Classic Shanghai With Suzhou & Tongli Water Town

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

  Touching down in Shanghai, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Once settled in, feel free to explore the surrounding area at your own pace. A walk along the nearby streets, a stop at a local cafe, or simply taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city makes for a pleasant and easy introduction to Shanghai.

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• Day 2: The Bund, Yu Garden & Longhua Temple

  Starting at Broadway Mansions, a leisurely walk follows The Bund, Shanghai's historic waterfront corridor. Crossing the historic Waibaidu Bridge and passing the grand Peace Hotel, the roughly 2.5-hour walk concludes at the Bund Weather Signal Tower, with colonial-era buildings on one side and the city's modern skyline across the river on the other.

  The experience then moves to Yu Garden, a beautiful Ming Dynasty garden of rockeries, pavilions, and peaceful ponds tucked away in the heart of the old city. Just outside its entrance, the lively Yuyuan Bazaar is a great place to browse local shops and try street food, and a short stop at a silk shop offers a quick look at one of China's most well-known traditional crafts. The day ends on a quieter note at Longhua Temple, Shanghai's oldest and largest Buddhist temple, its ancient pagoda standing tall against the city's southern skyline.

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  • Shanghai

• Day 3: Former French Concession, Museum & Shanghai Skyline

  Wandering through the Former French Concession, it reveals a different, more relaxed side of Shanghai, with tree-lined streets, charming old villas, and a laid-back atmosphere that sets it apart from the rest of the city.

  The new Shanghai Museum East is the next, bringing you to witness thousands of years of Chinese art and history, all housed in one of the city's most impressive new buildings. The day concludes at Shanghai Tower, where you'll enjoy a full-scale perspective of the city, with wide views across dense urban layers and the Huangpu River tracing the movement of Shanghai's growth.

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  • Shanghai

• Day 4: Suzhou Gardens & Tongli Water Town

  Heading out of the city, you will drive to Suzhou to visit the famous Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a classical garden defined by layered rock formations, shaded walkways, and still ponds that reflect a long-established garden tradition.

  From there, Tongli awaits, a well-preserved ancient water town built around a network of canals and connected by old stone bridges. Stepping aboard a hand-paddled boat is a lovely way to see the town from the water.

  By late afternoon, drive back to Shanghai.

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  • Shanghai

• Day 5: Departure from Shanghai

  Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure. As you head home, you leave with a well-rounded sense of Shanghai, its history, its energy, and the quieter, timeless charm of the water towns just outside the city.

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