This 6-day private tour offers an exclusive exploration of Eastern China's most breathtaking landscapes, combining Hangzhou's poetic West Lake, Huangshan's majestic peaks, Wuzhen's ancient canals, and Qiandao Lake's island paradise. Designed for discerning travelers, it eliminates all logistical hassles with a fully inclusive package while providing deep cultural immersion. The itinerary balances UNESCO World Heritage sites with authentic local experiences unavailable to regular tourists.
Key experiences include sunrise viewing at Huangshan's "Sea of Clouds," a private gondola ride through Wuzhen's Ming Dynasty waterways, and island-hopping by speedboat on Qiandao Lake. Guests enjoy VIP treatment throughout - from skip-the-line access at attractions to a curated tea ceremony in a 200-year-old Hangzhou teahouse. The tour features premium 4-5 star accommodations, including a lakeside resort at Qiandao Lake.
As a completely private tour, it includes all meals showcasing Zhejiang and Hui cuisines, an English-speaking guide, dedicated chauffeur, and all entrance fees. Unlike group tours, this experience offers flexible pacing and exclusive access to sites during uncrowded morning/evening hours. With no hidden costs and luggage handling between destinations, guests can focus entirely on enjoying China's cultural treasures in comfort.
Day 1 Wuzhen - Hangzhou (L)
Today’s highlights: Wuzhen Water Town (West)
This morning, you can independently take the high-speed train to Tongxiang - located just a 30-minute drive from Wuzhen. Direct trains are currently available from major cities like Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing, with travel times averaging around one hour. Upon arrival at Tongxiang, your local guide and driver will meet you at railway station, then transfer to Wuzhen Water Town.
With over 6,000 years of history, Wuzhen stands as one of China's Four Great Water Towns south of the Yangtze River and ranks among the nation's Top Ten Most Charming Towns. Known as "China's Last Water Town" and a "Land of Abundance," it perfectly preserves the quintessential Jiangnan water town scenery.
Begin your exploration at Wuzhen's West Scenic Area, featuring over 20 cultural sites that showcase the town's rich heritage through historical landmarks and breathtaking views, including Grass and Wood Indigo Dye Workshop, Zhaoming Academy, Wuzhen Post Office, Tongji & Renji Bridges, Bailian Pagoda, Xiqing Hall, Water Market, etc. (Your guide will flexibly adjust the itinerary based on weather conditions, crowd levels, and venue availability during your visit.) Browse local craft shops and snack stalls along the way. (Optional: Enjoy a scenic rowboat tour along the canals for an additional fee.)
After exploring, your guide will transfer you to Hangzhou (approximately 50km away) for hotel check-in.
Note: if you want to stay a night in the ancient town to enjoy marvelous evening view of Wuzhen, which usually costs more than staying in Hangzhou downtown, feel free to discuss with your travel consultant.
Wuzhen preserves the traditional wax-resist dyeing technique, using plant-based pigments.
Day 2 Hangzhou City & West Lake Tour (B, L)
Today’s highlights: West Lake, Cruise, Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, Hefang Street
After breakfast today, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to start today’s Hangzhou exploration!
First, make the exciting visit to the picturesque West Lake, which is the iconic site of Hangzhou and a pretty UNESCO World Heritage. Just as the famous traveler Marco Polo did and wrote: “A voyage on this lake offers more refreshment and pleasure than any other experience on earth”, you will start with a leisure cruise (about 45 mins) to enjoy the tranquil lake views as well as the ancient pagodas, traditional arched bridges, tree-lined walkways, beautiful hills, green islands and lush gardens including visit to the beautiful Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. After the cruise, visit West Lake's highlights like Su Causeway, Broken Bridge, Yuefei Temple, and scenic parks by foot or included sightseeing vehicle. The lake's vastness makes full exploration impractical, but your guide will customize the itinerary based on your schedule and energy levels.
Next, go to have an interesting cultural visit to Qiaoxi Conservation Area which is a peaceful cultural block sitting along the World Heritage Site - Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It preserves lots of old folk dwellings and industrial sites and has a series of themed museums and exhibitions. Walk leisurely along the Canal, visit the interesting China Museum of Knives, Scissors & Swords and China Umbrella Museum, then walk up to the famous Gongcheng Bridge to enjoy a pleasant panoramic view of surroundings . (Optional activities: You can experience one of the handcrafting activities if you are interested and time permits, which needs extra payment.)
