Shanghai - Nanjing
Activities: Transfer to Nanjing, Confucius Temple
Meals: Chinese lunch
Transportation: Van

Your local guide will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to Nanjing. After lunch, the first stop is the Confucius temple (about 1 hour)  located on the north bank of the Qinhuai River. The temple was erected during the Song Dynasty, while the surrounding bazaar dates from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

 

After checking in to your Nanjing hotel, your local guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

 

Today's activities end. 

Nanjing - Wuxi
Activities: Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace. Transfer to Wuxi
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Transportation: Van

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum (about 2 hours), located in the Zhong Mountain Scenic Area, in the east Nanjing suburbs. Dr. Sun Yat-sen is regarded as the father of modern China and his mausoleum is a gathering place for Chinese tourists to pay their respects. The mausoleum offers beautiful scenery and architecture and has an air of historical importance.  

 

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, the group will proceed to the Presidential Palace (about 2 hours). This large-scale buildings dates back to the early Ming Dynasty, and has witnessed several great moments in China's history, including Dr. Sun Yat-sen became the provisional President of the Republic of China. It is now the China Modern History Museum.

 

Travel to Wuxi, After your arrival, your local guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

 

Today's activities end. 

Wuxi - Suzhou
Activities: Tai Lake sightseeing and cruise, Yuantouzhu Peninsula (Turtle-Head Islet). Transfer to Suzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Transportation: Van

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Tai Lake (about 3 hours), located in the southern Yangtze River delta. It is the third largest freshwater lake in China with an area of 2,338 sq. km. (about 902 sq. miles) and average depth of 2 meters (7ft). Tai Lake is famous for its scenery. On any given day, you can look out over the lake to take in a breathtaking vista of islands, fishing boats and bird life.

 

Tai Lake also provides many types of fish for local fish lovers. The famous dish Tai Lake Three Whites is made with white fish and shrimp from the lake.

 

Next proceed to the lake's Yuantou zhu Peninsula (Turtle Head Islet) - this area’s hottest attraction.

 

Travel to Suzhou. After your arrival, your local guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

 

Today's activities end. 

Suzhou - Wuzhen - Hangzhou
Activities: Tiger Hill, Lingering Garden, the First Silk Factory, Wuzhen Water Town. Transfer to Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Transportation: Van

Your local guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Suzhou. After arrival you will visit the Tiger Hill (about 1.5 hours). This 36 meter tall hill is famous because of a legend that states this is where the King of the State of Wu, Fu Chai, buried his father, Helu, with 3,000 swords. According to legend, on the third day after the burial, a white tiger appeared to guard the tomb, giving the hill its current name.  

 

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, the group will proceed to Lingering Garden (about 1 hour), one of the four famous gardens of Suzhou. First built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the current garden was rebuilt by a Qing Dynasty official.

 

The group will then proceed to the First Silk Factory (about 45 minutes), where you will have a chance to discover the secrets of silk-weaving and shop for souvenirs.

 

On the way to Hangzhou, you will stop and visit the famous water town - Wuzhen (about 2 hours).  This small town, with its black-tiled and timber framework houses, contrasts sharply with its white walls and gray flagging, bringing to mind a Chinese ink painting. Much of the fame of Wuzhen can be attributed to Mao Dun, a great modern writer and the first cultural minister of the People's Republic. Born in Wuzhen, Mao had described the town with great warmth in several of his novels, and his former dwelling is preserved here.

 

Travel to Hangzhou. After your arrival, your local guide will suggest a restaurant option and shopping destination for the rest of the day.

 

Today's activities end. 

Hangzhou - Shanghai
Activities: West Lake sightseeing & cruise, Fei Lai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar), Ling Yin Temple (Soula's Retreat Temple), the Meijiawu Tea Plantation (Longjing Tea Village)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Transportation: Van

After breakfast, your local guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the West Lake (about 2 hours), the jewel of Hangzhou, where you will enjoy a boat cruise. The lake is surrounded by hills on three sides and faces downtown Hangzhou on the fourth side. There are two causeways, Bai and Su, which separate the lake into five parts. The lake also has three manmade islands: Three Pools Mirroring the moon, Mid-lake Pavilion, and Mr. Ruan Yuan's Mount.  

 

After returning to shore, you will visit Fei Lai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar) (about 1 hour). Within this area of caves and peaks, there are more than 470 stone statues from the Five Dynasties Period and Yuan Dynasty.

 

The group will then proceed to LingYin Temple (Soul’s Retreat Temple) (about 1 hour), one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China. The name of the temple is indicative of its peaceful natural surroundings. The temple is a well-hidden retreat covered on three sides by hills and holds a comprehensive collection of artifacts and treasures related to Buddhism.

 

Next stop is the Meijiawu Tea Plantation (about 45 minutes). Located just outside the city in the West Lake scenic area, the Meijiawu Tea Plantation is famous for its Dragon Well Green Tea (Longjing tea). Sit back and sample some of the finest tea in China, surrounded by picturesque terraced tea fields and rustic rural scenes.

 

Return to Shanghai.

 

Tour ends.