Shantang Street
The poet Bai Juyi had this river embankment extended while he was governor of Suzhou; the stretch restored and open today is the section near Changmen Gate. White walls, wooden windows and red lanterns line the river.
Departing Shanghai · 5 Days / 4 Nights Private Charter
Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuzhen & Shanghai 5-Day Tour
5 days / 4 nights | In and out of Shanghai: Suzhou's gardens and Shantang Street, Hangzhou's West Lake, a night in Wuzhen and the Bund after dark.
Overview
Tour Overview
After pickup at Shanghai's airport you drive straight to Suzhou for the first night. Day two takes in Hanshan Temple, the Master of the Nets Garden and Shantang Street, then continues to Hangzhou in the afternoon; if tickets can be arranged you see the show Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, otherwise the evening goes to Yuhu Bay and West Lake after dark. Day three is a boat trip on West Lake, a walk along the Su Causeway and Taiziwan Park, then on to Wuzhen Xizha for the night, with the option of a black-awning boat ride in the evening.
On day four the morning stays in Xizha before the drive into Shanghai for Nanjing Road East, the Bund and a night cruise on the Huangpu River. Day five fits Xujiahui Cathedral, Zhang Yuan, Nanjing Road West and the City God Temple around your flight before the transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao. Garden, boat and show tickets are quoted separately.
Highlights
Highlights
- Hanshan Temple sits beside Fengqiao Bridge and the canal; the Master of the Nets Garden is one of Suzhou's smaller classical gardens; Shantang Street can be walked along its restored riverside stretch.
- In Hangzhou: a West Lake boat trip, the Su Causeway and Taiziwan Park; Yuhu Bay on the western shore sees relatively few visitors.
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou is booked separately by performance. If it is suspended, sold out or tickets cannot be had, we do not force in another show but stay by West Lake instead.
- At weekends and on public holidays large vehicles may be restricted around West Lake; the visit then switches to walking or short shuttles and takes longer.
- One night in Wuzhen Xizha: flagstone lanes by day, lantern-lit riverbanks by night, with black-awning boats subject to water level and timetable.
- Shanghai focuses on the Bund, a Huangpu River night cruise, the shikumen lanes of Zhang Yuan and the City God Temple; The Louis is viewed from the outside only.
Itinerary
Day by Day
DAY1
Shanghai airport pickup → Suzhou
Your driver meets you at Pudong or Hongqiao and heads straight for Suzhou, a drive of roughly an hour and a half depending on your flight and the traffic. Check in on arrival; if you land early there is time for a short stop in the city, while late-night arrivals simply go straight to rest. Please give us your flight number, arrival airport and number of bags.
Meals Dinner: at your own expense Stay Central Suzhou, 4-star or 5-star hotel or similar
DAY2
Hanshan Temple · Master of the Nets Garden · Shantang Street → Hangzhou
The morning is in Suzhou. At Hanshan Temple you see the temple and the Fengqiao Bridge area. The Master of the Nets Garden is small, and its covered walkways and pond reward a slow wander. The restored stretch of Shantang Street now open runs for a few hundred metres along the river; walk as far as you like and stop when you have had enough. Lunch is at your own expense, and Suzhou-style noodle soup is the local staple here. In the afternoon it is around two and a half hours by road to Hangzhou. In the evening, if tickets for Enduring Memories of Hangzhou are available, a performance can be arranged; if there is no show, you walk the covered bridges and pavilions of Yuhu Bay instead, with no substitute show sought.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Near West Lake, Hangzhou, 4-star or 5-star hotel or similar
DAY3
West Lake cruise · Su Causeway · Taiziwan Park → Wuzhen Xizha
The morning starts with a boat trip on West Lake, with Leifeng Pagoda visible on the southern shore, followed by a walk along the Su Causeway. Taiziwan Park lies to the south-west of the lake; it is busy in blossom season, while in other seasons it is mainly woodland and lakeshore. If large vehicles are restricted around West Lake at the weekend or on a public holiday, this section switches to walking or a short shuttle. In the afternoon it is about an hour and a half to Wuzhen Xizha. In the evening stroll Xizha's main street, with its bluestone paving and old riverside houses, and take a black-awning boat if you wish; sailings and water level depend on the day.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Wuzhen Xizha, 4-star or boutique hotel or similar
DAY4
Morning in Wuzhen → The Bund and Huangpu River, Shanghai
Spend the morning in Xizha, walking a stretch of the canal, stone bridges and old houses on your own before setting off. The drive into Shanghai takes about two hours. In the afternoon you reach Nanjing Road East, where the Wing On Department Store and the Shanghai Fashion Store both stand; treat them as historic buildings to look at, as no shopping is scheduled. At dusk you walk the Bund from Waibaidu Bridge to Jinling Road East to see the parade of international-style architecture. In the evening a boat takes you out on the Huangpu River to see both banks; tickets are quoted separately and sailings depend on conditions on the river.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense | Dinner: at your own expense Stay Central Shanghai, 5-star or similar
DAY5
Xujiahui Cathedral · Zhang Yuan · City God Temple → Airport drop-off
The day works backwards from your return flight. St Ignatius Cathedral stands in Xujiahui, Gothic on the outside; opening and Mass times are as posted on the day. At Zhang Yuan you see the lanes of shikumen houses. The Louis on Nanjing Road West is a photo stop for the exterior only, with no shop visit. In the City God Temple district you can have lunch at your own expense. If time allows, an afternoon tea with a view can be arranged at extra cost. You are then driven to Pudong or Hongqiao.
