Shanghai and Its Neighbors Tour by High Speed Train
4-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing Tour
The thriving city of Shanghai is surrounded by some beautifully contrasting scenery. A few hours by fast bullet train will get to the classical charm of Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing.
Highlights
- Race with speed by riding on fast and comfortable bullet train between cities
- In-depth Chinese tea culture experience
- Boat ride on the beautiful West Lake
- Classic landscape gardens in Suzhou
- Immerse in ancient Chinese culture at Confucius Temple
What Our Customers Said
Chinese lantern festival and Sophie Lee. Actually March 2018 not Feb 2022
When we were there, one of the highlights was the Chinese Lantern Festival in Old Shanghai, which is both colourful and has an excellent festival atmosphere. She bought us a Chinese desert item that was small sweet sticky balls that were very good. moreJan 2023, Dave H
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Our family trip to China ended with a couple of days in historical Shanghai. We loved seeing and visiting the historic centers, traveling up the Shanghai Tower, eating delicious dumplings, and visiting the best Chinatown we have ever experienced. Our guide, Quing Quing, and driver Ken were fantastic, informative, professional and fun. Quing Quing even took us to experience the marriage market where Chinese parents try to help their children find potential mates after we expressed that it would be an interesting thing to see. Quing Quing, her American name is Clair, is an excellent and vivacious tour guide. Ask for her when you book with China Highlights you will be in good hands. --Inspire819460 moreDec 2019, Inspire819460
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With other two friends I have visited Shanghai in October 2018 and our tour guide was Mary, who has been wonderful with us. She had the smart idea to adapt the schedule of our planned tours in order to visit the city centre with few crowds, even if we were visiting Shanghai right during the Chinese national holidays. Besides the city centre with the panoramic towers, we visited the old French district, the Bund, the old city with the market and Tonglizhen, a water village just outside of Shanghai. Mary gave us also very nice suggestions about restaurants and hotels with panoramic terrace to visit in the evenings during our free time. In the end Mary was so kind to give us some Chinese salty pastries as lunch for our long train journey back to Beijing. Totally recommended!!! ---Vittorio C, Germany moreNov 2019,
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We have been in China 2 weeks and our last day was spent in Shanghai! Our guide Candy Shao was the best...Candy was so helpful in planning the highlights of the city and what we absolutely needed to see and do on our last day. Her English was great and she was young and fun...seemed more like we were hanging out with a friend. Candy also took some great photos of us to capture our experience! I would definitely recommend Candy and China Highlights to all my friends! --Vody, USA moreNov 2019,
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First of all, Daniel is a very friendly, entertaining & knowledgeable tour guide.Not only had he brought us to places in the schedule, but also helped in bookings when we went around the city on ourselves. He is online 24/7 and provided immediate responses for all the questions and inquiries. In addition, he ensured our safety not only during the trip with him, but also texted us to make sure we were back to hotel safely after our own schedule. Overall, he is more than excellent for us, as not only he had fulfilled his duty to guide us as scheduled, but more of providing us hospitality, help and knowledge beyond our exceptions and beyond what we have booked with the tour. Therefore, I would 100% recommend Daniel if any of you are planning for a trip to Shanghai. ---Catherinenodnod moreOct 2019,
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Sophie was an amazing tour guide! She is very knowledgeable about the city, and more importantly, knows all the best places to get food! I was traveling with my wife, her dad, and her grandmother. Sophie did an amazing job at making sure all four of us traveled safely and created an amazing Shanghai experience for us! If you're considering booking through China Highlights I would strongly suggest you request Sophie if possible! She felt like a part of the family at the end of the trip! ---GokiburiTTV, USA moreOct 2019,
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Our guide Karen Wen made our trip to Shanghai, the garden city of Suzhou and the Water Village of Tongli very memorable and wonderful. Karen is very passionate with her job as a local guide. She has a lot of knowledge of every place that we visited which made us relate to and understand what we’re visiting. She took us to restaurants that served the best xialongbao and to an old restaurant in Suzho where we ate the best garlic shrimp and steamed fish. She also changed our itinerary when she saw how tired we were coming from Zhangjiajie. Our driver is excellent . I highly recommend you book your trip to China Highlights. It’s local guides are all excellent. ---oesca,USA moreOct 2019,
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Shanghai is like Manhattan on 'steroids". Not just in terms of population, but more so in the expansive geography. That's not too much of an issue if you stay near the Bund on the Pu river (BTW highly recommend Les Suites Bund Orient hotel in the perfect location with million-dollar views from the large rooms of the skyline, luxurious, great customer service, and food. Good value too). A great tour guide brings all these buildings, the river, and most importantly the history to life. Sophie gave us an in-depth tour of the Bund, then took us across the river early in the morning to the top of the Shanghai Tower before it got crowded. The river cruise in the evening was spectacular and such an easy way to see the ever-changing illuminated skyline from so many varied perspectives. The cruises (actually almost everywhere except western-style hotels don't get that they can make a lot of money selling alcohol--maybe need more time for this western habit to evolve?). so capped off the night at the "Long Bar" in the Waldorf Astoria with a nightcap (wanted to go to the rooftop bar at the Fairmont overlooking the river but it was closed for a private event. Oh well next time). We had a second day so headed out to Suzhou and Tongli old water towns. Logistically ask the tour agency to take you there by high-speed train then use a private car/bus to get around (this wasn't Sophie's fault). Traffic can be a bear. --takeaction, USA moreOct 2019,
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Suggested Itinerary
We will have your train tickets booked and delivered to your hotel or appointed place in Shanghai at least one day prior to departure. Today you will arrange transport to the train station by yourself to take bullet train to Hangzhou (G7305: 0900-0945). Upon arrival in Hangzhou, your guide and driver meet you at the train station and start today's tea culture tour.
On this in-depth Longjing Tea cultural tour, you will get to know about the tea's history, process, brewing and taste the tea at Meijiawu Tea Plantation. Later visit China National Tea Museum and see exhibitions showing some ancient tea making tools and exquisite teapots.
Watch a short tea ceremony in Chenghuang Pavilion located on top of the hill. The walk up is easy, and the pavilion is an optimum spot for a bird's eye view of Hangzhou. The view of 'Heavenly Wind over Wu Hill' is one of 'the Ten Scenes of West Lake'.
Accommodation in Hangzhou: Haihua Hotel Hangzhou (4-star)/Grand Metropark Hotel Hangzhou (5-star)

