• Welcome: A warm welcome upon your arrival in Shanghai.

• Transfer: Your private guide will meet you at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel.

• Assistance: We will assist with your hotel check-in and luggage handling.

• Free Time: The remainder of the day is free for you to rest and recover from your journey.

Meals: Hotel Breakfast | Local Shanghai Lunch

Today's itinerary presents the essence of Shanghai across different eras:

• 【Yesterday】Yu Garden: Explore this 400-year-old classical Jiangnan garden, finding tranquility and sophistication amidst the urban bustle.

• 【Yesteryear】Former French Concession: On a guided walk through the historic plane-tree district, listen to the stories of its garden villas, touching memories of Shanghai's cosmopolitan "Ten-Mile Foreign Market."

• 【Tomorrow】Shanghai Tower: Summit the 632-meter pinnacle of China for a 360-degree bird's-eye view. Witness the staggering contrast between Pudong's futuristic skyline and Puxi's historical fabric, feeling the city's immense momentum.

Meals: Hotel Breakfast | Self-made Local Lunch

Treasures of Art: Exploring the Source of Chinese Aesthetics

Embark on a deep visit to the Shanghai Museum East. Its vast collection (over 140,000 pieces) systematically covers major categories of ancient Chinese art like bronzes, ceramics, and painting—a veritable "three-dimensional history of Chinese art." Expert commentary will help you build a clear framework to appreciate the heights of this civilization.

Seeking Flavor in the Kitchen: Decoding Local Life

In the afternoon, experience side B of Shanghai life. Dive into a local fresh market to discover seasonal produce amidst the bustling atmosphere. Then, under the guidance of a local instructor, learn to make classic Shanghainese dim sum and dishes. This full-circle participation—from ingredient to finished dish—ensures you don't just "taste" but "understand" Shanghai's flavors. This journey, from spirit to palate, completes a two-way circuit of understanding Shanghai's culture.

Meals: Hotel Breakfast | Local Suzhou Lunch | Special Dinner

Today, leave Shanghai for the "Venice of the East," Suzhou, to experience its dual charm.

Garden Pilgrimage (Lingering Garden): Appreciate a UNESCO World Heritage garden, understanding the supreme wisdom of Chinese classical design where "scenery changes with every step" and landscapes are "made by man, yet seem heaven-born."

Canalside Stroll (Shantang Street): Walk this ancient canal street, a picture of "small bridges, flowing water, and homes," feeling the authentic texture of water town life.

Historic Exploration (Tiger Hill): Visit Suzhou's landmark hill and its iconic leaning pagoda, reflecting on history amidst serene woods.

Night Garden Dream (Master-of-Nets Garden): An exclusive evening experience. Under lighting and amidst performances, the garden transforms from a tranquil space into a magical stage. This is an unrepeatable experience for understanding Suzhou's refined nightlife and the living heritage of its garden culture.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

In the morning, board a high-speed train from the garden city of Suzhou to the poetic landscape of Hangzhou.

Boating on West Lake: Enter the Painting by Boat

Upon arrival, embrace West Lake in the most classic way—with a boat cruise. Glide across its shimmering waters as iconic views like "Spring Dawn on Su Causeway" and "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow" unfold like a scroll, immersing you in the classical ideal of "boating on emerald waves, wandering within a painting."

Seeking Zen at Lingyin: Marvel at Stone Carvings

Next, visit the Buddhist sanctuary Lingyin Temple, west of the lake. Explore the ancient halls and feel the serene ambiance. The highlight is the Feilai Feng Grottoes before the temple, a treasury of Chinese grotto art housing hundreds of stone Buddha statues from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan period.

Inquiring after Tea, Painting an Umbrella with Grace

In the afternoon, delve into a Dragon Well tea village. Stroll through terraced fields, learn about the "Four Unique Characteristics" of Longjing tea, and savor a fresh brew. Then, experience another intangible cultural heritage—hand-painting a traditional oil-paper umbrella. Guided by a master artisan, paint West Lake landscapes or your own inspiration onto the canopy, creating a unique and elegant walking artwork that blends ancient charm with personal creativity.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Shift from Speed to Serenity

In the morning, take a high-speed train (approx. 1.5 hours) from poetic Hangzhou to Huangshan North Station. After lunch, a private transfer brings you to the scenic area, where you'll board a cable car. The ascent offers a first glimpse of the jagged peaks.

