8 Days East China Tour: Cultural and Scenic Journey

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

   A warm welcome to our 8-day East China tour departing from Shanghai, China's most bustling metropolis. Upon your arrival at the airport, the local driver will be waiting for you at the exit and then escort you to your well-selected hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace.

   If you are interested, we can arrange a wonderful Acrobatic Show, which combines traditional Chinese acrobatic art with modern technology to present a visual feast. The performance time: 19:30 to 21:00. (at extra cost)

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

2. Day 2: Shanghai to Hangzhou Tour
   Explore Wuzhen's Historic Sites and Hangzhou's Cultural Block

   After breakfast, the driver will transfer you to the train station for the 1-hour high-speed train to Tongxiang. Upon arrival, the local guide will pick you up to visit Wuzhen, an ancient town with a history of more than 1,300 years, known as "the town of fish and rice", "the capital of silk". Wuzhen is a typical Jiangnan water town, which has preserved the original style and pattern of the old water town in the late Qing Dynasty and Republic of China.

   Today you will mainly explore the Wuzhen West Scenic Zone. This scenic area consists of 12 small islands, which are linked together by more than 70 small bridges. You can take a stroll along the ancient streets and lanes, admire the ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and visit the local handicraft workshops and classic halls. Through the guide's explanation, you can learn about Wuzhen's 7,000 years of cultural history. If you are interested, you can experience a boat ride (optional, extra charge) to see Wuzhen from another perspective.

   

   After the tour, you will be escorted for 1.5 hours to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, visit the Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block, which was once Hangzhou's main industrial area. The museums you see here today with themes such as knives, scissors and swords, fans and umbrellas were converted from centuries-old industrial relics.

   Walk into the Knife, Scissors and Sword Museum to admire the various scissors used in daily life, and visit the Umbrella Museum to learn how the world's first umbrella was inspired by the lotus leaf. Afterwards, we will head to the nearby Craft Pavilion to witness some of the Intangible Cultural Heritage skills such as oil-paper umbrella painting, embroidery, and pottery making. If you are interested, you can experience one of them yourself. (Additional fee is required)

   After the tour, your driver and guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Hangzhou

3. Day 3: Hangzhou Tour
   Experience Serene Boat Rides, Historical Temples, Tea Villages, and Cultural Museums

   Your East China tour of Hangzhou would be hardly complete without a visit to the impressive West Lake. As one of the top sought-after scenic spots in China, it has been praised by many Chinese literati. A 45-minute boat will take you to enjoy the tranquil lake view. After that, you can take a sightseeing bus or take a leisurely stroll to visit the famous attractions including the White Causeway, Su Causeway, Broken Bridge, Fish Watching at Flower Harbor, Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. The scenery in all four seasons is beautiful and worthy of visiting.

   

   Next, 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, visit the first-class protected area of West Lake Longjing Tea, Meijiawu Tea Village. The village is 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 the 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. You can learn the history of tea and tea customs of different areas in China and admire delicate tea wares.

   After the tour, your driver and guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in.

   

   Optional evening activities: You can witness a spectacular musical fountain show at the Third Park near the east shore of West Lake, which is free. Or pay to see Impression West Lake, a live show on the West Lake that usually starts at 7 pm.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Hangzhou

4. Day 4: Hangzhou to Huangshan Tour by High-speed Train
   Explore a Well-preserved Ancient Street, Enjoy Local Snacks

   After breakfast, say good bye to Hangzhou and take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Huangshan. Upon arrival, the private tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to check in at your hotel in Huangshan City.

   In the afternoon, you will be guided to visit Tunxi Ancient Street, which is currently the best-preserved pedestrian street in China with architectural styles of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is known as the "flowing Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" (a famous ancient painting). Here you can taste local snacks, purchase small antique ornaments, or walk into a tea house to sample the specialty tea.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Huangshan

   

5. Day 5: Huangshan Tour
   Marvel at Unique Pines, Cliffs, and Breathtaking Scenery

   Around 8 am, your private guide will pick you up in your hotel lobby and then escort you to the famous Mt. Huangshan. Yellow Mountain is well known for its five natural wonders: strange pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and snow views.

