Classical Gardens, Picturesque Water Town, Vast Lake & Profound Culture
Do you know Jiangnan (江南)? It is a poetic name of the south region of the Yangtze River. Jiangsu is the typical Chinese-painting like destination demonstrating the charm of Jiangnan. Take our 5-day Jiangsu tour covering three popular destinations – Suzhou, Wuxi and Nanjing to free your imagination, relax your body and widen your mind by exploring the classical gardens, water towns, lake scenery, grand Buddha, silk culture as well as Jinling culture.
Everyone has a Jiangnan dream and why not describe your story in this fertile land on your own? Go with China Discovery now!
Highlights of this tour
In the early morning of today, you will be picked up from the train station or your hotel lobby by your private tour guide and driver, then set out for Suzhou exploration.
Start with an interesting visit to Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the Four Greatest Gardens in China as well as the largest and most grandiose one among all Suzhou Gardens. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou was listed as the World Heritage Site in 1997 because the gardens of Suzhou represent the development of Chinese landscape garden design over more than two thousand years, and they are the "most refined form" of garden art, according to UNESCO. Among all the Suzhou Gardens, Humble Administrators’ Garden is the largest one in Suzhou and is considered by some to be the finest garden in all of southern China. It is an artistic combination of buildings, ponds, bridges, paths and trees arranged in a specific manner. Scenic, peaceful and eloquent, everything in the garden tells a story of the pastime. After visiting Humble Administrator’s Garden, move on to the next site - Shantang Ancient Street, a wonderful place for a relaxing walking or leisure cruise on canals. It used to be an important trade and culture center during Ming and Qing Dynasties, and now is famous as the miniature of old Suzhou and the window of Wu culture. Enjoy the ornate water-town style architectures, marvel at the bustling streets and savor at local snacks.
In the afternoon, you will go to explore the most historical site in Suzhou - Tiger Hill. The hill is only 36 meters in height, but covers about 3.5 acres areas with a number of historical sites some of which have history over 2,500 years. The most famous sites include the Yunyan Pagoda which is an over-1000-year-old pagoda with seven stories in height and famously leans much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Sword Pool where the King of Wu, He Lu, tested and buried his treasured swords about 2500 years ago. Apart from the history, the Tiger Hill is also an amazing place to go for a walk, enjoy natural scenery and experience local custom. Next, transfer from Tiger Hill to Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory for a great entertaining and educational Silk experience. Acting as a living museum of Suzhou Silk, this factory exhibits not only the ancient looms in different dynasties and different weaving techniques, but also the demo of silk manufacturing from cover to cover. You can feast your eyes on each step of the magic process, including silkworms eating mulberries, machinery unraveling cocoons, workers spinning silk and so on. A sea of fancy silk items like scarves, pajamas, bags, cheongsams, shirts, etc. are also on display.
After the sightseeing, be escorted to your hotel in Suzhou downtown.
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, go to the beautiful water town of Zhouzhuang with about 1 hour's driving. 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 in Zhouzhuang: 1) riding a boat through the canals to appreciate the fascinating scenery of rivers, bridges and local residences and listen to the old songs of the local sculler. 2) enjoying an authentic Kun Opera Performance.
Drive back to Suzhou.
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel, and then set out to Wuxi.
Firstly, drive to the northern bank of Taihu Lake to see Lingshan Grand Buddha. The huge statue stands majestically at 88 meters tall, even taller than stone-carved Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan and twice the height of famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio. Hence, it is recognized as the tallest bronze Buddha in the world. Don’t forget to touch the largest Buddha hand which is said to bring you good fortune and longevity. Apart from the Grand Buddha, Vatican Palace Sacred Site filled with elegant carving and artwork is also a big highlight of the scenic area. You’ll have a full understanding about Buddhism after enjoying Nine Dragons Bathing Shakyamuni and Ode to Auspice in the Palace. Besides, you will visit Five Mudra Mandala in Tibetan style, and enjoy the happy scene of 100 children playing with Maitreya Buddha.
After the spiritual tour, it is time to relax your body and mind with breathtaking natural scenery. There is a saying “The superb view of the Taihu Lake lies in the Turtle Head Peninsula”. Visit Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Island) to wander through the jagged tranquil path to appreciate the picturesque lakes, islands and hills. Going to Yuantouzhu in spring allows you to savor the beauty of various flowers like blooming cherry, peach blossoms and orchid flowers. Besides, lotus is blooming from June to September. Yuantouzhu is the no.1 place in China to appreciate cherry. The International Cherry Blossom Festival is held from March to April when you can immerse yourself in the sea of flowers. After sightseeing in Yuantouzhu, enjoy the great landscape from a different way – taking a 20-minute roundtrip cruise across Taihu Lake between Yuantouzhu and Fairy Island. If your energy permits, climb up to the top of Luding Hill to have a panoramic vista of the Turtle Head Island and Taihu Lake.
Next, drive to the railway station to catch your train (about 1 hour) to Nanjing. Your local guide will pick you up and accommpany you to your hotel in Nanjing City
Please note:
1. Arrival Ideas: Wuxi has high speed trains well linking with Shanghai (less than 1 hour), Suzhou (10~15 minutes), Nanjing (1 hour) and more destinations. For your convenience, you can travel to Wuxi from Shanghai and Suzhou, etc.
