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9 Days Classical Gardens & Ancient Water Towns Tour

Destination:Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou

Tour Code: CTT06

Tour Duration: 9 Days

Tour overview:
Suzhou is home to China’s traditional gardens. Each one is unique, and is an artistic representation of nature. They are beautiful and a new surprise waits around every corner. Suzhou is just one of the many destinations in this China train tour. On this tour you will visit ancient sites, modern cities, and West Lake, home to some of China’s most famous legends. This tour is a wonderful one, and one that is truly special.

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Day by Day Itinerary

Tour Summary

Reviews

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Day 1

Shanghai Arrival

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Upon your arrival in Shanghai, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Then you will be free at leisure exploring the near streets, or relaxing to help you get over the jet lag.

Day 2

Shanghai (B, L)

Shanghai (B, L)

Sightseeing: The Bund, Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Let's start today's activities with a visit to the Bund to take a walk along the waterfront and experience the smells, sights and sounds of the old "Wall Street"" in Shanghai. Actually, some people say that the Bund is like "an exhibition of buildings". Finally we will walk along the famous pedestrian street-Nanjing Road, known as "China's No.1 Shopping Street".

Then we will take a stroll through the lovely Yuyuan Garden, one of the best Suzhou-style gardens in southern China, which has many scenic courtyards decorated with baroque rockery, pools and flora, all connected by corridors and passageways. Afterwards, you will get an insight into Shanghai's local life on the Yuyuan Market – taste a pot of tea, shop for unique souvenirs and get a feeling for Old Shanghai.

Follow us to the Jade Buddha Temple. It is famous for its two rare statues of Buddha carved out of a single piece of white jade. One is a 1,000kg, 1.9 meter-high figure carved from Burmese jade brought to China in 1882, and the other is a sleeping Buddha; The temple receives thousands of visitors and worshipers every day. If you're lucky, you can watch the monks serving a ceremony in a side room.

After lunch you will visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the highest TV Tower in Asia and the world's third highest, creating a picture of 'twin dragons playing with pearls'. Like the Statue of Liberty in New York, Sydney Opera House and Eiffel Tower in Paris it has become Shanghai's symbolic architecture. The evening will be free for your own activities.

Day 3

Shanghai to Suzhou (B, L)

Shanghai to Suzhou (B, L)

Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Humble Administrator's Garden, Tiger Hill

In the morning we'll depart from your hotel and begin today's activities with a visit of the Shanghai Museum. As the biggest museum of ancient Chinese art in China, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics, Shanghai Museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, ancient Sculpture, ancient Jade, coins, Ming and Qing furniture and seals. Actually Shanghai Museum has eleven galleries and three special temporary exhibition halls.

Then you will be escorted to the railway station and take the express train to Suzhou. Suzhou is praised as the "Oriental Venice" and called 'paradise on earth' along with Hangzhou.

Upon your arrival in Suzhou, our guide will meet you and escort you to a local restaurant to have lunch. Then you will visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the largest classical garden in Suzhou and one of the four most famous ones in China. Originally built in 1513 AD, the garden consists of three parts with different types buildings around streams and ponds.

Then we'll see the Tiger Hill (Huqiu). Tiger Hill is the most famous sight in Suzhou city, enjoying the reputation of "The first scenic spot in Wu area" due to its imposing beauty, including Leisure Spring, Testing Sword Rock, Third Spring, Broken-Pillar-Hall and Mountain Villa Wrapped in Emerald Green etc. With only 36 meters height and an area of 20 hectares, you might think it is an artificial hill, but its history can be traced back to 2500 years ago. The Tiger Hill Pagoda in the park is the landmark of Suzhou city.

Day 4

Suzhou to Hangzhou (B, L)

Suzhou to Hangzhou (B, L)

Transfer via: PM train (soft seat)-arranged by us     
Sightseeing: Rickshaw Tour, Lingering Garden, Silk Factory

Today we will start off with a special Rickshaw Tour. Being driven through the old streets and Hutongs of Suzhou, you will see local people's life.