After visiting Qiaoxi Conservation Area, you'll visit the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, a celebrated Qing Dynasty merchant. This opulent complex, hailed as "China's Finest Tycoon Residence". Recognized as Constructed around 1875, this architectural marvel cost 3 million taels of silver - equivalent to approximately 450 million RMB today. It uniquely blends Jiangnan-style garden architecture with Western craftsmanship, featuring exquisite elements like German stained glass installations and Italian imported floor tiles. Nearby lies Hefang Street, a pedestrian thoroughfare that recreates Hangzhou's vibrant Southern Song Dynasty atmosphere. Wander through its lanes to discover magnificent heritage buildings, authentic handicrafts, and tempting local delicacies.
Lastly, be escorted back to your hotel. The rest time is free for you to relax. (If you want to spend free time at the Hefang Street area or somewhere else, please discuss with your tour guide.)
Evening Ideas: 1) watch a magnificent night show - Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, a live performance by Yimou Zhang with changing lights, music and dancing on the West Lake, which usually starts at 7pm, needs extra payment; 2) feast your eyes with an amazing Music Fountain Show at Third Park, near the eastern lakeside of West Lake, free charged.
Day 3 Hangzhou - Qiandao Lake (B, L)
Today's highlights: Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Meijiawu Dragon Well Tea Village
After breakfast, transfer a short while to Feilai Peak (Peak Flying from Afar), which flew to China to spread Buddhism from India according to the legend. It features in over 300 Buddhist carvings lining the riverbanks and hillsides and tucked away inside grottoes. With over 1,000 years, it is the precious fresco treasure in the whole regions south of Yangtze River. Continue to the adjacent Lingyin Temple of nearly 1,700 year, which is the oldest and one of the most popular temples in Hangzhou. Hidden in the luxurious forest, it offers charming and peaceful landscape mixed with the strong Buddhist atmosphere among the large scaled of magnificent and antique temple clusters.
Then, drive uphill to Meijiawu Tea Village, a refreshing wonderland surrounded by mountains with a large area of emerald Dragon Well tea plantations in neat lines and curves. Walk among the tea plantations with fun and take beautiful photos (Optional activity: you can pay a visit to the local tea farmer’s family and experience picking tea leaves, watching stir-drying tea leaves, enjoying tea ceremony, tasting Dragon Well tea, etc., which is usually only available in March or April.). After that, go to China National Tea Museum to learn systematically about Chinese tea culture including the history, procession, customs and classification of tea, and admire diverse kinds of tea wares, machines, displays, etc.
After the visit, you will be transferred to Qiandao Lake (Thousand Islands Lake), a journey taking approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the resort at your leisure.
Day 4 Qiandao Lake - Huangshan (B)
Today’s highlights: Qiandao Lake (Southeast Lake Scenic Area: Huangshanjian, Tianchi Islet, Guihua Islet)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will escort you from the hotel to have a wonderful exploration of Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake China), which is actually the Xinan River reservoir with 1,078 islets coming up from the water and one of the top favored dreamy waterscape sites in China. You will take a sightseeing cruise around the beautiful Southeast Lake Scenic Area, which is the essence of nature at Qiandao Lake with verdant forests and lovely water. Immerse into the dotted various little green islets passing by and the ripples on the clear peaceful lake. Following the 5-6 hours’ cruise route, you will make stops at Huangshanjian, Tianchi Islet and Guihua Islet to enjoy more different sightseeing and fun.
Huangshanjian: with about 260 meters above sea, it is the best place to have a bird eye view of the fabulous Qiandao Lake. Take the cable car up to the viewing deck to admire the awesome spectacle of all the more than 90 islets displaying like strings of green diamonds on the smooth blue silk under clear sky backdrop. Besides, you can find it also like a Chinese character of “公 (community)”.
Tianchi Islet: also called Baoshi Hill, it is featured with picturesque scenery and fresh air. Walk on the islet to find the 7 heavenly lakes from South Song dynasty and enjoy hundreds of diverse fishes swimming in and jumping to be fed. Also, you will find the enormous chessboard and encounter nice waterfalls, ravine, seasonal flowers, traditional agricultural tools, etc. to get great mood and make your visit interesting.
