Tour Code: cht-ta-03
Departure Date: Daily
Features: Private Tour Guide Private Car & Driver Authentic Local Restaurants
Shanghai, the thriving mega city is surrounded by some of the best sceneries, magnificent examples and ancient Chinese cultures. A few hours by fast bullet train will get to the classical beauty of Suzhou and Hangzhou. It's all included here.
- Shanghai World Financial Center: Shanghai World Financial Center is located in Pudong District, reaching a height of 492 meters (1,615 feet). It is now a new landmark of prosperous Shanghai. It was the second tallest building in the world when it was completed in 2007. Its observation deck, at 474 meters (1,555 feet) above the ground, is currently the tallest in the world. The multi-function skyscraper consists of hotels, apartments, restaurants, shopping malls, offices and observation decks.
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: A short walk across Renmin Square from the Shanghai Museum, this offers a fascinating insight into Shanghai's future. The 2nd floor has a giant walkaround model of the city, and other floors have great displays and interactive exhibitions.
- Yuyuan Market: Located next to the Yuyuan Garden and also known today as the City God Temple, it was built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. The City God Temple is a Taoist temple which is composed of many halls such as the Grand Hall, Middle Hall, Bedroom Palace, Star Gods Hall and etc. The City God Temple has a great influence on the residents of Shanghai. The religious festivals of the temple are considered to be festivals for all Shanghai people.
- The Bund: This 1.5-kilometer-long embankment runs along the western bank of Huangpu River. On its west side it is the "architecture gallery" with 52 well-preserved old European style buildings. Once the major trading and commercial center of old Shanghai, the Bund has now taken on new vitality, with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do-and by night it's magic!
- Lingering Garden: Suzhou is famous for its gardens. Lingering Garden is an elaborate succession of small gardens. Lingering in a garden you will marvel at its unique architecture and art. Designed to "linger" through the generations, with a succession of small beautifully landscaped gardens, pools and pavements and a pavilion for each season. It has wonderful covered walkways, carved corridors, elaborately shaped doorways and perfect viewpoints for a variety of perspectives on this special garden.
- The Garden of the Master of Nets: The Garden of the Master of Nets is the smallest garden in Suzhou covering a space of only 5000 sq meters. The small space is its greatest charm as it encompasses all the elements of a classic Chinese garden within close boundaries.
- Rickshaw ride: Through the old streets & Hutongs in Suzhou, you will see local people's life.
- Humble Administrators Garden: The garden is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty, which focuses on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby, the garden is divided into three parts: the eastern, middle and western parts. At 5 hectares the largest of these beautiful gardens, it is one of the most famous one. It provides everyone with pleasure. Don't miss the Garden Museum - actually don't miss any of these lovely places. Tourists may wear comfortable shoes, as there's a lot of walking here.
- The Grand Canal(Cruising by Motor Boat): The Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Canal(about 30-40 minutes), you can see the local peoples' life. Known as the land of rice and fish, Suzhou city has a network of picturesque lakes and canals both large and small, which all link in eventually to the Grand Canal. The view from the little boats that ply the smaller canals is enchanting, whilst the traffic on the Grand Canal reminds you of Suzhou that it was the original source of the 'sea' silk road.
- Panmen Gate: Pan Gate is an ancient city gate with land and water entrances. Once, a gate with land and water entrances was quite typical in ancient China. Much restored, this is one of the last remaining land and water gates in China, once a vital part of Suzhou's defences. The city wall, towers and gates form a nice scenic area. The view from the top across the town's rooftops and distant pagodas is better because of strict local rules regarding building height and design.
- Tiger Hill: Tiger Hill, known also as Surging Sea Hill, is a large hillock, standing 36 meters high and covering an area of some 14,100 square meters. Going up to the hill, you will find a number of historical sites, including some from 2,500 years ago, which are as old as the Suzhou city.Built in the 10th century, the leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda stands atop Tiger Hill. The pagoda began tilting over 400 years ago, and today the highest point is more than 2m from its original position.
- The West Lake (including the Island on the lake) : West Lake has an area of 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles) and is the symbol of Hangzhou which lies on its banks and is a place of tranquility. A visit to Fairy Island is worth it to see on of the Ten Best Views of West Lake - Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridges add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, verdant islands and hills make West Lake a very special part of any China experience.
- Lingyin Temple: As one of the most important and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, Lingyin Temple boasts plenty of pagodas and Buddhist grottoes. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty in 328 AD, Hui Li, a monk from India brought Buddhism to this area and founded this temple. At that time, nine multi-storey buildings, 8 pavilions, 72 halls and more than 1,300 dormitory rooms had made up this temple, and it was the national worship center. Located in front of the temple proper, Feilai Feng (Flying Peak) is an outstanding Buddhist grotto site, in which are engraved numerous Buddha images. Legend has it the peak was originally from India, and flew to Hangzhou overnight as a demonstration of the omnipotence of Buddhist law. Other attractions include Hall of the Heavenly Kings, Grand Hall of the Great Sage, Hall of the Medicine Buddha, Sutra Library, and Hall of the Five Hundred Arhats.
- One-Day Shanghai Seat-in-coach Tour : This is an organized group tour. First we will pick you up at the appointed boarding hotel at the appointed time. You are advised to go to one of the boarding destinations if you are not check in these four hotels. Today we will have a day sightseeing of modern Shanghai. The tours start with the Yu Garden and follow by the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple. After lunch, we will continue our tour to visit the People's Square and Shanghai Museum which is the biggest and best museum in China. Then stops will be made at the rejuvenated old quarter of Xintiandi. Drive back to shanghai in the later afternoon.
Boarding Places and Time:
1. Renaissance Yangtze Concierge Desk 08:00 2. Jin Jiang Tower Lobby 08:20
3. Portman Ritz-Carlton Lobby 08:40
4. Oriental Riverside Pudong Concierge Desk 09:15
- Half-Day Shanghai Seat-in-coach Tour : This is an organized group tour. First we will pick you up at the appointed boarding hotel at the appointed time. You are advised to go to one of the boarding destinations if you are not check in these four hotels. The tours start with Yu Garden which is a traditional Chinese park complete with beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. And then continue our tour to "Xintiandi", which is a rejuvenated old quarter with lots of cafes, quirky and upmarket shops, and western food. After visiting Former French Concession and Pearl City, you will arrive at the Bund to see a new vitality of Shanghai. After the tour, you will back to your hotel by yourself. (Lunch excluded)
Boarding Place&Time: (1) Renaissance Yangtze Concierge Desk 08:00 (2) Jin Jiang Tower Lobby 08:20 (3) Portman Ritz-Carlton Lobby 08:40
(4) Oriental Riverside Pudong Concierge Desk 09:15
We use different hotels for different tour classes while the itinerary is the same. Deluxe Class is usually staying at a 5-star hotel, Superior Class at a 4-star hotel and Tourist Class at a 3-star level hotel. The prices for one person are based on sharing twin hotel rooms with another guest. A supplement is necessary if you want to book single rooms. And the prices may rise during national holidays, such as the National Day (September 30th to October 6th) and Chinese New Year (late January or early February)
Sally Guo
Travel Advisor