Essence Tour from Nanjing to Suzhou

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Nanjing

  Welcome to Nanjing, the time-honored capital of Jiangsu Province!

  On arrival, your private guide will pick you up and escort you to your hotel to help you check in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and recover from jet lag.

  • Nanjing

• Day 2: Nanjing

  Start your journey at the Presidential Palace, where a series of important political events took place. Entering the palace is like opening up an album of modern Chinese history. Today, it is the largest architectural heritage of modern China and the Museum of Chinese Modern History. Appreciate its exquisite Jiangnan gardens as well as modern buildings influenced by Western style.

  Temple of Confucius will be the next. You will see a large scale of ancient Chinese architectures and get an understanding of Confucianism and the way Chinese think. Move on to Zhonghua Gate, which means Chinese Gate. It is the most splendid part of the ancient City Wall of Nanjing; then, Yangtze River Bridge, the pride of modern Nanjing, cannot be missed. The final stop is Massacre Memorial Hall, where you will learn more about the horrific massacres that the Japanese army made in World War II. You may feel suffocated while watching the pictures, but that's the cruel truth of the war.

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  • Nanjing

• Day 3: Nanjing - Suzhou

  Today, you will firstly visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the tomb of the "Father of the Nation" in the Republic of China. He has been widely revered in both mainland China and Taiwan.

  Continue to visit the tomb of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Emperor Mausoleum, also called Ming Xiaoling. This is followed by the Nanjing Museum, one of the largest museums in China. Afterward, take 1.5 hours' high-speed train to Suzhou. Upon arrival, your private guide and driver will take care of you.

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  • Suzhou

• Day 4: Suzhou

  The Humble Administrator's Garden will be your first stop today. Seeing the rocks, pools, pavilions inside may satisfy all your imagination of ancient China. Next is the adjoining new Suzhou Museum. It is said to be the last design of Mr. I.M.Pei and a window for local cultures.

  After that, proceed to the Lion Grove Garden, a maze-like one where you can climb up and down or get lost in its "lion rocks"; then, have a visit to the No.1 Silk Factory. There is a collection of the museum, producing mill, store and fashion show platform. It's worth to see how the silkworm is fed and how small cocoon was transformed into smooth silk. Finally, stroll along the Pingjiang Road, built in the Song Dynasty, and it is still well preserved.

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  • Suzhou

• Day 5: Suzhou - Tongli - Suzhou, Departure

  Drive to Tongli Water Town, often praised as the "Venice of China". Ramble in the quaint town and have an insight into local life in the Jiangnan region. Maybe you will see people washing clothes by the river. Late in the afternoon, be transferred to your hotel in Suzhou or the railway station.

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