7 Days / 6 Nights Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou Tour

Tour Highlights

• Feel the contrast between futuristic Pudong and old Shanghai on the Bund, Nanjing Road, and in the Old Town.

• Take in Shanghai from above at the Oriental Pearl Tower, then step back in time at the Shanghai History Museum.

• Wander classical Yu Garden, quiet temple courtyards at Jade Buddha Temple, and stylish lanes in Xintiandi.

• Glide through canals in Zhouzhuang Water Town, visit historic Shen and Zhang Family Mansions, and try traditional paper‑cutting.

• Discover Suzhou’s Lingering Garden, Pan Gate city wall, and Tiger Hill, then head on to the lakeside charm of Hangzhou.

• Enjoy a West Lake cruise, visit Lingyin Temple & Flying Peak, and step into the tea fields of Meijiawu Tea Village for a hands-on experience of picking and pan‑firing Longjing (Dragon Well) tea leaves.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Shanghai

Arrive in Shanghai, where a private driver will meet you at the airport or train station holding a welcome sign.
Transfer by private vehicle to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is free to relax, adjust to the time zone, or take a short walk nearby to get your first feel for this modern metropolis.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 2 – Skyscrapers, the Bund & River Views

After breakfast, meet your guide in the lobby and head to Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. Ride up to the viewing levels, including the glass‑floored transparent sightseeing corridor, for sweeping views over the Huangpu River and Shanghai’s skyline at your feet.

In the same complex, visit the Shanghai History Museum, which uses artifacts, models, and displays to trace the city’s story—from prehistoric cultures through treaty‑port days to the mid‑20th century.

Later, board a daytime Huangpu River cruise. As the boat glides along, admire the historic facades of the Bund on one bank and the striking towers of Pudong on the other, seeing “old and new Shanghai” in one panorama.

After disembarking, stroll along the Bund itself, lined with grand European‑style buildings that were once banks, trading houses, and consulates. Continue to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, one of China’s busiest shopping streets, buzzing with lights, shops, and street life.

Return to your hotel at the end of the day.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 3 – Classical Gardens & Living Neighborhoods

This morning, explore Yu Garden, a classic Jiangnan private garden with pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and winding corridors carefully arranged to create changing views at every turn.

Step outside into Shanghai Old Town, where traditional lanes, temples, and shopfronts hint at how the city looked before skyscrapers arrived. Your guide will point out local snacks, small shrines, and daily‑life details.

In the afternoon, continue to Xintiandi in the former French Concession, a stylish district where renovated shikumen lane houses now host cafés, boutiques, and restaurants. It’s an ideal place to see how old architecture has been woven into modern city life.

End the sightseeing at Jade Buddha Temple, a calm temple complex known for its beautiful jade Buddha statues brought from Myanmar in the late Qing dynasty. Incense, chanting, and the rhythm of monastic life offer a peaceful contrast to busy streets outside.

Transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 4 – Shanghai to Zhouzhuang Water Town to Suzhou

Depart Shanghai for Zhouzhuang, one of China’s best‑known canal towns, often praised as the “number one water town”. Stone bridges, narrow waterways, and white‑walled, black‑tiled houses create a postcard Jiangnan scene.

See the famous Connected Bridges (Shide and Yong’an), two adjacent arches that together look like an old‑style key and were immortalized in painter Chen Yifei’s work.

Visit Shen’s Residence, once home to the legendary Ming‑dynasty merchant Shen Wansan, to learn about wealthy family life and traditional house layouts. Then step into Zhang’s Family Mansion, a large compound with halls, courtyards, and its own small garden that preserves Ming‑Qing residential architecture.

Take part in a paper‑cutting experience, where a local artisan shows you how to fold and cut red paper into intricate patterns, and try making a simple design yourself to keep as a souvenir.

In the late afternoon, drive on to Suzhou and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Suzhou.

Day 5 – Suzhou Gardens & Historic Gate, Then on to Hangzhou

In the morning, visit the Lingering Garden, one of Suzhou’s most celebrated classical gardens and part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Suzhou garden group. Rockeries, ponds, covered walkways, and carefully framed views demonstrate the refined taste of Jiangnan literati.

Continue to Pan Gate Ancient City Wall, part of Suzhou’s old fortifications. Pan Gate is unique as a combined land‑and‑water gate, reflecting Suzhou’s role as a canal city. Walk along the walls and imagine how the city once controlled both road and river traffic.

Then explore Tiger Hill, famous for its leaning Yunyan Pagoda—sometimes called “China’s second leaning tower”—and for legends surrounding the burial of King Helu of Wu. Paths, pines, gardens, and ancient stones make this hill a compact but rich historical site.

In the afternoon, travel by road to Hangzhou (around 2–3 hours) and settle into your hotel near West Lake.

Overnight in Hangzhou.

Day 6 – Hangzhou: West Lake, Temples & Meijiawu Tea Village, Return to Shanghai

Start the day with a West Lake cruise, gliding past willow‑lined banks, stone bridges, and small islands that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. From the boat, you can enjoy classic views of “lakes and mountains” that appear in Chinese art and even on modern banknotes.

Continue to Lingyin Temple & Flying Peak (Feilai Feng). Walk among ancient grotto carvings at Flying Peak, then step into Lingyin’s main halls and courtyards, where incense, chanting, and traditional architecture create a powerful sense of living Buddhist culture.

In the afternoon, drive out to Meijiawu Tea Village, one of Hangzhou’s most famous Longjing (Dragon Well) tea‑growing areas. Stroll through the terraced tea fields and meet local tea farmers who will show you the basics of picking fresh tea leaves by hand. Under their guidance, you can also try simple steps of pan‑firing (hand‑roasting) the leaves, gaining a feel for the skill and patience behind top‑grade Longjing tea. After the workshop, sit down to taste the tea you’ve helped to make, along with a freshly brewed pot prepared by the hosts.

Later in the day, drive back to Shanghai (about 3 hours) and return to your hotel for the night.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Day 7 – Shanghai Departure

At the suitable time, your driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to the airport or railway station for your onward journey.

Your 7‑day Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou exploration of modern skylines, classical gardens, canals, temples, and tea culture comes to an end.