Day 1 – Arrival in Shanghai

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Shanghai Pudong Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meals: No meals provided.

Day 2 – Shanghai

Attractions: Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Gardens, The Bund, Shanghai World Financial Centre, Evening Cruise

Today will be a busy day as you tour the highlights of Shanghai beginning at the Jade Buddha Temple and the exquisite classic Yuyuan Gardens. Afterwards take a stroll along the Bund, the most famous part of Shanghai. It is like a summary of Shanghai’s history with colonial buildings mixed in with other architectural styles. From there you can gaze across at the tall, modern buildings which represent Shanghai’s prosperity. Next you will cross the river to Lijiazui to see these buildings from a different perspective.

Here you will find the Shanghai Stock Exchange as well as the city’s three most famous structures – the Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower and the newest and highest Shanghai World Financial Center. When it was completed in 2007 the Shanghai World Financial Center was the second tallest building in the world. The observation deck is at 474 metres offering amazing views of Shanghai.

Finish the day with a cruise on the Huangpu River to view the lights of Shanghai by night.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 3 – Shanghai to Suzhou

Attractions: Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, Silk Factory

There is a saying, “Gardens to the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them.” At present more than sixty gardens are kept in the city with several of them on the World Heritage List.

You will begin your tour at the Humble Administrator’s Garden which is the largest and the most famous. Dating from the Ming Dynasty it is a perfect representative of a Chinese classical garden focusing on a central pond.

Next you will visit the Lingering Garden which is an elaborate succession of small gardens. It is designed to ‘linger’ through the generations with gardens, pools and a pavilion for each season. It is more than 400 years old.

Silk has been known in China for around 4,500 years and Suzhou is famous for its silk production. You will finish your day with a visit to the Silk Factory where you can see a display of the life cycle of the silk worm and demonstrations of how the silk is harvested.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 4 – Suzhou to Shanghai via Zhouzhuang

Attractions: Zhouzhuang

Say goodbye to Suzhou and its gardens as you head back towards Shanghai. On the way you will stop at Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water towns in China. Explore the picturesque canals, narrow streets and walk across innumerable bridges. Then take a short cruise to appreciate the town’s peaceful atmosphere from a different perspective. Return to Shanghai in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 5 – Depart Shanghai

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel