24 Hours Hotline: +86 137-3541-1378
Email:[email protected]
24 Hours Hotline: +86 137-3541-1378
Email:[email protected]
Tour Style:
Book a Suzhou Private Tour to celebrate Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival, watch Boat Ride Races, Join Zongzi-Making Competition and visit Chinese classic garden-Lingering Garden
Duration: 6 Hours
Attractions(Cities):
Lingering Garden, Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival (Boat Ride Race, Zongzi-Making competition)
Pick-up point:
Suzhou train station or your hotel in Suzhou downtown (based on your requirement)
Finishing point:
Suzhou train station or your hotel in Suzhou downtown (based on your requirement)
Tour Customizable:
Absolutely! (Tell us your requirements in your inquiry)
Payment Types:
Cash, Wire, Paypal, WesternUnion, Alipay, Wechat
Available: 5th May on Lunar Month
In the morning, our Suzhou tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby in Suzhou downtown or Suzhou Train Station with a welcome signage “Suzhou Private Tour”. The attractions of One day Suzhou private tour of Chinese dragon boat festival as below:
Our Suzhou Pick up signage"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.
After that, drive you to Jinji Lake to see the Boat Ride Race—the highlights of Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival(Chinese:???)
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is one of the important Chinese traditional festival, which happens on the 5th of May on lunar month with the history of over 2,000 years. This festival is a traditional holiday that commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan (Chu Yuan), who lived in the state of Chu during the Warring Stated period. Today, like people in other parts, people in Suzhou also eat Zongzi, drink yellow rice wine and hold dragon-boat races to celebrate the festival.
Background of Dragon Boat Festival
The festival commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, who was a loyal minister of the King of Chu in the third century BCE. Qu Yuan’s wisdom and intellectual ways antagonized other court officials, thus they accused him of false charges of conspiracy and was exiled by the king. During his exile, Qu Yuan composed many poems to express his anger and sorrow towards his sovereign and people.
Qu Yuan drowned himself by attaching a heavy stone to his chest and jumping into the Miluo River in 278 BCE at the age of 61. The people of Chu tried to save him believing that Qu Yuan was an honorable man; they searched desperately in their boats looking for Qu Yuan but were unable to save him. Every year the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate this attempt at rescuing Qu Yuan.
The local people began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river for Qu Yuan, while others believed that the rice would prevent the fishes in the river from eating Qu Yuan’s body. At first, the locals decided to make zongzi in hopes that it would sink into the river and reach Qu Yuan's body. However, the tradition of wrapping the rice in bamboo leaves to make zongzi began the following year.
Highlights---The way to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival
Boat Ride Race on Jinji Lake
The Jinji Lake Dragon Boat Race was first held in 2010, and was welcomed by citizens and grew rapidly. Now the race still consisted of two parts: the 300-meter 12 person small dragon boat race and the 300-meter 22 person large dragon boat race. 57 teams participated in the small dragon boat race while 13 teams joined the large dragon boat race, involving 1,320 participants who came not only from Suzhou, but also from neighboring cities such as Nanjing and Changzhou.
"Dragon boat racing is a traditional folk sport, and we plan to set up a 'Suzhou Dragon Boat Association' to promote the activity," said Tao Yongjie, the Deputy Director of Suzhou Sport Bureau.
Zongzi-making competition in Cang lang Street
Nearly 50 residents from 21 communities in the area of Canglang Street, Gusu District competed against each other for the title of the 'fastest zongzi maker'.
Participants' ages ranged from 50 to 70 years of age, with most of them experienced in the art of zongzi making. When the referee whistled the start of the event, they wasted no time in grasping reed leaves, shaping them into little funnels, then pouring glutinous rice into the funnel. They then folded the reed leaves into different shapes, and wrapped them with string to make the finished zongzi. Most people made zongzi of three corners, as it is the simplest shape to make; but some others made 'pillow zongzi' and 'small-corner zongzi', which are more complicated.
The 21 communities all sent their own teams to participate in the group competition. The competition took just five minutes, and the fastest team, which was from Zhuhui Community, made 45 zongzi. There were also 21 individuals to compete for the fastest zongzi maker individual. Each of them made only one zongzi, and the person who finished the quickest won. Most of the participants made a zongzi within 20 seconds.
After watched the Boat Ride Race and Zongzi-making competition, our Suzhou tour guide will take you back to your hotel in Suzhou or Suzhou Train Station.
Price Per Person in US Dollars
Personalized Travel Consultant
Experience the best of China with our expert travel consultants by your side. With years of local tourism experience, they are not only professional and knowledgeable but also deeply committed to making your trip unforgettable. Your dedicated consultant will craft a bespoke tour plan tailored to your unique interests, schedule, and budget, offering you the utmost flexibility. From the moment you start planning until the end of your journey, they will be in touch, ensuring every detail is perfect and that your trip runs smoothly.
