Shanghai and Hangzhou Spotlight Experiences
Connected by high-speed train, Shanghai and Hangzhou are now less than an hour apart. These two cities are prime examples of China's rapid rise in wealth and technology.
Our handpicked experiences will enable you to unlock the story of Shanghai's rise, hidden in the old and new buildings. You can wander the character-filled lilong lanes, hunt for authentic snacks, indulge in the city for a day without using cash, and try to find out the secret of Jack Ma's success (Alibaba's chairman is the richest man in China). More surprises are waiting for you to discover.
What Our Customers Said
|
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
|
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,
|
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,
|
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,
|
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,
|
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,
|
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,
|
Our tour escort, Sophie Lee, is a talented hospitality professional....our 3 generation family trip was engaged by Sophie due to her vast experience.....chosen out of some 40 applicants to escort US Ambassador to China Gary Locke or leading the LA Lakers Basketball Cheerleaders around town a couple of weeks ago....we chatted with locals on the street comparing our home cities....tasted the best Chinese breakfast burrito ever from a street side vendor. Sophie ensured the safe trek of my 86 yr old mother to the top of Tiger Hill in Suzhou, My mother who immigrated from Shanghai when she was 14 and a academic scholar was impressed with Sophie’s knowledge of Chinese history and literature..... The Garden Tour in Suzhou was more meaningful with the insights provided by her story telling (much better than audio tour you get at Versailles).....As far as the “value” of our custom tour... I would rate as excellent... our 4 star hotel was more than adequate.....good spa facilities, breakfast was very good, we had dinner in the Taiwanese Seafood restaurant and it was excellent....and relatively pricey....our tour included lunch - great stuff! We were able to select items, using advice from Sophie....sometimes we went over budget - may $6 or $8 extra .... it’s worth it to sample as much as possible... such high quality food! Getting hungry writing about food. Gotta go now ----Advntr18 Berkeley, California moreOct 2019,
|
Shanghai in Progress Tour (3 hours)
- Hidden stories of the Bund
- Local snacks and local life experiences
- Overlook the city from Shanghai Tower
Discover the story of Shanghai's rise to the skies…
Trace the clues starting from the Bund, wander through alleyways to get a glimpse of the locals' lives, sit down for a break and enjoy some delicious Shanghai snacks, try to fit on the public ferry among the crowds to cross the Huangpu River and ascend the highest building in Shanghai — Shanghai Tower.
Recommended tours:
Discover the story of Shanghai's rise to the skies.Shanghai Local Food Hunt (3 hours)
- Authentic local snacks
- Michelin-starred restaurant and street food
If you are tired of eating hotel breakfasts and want to try something new, you must try this tour!
To have a great start to your day, your local guide will take you into the alleyways where you can search for the most popular local snacks that are only served for a few hours each day. Get ready to eat like a local!
Taste a shengjian (pan-fried bun).Former Jewish Settlement in Shanghai (4 hours)
- Jewish ghetto visit
- Historical items exhibition
- Stories of Jews in Shanghai
At the edge of old Shanghai, there is an area that witnessed the survival of the faith of tens of thousands of Jews. It is called "Hongkew Ghetto" by Jews.
Follow your local guide to discover the memories of elderly Jews. You will also see exhibitions of historic items, visit original buildings that stood during WWII, and learn stories about the area's history.
White Hours Cafe.Shanghai Chic by Night (2 hours)
- Shanghai's "must see by night" sights
- Private convertible jeep ride
- Sparkling wine included
It is a 2-hour evening tour of bustling Shanghai in a private convertible jeep showing how the city changes at night, and showing it in style, with a glass of champagne while cruising around. We will cover the Former French Quarter, the Bund, and the Old Town in just two hours, making stops for photos and anecdotes along the way.
Night view on the Waibaidu Bridge.West Lake Scenery and Relaxing Experiences (3½ hours)
- Relax in a rowing boat on West Lake
- Enjoy a G20 First Ladies Afternoon Tea
As the ancient "back garden of Shanghai", Hangzhou is filled with relaxing charm. The best way to enjoy this city is to follow the locals.
Taking a rowing boat is the most authentic way to enjoy West Lake's beauty. Explore a century-old Chinese pharmacy, learn how to make Chinese medicine and try some Chinese medicine snacks. Then settle down to a fine afternoon tea at a beautiful sky garden, which offers a great view of the lake.
Recommended tours:
Take a rowing boat on the West Lake .Discover Alibaba and Cutting-Edge China in Hangzhou
- Stories of Jack Ma and Alibaba
- Mobile payment experience
- New retail experiences
Paying with your face, riding a QR code bike, stores without a sales clerk, ambulances getting a green light all the way... these are daily life in Hangzhou.
Journey with us and have your eyes opened by interesting stories about Jack Ma, the richest man in China, and how his company Alibaba changed Hangzhou.
Recommended tours:
Try to pay with mobile phone.Tea Village and Culture Experience (3 hours)
- Pick tea leaves with a tea farmer.
- Learn the art of tea-tasting.
- Enjoy tea dishes at China's top tea plantation.
Meijiawu Tea Village is the place of origin of the best tea in China — West Lake Dragon Well tea. A local tea farmer will welcome you with traditional tea-pickers' bamboo baskets and hats and accompany you to the tea plantation.
You will first learn to choose appropriate tea leaves and pick them in the right way. After tea-picking, the tea farmer will show you the process of stir-drying tea. This process dehydrates the leaves and helps preserve their beautiful green color. Then learn the proper way to make a cup of tea.
After saying goodbye to the tea village, we'll drive to a local restaurant hiding in the tea plantation to enjoy some tea cuisine.
Recommended tours:
Explore the tea village.Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
