Essence Of Shanghai And Huangshan Round Trip

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Shanghai)

Day 2

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Shanghai Museum((Audio Guide included)), Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jiangnan Silk Shop and Workshop
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Old Shanghai Restaurant

- Shanghai Museum((Audio Guide included)) (1.5 hours): The biggest, and many think the best museum in China. The galleries in this outstanding building display stunning collections of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics and porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, seals, jade, coins, furniture, ethnic artefacts from minority groups, temporary travelling exhibitions from places like the Guggenheim, and so much more ... give yourself time to enjoy it.
- Yuyuan Garden (1 hour): Yuyuan Garden is located in the center of Shanghai old quarters. It was a private garden built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty, with typical Chinese classic architecture and style. The complex covers an area of 2 hectares, with rockeries, pavilions, ponds and corridors. Yuyuan Garden is surrounding by a busy market place, where visitors can find everything from popular local snacks, handicrafts, antiques and souvenirs to some famous time-honored restaurants.
- Yuyuan Market (30 minutes): Located next to the Yuyuan Garden and also known today as the City God Temple, it was built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. The City God Temple is a Taoist temple which is composed of many halls such as the Grand Hall, Middle Hall, Bedroom Palace, Star Gods Hall and etc. The City God Temple has a great influence on the residents of Shanghai. The religious festivals of the temple are considered to be festivals for all Shanghai people.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower (1.4 hours): One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or "pearls", it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture of the east bank. On a rare clear day you can see to the mouth of the Yangtze, but even in normal conditions there are great views of Shanghai's dramatic cityscape. The Shanghai History Museum is Located now just below the Oriental TV Tower at Pudong New Area. It was formally opened to the public on July 1, 2000. There you can see the three major exhibition units reflecting Shanghai's history, modern and recent revolutionary history respectively.
- Old Shanghai Restaurant: Old Shanghai Restaurant is an old and famous local restaurant which serves typical Shanghai Food as well as different flavors from other parts of China.
- Jiangnan Silk Shop and Workshop: See how silk is produced from the cocoons of silk worms, and turned into the beautiful fabric we all know and love. Silk filled duvets are excellent value, and the showroom offers everything from small souvenirs to larger items. The beauty of real silk is that it's so light, and packs really easily.
Tel: 021-62660378
Address: 289, Ao'men Road, Putuo District, Shanghai

Day 3

Place & Transport: Shanghai to Huangshan, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Xintiandi, Former French Concession Precinct, Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai), Airport Transfer (Huangshan)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Home's Restaurant

- Xintiandi (30 minutes): Xintiandi is nestled between the towering skyscrapers in city center. It is one of the busiest urban tourist attractions and imbued with the city's historical and cultural legacies. Shanghai Xintiandi's Shikumen building was created by converting traditional residential blocks into a multifunctional dining, retailing and entertainment center flowing with restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars of international standard.
- Former French Concession Precinct (1 hour): The former French concession covers the area including Huaihai Road, Fuxing Road, Huashan Road, Ruijin Road, Yandang Road, Taikang Road and Sinan Road. A walking tour in the former French concession will take in important historical buildings, such as the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, Zhou Enlai, Fuxing Park, Moller Villa, Lilac Garden, Notre Dame Cathedral and countless French colonial style buildings. Most buildings are over 100 years old. On clear, warm days, the shadows of the Chenar trees adds a romantic feeling. At night, café, bars and restaurants lure their customers with coffee fragrance.
- Home's Restaurant: Home's Restaurant is located near the Nanjing Road. It specializes in Shanghai cuisine using the best local ingredients. Smoked fish and red jujube with sticky rice are well known in Shanghai. The restaurant enjoys a great reputation with diners from many parts of China and abroad.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Huangshan
Today's Activities: Shexian Tangyue Memorial Arches, Tunxi Ancient Street,
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Mei Shi Ren Jia Restaurant

- Shexian Tangyue Memorial Arches (1 hour): Known as the "Town of Arches", Shexian is a must see for fine examples of residential architecture and memorial arches from Ming and Qing dynasties. The Chinese name “Paifang” is given to an arch usually made of fine wood or stone, as memorial and decoration. Shexian has thousands of arches. It is a great place to explore the social culture in China's feudal society.

