5 Days Suzhou Hangzhou Highlights Tour with Mt. Huangshan

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Suzhou: Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Hanshan Temple, Pingjiang Historic Road, Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory
Day 2 Suzhou: Tongli Water Town
Day 3 Suzhou-Hangzhou by bullet train: Boat Ride on West Lake, Viewing Fish at Flower Park, Guo's Villa, Meijiawu Tea Village, Bamboo Lined Path at Yunqi, Hangzhou Qianjiang CBD
Day 4 Hangzhou-Huangshan by bullet train: Mt.Huangshan
Day 5 Departure Huangshan: Mt. Huangshan, Tunxi Ancient Street

DAY 1

In the morning, our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Suzhou or Suzhou train station, you will find a welcome signage "Suzhou Private Tour". And your tour star as below:

Our Suzhou Pick Up Sign "Suzhou Private Tour"

Your day tour starts at the Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city's finest classical gardens. It has been listed as one of the four most famous national classic gardens together with the humble administrator's garden, the Summer Palace and Mountain Summer Resort in Chengde are called China's four largest gardens. Landscape architectural space processing is very exquisite, using a variety of artistic techniques, built a unique space system, becoming one of the world civilization examples of architectural space art processing. Wander through the trails and portals of this delicately-planned garden that carefully combines traditional Chinese architecture with natural beauty.A good place to let your mind and body rest.

Next agenda is Panmen Gate. The history of the Panmen Gate dates back to 514 AD. Built by Wu State during the spring and autumn period, Panmen is the only ancient city wall still intact in Suzhou.

Pay a visit to Master of Nets Garden, which is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet it is the most impressive because of its use of space which creates the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size. The garden is divided into three sections: a residential section, the central main garden and an inner garden. This12th century gem (later refurbished in the 18th century) and UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts an impressive garden and nightly Kunqu opera performances, but it's best known for its architectural splendor. The garden is especially fancied by overseas visitors and is praised as the most ornate and intact private gardens in Suzhou.

Later move on to Shantang Street, which was one of the streets which trade and culture were most highly developed in Ming and Qing dynasties, regarded as "the No.1 Ancient Street in China". There is a folk song, singing "There is a paradise in heaven, but there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on the earth. Hangzhou has the West Lake while Suzhou has Shantang. Both are good places with boundless sceneries", which is the vivid image of Shantang.

Then visit the Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill. Suzhou has a long and rich history of silk culture, including mulberry tree and silk worm cultivation and turning raw silk into beautiful fabric. The Suzhou No. 1 Silk Mill more like a museum which shows you how the silk is made from cocoons from the beginning and the whole silk process. Not to be missed.

After the tour ends, drive you to your hotel in Suzhou.

DAY 2

After breakfast, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and drive you to Tongli Water Town (around 1 hour for one way).

Residential House: Tongli Water Town deserves its name of a “museum of ancient architectures” as there are many homes and temples dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Designed along the riverside and embellished with carved windows, porcelain furniture, figured clay bricks, flying eaves, dapper gardens and tiny stairs leading all the way down to the water, these complexes named Tongli Water Town could be a shining pearl among the water townships south of Yangtze.

Retreat and Reflection (Tuisi) Garden: designed by the retired official Ren Lansheng throughout 1885 and 1887, is that the most spectacular in Tongli Water Town. Its name, Tuisi, suggests being meditative upon the previous faults when away from officialdom. The ingenious style for Tuisi Garden conforms to the native landforms and conditions and covers 700 square meters. Compact and harmonious, the garden is made from two parts. The garden within the east has verandas, ponds, waterside pavilions, Marble Boats, halls, kiosks, rockeries and bridges. 

In conjunction with flourishing trees and colorful flowers the garden greets guests with its beauty and charm regardless of the season. The residential area to the west consists of an outer house and inner house together with the tea hall, the sedan hall, 2 buildings forming the particular dwelling and a main reception hall.

Ancient Bridge: Taiping Bridge was built in 1747 during the Qing dynasty. Changqing Bridge, also named Guangli Bridge, was rebuilt by Xiezhen in the Ming dynasty. Siben Bridge, built in the Southern Song dynasty, is the oldest bridge in Tongli town. Dubu Bridge, 5 feet in length and 3 feet in width, is the smallest bridge in the town. As a character of Tongli, these ancient bridges today is reputed as the witness of the history, telling the story of the past.

Free on your own for a while and you will be transferred back to your hotel.

DAY 3

In the morning, our driver will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the train station for your train to Hangzhou. Once you arrived, our local Hangzhou tour guide will pick you up at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage "Hangzhou Private Tour".

Our Hangzhou Pick Up Sign " Hangzhou Private Tour"

First, take a boat cruise in the westlake. The Westlake Hangzhou (including boat cruise on westlake): West Lake has an area of 5.6 square kilometers (2.2 square miles) and is the symbol of Hangzhou which lies on its banks and is a place of tranquility. On the boat you can see one of theTen Best Views of West Lake--Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridges add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, verdant islands and hills make West Lake a very special part of any China experience.

After that, visit the Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond(Huagang Park). This spot is located at the southern end of Su Causeway. A clean stream flows from Huajia Hill to join West Lake here, and many flowers grow where the fresh water flows in, so it called "Flowery Harbor". This area now has been made into a 22 hectare (54 acre) park with many varieties of trees and flowers, featuring a peony garden which blooms in April and a goldfish pond which is the famous site for viewing fish. 

