Classic Huangshan and Water Town - 11 Days
From: US$2890 p/p

Welcome to Shanghai! To ensure your arrival is stress-free, your private tour guide will meet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to your hotel in a private car. Your luggage and hotel check-in will be taken care of.

Yu Garden is an extensive Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai, China. A centerpiece is the Exquisite Jade Rock, a porous 3.3-m, 5-ton boulder. Rumours about its origin include the story that it was meant for the imperial palace in Beijing, but was salvaged after the boat sank off Shanghai.

The Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China. Rebuilt at its current location in 1996, it is considered one of China's first world-class modern museums.

The Bund or Waitan is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. The area centers on a section of Zhongshan Road (East No.1 Zhongshan Road) within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River in the eastern part of Huangpu District. The area along the river faces the modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui in the Pudong District. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. Building heights are restricted in the area. 

This morning, your Shanghai guide will accompany you to the railway station for a high-speed train to Suzhou, where your local guide will greet you at the railway station. Since Suzhou is well-known for its delicate gardens, the first stop your guide will take you to is the Humble Administrator's Garden, the biggest classical landscape garden in Suzhou. As the “mother of Chinese garden”, it makes full use of the limited space, presenting a peaceful and quiet landscape with refreshing ponds, pavilions, ornamental perforated windows, cloisters, hills, ancient trees, green grass and colorful flowers. Then you will visit the nearby Suzhou Museum. After that, your guide will accompany you to take a hand-rowing boat ride along the old canal to Pingjiang Road. Actually it is a historical block of Suzhou lined with traditional houses and old alleys. There are many featured stores and restaurants. You can try the local food at one of the eateries. Then you will be taken to visit another beautiful Suzhou garden, the Garden of the Master of the Nets, which is famous for its exquisite buildings and ingenious layout.

Today you will take a side trip to Zhouzhuang, the No.1 Water Town in China. Surrounded by the riverway, the town features clear water, elegantly crafted bridges, gurgling streams and classical buildings, as well as distinctive local traditions. In the town, you will specially visit Shen House, which is a Qing-dynasty style complex built in 1742. In the Shen House, you will see ancient halls and yards connected by arcades and bridges and exquisite decoration of wood, brick and stone carvings. Before dusk, you will return to the hotel in Suzhou.

This morning, our guide will see you off at Suzhou Railway Station. You are going to arrive in Hangzhou in 1.5 hours by a high-speed train and then proceed to the hotel in downtown with our Hangzhou guide. you will take a short cruise on the picturesque West Lake, which is an inspiration to numerous painters and poets with her natural and historical beauty.

Afterwards visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda, a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture, where you can get a panoramic view of the Qiantang River on the very top.

Head to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, and be amazed by the profound history and culture of Chinese medicine.

Take an excursion along Qinghefang Historical Street and have a contact with the marketplaces and the civil customs in this ancient street. There are more than 100 stores of tea, Chinese medicine, silk, foods, curios, paintings and collections.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station and take a high speed train to Huangshan in around 3.5 hours.

Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel in Huangshan city. After a short break, our guide will accompany you to visit one of the World's Heritages, the Hongcun Village in Yi County, which is an 880-year-old ancient village with graceful scenery of mountains, lakes, rivers, bridges and old dwelling houses. Then get back to the downtown area to visit the Tunxi Old Street. Walking on the street, you will see the age-old houses decorated with delicate wood and stone carvings, the time-honored shops selling brushes and ink for Chinese calligraphy, and small restaurants for delicious local snacks.

After breakfast, you will check out the hotel since we will drive you to the No.1 Mountain under Heaven, the famous Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountain). You should not miss it during your natural scenery appreciation. We suggest you leave your heavy luggage at the concierge of the hotel in Huangshan city and prepare a backpack with necessary items to take with you on the mountain. Huangshan Mountain is noted for the unique pines, grotesque rocks, dreamlike cloud sea and gurgling hot springs. While taking the cable car to the mountain, you will find yourself among magnificent scenery.

Upon arrival at the terminal of the cable car, you still need to walk along the winding path and steps for a distance before getting to the hotel. Enjoy the view of the Beginning-to-Believe Peak, the Peach Blossom Valley, the Lion Peak, the Flying-over Rock and the Bright Summit. You can also observe the pines and rocks at a short distance and take a deep breath of the fresh air along the way. Tonight you will stay at the best hotel on the mountain.

The view of sunrise on the summit of Huangshan Mountain is breathtaking and enjoyable, so it is suggested you check the weather forecast beforehand and get up early to see the splendid scenery. In the morning, continue the sightseeing visit to the Cloud-dispelling Pavilion and Xihai Grand Canyon. After lunch, you will take the cable car back to the foot of the mountain. Finally, our guide will transfer you to the railway station for a high speed train（or airplane） to Beijing. Your Beijing guide will pick you up at the train station and transfer you to the hotel.

Tian'anmen Square, the biggest urban city square in the world. From there you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City(UNESCO) to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives Tian'anmen Square, the biggest urban city square in the world. From there you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives.The Temple of Heaven (UNESCO), where ancient Chinese emperors made sacrifices to Heaven and prayed for bountiful harvests, demonstrates the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture.

In the morning will take you to climb the Great Wall of China at Badaling section,which is the most representative and magnificent section of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. It has been open to the public the longest (since 1957). It is easily accessible and has easy walking conditions.

The siting of the Ming dynasty imperial tombs was carefully chosen according to Feng Shui (geomancy) principles. According to these, bad spirits and evil winds descending from the North must be deflected; therefore, an arc-shaped valley area at the foot of the Jundu Mountains, north of Beijing, was selected. This 40 square kilometer area—enclosed by the mountains in a pristine, quiet valley full of dark earth, tranquil water and other necessities as per Feng Shui—would become the necropolis of the Ming dynasty.

On the way back to hotel,our car will stop for a while at the Bird Nest,you may get off and take a picture for the grand design.

You have some free time to enjoy on your own before you leave this metropolis city. Your guide, a private car and driver will take you to the airport in good time for you to get on your flight home.