Shanghai · Suzhou · Hangzhou · Beijing · 11 Days

Upon arrival in Shanghai, the No. 1 city of China, you will be warmly greeted at the airport by the tour guide and transferred to your hotel.

This morning, walk along the famous Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River. Lined by colonial architecture of European design, this area is the best place to capture the Western influences of the old days. Transfer to Suzhou. Suzhou is known as the “Garden City” due to its many classical gardens, renowned for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction.

This morning, visit the Master of Nets Garden, which is among the best gardens in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Suzhou is known as the “Venice of the East.” You may take a cruise along the Grand Canal to view life along China’s golden waterway in its heyday (CAD 40). After that, visit a Silk Spinning Mill and learn how silk is created from mulberry-munching silkworms to produce thread and cloth. Then travel by coach to Wuxi, one of the oldest cities in China with more than 3,000 years of history. Upon arrival, stroll along Nanchang Street, a charming and fashionable pedestrian street composed of both ancient and modern architectural styles.

This morning, visit the Liyuan Garden. Later, visit one of the largest freshwater pearl farms in the country, then travel by coach to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world.” Then visit West Lake, the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites. You may take a boat ride on the serene lake (CAD 40).

This morning, experience an oriental tea tasting at the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. After that, travel to Shanghai, the vibrant metropolis and commercial center of China. Upon arrival, you may cap off the day by attending a thrilling optional Chinese acrobatic show at your own expense (CAD 60).

Take this free day to explore Shanghai any way you wish or choose optional programs. Day tour with Maglev train, Old City Bazaar & Xintiandi, an affluent and fashionable pedestrian street composed of unique Shikumen (“stone gate”) and modern architecture (CAD 60). At night, you may enjoy an optional Huangpu River Night Cruise and get a glimpse of the dazzling and charming night view of Shanghai at your own expense (CAD 60).

Fly or take the high-speed bullet train to Beijing. High-speed rail (HSR) in China is the country’s network of passenger-dedicated railways designed for speeds of 250–350 km/h (155–217 mph). In 2017, HSR extended to 29 of the country’s 33 provincial-level administrative divisions and exceeded 25,000 km (16,000 mi) in total length, accounting for about two-thirds of the world’s high-speed rail tracks in commercial service. It is the world’s longest HSR network and also the most extensively used, with 1.713 billion trips delivered in 2017, bringing the total cumulative number of trips to 7 billion. Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted by the tour guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own, or choose optional programs.Tour to Summer Palace & brief photo stop at Olympic Bird’s Nest and Water Cube (CAD 60). Tour the exquisite Summer Palace, the largest preserved ancient imperial garden in China and a former summer resort for emperors.

Today’s highlight is an excursion to the majestic Great Wall, the most famous image of China, and a chance to climb a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel. Visit one of the largest jade exhibitions in Asia en route. In the afternoon, visit a Chinese Herbal Institute to learn about traditional Chinese medicine, which has existed for thousands of years. Tonight, you can choose to attend an optional large-scale dramatic musical, The Golden Mask Dynasty (CAD 60).

Today is free on your own, or choose optional programs: visit Tiananmen Square, the second largest public square in the world, and the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to Qing dynasties (CAD 80). Following that is the Hutong tour with rickshaw and lunch at a local family (CAD 60).

Departure from China.