12 Days China Tour Package: Admire the Best Natural Beauty in China (Shanghai, Guilin, Hangzhou, Huangshan)

Summary

D1 Shanghai Arrival
D2 Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Old French Concession, The Bund, Huangpu River Night Cruise
D3 Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai by Bullet Train: take train to Suzhou, Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Hanshan Temple, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory, Pingjiang Historic Street, back to Shanghai
D4 Shanghai-Huangshan: Hongcun Ancient Village, Take cable car up to the Mt.Huangshan
D5 Huangshan-Hangzhou by train: Huangshan Scenic Area, take train to Hangzhou
D6 Hangzhou: West Lake Boat Ride, Fish Viewing Park, Guo's Garden, Lingyin Temple)
D7 Hangzhou: Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation, Bamboo Lined Path at Yunqi, Hefang Old Street, Hangzhou Qianjiang New City
D8 Hangzhou-Guilin by flight
D9 Guilin: Li River Cruise, Yangshuo West Street
D10 Guilin: Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Park
D11 Guilin-Shanghai by flight: fly to Shanghai from Guilin, Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour
D12 Shanghai Departure

Day 1 Shanghai Arrival

Welcome to Shanghai, the larget city in China as well as a tourist must-seeing holiday destination. When you arrive, your Shanghai local guide will pick you up you at the exit of Shanghai airport with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and transfer to your hotel in Shanghai downtown. The rest day is free on your own to recover your jet lag or have a rest.

Day 2 Shanghai

After breakfast, starts your Shanghai tour with Yuyuan Garden. It was a private garden of the Pan family in the Ming Dynasty. It was the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai after it was completed. The garden is unique in its design. It perfectly blends decorative halls, elaborate pavilions, glittering pools, zigzag bridges, pagodas, archways, and impressive rockeries.

Next, you will visit Jade Buddha Temple, it is an active buddhist temple in the city of Shanghai. The temple houses two jade Buddha statues – one, a 1.95 m tall, sitting Buddha and the other a smaller reclining Buddha depicting Buddha’s death. If you interested in the architecture and the custom of temple, do not miss Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai.

After lunch, drive you to visit Old French Concession, a residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses.If you want to get away from busy street in Shanghai, here is an ideal place to explore.

Then, you will visit the famous Bund Area, it is a nice place to appreciate the skyline of the city. You see some of the famous landmarks of shanghai such as the pearl tower, jinmao tower and the shanghai tower.For a century, the Bund has been one of the most recognizable symbols and the pride of Shanghai. The architecture along the Bund is a living museum of the colonial history of the 1800s.

At night, it's a good time to have a cruise to experience and enjoy the scenery along Huangpu River. A Huangpu River cruise has now become a must-have activity when visiting Shanghai. If you have time to join a Huangpu River night cruise, you can enjoy the most extraordinary night view.

After the cruise, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 3 Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai

In the morning, greet your Shanghai driver at your hotel lobby, and drive you to the train station for your train to Suzhou. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up at the exit of the train station, and your Suzhou day tour includes the following attractions. 

Your tour begins with Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city's finest classical gardens. It has been listed as one of the four most famous national classic gardens together with the humble administrator's garden, the Summer Palace and Mountain Summer Resort in Chengde are called China's four largest gardens. Landscape architectural space processing is very exquisite, using a variety of artistic techniques, built a unique space system, becoming one of the world civilization examples of architectural space art processing. Wander through the trails and portals of this delicately-planned garden that carefully combines traditional Chinese architecture with natural beauty.A good place to let your mind and body rest.

Next agenda is Panmen Gate. The history of the Panmen Gate dates back to 514 AD. Built by Wu State during the spring and autumn period, Panmen is the only ancient city wall still intact in Suzhou. 

Enjoy lunch at a local Chinese restaurant that recommended by your experienced guide. (THEY ARE FOODIES, they really know where and what to eat in the city.)

After lunch, pay a visit to Hanshan Temple (Cold Mountain Temple) near the town of Fengqiao. Made famous in a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, this Buddhist temple is known for its large bells, unique black roof and domed bridge. Take a wander around its halls, pavilions, corridors and well-maintained gardens. A good place to let your mind and body rest.

