9 Days Eastern China Tour by High Speed Train

Jiangnan, literally means the south of the Yangtze river. It is renowned for its flourishing culture, rich and populous water towns and prosperous economy. This tour covers the highlight cities of Jiangnan, and the picturesque natural landscapes of Mt.Huangshan.

Highlights:

  • Experience the legendary past, great present and bright future of Shanghai.
  • Visit the picturesque West Lake, Lingyin Temple, and Dragon Well Village in Hangzhou.
  • Enjoy the classical gardens and peaceful water town in Suzhou.
  • Explore the beautiful Mt. Huangshan, and the ancient towns and villages around Huangshan city.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Shanghai Arrival
  • Day 2: Shanghai
  • Day 3: Shanghai – Suzhou
  • Day 4: Suzhou – Zhouzhuang – Hangzhou
  • Day 5: Hangzhou
  • Day 6: Hangzhou – Huangshan city
  • Day 7: Huangshan
  • Day 8: Huangshan
  • Day 9: Huangshan Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Shanghai Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals:

Upon your arrival, tour guide will pick you up from airport and then transfer you to your hotel. Feel free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 2 Shanghai

Sightseeing and Activities: Shanghai Museum, Former French Concession, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, the bund, Huangpu River night cruise(optional)
Accommodation: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, head to Shanghai Museum. It is the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art with more than 120,000 precious and rare works of art. Then move on to Shanghai French Concession, which was once designated for the French. The tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions in the area still retain an air of the “Paris of the East”.

After that, trasnfer to visit Shanghai World Financial Center, a mixed-use skyscraper with offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls, from where enjoy a bird view of this city. Later stroll along the Nanjin Road and the bund.

Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise if you like(optional), which is the best way to appreciate the night view of Shanghai city.

Day 3 Shanghai – Suzhou

Sightseeing and Activities: Lingering Garden, Shantang Ancient Street, Tiger Hil, First Silk Factory
Accommodation: Suzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, take a morning high speed train to Suzhou. Then start visiting Lingering Garden, one of the four most famous gardens in China, listed as World Culture Heritage by UNESCO. Then move on to Shantang Ancient Street, also known as Seven-mile Shantang, which is a famous historic and cultural street block in town.

Afternoon, transfer to visit Tiger Hill. It is so named because it is looked like a crouching tiger. There are beautiful natural environment and historic sites to exlpore. The 1000-year-old Yunyan Pagoda(Leaning Pagoda), a symbol of Suzhou, stands on top of the hill. At last, visit the First Silk Factory to learn Chinese silk culture.

Day 4 Suzhou – Zhouzhuang – Hangzhou

Sightseeing and Activities: Suzhou Museum, Zhouzhuang Water Town
Accommodation: Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, visit Suzhou Museum first. It includes ancient Chinese art, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphy, and handmade crafts, etc. Then drive to famous Zhouzhuang Water Town, which is the finest remaining traditional water town with history of over 900 years. And we will have a rowing boat cruise in the river(optional) to enjoy the ancient building and old bridges from Qing Dynasty.

After the visit, take a high speed train to Hangzhou.

Day 5 Hangzhou

Sightseeing and Activities: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Meijia Dock Dragon Well Tea Village, China National Tea Museum
Accommodation: Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will first visit the picturesque West Lake and have a cruise to enjoy the scenery of this famous tranquil lake. After the cruise, we will stroll on the famous Su Causeway and Bai Causeway, as well as the sites around, such as Viewing Fish at flower Pond.

Then we will move to Flying Peak and Lingyin Temple. It is one of the most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China, home to numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.

After that, visit Meijia Dock Longjing Tea Village. Longjing tea is Hangzhou’s most famous products and one of China’s best teas. You can visit China National Tea Museum to learn Chinese Tea Culture.

Day 6 Hangzhou – Huangshan city

Sightseeing and Activities: Hongcun Ancient Village
Accommodation: Huangshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, take 3.5 hours’ high speed train to Huangshan City. After arrival, picked up by local tour guide and drive to Hongcun village, a charming ancient village with a history of over 800 years, which will takes about 1 hour. Visit Hongcun Ancient Village and transferred to your hotel in Huangshan city.

Day 7 Mt. Huangshan

Sightseeing and Activities: North Sea Scenic Area, Begin-to-Believe Peak, Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, West Sea Grand Canyon
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning, drive about 80km to the foot of Huangshan to start your Huangshan Trip. Transferred by park bus to Yungu Temple to take a cableway to North Sea Scenic Area. Enjoy the magnificent scenery as the cable car going up.

Then walk to Begin-to-Believe Peak to see seas of clouds, and continue hiking to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion to the button of West Sea Grand Canyon. Take a monorail cable trains to the peak of the mountain if you like.(optional).

Day 8 Mt. Huangshan

Sightseeing and Activities: Sunrise, Dawn Pavilion, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak
Accommodation: Huangshan city
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Get up early to enjoy the sunrise at Refreshing Terrace and then have hotel breakfast.

Continue the Mt. Huangshan tour to the Dawn Pavilion and Stone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak. Afterwards take a cable way down the mountain and be transferred back to Huangshan city for lunch. The rest of today is free for you.

Day 9 Huangshan Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Tunxi Ancient Street, Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Morning, head to visit Tunxi Ancient Street to appreciate Huizhou-style architectures. Stroll among the ancient buildings and move on to Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory for a visit.

After the tour, transferred to take your flight or train to your next destination.

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide;
  • Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  • Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
  • Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs.