks like oil-fried dumplings and fresh meat tangyuan.
Experience the enchanting night view of Shantang Street - Day 7: Suzhou Downtown ExplorationVisit a Classical Garden and Cruise the Old Canals with a Pingtan Performance
The Humble Administrator's Garden, the top of “China's Most Famous Gardens”, is your first stop today.
Follow your guide through ponds, rockeries, pavilions, long corridors and lattice windows. Learn how borrowed scenery, carefully framed views and winding pathways create different scenes as you move through the garden.
Humble Administrators Garden in spring Then walk along the nearby Pingjiang Road and its surrounding old alleys. See the canals, the stone bridges and the white-walled houses with black-tiled-roofs. Along the way, taste specialties such as Suzhou-style noodle soup and traditional pastries.
In the afternoon, take a boat ride through the river of Suzhou's old town. As you sail under stone bridges and alongside traditional houses, enjoy a Pingtan performance, a local form of Wu dialect singing accompanied by pipa (Chinese lute), sanxian (three-stringed plucked instrument).
Traditional residences line along the Pingjiang Road canal - Day 8: Suzhou to Shanghai by Private Vehicle & DepartureWalk Across the Glass Bridge above the Canyon
Travel by private vehicle to Shanghai airport or train station according to your schedule. The drive takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.
If your flight or train leaves late in the day, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast or cup of tea in Suzhou, take a final walk along the old street, or pick up some souvenirs.
For international flights, it is recommended to allow sufficient time for check-in, immigration, and security procedures.
Your Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen, and Suzhou tour comes to an end. Hope you have a smooth journey home and look forward to seeing you again on your next visit to China.
Tour Price Per Person
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Accommodation For This 8-Day Shanghai Hangzhou Wuzhen Suzhou Tour
For your China private tour, the choice is in your hands: you can select luxury 5-star hotels for unparalleled comfort, cozy 4-star accommodations, or value-for-money 3-star options.
All our partner hotels are handpicked for their prime locations, conveniently situated near bustling commercial areas. Every room is equipped with standard amenities like air conditioning, hot water, 24-hour showers, reliable Wi-Fi, and windows for natural light.
In some hotels, there are English-speaking staff who are committed to providing attentive service. Should you have any