For an authentic taste of city life in old Suzhou, a stroll down Pingjiang Historic Street, which is a great way to get acquainted with the local vibe. Quiet, leafy and slow-paced, the street is lined with old Chinese houses as well as restaurants and teahouses serving traditional foods and drinks. What’s more, there are a variety of upscale cafes catering to the chic crowd at each corner. You can taste a few traditional Chinese snacks while your guide tells you more about the history of the street.

The last stop is Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill has a long and rich history of silk culture, including mulberry tree and silk worm cultivation and turning raw silk into beautiful fabric. Suzhou's climate and soil are perfect for silk production, and the city has been a center of China's silk trade for many centuries. The Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill has been a proud steward of this heritage for over 80 years. It's more like a museum which shows you how the silk is made from cocoons from the begining and the whole silk process. Not to be missed.

After the tour, drive your to the Suzhou train station to catch your train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer back to your hotel.

Day 4 Shanghai-Huangshan

Today, you will take the earliest train (G7317) from Shanghai to Huangshan (Depature at 08:05, and arrive in Huangshan north station at 11:30). Upon arrival, your huangshan local guide will pick you up, you will find a welcome sign "Huangshan Private Tour". Then, drive to the Huangshan downtown and have a simple lunch.

After lunch, drive about 1 hour to visit Hongcun Ancient Village, the ancient village in Chinese paintings, is best example of typical Anhui-style architecture. Together with Xidi, Hongcun was listed as World Heritage Site in 2000. The famous Oscar film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon framed several scenes in this 900 years old village.

After the Hongcun tour, drive to Huangshan Scenic Area (30min). You will take the cable car directly to the top of Huangshan Mountain, and pay a visit in West Sea Canyon, it is consisted of the 1st ring, 2nd ring to get down to the bottom. The craggy trails meander its way across the lofty mountains and lead you to explore the essence of grotesque peaks from the best angles with a background of misty clouds. 

After that, hike back to your hotel(If the weather permits, you can catch sunset view of Yellow mountain).

Day 5 Huangshan-Hangzhou

If the weather permits, get up early to enjoy the sunrise view of Yellow mountain. After breakfast, follow our guide to hike to the Begin to Believe Peak and Black Tiger Pine. Continue to be amazed by the magic Flower Blooming on a Brush Tip, an isolated peak, 1,640 meters high, looking like a Chinese brush seen from the distance with a crooked old pine growing out of.

After the tour, take cable car downtown to the mountain with our guide. Our driver will meet you at the bottle of the mountain and transfer to Huangshan station to catch your train to Hangzhou. Our Hangzhou local guide will pick up from the station and transfer to your Hangzhou hotel once you arrive.

Day 6 Hangzhou

After breakfast, drive you to visit the famous Hangzhou west lake. You will take a boat cruise along the famous Hangzhou West Lake.It's an enjoyable and relaxing way to appreciate the beautiful scenery with its islands, causeways, temples, pagodas and ornamental planting. Different from appreciating scenery on the bank of West Lake, you’ll enjoy the heavenly lake view in another angle, closer and closer. It is not surprised that you’ll become a part of this traditional Chinese painting.

Later, head to the Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond(Huagang Park), one of the top 10 views around the lake and famous for the view of red carp.This area now has been made into a 22 hectare (54 acre) park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Guo's Garden, it is the best existing traditional private residence in Hangzhou. It was built in late Qing Dynasty. With a mountain in the back and the west lake in the front, the garden is known as 'Number One Garden of the West Lake' thanks to its tranquil environment, well-preserved buildings, and tasteful landscaping layout.

The last stop for the tour is Lingyin Temple & Peak Flying From Afar, it is the oldest and largest buddhist temple in southeastern China.It was originally founded in 326 AD, but has been rebuilt no less than sixteen times since then.It also houses various Buddhist literature and treasures situated in front of the Temple, and is famous for its more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures, which dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Hangzhou.