Settle Amidst the Clouds, Venture into the Canyon

After the cable car, a mostly downhill 30-minute walk (passing famous pines like the Umbrella Pine and Black Tiger Pine) leads to your mountaintop hotel for check-in. The afternoon's highlight is a 3-hour hike through the West Sea Grand Canyon. This is Huangshan's essence—a trail winding along sheer cliffs, presenting breathtaking vistas of strange rocks, sea of clouds, and deep valleys.

The Sunset Finale (If Conditions Permit)

If time and energy allow, we highly recommend continuing to Flying-over Rock and then to Bright Top to witness a Huangshan sunset. Watch as the setting sun paints the layered peaks and rolling clouds in gold and crimson—a magnificent conclusion to the day.

Meals: Hotel Breakfast (summit) | Lunch (mountain base)

【Sunrise Spectacle】 Await the iconic Huangshan experience—sunrise over a sea of clouds from Refreshing Terrace (weather permitting).

【Summit Hike】 After breakfast, hike around Lion Peak to view iconic rock formations like "Stone Monkey Watching the Sea" and representative unique pines of the North Sea area, completing your final mountaintop exploration.

【Ancient Village & Cinema】 After descending via the Yungu Cable Car, visit "China's Movie Village," Nanping. Wander its maze-like alleys, admire the continuous stretches of Ming and Qing Huizhou architecture, and discover where film scenes blend with real life.

【Intangible Bamboo Weaving】 Visit the village's sole remaining bamboo weaving artisan. Under their guidance, experience this ancient livelihood craft—a rare opportunity for deep cultural interaction—and take home your unique bamboo creation.

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch (en route)

【ICH Handicraft: Mulberry Bark Paper】 Deeply experience the Huizhou intangible cultural heritage of making mulberry bark paper the ancient way. Learn about its glorious, "more valuable than gold" history and near extinction, and under a master's guidance, complete steps like "sheet forming" and "embossing" to create your own collectible art paper.

【Artistic Field Site: Sanbao Village】 Arrive in Jingdezhen in the afternoon and first visit Sanbao International Ceramic Art Village. In its rustic, natural setting, feel how ceramic art coexists with the land and an international vision for a quiet "artistic fieldwork" session.

【Market Tour: The Ceramic World】 In the evening, with your guide's in-the-know guidance, explore the day's most distinctive ceramic market (like the youthful creativity of Taoxichuan or the retro treasure-hunting of the Ghost Market). Immerse yourself in the industrial pulse and treasure-hunting fun of Jingdezhen as a "living porcelain capital."

【Comprehensive Primer: China Ceramics Museum】 A systematic visit to build a macro understanding of the history of Chinese ceramic art through its vast collection, comprehending the foundation of the "Porcelain Capital."

【Living Heritage: Ancient Kiln Folk Exhibition Area】 Enter a "living museum" to observe reconstructed kilns from various dynasties and intangible cultural heritage artisans demonstrating on-site, experiencing the complete traditional porcelain-making process up close.

【Creative Scene: Taoxichuan Art District】 Explore this art landmark transformed from industrial heritage, feeling the dialogue between historical space and contemporary art. If on a weekend, visit the Creative Market to capture the latest trends in ceramic design.

【Hands-On Creation: Ceramic Workshop Experience】 Experience wheel throwing and forming in a professional studio, completing a greenware piece under artisan guidance. If you wish to have it fired as a personalized keepsake, your guide can arrange subsequent glazing and firing services (additional cost).

Breakfast

On the final day of your journey, we will take a 4-hour high-speed train to Shanghai. Upon arrival, you can choose to stay in the city for an additional night or transfer directly to the airport for your return flight. Your dedicated travel consultant and tour guides will make all necessary arrangements, ensuring a smooth and worry-free departure.