Gardens, Canals And Tea Hills – 7 Days

Stroll the Bund, the riverside promenade lined with grand banks, hotels and trading houses from the early twentieth century, when Shanghai was one of Asia’s leading ports. Across the Huangpu River, the towers of Pudong make a striking contrast. Then wander the Former French Concession, where plane trees shade old villas, lane houses, cafes and boutiques.

Lunch is at a local restaurant, a chance to try Shanghainese dishes such as red-braised pork and crispy-bottomed pan-fried buns.

Visit Shanghai Museum East in Pudong, the newer branch of the Shanghai Museum, home to superb collections of ancient bronzes, ceramics and other Chinese art. Finish at the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China, and ride one of the world’s fastest lifts to the observation deck for a view over the whole city and the winding river.

Take the high-speed train to Suzhou, a journey of around half an hour. Your guide meets you and begins with the Lingering Garden, one of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou listed by UNESCO, known for its long covered walkways, carved windows and towering Taihu rocks.

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then ride a rickshaw through the old town, past canals, arched bridges and whitewashed houses with dark-tiled roofs.

Walk along Pingjiang Road, a canal-side street that keeps the layout of old Suzhou, with teahouses, small shops and stone bridges. Check in at your hotel in Suzhou.

Return to the gardens after dark for an evening at the Master of the Nets Garden, shared with other guests. This small, perfectly balanced garden is lit by lanterns, and short performances of traditional music and Kunqu opera take place in its halls and pavilions.

Drive to Tongli, one of the best preserved water towns in the region, where stone bridges arch over a web of canals and old merchant houses line the water. Climb aboard a hand-paddled wooden boat and glide slowly through the village as the boatwoman steers from the stern. From the water you see washing steps, carved doorways and the backs of old houses that you would miss from the lanes.

Have lunch at a local restaurant in Tongli and walk its lanes and bridges at your own pace.

Board the high-speed train to Hangzhou, where your guide meets you and takes you to your hotel in Hangzhou. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Spend the morning around West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has inspired Chinese poets, painters and garden designers for centuries. Walk along its causeways and willow-lined banks, past temples, pagodas and gardens, with green hills wrapping around the water.

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Liuhe Pagoda, the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, which stands above the Qiantang River and was first built in the Song dynasty.

Step into Hu Qing Yu Tang, a historic pharmacy and museum of traditional Chinese medicine set in a beautiful Qing-era building, where you learn how herbal remedies are prepared. Then wander Hefang Street, a lively old street of snack stalls, craft shops and teahouses.

Drive into the hills to Meijiawu Tea Village, where terraces of Longjing tea, also known as Dragon Well, cover the slopes. Meet a tea-growing family, learn how the leaves are picked and roasted by hand in hot woks, and taste the delicate, fresh green tea for which Hangzhou is known.

The afternoon is at leisure. If you would like more to see, your consultant can arrange a visit to the Grand Canal Museum Cluster, which tells the story of the ancient waterway that once linked Hangzhou with Beijing. Otherwise, spend the time by the lake or in a quiet teahouse.

After breakfast, your guide and driver take you to the airport for your onward flight.