   You will directly take the cable car up to the mountain top and then enjoy the beautiful views at the North Sea: the Beginning-to-believe Peak, Cloud-dispelling Pavilion, and West Sea Canyon. Along the way, you will see many uniquely shaped pine trees growing out of the cliffs. Your hike will be rewarded with breathtaking scenery.

   If your energy permits, you can spend one more hour exploring the Tianhai Scenic Area, where you will see Huangshan's second highest peak - Bright Summit. Raise your camera to capture the sunset view. After the visit, return to your hotel on the mountain for a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: on Yellow Mountain

   

6. Day 6: Mt. Huangshan to Jingdezhen Tour
   Watch Sunrise and Visit Jingdezhen's Porcelain Studios & Art District

   Today, you can wake up around 5 am and head to Qingliang Platform (just a few minutes walk from the Beihai Hotel) to witness the magnificent sunrise view of Huangshan Mountain. Then, return to the hotel for breakfast.

   

   Afterwards, continue your exploration of Mount Huangshan, enjoying the Monkey Watching the Sea, Lion Peak and other famous sights along the way. Walk all the way to the cable car station and take the cable car down the mountain. Your driver will wait for you at the foot of the mountain and escort you to Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China. The drive is about 2.5 hours.

   Upon arrival, you will be guided to visit the Sculpture Porcelain Factory, converted from a famous old porcelain factory with an artistic touch. Here you will find a wide variety of ceramic products such as strings, cups, and ornaments. Some of them are made by young local artists. After that, we come to Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue. Based in a closed ceramic factory, it is now a district where you can look into many creative studios, ceramic shops, exquisite ceramic works, and many elements of culture and entertainment.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Jingdezhen

   

7. Day 7: Jingdezhen to Wangxian Valley Tour
   Unveil the Mysterious Veil of Chinese Porcelain

   Today, you will delve further into the fascination of ancient Chinese ceramics. Jingdezhen Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Museum is like a living museum featuring the ancient dwelling complex from the Ming and Qing Dynasty, much traditional porcelain-making equipment, and revived ancient kilns. There are staff who show visitors how the equipment was once used.

   

   Next, you will go to China Ceramic Museum - another icon of Jingdezhen. This museum has nine exhibition halls and a collection of over 50,000 pieces of porcelain. Almost all of China's rarest and most beautiful ceramic relics can be seen here. Besides ancient ceramics, you can also see many various craft ceramics of Jingdezhen since the founding of New China.

   Finally, drive to Xinping Village to visit the Porcelain Palace, a circular building inlaid with tens of thousands of porcelain pieces, vases and plates of various colors. The building is modeled after a Hakka house, with three floors, of which the first and second floors house the "Four Great Masterpieces" of traditional Chinese culture.

   After the visit, we will have a 3-hour car ride to Wangxian Valley in Shangrao City. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel in the ancient town.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Wangxian Valley

   

8. Day 8: Wangxian Valley Tour & Departure
   Discover Scenic Views, Peaceful Villages, and Hanging Houses

   Today is a day for you to explore the natural and architectural wonders. Wangxian Valley is a newly developed and popular tourist attraction that integrates natural landscapes of mountains, streams, and waterfalls as well as folk customs. Surrounded by mountains, this scenic area is famous for its hanging houses, rock formations, and delicious food.

   

   You can enjoy the Wangxian Waterfall, the highest waterfall in the scenic area, with a drop of 120 meters, like a jade belt hanging on the cliff. Wangxian Valley boasts many well-preserved ancient villages, such as Yanpu Ancient Village, where you can see ancient dwellings of Ming and Qing architectural styles. You can also overlook the whole valley from the viewing platform of White Crane Cliff.

   At the end of the China tour in Jiangxi Wangxian Valley, you will be escorted to the airport or train station and then taken by plane/train to your next destination.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A