6 Days | Breathtaking Cultural Tour Through Six Jiangnan Cities

Tour Overview

When misty rain blurs the white walls and black tiles, when verdant willows brush against cobblestone paths, this land whispers the pinnacle of Eastern aesthetics with gentle grace. 

During this 6-day tour, we will guide you through the picturesque beauty of Xitang and Wuzhen, where you can dress in Hanfu with hairpins, walk bridges with lanterns, and immerse yourself in the poetic charm of Jiangnan’s water towns. Then you’ll explore Suzhou’s Liuyuan Garden, one of China’s Four Great Classical Gardens, to appreciate the artistry of landscape design. A visit to Nanjing’s Presidential Palace will unveil the dramatic history of modern China. Surprisingly, savoring local delicacies throughout the journey will evoke a sense of satisfaction in every moment. 

 

Highlights of this tour:

1. Dress in Hanfu with flower-adorned hairpins and take travel photos in Xitang, soaking yourself in the romantic ambiance.

2. Carry lanterns and walk over bridges in Wuzhen, admiring the shimmering glow of the water town—a magical night in an ancient town.

3. Explore the Nanjing Presidential Palace, known as a "living museum" of China's modern history, where half a century unfolds in your eyes.

4. Visit Fudan University in Shanghai, a top institution in China, and uncover the mysteries behind this prestigious academic hub.

5. Wander through Suzhou's Lingering Garden, one of China's Four Great Classical Gardens, and savor the serene beauty of Suzhou's landscape artistry.

6. Savor Nanjing's iconic salted duck, a culinary masterpiece displaying the city's innovative duck-cooking techniques.

7. Longjing Tea Feast: The delicate fragrance of Longjing tea pairs with exquisite dishes, thus creating a unique sensory delight.

 

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

Routes: Shenzhen → Shanghai

First gather at Shenzhen Airport under the blue flag marked "Yu Jiangnan" (誉江南), then our staff will handle the check-in procedures, baggage check-in, and boarding gate guidance for you. Upon arrival, our dedicated guide will take you to your hotel. After check-in, freshen up and relax, they will bring you to start the Jiangnan journey. 

After breakfast, visit Fudan University, founded in 1905 as China’s first self-funded higher education institution by educator Ma Xiangbo, with Sun Yat-sen as its inaugural trustee. Its blend of Sino-Western architecture and liberal campus culture attracts many visitors.

Next, you will have a guided tour to explore The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront where colonial-era buildings contrast with modern skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, reflecting the city’s past and present.

Then you will discover City God Temple Market at noon, which is a cultural hub since Shanghai’s opening to foreign trade. Over the years, it has developed a corresponding temple fair culture from the temple market, which covers almost all aspects of people's material and spiritual life, including religion, commerce, and folk customs. Thus, it is hailed as a business card of tourism in Shanghai. Known as the "snack kingdom", it also offers local delicacies like Nanxiang steamed buns and rice balls.

After lunch, you will have the chance to board a Huangpu River cruise, a must visit spot for panoramic views of The Bund and Pudong’s skyline. On one side stands the "World Architecture Expo" of old Shanghai, and on the other stand the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center of new Shanghai. You may truly feel like sailing on a river and sitting in a painting.

In the evening, you will have the chance to visit Jinmao Tower’s 88th-floor observatory (340.1m high) for breathtaking cityscapes.

Meal: Lunch

Hotel: Shanghai Hotel

 

Day 2: Jiangnan Water Town Experience

Routes: Shanghai → Xitang → Wuzhen 

After breakfast, depart for Xitang (1.5 hours' drive), a "living" ancient water town blending Tang-Song era charm with Ming-Qing architecture. Stroll along canals where mist-shrouded boats glide past whitewashed walls, it seems like an ink-wash painting coming to life.

Hanfu & Hairpin Experience: You will enjoy the experience of wearing Hanfu with hairpins in Xitang Water Town. When the beautiful "floral hairpins" meet the water towns in the Jiangnan region, with the silk robes fluttering and the hairpins swaying, you will feel as if you have traveled through a thousand years in an instant, every casual shot will look like a blockbuster! (Note: The scenic area provides Hanfu and hairpins, available for both boys and girls to take photos!)

Afterwards, you will have lunch in Xitang before heading to Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area  (1.5-hour drive). Unlike the bustling East Zone, Xizha offers a serene, artsy ambiance with cafés and indie boutiques.

Afternoon Highlights

Indigo Dyeing Workshop: Witness the iconic blue calico fabrics fluttering in the breeze.

Wuzhen Post Office: A functional Qing-dynasty relic preserving historic postal artifacts.

Evening: Join the special activity—carry a lantern through illuminated alleys, reliving ancient water-town traditions.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Wuzhen Hotel

 

Day 3: West Lake Experience

Routes: Wuzhen → Hangzhou

After breakfast, you will take the car to Hangzhou (about 1.5 hours' drive), then you will arrive in the West Lake Scenic Area (boat rides are not included).

Actually, West Lake is Hangzhou's calling card and the very soul of the city, each season shows its own unique charm. In spring, blossoms line Su Causeway and willows shimmer in mist; summer brings red petals and green fans mirrored in limpid waves; autumn paints a vast lake of golden ripples; while winter leaves a trace of white snow on Qingyi Bridge. The guide eloquently recounts West Lake's history—Beyond the mountains, beyond the towers, when will the West Lake revelries cease? The warm breeze lulls visitors into bliss, mistaking Hangzhou for Bianzhou, and you will also drink in the love story of Xu Xian and Lady White.

Quyuan Fenghe (Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden): It is Hangzhou's most renowned lotus-viewing destination, famed for its breathtaking summer blooms. Regarded as one of the "Ten Scenes of the West Lake," it lies west of the lake, opposite Yue Fei Temple. Legend holds that during the Southern Song Dynasty, a state-run distillery stood by Hongchun Bridge, surrounded by lotus ponds. When summer breezes stirred, the fragrance of lotus flowers mingled with the aroma of brewing wine, thus creating an intoxicating ambiance, so it got the name Quyuan Fenghe (Breezy Lotus at Winery).

After that, you will be transferred to "Travel Back to the Song Dynasty in a Second · Hangzhou Songcheng" Scenic Area and enjoy the grand performance "The Romance of the Song Dynasty" (regular seats, viewing the performance and free activities no less than 120 minutes). Adhering to the philosophy of "architecture as form, culture as soul", the scenic area has upgraded six themed blocks — East Street of the Song Dynasty River, the Tycoon Family, Rouge Lane, Feilai Lane, Food Street, and Market Street — making them lively and bustling. New attractions such as the Song Dynasty Culture Experience Hall, Liu Yong’s Romance Pavilion, and the 72 Trades Old Workshop have been unveiled. High-tech experience projects like the "Living Along the River During Qingming Festival", "Liaozhai Horror House", "Thrilling Step-by-Step House" will bring you constant surprises. At the Tycoon Family, you can taste freshly made rice cakes, watch traditional wood-pressed oil production, eat handmade tofu, and drink Wuzhanmao wine.

Finally, you will be arranged to watch the great show "The Romance of the Song Dynasty". It is the soul of Hangzhou Songcheng Scenic Area. Using advanced sound, light, electricity technologies and stage machinery with unexpected presentation methods, it depicts the hardships of the ancient Liangzhu people, the grandeur of the Song Dynasty imperial palace, the tragedy of Yue Fei’s army, and the eternal love stories of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, as well as Xu Xian and the White Snake, all of which vividly unveil the silk, tea, and the misty beauty of Jiangnan with a stunning visual experience and spiritual impact!

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Hotel: Hangzhou Hotel

 

Day 4: Longwu Tea Town and Confucius Temple Experience

Routes: Hangzhou → Nanjing

After breakfast, you will have a guided tour to visit Longwu Tea Town in Hangzhou. Known as the "Millennial Tea Village", Longwu is home to numerous tea villages nestled around the Western Hills. Shrouded in clouds and mist, with the tinkle of mountain springs mingling with the fragrance of tea, it is refreshing to the heart and mind. For generations, the people of Longwu have been growing tea, and this is the origin of Hangzhou’s "one red and one green" teas. West Lake Longjing tea enjoys a history of 1,200 years, while Jiuqu Hongmei (a type of black tea) has a history of over 200 years. In the cloud-kissed mountains, when you step into the tea fields—exploring tea, seeking its wisdom, and capturing its beauty through travel photography—you'll experience Hangzhou's unique charm. During the visit, you can enjoy a Farmhouse Tea Garden Feast. Amidst the wild charm of the tea forests, savoring the farmhouse dishes and Longjing tea, you will feel the relaxing mood of ancient Chinese people and appreciate the lingering charm of Hangzhou, a leisure tea capital brewed by a thousand years of Longjing tea culture.