Hangzhou is often called "The Venice of China". This lakeside city is not only a beautiful place to unwind and relax but offers some interesting historic attractions.
Enjoy exploring West Lake, the symbol of Hangzhou. While boating on the West Lake, the occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridges add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, lush islands and hills make it a very special part of any China experience. As one of the most famous and popular Buddhist temples in China, Lingyin Temple boasts plenty of Buddhist grottoes and pagodas.
In the afternoon, transfer to the train station for bullet train (D3136: 1631-1836) to Suzhou. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Suzhou.
Accommodation in Suzhou: Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou (4-star)/Pan Pacific Suzhou (5-star)

Suzhou's famous gardens are the highlight of the day, and we have selected the two most representative gardens - Lingering Garden and the Humble Administrator's Garden. You will find out how people created a poetic residence with pools, artificial hills, pavilions, trees, and flowers.
The ancient Grand Canal ranks alongside the Great Wall of China as the country's greatest engineering achievement and it is the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Grand Canal (about 30-40 minutes) and the view will remind you of Suzhou being the original source of the marine Silk Road.
Accommodation in Suzhou: Holiday Inn Jasmine Suzhou (4-star)/Pan Pacific Suzhou (5-star)

In the morning, transfer to train station for bullet train (D3022: 0938-1115) to Nanjing. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at train station and start today's Nanjing Tour.
Visit the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum to unfold the history of this honorable man in the Republic of China era. As a representative of Chinese history in terms of modern architecture, it will let you see the development of Chinese architecture if you compare it with traditional Chinese buildings. Zhonghua Gate is China's largest castle-style gate was built in 1366, the construction of the gate lasted 21 years and it can accommodate 3,000 people.
The Confucius Temple was built in 1034 and dedicated to worshiping the great philosopher Confucius. There you will explore the educational system and the etiquette of ancient China. Take a short cruise on Qinhuai River, the mother river of the city who witnessed its history and life.
Accommodation in Nanjing: Nanjing Central Hotel (4-star)/Jinling Hotel Nanjing (5-star)

Trip Notes
1. Tailoring your tour
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extend or shorten it to suit your price, interest and schedule. Feel free to tell us your requirements, and we are happy to help you arrange with our professional knowledge and experience.
2. Tips for riding a bullet train in China
Arrive at the correct train station at least 30 minutes before departure time. You are required to do a security check before entering the train station, and there's a 5-8 minute walk from ticket gate to the platform. There may be long stairs and slopes without escalator, so it is suggested that you pack light.
Bring some food and drinks for the ride, which come less in varieties and higher in prices on the train.
Keep your train ticket in place. It might be checked again during the ride and at the exit of train station.
Price includes:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.