Exceptional Local Guides
Discover it through the eyes of our exceptional local guides. All certified and experienced, they are passionate about sharing their deep knowledge of attractions, history, and culture. Whether you're interested in hidden gems or popular sites, they know the best places to visit. They can recommend top local restaurants, unique shopping spots, and must-see shows. Beyond just guiding, they provide enriching insights into the history, customs, and authentic daily life, making your experience truly immersive.
Premium Private Transportation
Travel in comfort and style with our premium private transportation. We offer a fleet of air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean, and meticulously maintained vehicles, all less than four years old. Our professional drivers, all locals with over a decade of driving experience, are friendly, courteous, and dedicated to your safety and comfort. Depending on your group's size, we provide a range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, business vans (MPVs), and spacious buses, all with ample luggage space.
Authentic Dining Experiences
We prioritize genuine local culinary experiences over pre-arranged tourist restaurants. Our local guides will recommend the best local restaurants where you can savor authentic flavors. This approach ensures you enjoy the freshest, most authentic meals, tailored to your preferences, and experience the true essence of the local cuisine. Whether your dietary needs are vegetarian, Muslim, Chinese, Western, Jewish, or Indian, we have excellent options to make every meal a delightful part of your journey.
Duration：10+ Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Humble Administrators Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple, Pingjiang Road
Tour Style：A private day trip pairing a fast Shanghai-to-Suzhou bullet train with a guide who knows the city. Your guide meets you at Suzhou train station by a Your Way Holiday sign, then you travel door to door in a private air-conditioned car with your bags left in it. The route covers Suzhou's essence at an easy pace: the Humble Administrator's Garden, the city's largest classical garden; Tiger Hill, with its leaning Yunyan Pagoda and the Sword Pool; Hanshan Temple, remembered in a Tang Dynasty poem; and a relaxed walk along Pingjiang Road, where whitewashed houses and canals run side by side. Your guide books tickets, sets the pace to your interest, and takes lunch at a real local kitchen rather than a tourist set menu. At day's end your driver returns you to Suzhou station for the train back to Shanghai.
Duration：10+Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Hanshan Temple, Shantang Street
Tour Style：A relaxed one-day tour of Suzhou built around its most-loved old-town sights. Your guide meets you at Suzhou train station beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and from there you move door to door in a private air-conditioned car. The day links the Lingering Garden, one of China's four celebrated classical gardens; Panmen Gate, the only old city wall and water gate still standing in Suzhou, first built in 514 BC; Hanshan Temple, made famous by a Tang Dynasty poem about its midnight bell; and Shantang Street, a 1,200-year-old canal market street. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace easy, and stops lunch at a local kitchen rather than a tourist hall. Vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are simple, and you pay only for what you order. At the end your driver returns you to Suzhou station for the train back to Shanghai.
Duration：6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Humble Administrators Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple, Shantang Street
Tour Style：A full day in Suzhou with your own guide and car, starting from your hotel. Your guide meets you in the lobby beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and you spend the day door to door in a private air-conditioned car with your bags left in it. The route covers Suzhou's classics at an unhurried pace: the Humble Administrator's Garden, the city's largest and most celebrated classical garden; Tiger Hill, long called the number-one sight in Suzhou, with its leaning Yunyan Pagoda; Hanshan Temple, famous for a Tang Dynasty poem; and Shantang Street, a 1,200-year-old canal market street. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace to your interest, and takes lunch at a genuine local kitchen rather than a tourist set menu; vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are easy and you pay for what you order. The day ends back at your hotel or wherever you like.
Duration：6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities)：Lingering Garden, Hanshan Temple, Panmen Gate, Pingjiang Road
Tour Style：A classic one-day tour of Suzhou, built around its most famous garden, temple, gate and old street. Your guide meets you at your Suzhou hotel or at the train station beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and you spend the day door to door in a private air-conditioned car. The route links the Lingering Garden, one of China's four great classical gardens; Hanshan Temple, made famous by a Tang Dynasty poem about its midnight bell; Panmen Gate, a 2,500-year-old land-and-water city gate; and Pingjiang Road, a preserved canal street of whitewashed houses and teahouses. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace easy, and takes lunch at a genuine local eatery rather than a tourist hall; vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are simple and you pay for what you order. At the end your driver returns you to your hotel or the station.
Duration：10+ hours
Attractions(Cities)：The Master of Nest Garden, Pingjiang Road, Zhouzhuang Water Town
Tour Style：One long day that pairs classical Suzhou with the most famous water town, all by private car from Shanghai. Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel and ride into Suzhou, where you start at the Master of the Nets Garden, the smallest and most finely worked of the city's classical gardens, then stroll the canal street of Pingjiang Road. After a Suzhou lunch of dishes such as squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, the car takes you on to Zhouzhuang, a 900-year-old water town of willow-lined canals, stone arch bridges and old merchant halls. Your guide times it to reach the town as the day-trippers leave, then drives you back to your Shanghai hotel. The car is private and air-conditioned, tickets are booked for you, and lunch is at a local kitchen rather than a tourist hall.
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