Eastern China

After breakfast begin your Hangzhou tour with the No.1 attraction West Lake. Enjoy a boat cruise on the serene lake and learn the love story of the White Snake enchantress and the mortal Xu Xian (one of the four folk stories in China) while cruising past the iconic sunset-redden Leifeng Pagoda, under which the White Snake enchantress suffers confinement as the legend goes.

Visit the 1,600-year-old Lingyin Temple that hides itself at a mountainous corner of West Lake scenic spot. The temple features many grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the incredible Flying Peak. After lunch (OA) you will visit Dragon Well Tea Village, learn more about tea-making process (tea planting) and Chinese tea culture. The tea village also provides a fabulous distant view of the mountains that parade around West Lake.

Complete the tour at Imperial Street of Southern Song Dynasty. The street, along which the emperor marched towards the sacrificial altar, has kept the original roadbed and many Western buildings of 1920s. Stroll through the passage of time and experience the historic Hangzhou.

Return to your hotel in time for dinner this evening

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast at your hotel check out and travel by private coach to Wuzhen, one of the top four renowned towns in Jiangnan Area (south of Yangtze River). It’s a typical ancient water town with over 6,000 years’ civilization history and nearly 2,000 years’ history of Jiangnan Culture. Time is slow here, resting on the mottled old houses and the slow-moving waters.

Continue on your travel to Shanghai, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Arrive at your hotel and check in and enjoy some free time before dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast at your hotel, make your way to The Bund and start your tour*. Admire the views of Pudong across the river and embrace the city skyline, appreciating the diverse architectural buildings (Gothic, Baroque, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and Mixed Eastern and Western style). If you wish, you can visit the Shanghai World Financial Centre for the most amazing views of Shanghai  from their 474 meter high platform.

Next stop is the over 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden, the representative ancient garden in Shanghai. Here you have about 1.5 hours to appreciate the elegant pavilions, villa, lotus pond and bridges. Don’t miss the two highlights Mid-Lake Pavilion and Zigzag Bridge that provide access to the Pavilion. Enjoy wandering through the market stalls and souvenir shops that surround the gardens.

This afternoon visit Pudong financial district. Among seas of skyscrapers in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC) is the best option for visitors who aim for bird’s eye view of Shanghai cityscape. With regard to the height, SWFC boasts a 474-meter-high top sightseeing platform, which is 124 meters higher than that of Oriental Pearl Tower.

Head back to your hotel for some leisure time before this evenings activities.

This evening have dinner at your hotel before enjoying your Huangpu River cruise, which will provide you with the magnificent skylines on both the historic west side (the Bund), and the modern east

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast at your hotel visit Shanghai Museum. Reputed as one the top museums in China, the Shanghai Museum is a museum of Chinese ancient art with a collection of 120,000 precious Chinese works of art and archaeological findings. It has 11 state-of-the-art galleries and 3 special exhibition halls, all encircling a spacious cylindrical atrium.

Following your museum visit make your way by coach to Xintiandi, a car-free shopping, dining and entertainment area of Shanghai. The look and feel of the place resemble Covent Garden in London, minus the eccentric street performers. This is the place where lots of expats and even local executives hang out. It features an area of restored traditional shikumen (“stone gate”) houses on narrow alleys, purely old Shanghai style and very nice to see.. Xintiandi is a must-visit ‘hang out’ place in Shanghai.

Later this afternoon, enjoy some free time shopping at Nanjing Road. Return to your hotel in time for dinner, then after dinner why not consider the Shanghai Acrobatic show as your add-on activity? As one of the oldest performing arts in China, the acrobatics displayed on stage include a number of feats focusing on flexibility, strength, endurance and sheer will-power.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast at your hotel the time is allocated as leisure before your transfer to the airport for your flight home

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Arrive home