Meals Breakfast: at the hotel | Lunch: at your own expense
Inclusions
What's Included
Every charter is quoted individually. Share your travel dates and party size for a quote within 24 hours.
Included
- Private vehicle and professional driver throughout (licensed commercial vehicle)
- Shanghai airport transfers, fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and accommodation
- The 4 nights' accommodation listed in the itinerary (two sharing a room; single rooms quoted separately)
- Daily breakfast
- Travel liability insurance and medical insurance
Not Included
- Flights to and from Shanghai
- Admission to gardens and temples, the West Lake boat trip, black-awning boats, the Huangpu River night cruise and show tickets
- Lunches, dinners and afternoon tea
- Child safety seats (charged per seat per day; please tell us when booking)
- Driver gratuity (a per-person, per-day amount is suggested) and personal expenses
Large vehicles may be restricted around West Lake on public holidays. Show performances depend on what goes on sale. The final plan is confirmed by your travel consultant.
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Stops
Featured Stops
West Lake, Hangzhou
Boats cross the lake, and the Su Causeway stretches along its northern shore. Baochu Pagoda on Beishan is the easiest pagoda silhouette to pick out over the water. On public holidays large vehicles may not be allowed into the scenic area.
Wuzhen Xizha
The streets of Xizha are flagstone, with no concrete avenues. Houses and shopfronts line both banks of the canal, and the lights come on in the evening.
Water-town riverside
Pavilions stand over the water and boats tie up at the stone steps. This stretch is best saved for the evening of your night in Xizha, or for another loop in the early morning when few people are about.
The Bund and Huangpu River
On the Bund side stands the parade of international-style buildings; across the river is Lujiazui. A night cruise shows both banks from the water, an angle you do not get standing on shore.
Hanshan Temple
The temple sits beside Fengqiao Bridge and the canal. From the air you can see the temple's pavilions and old pagoda, with cargo boats passing alongside. It is the first stop on the morning of day two.
Leifeng Pagoda
The pagoda stands on the southern shore of West Lake. On the boat trip it is the easiest landmark to pick out on that side. This picture shows the lake at sunset; a separate climb up the pagoda is not necessarily scheduled.
Taiziwan Park
On the Nanshan Road side of West Lake. In early spring there are often flower fields and blossoming trees, and the crowds come; in other seasons it is mainly lawns, woodland and lakeshore.
Zhang Yuan
A district of shikumen houses near Nanjing Road West, its grey-brick walls lettered with the Zhang Yuan name. Scheduled on day five around your flight time; the idea is to look at the architecture and lanes, not to visit particular shops.
Xujiahui Cathedral
Its formal name is St Ignatius Cathedral; the twin spires and red-brick facade sit among the high-rises of Xujiahui. Opening and Mass times are as posted on the day. This stop comes before the airport transfer and is mainly to see the exterior.
City God Temple
The most striking sights in the City God Temple district are Huxinting Teahouse at Yu Garden and the Nine-Bend Bridge. The lights come on at night and the bridge gets crowded. If there is time on day five you can have lunch here at your own expense; no shopping stops are scheduled.
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