Eastern Chinese Treasures: Lakes & Canals

Breakfast at the hotel. Self-transfer to the railway station to embark a fast train to Wuxi, considered to be the birthplaces of modern industrialization in China. After arriving at your destination, spend the rest of the day at your own leisure. We recommend joining our optional excursion to the Temple of Heaven and Hutong* before leaving Beijing. Overnight stay in Wuxi.

* Optional Excursion to the Temple of Heaven and Hutong: Learn about traditional Chinese medicine by visiting the Chinese Herbal Institute, Tong Ren Tang. Later, explore the Temple of Heaven, a Unesco World Heritage site, considered to be an architectural masterpiece built between 1406 and 1460 AD used by the emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonies honoring the god of harvests.

From here, hop on a rickshaw for a tour of Hutong where you will get to visit a local family and learn about their traditions and customs. A typical Beijing Zhajiangmian (“Fried Sauce noodles”) lunch will be included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a tour of Wuxi where you will get to visit Lake Lihu, part of the famous Lake Taihu, the third biggest freshwater lake in China known for its abundance of aquaculture farms. You will then visit a freshwater pearl farm.

From here, stop by the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan, one of the biggest Buddha statues (289 feet tall) in the world located in a magnificent park with an area of 74 acres—a true Buddhist wonderland.

The park also features wonderful attractions including the Brahma Palace, Five Mudra Mandala, Xiangfu Temple and many other Buddhist sites. Finally, enjoy the spectacular Ling Shan Buddha water fountain show. Overnight stay in Suzhou.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take part in a fascinating tour of Suzhou, an ancient city known as the Paradise on Earth, particularly famous for its exquisite classic private gardens and crisscross man-made canals. Tour the Lingering Garden, built 500 years ago and not only one of the top 4 gardens of China but also a Unesco Cultural Heritage Site. 

From here, visit the Suzhou Silk Factory, the largest silk factory in the country and learn about the mesmerizing process of silk-making. After lunch, you have the option of taking part in a cruise along the ancient canal*.

From here, take a bus to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world". Arrive at your hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Alternatively, enjoy an optional performance of ‘Romance of Song Dynasty’**. Overnight stay in Hangzhou.

* Optional Canal Cruise: Embark on a cruise along the canal to experience the true daily life of locals and discover the Venice of the East and all its beauty.
 
** Optional ‘Romance of Song Dynasty’ performance: This is a performance reflecting the long and splendid culture of the region. Songs, dances, opera, acrobatics and stunts are integrated in this performance to present Hangzhou's rich ancient civilization and remarkable customs.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get to know more about beautiful Hangzhou as you take a tour of its centerpiece, the famous West Lake, surrounded by mountains on three sides, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in the country. Optionally, take a boat ride on the serene West Lake*.

To finish off the tour, you will stop by the Tea Plantation in Meijiawu, considered to be one of the most important Longjing tea productions in China. Enjoy the scenic environment and beautiful village landscape while learning more about their special tea culture and how to appreciate the sophisticated taste and aroma of Longjing tea. 

After lunch, you will transfer to Shanghai. Upon arriving, check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Alternatively, take part in an optional Chinese acrobatic show**. Overnight stay in Shanghai.

* Optional Boat Ride on West Lake: Take part in a boat ride on the serene West Lake, the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites.

** Optional Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world's oldest performing arts as you are immersed in an evening of classic Chinese culture and entertainment.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a tour of the city where you will get to walk along the famous Bund, lined by Western-influenced colonial architecture, today called the ‘Wall Street. You will also visit Shanghai Museum, one of the biggest museums in the country to relish in the beauty of Chinese art.

As an added option, we recommend you hop on a maglev train to experience its amazing speed. It is also the world’s first and only commercialized maglev train line in operation.

From here, visit the Silk Embroidery exhibition center before stopping by the City God Temple Bazaar composed of specialty stores, selling traditional Chinese arts and crafts, medicine and souvenirs. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit. Alternatively, take part in our optional Huangpu River Night Cruise*. Overnight stay in Shanghai. 

* Optional Huangpu River Cruise: Get a glimpse of the dazzling and charming skyline of Shanghai from the very comfort of a cruiseship that is sure to leave you with memories for a lifetime.