7 Days China Private Tour of Shanghai-Hangzhou-Huangshan

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   When you arrive in Shanghai, our driver will greet you at the exit of airport/train station by holding a name board. Before getting off the plane/train, please double check your belongings to ensure you have collected all your stuff. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement. If you need any suggestions on your free time, we will be very happy to help you.

   Accommodation: Shanghai local 4 stars hotel

2. Day 2: Shanghai
   Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, the Bund (B+L)

   AM: Your guide and driver will pick you up after breakfast and transfer you to Shanghai Museum (closed on each Monday). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works. Then you will visit Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous classical garden which was originally built by the owner as a place for his parents to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Nearby the garden is Yuyuan Market, a bustling marketplace set in an old Chinese neighborhood with traditional architecture and shops selling everything from local snacks to various souvenirs.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, we will move on to Shanghai World Financial Center which provides magnificent views of Huangpu River. Then wander around Nanjing Road to see traditional department stores and optionally try some authentic Shanghai snacks. The last stop is the Bund. You will admire buildings of various styles, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and listen to your guide explaining its history. After a leisure walk at the Bund, escort you back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Shanghai local 4 stars hotel

   

3. Day 3: Shanghai-Hangzhou Tour by High-speed Train
   Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Former French Concession ( B )

   AM: Meet your guide and driver at your hotel lobby in the morning and check out as you will take departure train to Hangzhou directly after the tour. Please pack your belongings in advance.

   Today’s tour starts with Urban Planning Exhibition Hall at People’s Square which shows the ever-changing face of Shanghai and is an essential place for tourists who are interested in the evolution of the city. Next visit Former French Concession which still retains the air of old Shanghai and is a perfect place to learn the history of Shanghai from 1849 to 1943.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: After the sightseeing, you will take the high-speed train to Hangzhou. After about 1 hour train ride, you will arrive in Hangzhou and see the Hangzhou local driver waiting for you at the exit of the train station by holding a name sign. The driver will transfer you to your downtown hotel for a good rest.

   Accommodation: Hangzhou local 4 stars hotel

   

4. Day 4: Hangzhou
   West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Meijiawu Tea Village, China National Tea Museum (B+L)

   AM: The guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby after breakfast. Then transfer  to the West Lake, one of the top sought-after scenic spots in China which have been praised by many Chinese literati. The scenery in all the four seasons is beautiful and worthy of visiting. Next we will head to Lingyin Temple. The temple has a history of about 1,700 years and is considered one of the most significant Buddhist temples in China. You will listen to your guide about its history and stories, and admire various buildings. Then move on to Feilai Peak which is a pure limestone mountain and totally different from the sandstone mountains around.

   Noon: Lunch in lcoal restaurant.

   

   PM: After lunch, we will visit the first-class protected area of West Lake Longjing tea, Meijiawu Tea Village. The village is also the main source of the Longjing tea. Just walk around the village, smell the faint aroma of tea in the air, and try some fine tea. If you come here in spring, you even can join the locals to pick up tea leaves. Today’s last stop is China National Tea Museum, the only national museum focusing on tea and tea culture in China. You will be surprised to see there’s no wall inside the museum as if saying “We have no threshold. Everyone is welcome here”. You can learn history of tea and tea customs of different areas in China, and admire delicate tea wares.

   At the whole day tour, you will go back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Hangzhou local 4 stars hotel

   

5. Day 5: Hangzhou-Huangshan by High-speed Train
   Hongcun Ancient Village (B+L)

   AM: Today you will take high-speed train to Huangshan. In the morning, your driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the train station. When you arrive at Huangshan North Railway Station, your local guide will greet you at the exit of the train station by holding a name sign and transfer you to have a lunch and then visit Hongcun Ancient Village. This more than 800-year-old village is a typical representative of Hui-style building, mainly in black, white and grey colors. It was listed as World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. You will see many original residences from Ming and Qing dynasties here, among which Chengzhi Hall is an architectural masterpiece and enjoys the name of “Folk Forbidden City”. It has a lot of complex wood carvings with great artistic value. We will also stroll along the South Lake and absorb in the picturesque scenery.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After visiting the village, the guide and driver will take you to downtown hotel to check in. By the way, you can prepare something for the hiking in advance. Highly recommend you prepare some snacks to keep your energy up and bring a jacket even in summer. And don’t forget hiking pole, rain coat and rain boots regardless of the time of year considering the mountain is notorious for rainfall.

   Accommodation: Huangshan local 4 stars hotel

   

6. Day 6: Huangshan Mountain
   Cloud Valley Temple, Mt. Huangshan (B)

   Drive about 1 hour to the Yellow Mountain. Upon arrival, you will take the shuttle bus to Cloud Valley Temple and then take a cable car up the mountain. Then hike to enjoy the beautiful scenery at North Sea, Beginning-to-believe Peak, Cloud-dispelling Pavilion and West Sea Valley. There will be many staircases that go up and down, but all the tiredness of climbing will be gone when you see the breathtaking scenery. If you are still in good shape and time & weather permits, you can continue to Sky Sea Scenic Area to enjoy gorgeous sunset at Bright Summit and explore Flying-over Rock. Please do not watch your camera or phone while walking.

   Tonight you will stay at a hotel on the mountain so as to catch sunrise next day.

   Accommodation: Huangshan Mountain 4 stars hotel

   

7. Day 7: Huangshan Departure
   Mt. Huangshan, Tunxi Ancient Street, Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory (B)

   AM: Today you will get up in the early morning to witness the incredible sunrise. When the mountain is still sleeping under starry sky, we will leave the hotel to occupy a vantage point and quietly wait for the thrilling moment. With the passage of time, the color of sky will change slowly. The sun finally show its head and the peaks are bathed in dazzling gold. After the sunrise, we will go back to hotel and have breakfast. Then move on to explore Lion Peak which got its name from the look like a crouching lion. You will visit Dawn Pavilion and see an interesting rock called “Stone Monkey Watching Sea”.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: Next we will hop on cable car and descend the mountain to get back to Huangshan downtown. We will visit Tunxi Ancient Street, China’s most well-preserved ancient street combining architectural style of the Southern Song Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Just stroll on the street leisurely and appreciate the Hui-style buildings. Then we will visit Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory which was founded by Hu Kaiwen in 1765 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty to see how the ink stick is made. Ink stick is one of the four treasures of Chinese study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), and the best ink stick in China comes from Anhui Province, the home of Huangshan Mountain.

   At the end of this tour, transfer you to the train station/airport for your departure train/flight. Our 7-day China Private Tour of Shanghai-Hangzhou-Huangshan will end here. Wish you a pleasant journey.