2 Days Picturesque Suzhou Tour from Shanghai
A Seamless Escape from Shanghai to Suzhou's Timeless Landscapes
A Seamless Escape from Shanghai to Suzhou's Timeless Landscapes
Just about a 100-kilometer drive from Shanghai, our carefully crafted 2 Days Picturesque Suzhou Tour from Shanghai offers the ideal blend of cultural wonder, classical garden, and water town charm. This immersive experience takes you through Suzhou's most treasured highlights: the architectural masterpiece of I.M. Pei's Suzhou Museum, the UNESCO-listed Humble Administrator's Garden showcasing classical Chinese landscape artistry, the enchanting evening ambiance of lantern-lit Shantang Street perfect for strolls, and the picturesque waterways of Tongli - one of China's best-preserved ancient water towns. What makes this tour truly special is its perfect balance - equal parts cultural immersion and scenic relaxation, with all transportation and sightseeing arranged for maximum comfort and convenience.
Our private tour package includes personalized itinerary planning, expert local guide services, and private transportation with professional drivers - everything you need for an unforgettable Suzhou experience! Our comprehensive service ensures you'll create lasting memories exploring the "Venice of the East". Contact us to customize your perfect Suzhou getaway from Shanghai!
Day 1 Suzhou Arrival (L)
Today's highlights: Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Shantang Ancient Street
Welcome to Suzhou, the paradise of classical gardens, water towns, and silk culture! Your guide and driver will pick you up from Shanghai train station, airport or your hotel. After about 1.5~2 hours driving from Shanghai, you will arrive at Suzhou and then set out for today's exciting activities.
Start with an interesting visit to 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.
After about 2 hours' Suzhou Museum visit, you will be transferred to explore 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. (If you want to spend some free time at Shantang Street or enjoy the night view here please let your tour guide know.)
Accommodate at Suzhou City.
Borrowed Scenery in Humble Administrator's Garden
Day 2 Suzhou - Tongli - Shanghai Departure (B, L)
Today's highlights: Tongli Water Town
After breakfast, your driver and guide will escort you on the 25 km (approximately 40-minute) journey from downtown Suzhou to the renowned Tongli Water Town, which along with Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, is one of China's most famous and beautiful ancient water towns. This charming water town, a quintessential example of China’s ancient canal settlements, boasts over 1,000 years of history and meticulously preserves its authentic architecture: weathered bridges, traditional homes, and time-honored folk customs.
Begin your Tongli exploration at the Retreat & Reflection Garden (Tuisi Garden), the crown jewel of the town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is an absolute must-see. This exquisite Qing Dynasty garden offers a flawless showcase of classical Chinese landscape design. Next, take a poetic stroll across the iconic Three Bridges - Taiping, Jili, and Changqing - where locals still uphold the tradition of crossing them together for good fortune. Then wander down Ming-Qing Street to browse antique shops and sample local snacks, immersing yourself in the historic atmosphere.
Conclude your experience with a picturesque boat ride (optional/available for an extra fee) through Tongli’s zigzagging canal network. Glide past waterside homes and under arched stone bridges to capture the quintessential water-town perspective.
After Tongli exploration, you will be transferred to Shanghai to catch your flight/train to next destination. Tour 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 Wonder,
All is good! Only my father get tired very easily, so today we skip a little bit of the programma and got back to the hotel a little bit earlier. But overall everything is good!
The tour was also good, we saw everything we wanted to see… and everything went by smoothly. Only the distance is the problem… everything is so far away.
1 week is a good choice for us, because at the end of the trip, my father and aunt had enough of the travelling. And I even thought to go to Kashgar… maybe we do it next time only Xinjiang. My father couldn’t go to some places in Zhangye, so he wait at the entrance with the tour guide while my aunt and me were wandering around.
Vanessa
Hi Tammy,
Now safely back in London after a wonderful time in China.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Victoria Jenna cruise and although we did not upgrade our cabin, as it was perfectly fine, we did upgrade the dining option as it meant we could have our own table for two in the upper dining room (rather than sharing a large table for 10 people in the large dining room) plus the food choice was larger and wine was included with lunch and dinner. Highly recommend that option.
Xi’an was terrific and we really enjoyed everything you organized and our guide Jenny was great and so knowledgeable.
Over the long weekend in between we also travelled with our daughter to Hangzhou and then on to Suzhou both very interesting and pretty.
As you know we upgraded the train to Xi’an to first class which I think was well worth doing as the train back from Yichang was comfortable but very busy and noisy for Western people, and also many people were making their own pot noodles etc so my recommendation would be to travel first class on trains (rather than flying) because you see so much of the country and the stations are well organized and trains very comfortable with lots of space and no hanging around it airports.
Thank you for all your help Tammy, excellent work and I will certainly contact you again when we return (we have a two year visa) so will return so we can visit Guilin and that area.
Take care and thanks again.
Maggie
Dear Wonder:
Evolution feedback as below,
1. Very quick, impressive, Wonder took care of every detail, any doubt any concern responding in a very proper, clear a positive way.
2. Everything was perfect, well coordinated, all the guides were on time, very nice people all, service was outstanding, all reservations were made perfectly. Wonder did a perfect job.
3. I am currently recommending Chengdu Bamboo International Tours to every person I know.
4. General opinion: perfect, great service, impressive the clearness of the information, quick response and open to explore alternatives and to mofify the original tour proposed.
Hector
Dear Mrs. Yang,
We are overwhelmed about the team here, your support in the backoffice and the great scenes on the tour. Unfortunately the tour ends already tomorrow morning but we will enjoy it up to the last minute.
Again, thank you for organizing.
best regards
Bernd
Rita,
We enjoyed our trip and especially the studio apartment in Chongqing.
1. Tour arrangements were good and not too tiring.
2. Yes, I definitely can recommend to my friends.
3. No further suggestion for CQ tour - 2 days for CQ attractions and 1 day at Dazu Rocks are sufficient.
Thanks
Peter
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!
Borrowed Scenery in Humble Administrator's Garden
Suzhou Museum Architecture
Shantang Street at Night
Our Guests Visiting Tongli Water Town
Three Bridges in Tongli Water Town
Shanghai / Suzhou / Zhouzhuang / Shanghai
Hangzhou / Suzhou / Zhouzhuang
Shanghai / Hangzhou / Wuzhen / Suzhou / Shanghai
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