4 Days Heavenly Hangzhou Suzhou Tour with Zhouzhuang Water Town
Explore all the best highlights in just one go!
Explore all the best highlights in just one go!
Why Choose This Tour?
Experience the perfect harmony of nature, culture, and luxury on this unforgettable journey through Hangzhou and Suzhou. These two cities, steeped in history and celebrated for their breathtaking landscapes, offer a rare blend of UNESCO-listed heritage and modern comforts. From the poetic West Lake to the intricate Classical Garden and romantic Water Town, every stop is a masterpiece of natural beauty and human artistry. Enjoy seamless travel with private transfers, handpicked cozy hotels, and expert guides ensuring a hassle-free, immersive experience.
Designed for discerning travelers, our private customized tours prioritize flexibility, authenticity, and high-quality service, making this journey as unique as you are.
Day 1 Hangzhou Arrival & Hangzhou (L)
Today’s highlights: The Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, Hu Qing Yu Tang, Hefang Street
Welcome to Hangzhou! Upon your arrival at Hangzhou airport/train station (or your hotel), your local travel guide and driver will greet you and we’ll begin our half-day exploration of Hangzhou.
First, visit the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan (closed on Mondays, except for Chinese legal holidays), a renowned merchant in the late Qing Dynasty. This luxurious mansion, known as the “First Residence of Chinese Tycoons,” is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture and craftsmanship. Built in 1872 A.D. during the peak of Hu Xueyan’s career, the residence covers an area of over 10.8 acres and features a combination of traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles.
Then, walk to the century-old Chinese pharmacy on the street - Hu Qing Yu Tang, which is also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum and was built by Xueyan Hu, a famous merchant in late Qing dynasty. Many locals still visit senior doctors there for treatment today. Marvel at the magic of traditional Chinese medicine by looking at the countless traditional Chinese medicines and herbs, various traditional tools and watch the live processing of medicines.
After visiting Hu Qing Yu Tang, enjoy a historically significant stroll along Hefang Street, a unique pedestrian street to see the typical old and prosperous Hangzhou in South Song era. Stroll to admire the ornate old styled Chinese architectures, interesting local handicrafts, delicious snacks, etc.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel and help you with the check-in procedure.
Hefang Street
Day 2 Hangzhou (B, L)
Today's highlights: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Meijia Dock Dragon Well Tea Village, China National Tea Museum
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 symbolic 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, 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 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 grower’s family and experience picking tea leaves, watching stir-drying tea leaves, enjoying tea ceremony, tasting Dragon Well tea, etc., which needs extra payment.).
After Meijiawu visiting, be escorted back to your hotel in Hangzhou downtown. Have a good sleep!
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 - Suzhou (B, L)
Today's highlights: Lingering Garden, Shantang Ancient Street, Tiger Hill, Suzhou Silk Museum
Day 4 Suzhou - Zhouzhuan & Departure (B, L)
Today’s highlight: Zhouzhuang Water Town
Today after breakfast, you guide and driver will pick you at your hotel to visit the most outstanding museum in Suzhou – Suzhou Museum which is the masterpiece of the world famous architect I. M. Pei who has built Louvre's pyramids in Paris, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Miho Museum in Japan and many extraordinary buildings all over the world. While he was designing the Suzhou Museum, he combined the features of classical Suzhou Gardens with modern and fashionable characteristics. The museum has collected more than 40,000 decent items of ancient Chinese art, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphy, porcelains, jade wares, handmade crafts, etc., from bronze ages to Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Next, take about a half-tour driving to the beautiful water town of Zhouzhuang. Reputed as the No. 1 Water Town in China, Zhouzhuang is one of the “ten most beautiful towns in the globe” and “world charming water town”with a long history of over 1000 years, appealing sightseeing and authentic flavor of regions south of Yangtze River in China. Visiting Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, you can see 14 ancient particular stone bridges built in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, multiple courtyards linking together on the winding water, more than 800 residents living by the river, etc. which is exactly the look of serene historic water town in east China. Besides the scenery, the special folk culture in Zhouzhuang will tell you about the real gem of culture in Wu area and the sole of this charming place. Famous attractions include the Double Bridge, Old Drama Stage, Cultural Street, Zhang’s Residence and Shen's Residence, etc.
Optional Activities: 1) take a boat to go through the canals to appreciate the fascinating scenery of water, bridge and local residences and listen to the old songs of the local sculler. 2) watch an free authentic Kun Opera Performance on the street.
The afternoon is free for you to transfer to Shanghai to catch your flight/train to next destination. Our service ends.
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 Jack,
At the very top, the trip organization was faultless. The pickups and drop offs were all on time or a little early and everyone was ready to go punctually.
Drivers
All excellent. Safe, skilled, thoughtful.
Guides
All exceptional. English was good to fully fluent. All very caring and concerned for our welfare and willing to make changes to suit what we required.