Later, drive to the Guo's Villa: Completed in 1861, this elegant garden villa was built as a private retreat for a wealthy Qing Dynasty silk merchant. Guo's Villa is a fine example of Chinese aesthetics in which the manmade and natural blend in harmonious balance.The Villa opened to the public in 1991, after being restored. It faces Spring Dawn, by the Sudi Causeway which crosses the West Lake, and has a distant view of the serene Southern Screen Hill and the Baochu Pagoda. The villa has two sections: the first section is the Living in Quietness, where the owner lived, the second part is the Sky in the Mirror garden, with a pond surrounded by roofed corridors (lang), bridges, rockwork, trees and flowers. 

After visiting the Guo's villa, drive to a village in the mountain side, our guide will pick a nice place for you for lunch!

After lunch, move to the Meijiawu Tea Plantation: Drogon Well Tea, also known as Longjing tea, is a variety of roasted green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China where it is produced mostly by hand and has been renowned for its high quality, earning the China Famous Tea title. Meijiawu Tea village is seated at the hinterland of West Lake Park and it boasts the most important Dragon tea production basis. Here you are in an original natural environment, just relax your feelings and enjoy the special tea culture, taste the fragrant tea while appreciating the beautiful village scenery. And our guide or Tea Farmer will show you how to pick the leaves, how to fry the leaves and how to drink the best tea in China.

After tea testing, move to Bamboo lined path at Yunqi: The forest is breathtaking. It really makes you realise how insignificant you are when you stand next to the bamboo trees towering way above you. You are surprised at how hard the bamboo actually was - no wonder Asian builders use it as scaffolding! The thing really liked about the bamboo forest is the light - even though the forest was dense, it still seemed really light and crisp, because of the fact the bamboo's all green (not like normal trees where the trunk is dark brown). It gives the forest a totally different vibe, hard to explain but it was just fascinating.

The last stop is the Hangzhou Qianjiang CBD, located in the southeast side of downtown Hangzhou, next to the Qiantang River. It is 4.5 km away from the West Lake Scenic Spot. The central area of the Hangzhou CBD (total area 3.29 km2) will serve as Hangzhou’s future business, political and cultural center. Overall development plans include. 650m2 of Grade-A offices, hotels, shopping malls and luxury residences. This place will give you a different impression about Hangzhou and show you the future of Hangzhou.

After the tour, drive you to your hotel in Hangzhou. Our tour guide will help you check in.

DAY 4

Meet by our driver at your hotel lobby after breakfast and drive you to the train station and you will take train to Huangshan(around 1.5 hours). Our local Huangshan tour guide will meet you at the exit and transfer you to the foot of Huangshan directly. Then transfer by park bus from the Tangkou Town to Yungu Temple where you will take the cable car from Yungu Station to the top of Huangshan mountain.

Our Huangshan Pick Up Sign "Huangshan Private Tour"

Firstly, you will visit the Brush Pen Peak, which is located in front of the North Sea hotel, northeast of Yellow Mountain and close to the Bijia Peak. The elevation is 1,640 meters. A stone stood lifting and outstanding with a round bottom cuspate top, like a brush pen used for calligraphers. There is an ancient pine tree between the gaps of the peak summit windingly with shade, like fresh flower in full bloom. 

Then followed by a tour to Begin-to-Believe Peak, Beginning-to-Believe Peak is located east of North Sea in Huangshan Mountain at a height of 1,668 meters. Legend has it that in ancient times a man did not believe in the tales people told of the beauty of the Huangshan Mountain. He then traveled here and when he arrived at this Peak, he suddenly realized the truth in the people's description of the mountains beauty, giving this place its name.The highlight of Beginning-to-Believe PeakAncient twisted pine trees and Rocks. Beginning-to-Believe Peak is noted for generous greenery and its shaped rocks. It is said: "The beauty of Huangshan is not fulfilled until you reach this peak". Every year, numerous visitors come in search of its charming beauty.

After that hiking to the Lion Peak, the peak acquires its fame because the peak rock is exposed; stood towering and confronting like a powerful lion lying on the high mountains. The peak is 868 meters high and there are 680 level stone ladders from the Jiyun temple to ascend the lion peak. and then moving to the West Sea Grand Canyon. 

After lunch, walk for a while from your hotel on an even path to visit the Turtle Fish Peak from which the stone steps descent suddenly to a lower valley and then rise up along the One Hundred Cloud Ladder to a high ridge on the half hillside of the highest peak on Mount Huangshan - Lotus Peak (1864m).?The Highlight of?Lotus PeakOne Hundred Cloud LadderKeeping hiking about one hour, you will get to the symbol of Mount Huangshan - Greeting Guests Pine. Greeting Guests Pine, left on the left side of Jade Screen Tower, is the symbol of Mt. Huangshan scenery. The pine is 10-meter high, 0.64-meter wide and more than 800-year old. It stands by the road holding out its branches just like a person protrudes its arm to welcome the long-distance guests.In the evening you will enjoy the sunset from the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion. 

Stay overnight on the top of Huangshan.

DAY 5

If the weather permits, get up early in the morning to appreaciate the sunrise of Yellow Mountain. In good-weather days, you can see the golden light of the sun piercing the mists clearly, and?rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast.

Then, go down the mountain by cable car and keep going to the Tunxi Ancient Street, at the foot of Mt. Huangshan, at the bend of Xin'an River, lies the beautiful mountain town called "Tunxi ". which is dubbed as the flowing Qingming Scroll (also Along the River during the Qingming Festival), one of the tops ten Chinese traditional paintings. 

Similar to the Qingming Scroll which presents the lively local life, here in Tunxi Ancient Street, colorful bazaars of local features are displayed in front of your eyes. It is also listed as one of China's Top Ten Historical and Cultural Streets. In this street, shoppers will enjoy the oldest stores in Huangshan City, some of which have been doing business for centuries.

Free on your own for a while until our tour guide drive you to the Huangshan train station and your tour come to the ends.

Price Per Person in US Dollars