6D5N SHANGHAI SIC (No Airfare)

Tour Type: SIC / GV2

Hotel: Local 4-5 Star Hotel 

Meal: Refer itinerary

Date: Low Season July - Sept 2025

Tipping : Included basic tipping

Day 1: Arrival Shanghai 

Shared Transfer to Hotel 

Meal: None 

Day 2: Shanghai - Nanjing - Wuxi (B)

After the meal, proceed to Nanjing, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, to visit the Confucius Temple–Qinhuai Scenic Area. The tea houses, restaurants, and shops surrounding the ancient architectural complex are all in the Ming and Qing style, showcasing the essence of the Qinhuai scenery. Along the riverside Gongyuan Street lies a charming cultural and commercial street with traditional architecture. Following the layout of historical temple fairs, the East and West Markets have been reconstructed, offering a variety of traditional foods and local snacks.

Next, visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum—the resting place of one of China’s greatest modern political leaders (closed on Mondays; exterior view only, approx. 1.5 hours). Highlights include the Bronze Tripod, the Archway of Universal Love, the Mausoleum Avenue, and the scenic views of Zhongshan Mountain.

Continue to Wuxi to explore Nianhua Bay. The first phase of Nianhua Bay features notable attractions such as the “Zen Heart Valley” (venue of the World Buddhist Forum), the Zen-themed commercial street “Xiangyue Flower Street,” the boutique Zen-style inns in “Luming Valley,” and the Taihu Bay Ecological Wetland “Youyou Fishing Port.” Combining Zen-inspired landscapes, architecture, scenery, activities, and commercial offerings, Nianhua Bay provides a unique cultural experience, creating a “living Zen paradise” of Eastern traditional culture.

Night Tour of the Zen Town, Nianhua Bay: As night falls, step into Nianhua Bay and enjoy poetic scenes such as “A Flower, A World,” “Reed Flower Lodge,” “Half the Clouds,” “A Pond of Lotus Leaves,” and “Half a Window of Shadows.” Strolling through the town, you will feel a unique sense of tranquility and serenity, as if entering a paradise untouched by the outside world.

Day 3: Wuxi - SuZhou - Wuzhen (B/L)

After breakfast, visit Lingshan Grand Buddha, the largest Buddha statue in China, standing 88 meters tall. Touch the Buddha’s hand to pray for blessings and longevity, feel the radiance of the Buddha’s light, and watch the breathtaking large-scale performance Nine Dragons Bathing the Buddha, which recreates the grand scene of the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha. The visit also includes Lingshan Grand Screen Wall, Buddha Foot Square, the World’s Largest Hand, Bodhi Avenue, and Xiangfu Zen Temple. Explore Fan Palace, a heavenly wonderland hailed as “China’s Angkor Wat,” built at a cost of 1 billion RMB.

Enjoy a Taihu farmhouse lunch (value: RMB 50/person). Then, travel to Suzhou to visit Lingering Garden, one of China’s Four Great Classical Gardens, famed for its exquisite architectural layout and abundance of unique rocks. Alongside Suzhou’s Humble Administrator’s Garden, Beijing’s Summer Palace, and Chengde’s Mountain Resort, Lingering Garden holds a top place in Chinese garden heritage. Late Qing scholar Yu Yue praised it as “the finest garden south of the Yangtze.” Lingering Garden contains the most buildings among Suzhou’s gardens—halls, corridors, whitewashed walls, and moon gates harmoniously paired with rockeries, ponds, flowers, and trees, forming dozens of scenic views of varying size.

Continue to Wuzhen West Scenic Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage-level riverside resort town that preserves the authentic charm of an ancient Jiangnan water town. The West Scenic Zone is rich with historical sites, traditional handicraft workshops, religious buildings, folk customs, and leisure spots, alongside beautiful natural scenery and spectacular illuminated night views. Comprising 12 small islands connected by over 70 stone bridges—both the highest river density and most bridges among China’s ancient towns—Wuzhen West offers a distinctly different experience at night compared to daytime. At night, bridges cast colorful reflections on the water, and riverside buildings glow under multicolored lights, creating a new artistic ambiance. It feels like stepping into two towns at once—yesterday’s weathered charm and today’s dazzling brilliance.

The outdoor cinema in the West Scenic Zone is located at the Sun & Moon Theater, with the film projected onto an old whitewashed wall using a vintage film projector.

Recommended night activities: Rent a small boat in the evening (approx. RMB 360/boat, max. 6 passengers including children and infants, at guests’ own expense) to cruise as the riverside lights begin to glow, capturing beautiful night photos. Alternatively, enjoy a riverside meal with your partner or friends, savoring Wuzhen specialties while admiring the sparkling night views.

Nighttime entertainment options include:

• Evening storytelling and Pingtan performances

• Outdoor cinema

• Si Shui Nian Hua Bar

• Ling Shui Residence night view

Day 4: Wuzhen - Xitang - NanXun - Hangzhou (B)

After breakfast, travel to Jiashan to visit the Xitang Scenic Area, located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Known as the “Root of Wu and Corner of Yue” and “Home at the Corner of Yue,” Xitang is praised as a living thousand-year-old ancient town and is listed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Tentative List.

Continue to Nanxun Ancient Town (including a boat ride). Covering an area of 2 square kilometers, Nanxun offers picturesque scenery and a harmonious blend of history and culture. The town is home to incense-filled temples, grand mansions blending Chinese and Western architectural styles, poetic gardens, renowned libraries, riverside dwellings, uniquely designed arch bridges, world-famous lake silk, and exquisitely carved works of art. Together, they form a series of rustic, elegant, and tranquil ink-painting-like scenes.

Optional evening activity (at own expense): Visit Song Dynasty Town and watch the spectacular performance “Romance of the Song Dynasty”, including round-trip transfer by vehicle and guide service. This show is considered one of the three most famous performances in the world, featuring Hangzhou’s historical legends and myths, blending dance, acrobatics, and modern high-tech effects to create a dreamlike artistic experience.

Dinner is at your own arrangement — a perfect chance to sample Hangzhou’s delicious local snacks.
(Reference price for Song Dynasty Town admission + “Romance of the Song Dynasty” show: RMB 320 per person, payable directly to the guide. Participation is voluntary and never compulsory.)