Beijing, Huangshan, Suzhou and Shanghai in 11 Days

Our English-speaking guide will greet you at airport/train station according to your landing time. Look for a sign of your name out of the luggage claim area (if not specific). Transfer to hotel and check in.

After breakfast, depart to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest city square. We will have a brief stop here and photograph some national iconic structures including Monument to the People’s heroes, Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, etc. Many visitors come very early for the spectacular flag-raising ceremony (not included in). To the north of the square is the South Gate of the Forbidden City where we will spend the next 2.5-3 hours. Forbidden City is 600 years old in 2020. It has the largest and best-preserved collections of ancient architectures with more than 900 rooms in the palace. Out of the Forbidden City from its north gate, we continue a short visit Jingshan Park right on the other side of the road. Located on the axis of the inner city, the park offers good panoramic view of Forbidden City and other historic sites like the Bell and Drum Tower, Beihai park, etc.

We have a long walk this morning. Refresh ourselves and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, head to the World Heritage Park- Temple of Heaven which was built for worship and pray for harvest. Architectures in the park are outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese art.

“Not reach the Great Wall not a true man” is a common Chinese saying. The Great Wall visit is part of the highlights in Beijing. We meet at your hotel at 8:30am, and head northeast to Mutianyu Great Wall. This section of the wall ranks number one among all sections on TripAdvisor list with beautiful-restored architectures but less tourists. Round trip cable car is included to save energy and enjoy a fun walk on the top. On the way back, we drive passing the Olympic Park and photograph the new landmark of Bird Nest and Water Cube.

We start our city trip from Summer Palace, which is the best-preserved imperial garden in the world and the largest of its kind in existence of China. The garden is like an art gallery with over 3000 man-made pavilions, palaces, temples, bridges and corridors. It is too much to see in the two hours. Move on to Hutong, a type of traditional neighborhood, to touch the real life of common people. Then transfer to catch up the flight in the late afternoon.

Drive from the city to Yellow Mountain and arrive an hour later. Then take cable car at Yungu station up to the mountain top. Before reaching our Hotel, we take short hikes to some iconic viewing points for mountain shot including Beginning to Believe Peak, Black Tiger Pine, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea and Lion Peak. 

Get up early to enjoy sunrise. After breakfast, hike the first ring of West Sea Grand Canyon and descend Yellow Mountain to visit Hongcun

If weather permits, we can get up early to catch up a sunrise at lion peak or Danxia Peak where you can take good photos as the book shows. For the rest of the day, we will continue some exploratory hikes in the eastern of park or go further into the West Sea Grand Canyon to have a sky walk depending on your physical condition. Yellow Mountain hiking trails are designed smartly for hikers at different levels. The first ring route of West Sea Grand Canyon with total length about 3 km is truly worth the time and efforts. You can expect the awe-inspiring views that will attract you to stop every few steps.

Back to the hotel for lunch. Then we move to the cable car station to descend the mountain and drive directly to Hongcun village. It is a very typical and shining pearl in Huangshan area. It has been on the list of USECO heritage sites and famous world-wide. It is not only attracted to visitors but also painters and photographers. You will find it full of art students in summer holiday.

With a drive not far from our hotel, we arrive a less-visited ancient village, Nanping. Their exquisite homes and ancestral halls also draw your attention when step into the villages. Another highlight today is to experience the local life as that shown in Li Ziqi’s videos (you can find her on Youtube). Take afternoon train to Suzhou and stay overnight in this garden city.  

To many people, the soul of Suzhou is the renowned gardens. So we will first visit Humble Administrator's Garden which is the largest one in Suzhou and considered as the finest garden in southern China. It contains zigzagging bridges, numerous pavilions, connected ponds and islands, bamboo groves, plenty of bonsai, a teahouse and a museum which had good information on garden construction and comparison between Chinese, Asian & Western gardens.

Another stop is Nets Master Garden. It is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens and the most exquisite in design. It is very impressive that the designer used the small space but created the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size.

Rickshaw ride through the old street is an interesting way to enjoy a look of local people's life, their food, delicacies, traditional arts and crafts.

Drive from Suzhou to Shanghai, during the route, visit Tongli Town, a very typical water town, featuring walking roads along the numerous canals and many bridges. Take leisure walk wandering the town and step into the shops, museums and an exquisite garden alongside, as well as cruise through the connecting water system.

After lunch, continue a drive to Shanghai. Before checking in, take a glimpse of the Bund, a museum of architecture.

Spend a whole day discover the city’s treasures. Shanghai Museum is one of the best museums in China housing some national treasures. Shanghai World Financial Center, a 492-meter high building facilitating an amazingly glass on the 100th floor. Many people come for a challenge and a panoramic view of Shanghai. The Bund, a landmark of Shanghai, is renowned as “museum of buildings” for the aged European style architectures lined along the Bank. The view over the river is also stunning with many skyscrapers in good shape. Take a stop at Xintiandi, a former Shikumen Alley. The whole street retains the characteristics of Shikumen houses - the antique walls and tiles. While inside the houses are international galleries, fashionable bars and cafes, boutiques and restaurants.

Note: Transfer back to your hotel when tour end or you can stay at Xintiandi if the active nightlife is the right thing for you. Then manage your own way back to hotel with taxi.

Transfer to the airport/train station for your transport home.