4-Day Shanghai & Mount Jiuhua Tour: City Skyline and Sacred Peaks

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   Upon arrival in Shanghai, the driver will meet you at the airport or railway station and transfer you to your hotel in a private vehicle.

   After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax after your journey. If you still have energy, explore the area around the hotel or enjoy an optional evening activity.

   Optional Night Activity: In the evening, you can watch ERA Time and Space Journey 2, a spectacular acrobatic show at Shanghai Circus World. It features motorcycles racing inside a giant steel sphere, performers walking along a ribbon above the stage and actresses dancing with white doves on aerial rings. The show relies mainly on acrobatics, music and visual effects, so international travelers can easily immerse themselves in the show.

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   4-star hotel in Shanghai
2. Day 2: Explore Downtown Shanghai
   See Shanghai from Above, Wander in Classic Garden, Admire the Skyline from the Bund

   Start your day in Lujiazui, Shanghai’s financial and commercial center, home to some of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers.

   Take the high-speed elevator to the observation deck on the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower. After reaching the top, enjoy panoramic views of the Huangpu River, Lujiazui and the Bund from about 546 meters above the ground.

   Continue to Shanghai Museum East, one of the city’s major museums dedicated to ancient Chinese art. Explore its extensive collection of bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, coins, etc., and learn about the development of ancient Chinese art across different dynasties.

   Visit Yuyuan Garden, one of Shanghai’s best-preserved classical gardens. Take a leisurely stroll here to admire pavilions, zigzag bridges, rockeries and ponds. Its compact layout makes it easy to explore in about an hour.

   

   Afterwards, visit the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar, a lively area filled with traditional shops, local snacks and restaurants. Browse the vibrant stores, try Shanghai specialties like xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings), and pick up some Shanghai-style souvenirs.

   Next, head to Nanjing Road, the most famous commercial street in Shanghai. Different from the traditional atmosphere around Yuyuan Bazaar, Nanjing Road is lined with historic department stores, time-honored brands and trendy shops.

   Walk along the Bund waterfront, where the futuristic Lujiazui skyline pierces the clouds over the Huangpu River, while the well-preserved historic buildings line the promenade beside you.

   Optional Night Activity: Embark on a Huangpu River night cruise, and enjoy the night views on both banks from the water. From the cruise, you can see the illuminated Lujiazui skyline on one side and the historic Bund buildings on the other.

   

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   4-star hotel in Shanghai
3. Day 3: Shanghai to Jiuhuashan by High-Speed Train
   Explore Buddhist Heritage and Hike through Mountain Scenery

   Board the morning high-speed train from Shanghai to Jiuhuashan Station, an approximately 3- to 4-hour journey. Your local guide and driver will meet you at Jiuhuashan Station and transfer you to your hotel in the Mount Jiuhua Scenic Area.

   Today’s exploration starts with Buddhist heritage at Great Vow Culture Park. Take the sightseeing bus to its landmark - the 99-meter-high Statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Your guide will introduce some local Buddhist blessing traditions, such as walking clockwise around the Buddha statue three times and hugging the Buddha's feet.

   

   Move on to the Huatai (Flower Terrace) Scenic Area. Transfer to the cable car station and ride the cable car uphill. From the upper station, hike along the trails to its peak, passing forested slopes and unusual rock formations along the way. If you are not afraid of heights, challenge walking along the cliffside Hanging Plank Road for a more adventurous experience.

   

   After the exploration, take the cable car down the mountain and transfer to the bus to Jiuhua Street. Many of Mount Jiuhua's important temples are concentrated around the street. Follow the guide to visit Huacheng Temple, the earliest established temple of Mount Jiuhua.

   This 1,600-year-old temple also preserves an important collection of Buddhist and historical relics associated with the mountain, including Buddhist sutras, ritual instruments and jade seals.

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   4-star hotel in Mount Jiuhua
4. Day 4: Mount Jiuhua Tour & Departure
   Visit Mountaintop Temples and Hike through the Tiantai Scenic Area

   Take the cable car to Baisui (Longevity) Palace, a five-storey ancient Buddhist temple built against the cliffs. Inside, you can see the well-preserved body of Master Wuxia, a highly esteemed monk from the Ming dynasty. Then, walk to the viewing platform behind the main hall, where the surrounding ridge is traditionally said to resemble a reclining Buddha.

   

   Descend from Baisui Palace and transfer to shuttle bus to Tiantai cable car station. Then take the cable car up to Tiantai Scenic Area, one of the mountain's highest peaks at 1,300 meters.

   After getting off, take a short hike to Ancient Sutra-Worshipping Temple. According to local tradition, the monk Jin Dizang once practiced and recited Buddhist scriptures here.

   Continue hiking upward to Tiantai Temple on the summit. Take some time to explore the Buddhist halls, see the historic cliff inscriptions around the temple and take in the surrounding peaks. If weather permits, you may also see a sea of clouds.

   After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your onward journey.

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