Day 7 Hangzhou

After breakfast, drive you to visit the Hangzhou famous Green Tea Plantation, you will visit one of the five tea villages in Hangzhou-Meijiawu. Meijiawu Tea Village, just west of West Lake, is a top producer of Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, considered one of the finest teas in China and the world. Surrounded by mountains, valleys, and streams, Meijiawu Tea Village is a picturesque locale where visitors can learn all about the heritage, production, and benefits of Longjing tea.

Then, have a chance to walk along the Bamboo Path at Yunqi, it is one of the new top 10 views around the lake. The area is a beautiful sea of bamboo; the entire environment is peaceful and cool. In addition to the natural scenery, one can still trace the remains of the ancient Yunqi Temple in the park.

After that, drive you back to Hangzhou city to explore the old part of Hangzhou. Free walk around and visit the Qinghefang street, is a good place to experience the life of Old Hangzhou, because it is the epitome of historic Hangzhou. A great place for shopping, eating, and sightseeing. You can see the well-preserved old buildings, explore the interesting boutique stores, and choose your favourite souvenirs.

Before back to the hotel, you will visit the modern part of Hangzhou as well. Hangzhou’s Qianjiang New Town is being developed into a new central business district. The skyline of this commercial hub is decorated with the unique golden egg structure of the International Conference Center, the posh grandeur of the Grand Theatre, and the spectacular open public space.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Hangzhou.

Day 8 Hangzhou-Guilin

Free on your own until transfer to Hangzhou airport to catch your flight to Guilin. You will be picked up from Guilin airport once you arrive. Transfer to your Guilin hotel. The rest day is free on your own to exlore the city.

Day 9 Guilin

After breakfast, drive around 30 minutes to Mopanshan Pier for one of the Guilin tour highlights-Li River Cruise. Along the way, you will enjoy the beautiful mountains, verdant fields, farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank. Get off at Yangshuo - famous for its spectacular view of hills and rivers.

Upon arrive at Yangshuo, our guide will take you to walk around the West Street in Yangshuo. It is one of hot spots for tourists and the West Street in Yangshuo is well-known for its unique cultural ambience. It is also a nice shopping location for unique cultural stuffs. Painted fans, really big to catch your eyes, are sold in here and great for decorations. West Street Basic Information West Street is the oldest street in Yangshuo with a history of more than 1,400 years.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Guilin.

Day 10 Guilin

After breakfast, you will visit Elephant Trunk Hill. It is an elephant-shaped hill that looks like a huge elephant siphoning up water from Li River. Climb up to the hilltop on a clear day, you will get a panoramic view of downtown Guilin. 

Then, you will visit Reed Flute Cave. Known as "the Palace of Natural Arts ". Like all karst topography, the Reed Flute Cave is the result of millions of years of water erosion wearing away the layer of limestone bedrock on the surface of the earth. As cracks formed in the limestone bedrock, water flowed into these cracks, creating drainage systems that eventually became full-fledged caverns, such as Reed Flute Cave, which took shape about 180 million years ago.

Continue your tour to Seven Star Park, it is one of the 10 top sceneries of Guilin. Lying at one entrance of the park and located behind Putuo Mountain, the Camel Hill is surrounded by the nearby Park's zoo, bonsai gardens, souvenir shops and teahouses.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Guilin.

Day 11 Guilin-Shanghai

Transfer to Guilin airport to catch your flight to Shanghai. Pick up from Shanghai airport by our Shanghai local guide and take you to explore the Zhujiajiao water town, it is one of famous six water towns around Shanghai. It's the best-preserved water town in the area with history over 1700 years. There are old bridges, antiquated architecture and bubbling streams. You can wander along the canal, stroll around the old lanes, visit few houses with gardens. Later, enjoy a relaxing boat riding on the canal to see beautiful surrounding. Don't miss out the opportunity to take some fabulous pictures.

After the tour, drive you back to your hotel in Shanghai.

Day 12 Shanghai Depature

Free on your own until transfer to Shanghai airport for your own flight back home.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     English & Chinese speaking tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.