Of special note Linda in Beijing and Cecily in Xian who went to some trouble to help us. Oscar, Richard and Morgan also fantastic.
Hotels
All very comfortable. The one in Shanghai seemed a little out of the way with nothing around it. The Eastern House in Xian was perfectly positioned as was the one in Yichan?? (at the end of the short cruise from Guilin). They were near places to eat and were in interesting places.
Generally
We would be very happy to recommend China Discovery to anyone wishing to visit China and we already have.
A suggestion
This is a communication issue rather than an organisational one
I think there is a big omission from your web site. It may be there and I may have missed it but I did look very hard.
These days people are very suspicious of scams and other unpleasant experiences so it's important for companies to present a clear, efficient and detailed process.
People need to know and have explained to them that they will get full details of the trip before they leave home.
I know that we got all this but should have been told rather than having to ask for each piece.
The perfect place would be to put this at the end of your payment section which everyone will read. EG. Plan the trip, make a booking, pay deposit, pay balance and then you will get all this other information. This last point seems to be missing. EG telling me I’d get a confirmation message really tells me nothing if I don’t know what is going to be in it. Telling me that I’d get an information pack and what would be in it would add a lot more confidence to dealing with the company.
Another small matter. Once money is paid, it is important that people get quick and formal recognition that funds have been received. Having to ask for a receipt for payment also does not build confidence in the company.
Thank you for organizing the trip. It was outstanding.
Cheers
Graham
Dear Leo,
My wife and I are very grateful for your excellent trip organization. Everything went very well and smoothly. The guides were very professional and established an excellent rapport with us. I want to highlight the friendliness of the two young lady guides in Beijing and Chengdu. I also want to mention the good knowledge of the history of our guide in Xian and the professional and attentive attitude of the guide who accompanied us in Guilin, when my wife had an accident before boarding for Yangshuo. Fortunately, the accident had no consequences and she is fine.
All my best
Luis
Good day Jack,
We want to thank you for the wonderful trip we took in China. You took good care of everything for us. Very nice! We enjoyed it very much.
Evaluation:
1. Yes. We always got quick and adequate answers to our questions.
2.The arrangements were very good and varied. Hotels were fine, also was the location of the hotels perfect and central. The guides were knowledgeable and knew a lot about the area or history. The meals in between were also very good. Nice to eat at local restaurants. Also, the transportation and driver were well arranged.
3. Yes I certainly will recommend our service.
4. General opinion: very good!
On behalf of my daughters also thank you so much for your panda gifts. They were very happy with the gifts. Very nice of you to do so.
We definitely want to make another trip to China in the future and will consult you again for booking the trip.
Thank you so much for everything.
Kind regards,
Michel and Irma
Dear Jack,
Just to thank you and China Discovery! We are on the train to Xian business class. It has been a wonderful trip for us so far. Steven was a great guide and so accommodating. Mr Yang was also so helpful and a careful driver. Anne, Susan, Janet join me in thanking you all!
Regards,
Judy
Hello Rita,
I’ve just now uploaded the text below to TripAdvisor. I hope it appears properly (I don’t do this often) and that it helps with your annual bonus. Marian and I are indeed very pleased with what you organised and very impressed with how well it worked.
My wife and I spent two weeks travelling through China in April 2025 on a tailor-made tour organised by Rita Jiang at China Discovery. China is a beautiful country to visit; and Rita’s organisation of our travels was brilliant. Ahead of our holiday, she and I exchanged countless emails in which she provided quick and clear responses arranging the itinerary that we wanted. We flew into Hong Kong and visited Macau, then travelled by high-speed trains and river cruise ships to Guilin, Yangshuo, Yangtze Three Gorges, Zhangjiajie and Beijing, spending a couple of days at each to see the sights. Throughout these travels Rita was regularly in touch, ensuring that we knew in advance the names and mobile numbers of our drivers and guides at each destination, as well as our coach and seat numbers on the trains. Wherever we arrived, our drivers and guides were right there to meet us as planned – and took very good care of us through to boarding our next train or ship. Our days were filled with fascinating sights, excellent food, lots of information from our guides, and insights into Chinese history, culture and daily life; and our nights were spent in very comfortable hotels and a spacious comfortable cabin on the Yangtze cruise. All the arrangements made by Rita worked perfectly: our travels could not have gone more smoothly; and our experience of China could not have been more enjoyable.
Yours,
Martin
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!
Hefang Street
The Former Residence of Hu Xueyan
Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum
West Lake Summer
West Lake Boating Experience
Lingyin Temple at Leafy Forest
Hangzhou Dragon Well Tea Plantation
Suzhou Museum Architecture
Our Guest from Australia Visiting Zhouzhuang Water Town
Zhouzhuang Water Town
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Suzhou / Shanghai
Hangzhou / Wuzhen
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Huangshan / Jingdezhen / Wangxian Valley
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
2,200+ Reviews