Guihua Islet: – Legend has it that this was where the Dragon Maiden herded sheep. The islet is named for its abundant osmanthus flowers, with most osmanthus trees uniquely growing on rocks, a signature feature of the landscape. It also boasts expansive stone forests showcasing diverse and spectacular formations. Visitors should note that a troop of monkeys inhabits the islet, and caution is advised during exploration.
After the visiting, you will be escorted to railway station to catch your high speed train to Huangshan (about 40 mins).Hangzhou. Local tour guide and driver will greet you in the Huangshan railway satation, then transfer you to Huangshan downtown to check in to your hotel.
(Note: Lunch is not included, but you can find local restaurants and shops within the scenic area to purchase meals.)
Day 5 Huangshan Yellow Mountain Tour (B)
Today's highlights: Yungu Cable Way, Begin-to-believe Peak, Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, West Sea Grand Canyon
Walking Distance: about 7~9km/5~6 hrs
Today after breakfast, our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel, then drive about 80 kilometers (1.5 hours) to the foot of Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the most beautiful mountains in China. Your memorable Huangshan trip starts!
To save energy and time, you will directly transfer by park bus from the mountain foot to Yungu Temple to take a cableway to upper beautiful sightseeing area of Huangshan Mountain – North Sea Scenic Area which is famous for marvelous precipitous peaks, beautiful giant pine trees and far-reaching vision. Walk to lofty Begin-to-Believe Peak (1668m) to stretch your eyesight over cloud seas to far distance, and then hike about 40 minutes to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion to look down the Dreamland - West Sea Grand Canyon. Walk down along the stone steps to the deeper area of the canyon while enjoying the Avatar-like rising rock peaks, unfathomable cliffs, bizarre stones and tenacious pine trees.
Generally speaking, it takes about 3 hours for an energetic hiker to hike from the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, via 1st Ring and 2nd Ring to the bottom and return to the starting point. For beginners, children, and senior travelers, you can decide the hiking length on your own according to your physical condition, usually 2 hours for the 1st Ring and 2.5hrs for the 2nd Ring. In the bottom of the canyon, there is also a monorail cable trains for those who don’t want to return by walking to transfer back to the peak area.
If time and energy allow, you can spend about one hour to explore the Sky Sea Scenic Area where you can enjoy the sunset from the second highest peak - Bright Summit (1840m), visit the incredible Flying-over Rock, then go to your hotel on the mountain and have a good rest.
(Please Note: from December to the late March of next year, West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed for the cold weather and heavy snow. Please feel free to contact us to adjust your itinerary.)
Day 6 Yellow Mountain - Hongcun Village & Departure (B, L)
Today's highlights: Sunrise, Lion Peak, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea, Hongcun Ancient Village
Get up early (usually around 5am to 6am) to enjoy the magnificent sunrise from Huangshan. We suggest you watch the sunrise from the Refreshing Terrance which is only a few minutes’ walking from Beihai Hotel. In good-weather days, you can see clearly the golden light of the sun piercing the mists, and rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast. Continue on your wonderful sightseeing on the Yellow Mountain to see the famous Dawn Pavilion, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak (1690m). Then walk along the wood path to the cable station to take a cable car to exit the mountain. Your driver is ready at the mountain foot to transfer you to visit Hongcun, the best examples of ancient Huizhou-style architecture, which is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Xidi Village.
Hongcun was originally established during Song Dynasty (960-1276). It is praised as the most beautiful village in China, known as the "ancient village in the Chinese painting". As the home to the local successful officials or merchants, Hongcun Village's layout was designed very well, acting up to both China's Geomantic Omen and actual natural environment. All houses, halls and yards are very exquisite and grandiose, and retain most of the original features. Moon Lake, the crescent-like pond surrounded by several grand dwellings, and Southern Lake in front of the village are the best locations to take photos. Famous Oscar-winner film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed in Hongcun.
After the sightseeing, it’s time for departure. Your tour guide and driver will escort you to catch your flight/train to the next destination. Our service ends.
Note: All attractions can be customized according to your arrival and departure arrangements, the lowest price and best-value guaranteed. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. It will drop greatly if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month and date. There may be huge price increasing during public Chinese holidays, school summer vacations, tourism peak seasons or some special dates. (China Public Holiday 2025 Schedule Released)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include group size, hotel class, tour activities, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, etc.