2. Seize the right time to watch Nine Dragons Bathing Shakyamuni which usually 4 times at 10:00; 11:30; 14:45; 16:45. And enjoy Ode to Auspice at 10:35; 11:30; 14:00 and 16:00 (Monday to Friday) or at 10:35; 11:30; 13:00; 14:00; 15:00 and 16:00 (Saturday and Sunday).
After breakfast, you will be accompanied by your tour guide to explore Nanjing’s diverse culture. Nanjing is called as the “City of Emperors” while Purple Mountain (Zijinshan) is the final resting places of the emperors and great leaders, including the founder of Ming Dynasty – Zhu Yuanzhang and Sun Yet-sen, the “Father of Republic China”. Today you are going to unlock their secrets in just one go!
Zhongshan Ling, located at the foot of the Purple Mountain, is the mausoleum park of Sun Yat-sen who was the leader of the Chinese revolution that ended the more than 2000 years feudal monarchy system. It is seen as China's version of the Lincoln Memorial. There are 392 steps to climb to the actual mausoleum, but you will be accompanied along by magnificent buildings and elegant landscapes. Pay your respect to Sun Yat-sen at his resting place, also enjoy the mesmerizing panoramic view of Nanjing city and surrounding.
Xiao Ling, located near to Zhongshan Ling, is the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang who united China and established the mighty Ming Dynasty. Covering over 1,700,000 square meters, it is rather a vast complex of palaces, temples and greenery than a simple tomb, which took 25 years’ efforts of over 100,000 workers. As an honorable UNESCO World Heritage Site, Xiao Ling magnificent value of architecture and royal mausoleum culture. All the later mausoleums of both Ming and Qing Dynasties were built by the layout and style of Xiao Ling. You will walk at leisure to the mausoleum along the Sacred Road which is guarded by giant stone sculptures of various animals and generals from ancient time, making your visit calming and pleasant.
After the impressive mausoleums visiting, drive heading to the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao). Built in Song Dynasty about 1000 years ago, the temple is one of the most important temples to worship the siege Confucius. For foreign visitors, it is a unique place where you can figure out how Chinese society, education system, government system was built Confucius’ thoughts, and how Confucianism have impacted relationship between people and basic guidance on how your Chinese think about our world. It is truly an inspiration.
Later, you will be taken to Qinhuai River area to explore the local lifestyle. The river runs through the city of Nanjing, remembering the history of Nanjing in many history books and poems. Today, it is a great place to wander around. Red lanterns, shops, eateries, souvenirs sellers cluster all round in the pedestrian street. At night the whole area is lit up with colorful lights thus creating a very impressive night scenario. It is very popular to take a colorfully decorated boat to ride on this ancient river, which will be a memorable experience.
Lastly, you will be escorted back to your hotel. The rest time is free for you to relax and take rest. You can also be dropped off at Qinhuai River area if you want to stay more time at the area for dinner and relaxing.
After breakfast, go for enjoy a leisure stroll on the Ancient City Wall (Xuanwumen Section) which is the longest, largest, and best-preserved ancient city wall in the world. It was built about 650 years ago, with about 25 km remaining well. An interesting fact is many of the bricks in the wall have signatures of the artisans who originally made the brick, which is believed to be helpful to guarantee the quality of the walls. Walking on the top of the wall gives to you the nice highlight of ancient time and modern Nanjing.
After the impressive mausoleums visiting, drive heading to Niushoushan Forest Park, a hidden treasure of Nanjing, a place where both Buddhists and regular tourists can enjoy. After entering the park, you will ride a sightseeing bus to the Usnisa Palace at the top to start sightseeing. The palace is a modern building that is 9 storeys and built into an iron quarry, with fabulous design. It was built to collectively exhibits and preserves the treasure of the Buddhist world - the world's only parietal relic of Buddha. One has to see it to believe it. You will also take your time to visit the iconic Foding Temple and Foding Pagoda, and enjoy some leisure walking in the park.
The rest time is free until your guide and driver transfer you to catch your flight/train to the next destination or home. Tour ends.
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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.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
"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!
Elegant Jiangnan Sceneries in Humble Administrator's Garden
Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory
Suzhou Tiger Hill
Shantang Street
Suzhou Museum Architecture
Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang Water Town Locals
Lingshan Grand Buddha
Vatican Palace Sacred Site
Yuantouzhu in Spring
Zhongshan Ling - the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
Qinhuai River - a great place to wander around
Confucius Temple (Fuzi Miao) - an inspiring place about Chinese culture
Xiao Ling - an honorable UNESCO World Heritage Site
Nanjing Ancient City Wall - best-preserved ancient city wall in the world
Niushoushan - a place where both Buddhists and regular tourists can enjoy
Dear Jack,
I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.
"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"
Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth
Hi Jack!
It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!
Hi Jack,
we will be happy to when we get back to Shanghai It was a great trip and Kevin was a wonderful guide!
Lisa
Hi Jack,
Absolutely fantastic trip. We enjoyed every moment and the guides were all really good.
I might only have one more year in China and I would like to see more. I believe that the best way for me is smaller trips leaving Thursday evening and returning Sunday.
Soren
Hi Jack,
Thank for our trip. Well organised. Driver & guide were super ! We have been lucky to have a sunny weather and the lantern festival! And not toooooo cold, only if you compare to the week before !
Helene
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
Hangzhou / Suzhou
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“Very good experience”
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