Huangpu river cruise tour, Shanghai

Day 01Arrival in Shanghai

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Shanghai Airport and transfer you to the hotel. Visit the Bund and the Nanjing Road, time permitting.

Descriptions:
Shanghai City - Shanghai is also a famous city with historical sites. There are many ancient buildings in this modern city. The Town God's Temple in Shanghai was built in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of about 600 years. In the Bund, there are a group of foreign banks and restaurants with European style, such as Citibank, Peace Hotel. A large race course still remains in the center of Shanghai.

Day 02Shanghai

Visit the Shanghai Museum and the Yuyuan Garden. Then for the afternoon activities, please see the following different arrangements for the luxury and standard series. Tonight an a la carte welcome dinner is served at Central Hotel, whose restaurant Wang Bao He has a history of around 260 years and is the best place to serve Shanghai Cuisine. The memorable dinner will be followed by the Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre.(B+L+D)

Differences
Luxury Series: after lunch we will transfer you to the Bund area, where you will take a cruise tour on the Huangpu River. The cruise will start at 14:00, reach the Wusongkou pier and then get back to the Bund at 17:00. Then leave you some free time to explore the Bund area on your own.
Standard Series: you will be taken to visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and a local family.

Descriptions:
Shanghai Museum - According to historical records, the use of Chinese coins as the medium of exchange can be dated back to more than 3,000 years ago. The Gallery of Chinese Ancient Coins in Shanghai Museum enjoys a great reputation for its collection of numerous ancient coins. About 7,000 specimens of Chinese ancient coins are exhibited there.
 
Yuyuan Garden - Being considered one of the most three well-known peaks in Southern China together with Ruiyun Peak (Cloud-capped Peak) in Lingering Garden of Suzhou and Zhouyun Peak (Crease Cloud Peak) in Jiangnan Famous Stone Garden of Hangzhou, Yu Ling Long (an exquisite jade stone), probably is the most precious treasure in Yuyuan Garden. It is really worth a visit.
 
Huangpu River - The main sources of Huangpu River are Taihu Lake and Dianshan Lake. It is the most important drainage passage of the Taihu Lake. The river takes on yellow in color and is ice-free all the year round. It is also the most important water supply for residents' domestic use and industrial use. The river is also crucial for the city's shipping industry. Over 60% of the city's imports and 98% of exports are transported through the waterway of Huangpu River. More than six million passengers travel in and out of city by ship.

West Lake, Hangzhou

Day 03Shanghai - Hangzhou

Visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Take a soft seat train to Hangzhou and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda.(B+L)

Descriptions:
Jade Buddha Temple - The Jade Buddha Temple is a famous Buddhist shrine and an active Zen monastery in Shanghai, initiated in 1882 for the two gorgeous white jade Buddha statues from Burma donated by Abbot Huigen when he got back from his pilgrim westward to India. The temple today still plays an important role in disseminating Buddhism through cultural means, including lectures and library service, Buddhist academic publishes as well as regular Buddhist cultural activities.  
 
Six Harmonies Pagoda - The name of Six Harmonies Pagoda derives from the Six Buddhist Harmonious Dharmas. It is said that the pagoda was first built to suppress the tidewater of the Qiantang River. Visitors who pay a visit to the Six Harmonies Pagoda can appreciate not only the magnificent pagoda but also the majestic Qiantang River.

Day 04Hangzhou

Visit the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Inspired Seclusion), the West Lake, the Red Carp Pond and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum.(B+L)

Descriptions:
West Lake - In ancient times, the West Lake had several names, such as Wulin Water, Qiantang Lake and Xizi Lake. In the Song Dynasty, it was called the West Lake and this name has been used until today. Being one of the most well-known tourist attractions in China, the West Lake is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery and numerous scenic spots and historical relics. 
 
Ling Yin Temple - Located near the West Lake, the Ling Yin Temple is famed as one of the ten most renowned Buddhist temples in China. Originally, it was built by an Indian monk called Huili. After arriving in Hangzhou, he saw a gorgeous peak and thought the immortals lived there. Hence, he built a small temple near the peak and named Lin Yin Temple. According to the legend, Ji Gong (a very famous Buddhist monk in China) once became a monk in Lin Yin Temple.

Garden of the Master of the Nets, Suzhou

Day 05Hangzhou - Suzhou

Take a soft seat train to Suzhou and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Garden of the Master of the Nets.(B+L)

Descriptions:
Humble Administrator's Garden - Located in the northeast part of Suzhou City, the Humble Administrator's Garden represents the finest private classical mansion of China. This compound of various traditional structures is not only the largest one among all the Suzhou gardens, but also listed as one of the four great national classic gardens and claimed as World Cultural Heritage together with other gardens of Suzhou. It is though a private mansion for retreat, undoubtedly, also a masterpiece of Ming style garden structure.

Day 06Suzhou - Wuxi

Visit the Tiger Hill. Take a soft seat train to Wuxi and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Taihu Lake including the Yuantouzhu Park and the Li Garden.(B+L)

Descriptions:
Tiger Hill - With a history that can be traced back to some 2,500 year ago, the Tiger Hill is the burial site of the king of a small state, Wu, in the Spring and Autumn Period. The legend has that there was a white tiger coming to guard the king's burial site, hence the name. It famed for its surviving temple, three matchless scenes, nine views of enchantment, together with the vivid legend and the story about the 3,000 swords buried underneath.
 
Taihu Lake - Taihu Lake is located on the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. Called Zhenze in ancient times, it is the third largest freshwater lake in China. Along the Taihu Lake, the tourists can appreciate the beautiful natural scenery of Wuxi, Karst Caves in Yixing, the gardens in Suzhou and some other tourist attractions.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Nanjing

Day 07Wuxi - Nanjing

Take a soft seat train to Nanjing. Visit the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Confucius Temple.(B+L)

Descriptions: 
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum - Having a history of more than six hundred years, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is one of the largest ancient mausoleums in China. Representing the highest achievement of the Ming architecture and stone carving art, it has great influence on the royal tomb buildings during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Ming and Qing imperial tombs located in Beijing, Hubei, Liaoning, Hebei and other provinces almost took the form of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Day 08Departure from Nanjing

Your pleasant China tour ends as we transfer you to the airport and help you board the flight back home.(B)

B-- Breakfast     L-- Lunch     D-- Dinner