The arrangement will be made to visit the No.1 Silk Factory in Suzhou, as this city is also famous for its silk production. In the factory you can see how silk is made from the silk worm to the final woven cloth.

Finally we visit the Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in China. The garden is celebrated for its artistic way of handling the spaces between various architectural forms and garden courts. With pavilions, terraces, grotesque rocks, clear streams and rare vegetations, the corridors are able to separate the garden into several courtyards with distinct styles. The scenery of gardens within a garden is really attractive and makes tourists linger in this renowned Jiangnan Garden.

After lunch, you will be transferred to the railway station and take the train to Hangzhou. An old Chinese saying goes, "There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Centuries ago, Marco Polo called Hangzhou the most enchanting city in the world.

Upon your arrival in Hangzhou, our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. For the rest of the day you can discover the city on your own.

Day 5

Hangzhou (B, L)

Hangzhou (B, L)

Sightseeing: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Peak Flying from Afar, Pagoda of Six Harmonies, Dragon Well Tea Plantation

Today you will experience the beautiful West Lake. We will take a cruise boat across the lake to see the 3 pagodas in the lake. The West Lake is the most famous tourist spot of Hangzhou. Graceful mountains surround it on three sides. It has a charming scenery and many cultural relics and historic sites.

Then we will visit Lingyin Temple (Soul's Retreat Temple) including the Peak Flying from Afar. Close to the West Lake, the main hall in Lingyin Temple is about 34 meters (111 feet) tall - incredibly high for a one-storey building. In the center of the hall there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was carved from 24 pieces of camphor wood. The temple was named Lingyin Temple for its extremely beautiful environment which is serene and suitable for "Soul’s Retreat". After having lunch at local restaurant, we will drive to the Six Harmonies Pagoda, highly erected by the Qiantang River and in the south of the West Lake. It is a perfect symbol of brick-and-wood structure built in the ancient China and was built in 970 AD in the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) to press down the evil of the river tidal bore in Qiantang River.

Dragon Well Tea is well known worldwide, so you will be guided to the Dragon Well Tea Plantation to discover the history of Chinese tea and the tea ceremony. The water of dragon well is sweet and good taste. The green tea here enjoys very high reputation since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D) for its four special features: green color, fragrant aroma, sweet taste and smooth even appearance. Finally you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 6

Hangzhou to Nanjing (B)

Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us

You can enjoy leisure time until our guide will transfer you to the railway station where you will take your train to Nanjing. Known as the Capital City of Ten Dynasties in China's history, Nanjing has many places of historic interests

After your arrival in Nanjing, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our local guide. For the rest of that day you can enjoy some leisure time.

Day 7

Nanjing (B, L)

Nanjing (B, L)

Sightseeing: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Yangtze River Bridge, Nanjing City Wall, Zhonghua City Gate, The Confucius Temple

Today we will start our tour by visiting Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Sun Yat-Sen, leader of the 1911 Revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty and ushered in the first republic in China's history, died in 1925.The mausoleum offers beautiful scenery and architecture.

Then we will proceed to the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. It was the first double deck and double track highway and railway bridge designed and constructed by Chinese people themselves. The upper highway bridge is 4589 meters long and the lower railway bridge is 6772 meters long. Each arch of the main bridge spans 160 meters.

After a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant, we will jaunt to Nanjing City Wall and the Zhonghua City Gate. It is the best preserved Chinese ancient castle, and the biggest and most splendid city gate of Nanjing. The gate was built from 1366 to 1386 and is made of huge bricks and special cement which is extraordinarily strong.

Afterwards our guide will accompany you to Confucius Temple. Consisting of 3 architectural complexes, Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) was originally built in 1034. Enjoy yourself here, since the entire area around the temple consists of a series of tourist shops, snack bars, restaurants and entertainment arcades all being decorated in "Ming" and "Qing" style.

At the end of the day you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 8

Nanjing to Shanghai (B)

Nanjing to Shanghai (B)

Transfer via: soft seat train arranged by us

Enjoy some leisure time until you will be transferred to the railway station and take your train back to Shanghai. After your arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then you will create the evening of the tour as you like.

Day 9

Shanghai Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

You will have some more leisure time until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.

B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner

Tour Dates Destinations Services Provided Meals Included
Day 1
Shanghai

Arrive at Shanghai, our local guide will meet you at the airport then transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure in the evening.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 2
Shanghai

Depart from your hotel to visit Nanjing Road The Bund ,Then visit the Yuyuan Garden Jade Buddha Temple ,After having lunch at a nice local restaurant, visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower ,Free at leisure in the evening.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 3
Shanghai/Suzhou

In the morning, you will visit the Shanghai Museum .After this, be transferred to the railway station and take express train to Suzhou. Arrive in Suzhou, be transferred to a local restaurant to have lunch, then visit the Humble Administrator's Garden ,Then visit the Tiger Hill ,Free at the rest of the day.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Shangri-La Hotel Suzhou Bamboo Grove Hotel Traveler-Inn Gusu Hotel Suzhou
B L D
Day 4
Suzhou/Hangzhou

Depart from your hotel in the morning to have a special Rickshaw Tour through the old part of Suzhou city, you will see the small Hutongs, the open markets and the local people's life. Finally visit the Lingering Garden (Garden to linger in) ,After lunch, be transferred to railway station and take train to Hangzhou.Arrive in Hangzhou, be met and transferred to the hotel, free at the rest of the day.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Hangzhou Grand Canal Ramada Plaza Riverside Hangzhou Enjoyor Hotel
B L D
Day 5
Hangzhou

Depart from your hotel to have a boat cruise on the beautiful West Lake ,Then visit the Ling Yin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat) ,After having lunch at local restaurant, visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda ,Finally visit the Dragon Well Tea Plantation.Then be transferred back to your hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Crowne Plaza Hotel Hangzhou Grand Canal Ramada Plaza Riverside Hangzhou Enjoyor Hotel
B L D
Day 6
Hangzhou/Nanjing

Free at leisure until to be met and transferred to the railway station and take train to Nanjing. Lies on the south bank of the Yangtze River, Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, is one of the most delightful of Chinese cities. Known as the Capital City of Six or Ten Dynasties in China's history, it has a brilliant cultural heritage.
Arrive in Nanjing, be met and transferred to the hotel, free at the rest of the day.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel & Towers Parkview Dingshan Hotel Central Grand Hotel
B L D
Day 7
Nanjing

Depart from your hotel to visit Dr.Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum ,Then visit the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge.After having lunch at local restaurant, visit the Nanjing City Wall and the Zhonghua City Gate. Finally visit the Confucius Temple ( Fuzimiao ) .Then be transferred back to your hotel.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel & Towers Parkview Dingshan Hotel Central Grand Hotel
B L D
Day 8
Nanjing/Shanghai

Free at leisure until to be met and transferred to the railway station and take train back to Shanghai, arrive in Shanghai, be met and transferred to your hotel, free at the rest of the day.

Hotel: First Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
  Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai Jin jiang New Asia hotel Shanghai
B L D
Day 9
Shanghai

Free at leisure until transferred to the airport for next city.

B L D

Price

Season Tour Class Group Size Single Room
Supplement
1pax 2-5pax 6-9pax
Peak Season 3*(Tourist Class) $1369 $862 $663 $239
4*(Deluxe Class) $1657 $1006 $807 $383
5*(First Class) $2117 $1236 $1037 $613

-NOTE:

1. Normally hotels allow a maximum of 3 adults per room with an extra bed, at extra charge. Some hotels will allow three adults and a small child.

2. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.

3. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.

Price Includes

A. Entrance fees：To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
B. Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary.
C. Private Transfers: Among airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the above cities by the private air conditioned vehicle.
D. Guide and Driver: As outlined in the itinerary, a well selected English-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
E. Hotels: Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
F. Luggage Transfers: Between airports and hotels.
G. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
H. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
I. Arrangements: The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Quick Questions

Our team is waiting for your questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions you might have about our China package tours, Chinese culture, or the sites available. We will gladly help you with any special needs you might have and all questions, like our trip designing is completely free of charge.