4. This price is based on exchange rate USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid to March 31, 2026.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the confirmation letter sent to you by the travel consultant.
Hi Elk,
You are very kind, and I'll certainly be recommending you to anyone we know who is traveling to China! I've left a 5 star review on TripAdvisor also!
We really enjoyed the cruise and found it very relaxing and interesting. The rooms were really clean and comfortable, and the food was surprisingly good and varied. Some of the earlier excursions we found a little boring (we had already seen a lot of temples at that point) but the top of the Three Gorges and the trip up the smaller gorge was great!
Fergal
Dear Wonder,
Greetings from Melbourne. It feels like forever since our trip to China arranged by you. Everything went well. I look forward to having you arrange another trip for me in the future. Services are all great.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Wong
Hi Wonder,
Yes it was excellent. Jerry is a very good guide for Huangshan. He is very knowledgeable. thx
Cheng
Hi Leo,
We’re back from our trip—thank you so much for organizing such a memorable first tour of China. My family and I had a fantastic time and truly appreciated all the arrangements.
Overall Highlights:
1. Your responsiveness to all my inquiries, along with the clear arrangements, pricing and cancellation policy, made the booking process smooth and reassuring.
2. The transfers and pickups—from Beijing to Hangzhou and then to Shanghai—were seamless. The tour guides provided clear instructions throughout the journey, and we encountered no issues.
3. The tour guides and drivers were friendly, highly professional, ensuring our safety and staying prompt and on schedule. We especially appreciated the clear communication when there were any changes due to weather or timing.
4. The food and hotel (including breakfast) arrangements were excellent—well planned and thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you again for your outstanding service. We look forward to booking future trips with China Discovery!
Evolution form as below:
1. YES, Leo always response promptly and answered my questions as clearly and accurately as possible.
2. Tour Guides and drivers were all professionals. Ensure our safety, prompt, timely and on schedule. Foods and hotel arrangements were excellent! Appreciate they let us know ahead if there is a change in schedule due to weather or time.
3. Based on the interaction with China Discovery (prompt response, clear arrangement, pricing and cancellation policy). I will use and recommend China Discovery again.
4. Suggestion: Inform us in advance if a particular event or attraction is out of season—for example, our visit to Meijiawu Tea Village. It seems the tea-picking season was in March or April, so there was no tea leaf picking during our visit. Had China Discovery let us know ahead of time, we would have adjusted our expectations and avoided disappointment. That said, we still enjoyed the beautiful scenery and overall experience.
Cheow
Hi Elk,
我们对此行非常满意，三餐可供选择的食品种类多，味道可口；船上有表演、有互动，中途还有观景游玩，活动形式灵活多样；房间干净、零食和饮用水的提供到位；船上的工作人员态度和蔼耐心，服务周到，特别是我们在六楼11号餐桌用餐时为我们提供服务的女生服务员做事积极、周到又细致……。总之，感谢长江2号游轮带给了我们一个愉快的旅行！
Wong
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years!
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Wuzhen preserves the traditional wax-resist dyeing technique, using plant-based pigments - Claire
Hand-rowed boats glide along the time-honored waterways of Wuzhen
Whitewashed walls and ink-black roofs are the signature architectural feature of Wuzhen.
West Lake Spring
West Lake Boating Experience
Hefang Street
The Former Residence of Hu Xueyan
Lingyin Temple
Feilai Peak Stone Carvings
Pleaceful Longjing tea village
Tea Picking at Meijiawu Village Tea Plantation
Lawson Family from UK - Meijiawu Tea Plantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Qiandao Lake Panoramic View at Huangshanjian
Qiandao Lake Cruise Ship
Qiandao Lake Tianchi Islet Sightseeing
Monkeys on Guihua Islet, Qiandao Lake
Yungu Cable Car on Mount Huangshan
Enjoy the amazing scenery on Begin-to-believe Peak
Jack and Emily from UK - West Sea Grand Canyon, Yellow Mountain
Yellow Mountain Sunrise
Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (on Lion Peak)
Hongcun Village - Mr. and MRS. Jorge from Peru
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Suzhou / Shanghai
Shanghai / Wuzhen / Hangzhou / Huangshan / Jingdezhen / Wangxian Valley
Hangzhou / Huangshan
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
2,230+ Reviews