After lunch, we will drive to Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties (about 4 hours' drive), and visit the Confucius Temple Scenic Area. Gazing at the scenery along both banks of the Qinhuai River, you can feel the grandeur described in the ancient line "Jiangnan, a land of beauties; Jinling (Nanjing), a land of emperors". Here, you can not merely admire the historical buildings of the ancient capital Nanjing but also taste authentic Qinhuai snacks such as spiced beans at Kuiguang Pavilion; rab-shell yellow sesame cakes (crab-shell shaped), dried shrimp with tofu noodles, Duck-fat sesame cakes, sesame oil tofu noodles etc.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Hotel: Nanjing Hotel

 

Day 5: Presidential Palace of Nanjing and Nianhua Bay Experience

Routes: Nanjing → Wuxi

After breakfast, we will visit the Presidential Palace of Nanjing. It is the largest and best-preserved complex among the remaining modern architectural relics in China, a major representative of Nanjing's Republican-era architecture, and an important site of China's modern history. Now, it has been converted into the Museum of Chinese Modern History Relics. The Presidential Palace features both traditional Chinese Jiangnan gardens and architectural relics from the period when Western influences spread eastward in modern times, with a history of over 600 years.

After enjoying the visit to the Presidential Palace and having lunch, you will have a guided tour to Wuxi (about 2.5 hours by car) and visit Nianhua Bay, famed for its Tang and Song dynasty charm. As China's most Zen-inspired town, it is nestled by the Taihu Lake with mountains and waters surrounding it, and also serves as the permanent venue of the World Buddhist Forum. Every brick, stone, flower, and grass here exudes a subtle Zen vibe, bringing people a sense of natural tranquility and peace, it is the highlights of Nianhua Bay.

Xiangyue Flower Street, the Zen-themed street of Nianhua Bay, is the perfect place to appreciate and experience the Zen lifestyle of the town, thus earning the reputation of "a microcosm and ideal experience site of Zen life".

Nianhua Lake, the corridor under its eaves, looks like a fairyland amidst the mist. When night falls, the lake surrounded by colored lights, mist, and reflections appears particularly bright and beautiful.

After dinner, you will enjoy the light and shadow show in Nianhua Bay Town, the show is named"Chan Walk" created by the chief producer and core team of the G20 Cultural Evening. As dusk settles, the first lanterns gleam, a breathtaking fusion of sound, light, and shadow dazzles with radiant brilliance and dynamic splendor. The newly upgraded stage lighting and immersive 360° dreamscape performance may transport you through a living painting—every step unveils a masterpiece.

Meal: Breakfast +Lunch

Hotel: Wuxi Hotel

 

Day 6: Departure

Routes: Wuxi → Suzhou → Shanghai → Shenzhen

After breakfast, depart for Suzhou, known as Chinese Garden, and visit Lingering Garden, one of China's Four Great Gardens. With its pavilions, winding corridors, and serene ponds surrounded by lush greenery, the garden embodies elegance without extravagance—a perfect harmony of architecture and nature. Its dense cluster of structures (hallways, white walls, and moon gates) interwoven with rockeries and water features showcase the ingenuity of ancient garden designers and the quintessential Jiangnan style.

After lunch, explore Qili Shantang Street, hailed as a "microcosm of Gusu (ancient Suzhou)". The circular reflection of Tonggui Bridge in the river once captivated architect I.M. Pei. A quiet electric boat ride reveals centuries-old charm: as you pass through ancient bridge arches, watch the daily life of families living along the river, and appreciate the white walls and black tiles with their traces of time, you will lose yourself in the timeless rhythm of riverside life. Subsequently, your driver will escort you to the Shanghai airport for your return flight, concluding this memorable journey through East China.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

 

Tour Price ($=USD)

From $ 869 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2-6 people.

The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.

 

Price Includes

√ Airfare: Round-trip transportation included;

√ Accommodation: 5 nights' accommodation in well-selected hotels;

√ Meals: It is listed in the itinerary;

√ Transportation: Local air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

√ Tickets: First-entry tickets to the scenic spots listed in the itinerary;

√ Tour Guide: Professional local tour guide with commentary service.

 

Price Excludes

√ Any optional activities inside the attractions;

√ Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

√ Single Room Supplement;

√ Personal travel insurance premiums, aviation insurance premiums.