The Bao Family Garden is near the Tangyue Memorial Arch Group. This private garden once owned by successful businessman Bao was as famous as the Humble Administrators Garden in Suzhou. Built as a Bonsai garden, it showcases the best works of Bonsai from different schools of this art. It blends perfectly with the Tangyue Memorial Arch Group, and is a fascinating way to spend a few hours.
- Tunxi Ancient Street (1 hour): It's located in the center of the old city of Tunxi,there are hundreds of old but well preserved rows of shops, evoking a bygone era in buildings that are simple and elegant. It is a commercial street that is only for pedestrians.
- Mei Shi Ren Jia Restaurant: Located in center of the old street, Mei Shi Ren Jia Restaurant serves Hui cuisine and Hangzhou cuisine. It is decorated in a Chinese style with a cozy environment. The restaurant also caters to a variety of cuisine especially specializes in dim sum, which has earned a wide prestige in locals.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Huangshan
Today's Activities: The Yellow Mountains, Yungu Cable Car, Huizhou Culture Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Yellow Mountains (6 hours): Located in the south of Anhui Province, with an area of about 1,200 square kilometers, known as "the loveliest mountain in China",famous for magnificent scenery whatever the season: granite peaks piercing the clouds, strangely shaped rocks and gnarled trees, hot springs, waterfalls, wonderful outlooks and over 1500 plant species. No traffic within the core area of about 150 square kilometres, accessible by cable car or on foot. Many enticing walks of all grades, all include some steps.
- Yungu Cable Car (10 minutes): You can enjoy the scenery along the way as you ascend or descend the Yellow Mountain by cable car.
- Huizhou Culture Museum: Located at the south side of Tunxi aiport Yingbin Avenue and adjacent to Hui-hang high way entrance, Huizhou culture museum covers a land area of 10.4 hectares and an architecture area of 1.4 hectares. With more than 100000 historical relics varying from ancient ceramics and pottery, ink stone, Huizhou ink stick ,paintings ,calligraphy, carvings in stone ,brick and wood, bronze ware, jade and old local books and documents to some others, Huizhou culture museum fully bring forth the feature of local culture.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Huangshan to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Yungu Cable Car, Hongcun Village, Xidi Village, Hotel to airport Transfer (Huangshan), Airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Leigang villa

- Yungu Cable Car (10 minutes): You can enjoy the scenery along the way as you ascend or descend the Yellow Mountain by cable car.
- Hongcun Village (1.5 hours): It's located about 10 kilometers off the northeast part of Yixian County. An ancient village over 800 years old leaning against Mt. Huangshan, it is folded in the fog of the Mt Huangshan, which makes it look like a natural landscape painting. Parts of the famous film "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon" were made here.
Surrounded by a picturesque moat with bridges to the village and a half-moon shaped pond in the centre, it is a favourite haunt of artists and students who often stay with local families to paint here. Laid out to represent a buffalo, it is one of the prettiest places in the area, known as the Chinese town in the pictures and has been listed by UNESCO for its beauty and largely undeveloped traditional streets and houses. Various halls, dwellings and an old school are open to visitors.
- Xidi Village (1.5 hours): Xidi(the World Cultural Heritage site)is located at the foot of Mt. Huangshan. It's 54 kilometers away from Huangshan City. First built 900 years ago in the Song Dynasty , its traditional architecture is well preserved. The buildings and the street patterns, reflect the socio-economic structure of an enduring period of Chinese history. Don't miss the magnificent memorial archway.
- Leigang villa: Located on the top of the Leigang hill, Leigang Villa restaurant serves local style Chinese food. Lunch is served in a beautiful environment with pleasant scenery, as the restaurant is surrounded by a forest of bamboo and peach trees. The restaurant has a bird's eye view of Hongcun village.