History Hidden in Garden
In-depth discovery of Jiangsu province includes: leisurely trip to Suzhou gardens and Tongli Water Town, a visit to the must-see Yuantouzhu Park in Wuxi, and the historical sites of Nanjing, another ancient capital of China.
Highlights
- Take a gondola in Tongli Water Town
- Watch a performance of Pingtan in Lingering Garden
- Walk in Yuantouzhu Park at the bank of Taihu Lake
- Appreciate colorful clay figurines in Xihui Park.
- Visit magnificent Sun Yatsen Mausoleum
- Ride a boat along the Qinhuai River
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Beautiful Zhou Zhuang and bustling Shanghai
Brenda was our tour guide in Zhou Zhuang and Shanghai. We had a great time in Zhou Zhuang and Shanghai. Zhou Zhuang is definitely the water town to visit if you can only visit one. Brenda was able to meet all our needs, even assisted us with a trip to the ER in Zhou Zhuang and translated for us. Chinese healthcare system is very quick and cheap. We were able to see a doctor, get lab works, ultrasound and medication all within an hour. The cost was about $50 USD. That did not affect our trip. We enjoyed the restaurants she took us to. When our tour was supposed to end around 2pm in Shanghai, Brenda and the driver made sure that we completed all the activities we wanted to do. I highly recommend Brenda as a tour guide and using China Highlights to plan out your trip to China. more
Jan 2025, Dana T
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Brenda is great!
My wife and I are touring China through China Highlights and when in Suzhou, we were blessed to Brenda as our guide. Brenda is an outstanding friendly guide whose knowledge of the area and whose English is excellent. Ray ‘s purpose in coming to Suzhou was to take a canal boat ride. Brenda arranged boat rides both in Suzhou and Tongli which were both marvellous. We also visited the famous leaning Buddhist Temple and the embroidery complex. She also took time to show us a great eating area close to our hotel. Brenda is currently with us in Shanghai where she shown us how to walk easily down to the river to look over the amazing new buildings and the Bund. She has also introduced us to quite different local food at lunch each day and we are now enjoying coffees at her favourite coffee shop on the river. more
Oct 2024, Ray E
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October 2024 China Trip - Suzhou.
I had an absolutely incredible experience on my tour in Suzhou, all thanks to our amazing guide (Brenda)! She was knowledgeable, and personable, and went above and beyond to make the entire trip unforgettable. Her insights into the local culture, history, and hidden gems of Suzhou added so much depth to the experience. Whether we were exploring the beautiful gardens or walking through the charming old streets, she brought the city to life with her stories and passion for the area. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an authentic and enriching tour in Suzhou! more
Oct 2024, Bruce N
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Suggested Itinerary
Private guide and driver will pick you up in the Shanghai airport. Enjoy a hassle free transfer with a comfortable non-smoking car. After about a 1.5h journey, you will arrive at one of top 6 water towns in China- Tongli Water Town. Take a gondola ride along the canal, see how people still live in a traditional way right along the canal, and photograph ancient houses setting on the bank. It's a historic and quaint town with vendors, original old houses and waterways. This leisurely journey gives insight of Chinese ancient life.
Suzhou gardens and water towns are admired for two unique highlights.. First, the Humble Administrator's Garden, a symbol of Suzhou's great culture and history. Stroll along the ponds, wood carvings and rocks. Secondly, the Suzhou Museum is a small but enjoyable museum to see a nice selection of Chinese artifacts. Learn more about Suzhou's culture and history with the help of your guide..
Lingering Garden is another well-preserved ancient Chinese garden. Record your special China trip with some amazing photos of the garden. Hear live ancient music is the air, watch a performance of Pingtan(storytelling and ballad singing in Suzhou dialect). Take a boat ride along Suzhou's ancient canal to see local people's lives.
The Lingering GardenAfter a western breakfast at the hotel, you will head out to explore Wuxi. It takes about 1h to arrive at the city. Take a walk at Yuantouzhu Park, this park is especially beautiful with blossoms in spring. It is the number one must-see place of Wuxi. Visit Liyuan Garden, a typical peaceful park on the bank of Taihu Lake. Listen to its love story dating back thousands of years. A charming sunset park - great for dusk walks.
Plum Garden in spring is full of blossoms. Stroll through the beautiful flowers, historic sites and gardens. Go to Xihui Park, an incredibly preserved old town. Appreciate the exquisite art of the colorful clay figurines in the park.
Yuantouzhu ParkTake a morning train to Nanjing, one of China's ancient capitals. Visit magnificent Sun Yatsen Mausoleum. Sun Yatse was the father of modern China. Your guide will help you learn about the modern history of China.
Walk into Nanjing Confucian Temple, a quiet place for both travelers and local people. See the fantastic white buildings with black roofs, and double golden dragons with red walls. Enjoy a boat ride along the Qinhuai River, Nanjing's mother river. The night cruise is full of atmosphere and is even more beautiful.
Good to know:1. For Sun Yatsen Mausoleum: There are a lot of steps in front of the site, prepare for a long walk.
2. If you are still energetic in the evening, you can have walk along the Qinhuai River to see a different side of Nanjing. Enjoy amazing night scenery of the city.
Sun Yatsen MausoleumLeave for Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty, a peaceful natural locale coupled with historical sights. A very beautiful place especially if you come in autumn when the maple leaves all turn red. It's A wonderful place to learn about the first emperor and culture of the Ming Dynasty. It's a must visit place for history buffs. Take a stroll along the city wall which represents a true masterpiece of military architecture and design during the Ming Dynasty.
Take a train in the afternoon back to Shanghai, a 2 hour journey. Your guide will take you to the railway station and leave after you get into the security check queue.
Good to know:The emperor of Zhu Yuanzhang, the owner of Xiaoling Tomb, is the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. His tomb is the second most famous after the Ming Tomb Clusters in Beijing.
Xiaoling TombTrip Notes
1. What's the best time to visit Suzhou?
You can visit Suzhou at any time. Every season has different beautiful scenery. Beautiful flowers in spring and colorful leaves in autumn make them more popular. Avoid Chinese national holidays like May 1st, China National Day (Oct.1th-7th).
2. How to get there?
High speed train from Shanghai to Suzhou can be as short as 40 min. But we will arrange a non-smoking car to maximum your comfort and time.
3. Extend to Suzhou's Neighbors
To Hangzhou (1-2 days)
Arrange 1 to 2 days to experience the unique Hangzhou: the romantic and heavenly West Lake, Lingyin Temple, the Former Residence of Xueyan, an in-depth Dragon Well Tea culture exploration.
To Shanghai (1-2 days)
Add Shanghai before or after the Suzhou tour: Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, the Bund and Zhujiajiao Water Town.
Price includes: