East China Bullet Train Tour
5-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou Bullet Train Tour
This tour offers a chance to see the 3 most important cities of the Yangtze Delta: Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Connecting by bullet train, enjoy ancient and modern Shanghai, cruise on the romantic and heavenly West Lake, and stroll through ancient Chinese culture in Suzhou gardens and Tongli Watertown.
Tour Highlights
- Take the bullet train to explore Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou.
- Have a full view across the city of Shanghai from the highest building — the Shanghai Tower.
- Enjoy a relaxing boat-trip on West Lake and visit the beautiful island there.
- Appreciate the elaborate designs at classical Chinese gardens in Suzhou.
- Visit Tongli Watertown, the Venice of the East; smaller than Venice, yet exquisite and with some unique attractions.
What Our Customers Said
|
Wonderful Suzhou experience
We had another amazing tour with China Highlights. Cultural tour to Suzhou was so informative and fun with our amazing guide Mr Lin and our wonderful Wendy who brought us together. Many thanks to both of you! Looking forward to our next adventure. moreApr 2021, tiillly
|
Beautiful garden city tour with Cathy and China Highlights
I've been to Suzhou many times on business but I wanted to explore more when my wife and I planned a two week trip to China. We took the train in from Xian - which gave us an opportunity to see the countryside while relaxing on the smoothest trip I've had by rail. China highlights took care of all the details for us. Our guide Cathy is very proud of her city and knows its history well. We enjoyed two days of tours including the Humble Administrators garden, Tiger Hill pagoda and gardens, a canal cruise, the silk museum and a rickshaw tour through a residential area with stops in the local markets. Throughout Cathy was able to highlight points of interest as well as answer any questions. The restaurants were great as well with a nice variety of foods to enjoy. moreOct 2019, Traveldad65
|
Thank you China Highlights for Custom Tour to Suzhou, Wuhan and Hangzhou!
Penny got us safely on our high speed train in Suzhou and we traveled on our own to Wuhan. Michael of China Highlights found us when we disembarked the train station and couriered us to our hotel where we settled in for the night. Next day he took us to all the desired locations. A super friendly tour guide with great knowledge of the region. Michael couriered us to the Wuhan airport and we traveled on our own to Hangzhou. moreJun 2018, jengrinold
|
Pleasant tour through the gardens and canals with knowledgeable guide
On October 26, China Highlights guide, John, picked us up in Shanghai and transported us to Suzhou and the next day to Tongli. John spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable and clear in his answers to all our questions about modern Chinese history. One of our main reasons for our going to Suzhou was to go to the Suzhou Art Museum designed by I. M. Pei. Among other features, John was able to point out how the architect used doorways and windows to create painting-like images. For the same reason, we also enjoyed his guidance through the Garden of the Master of Nets. We especially enjoyed the rowboat cruise through the Grand Canal in Suzhou and our lunch at the tavern in the Tongli, where Sun Yat-sen and colleagues had first planned the overthrow of the emperor. Finally, we were especially grateful to John and the arrangements he was able to make about returning the ipad I had left behind accidently in the car upon our arrival back at the hotel in Shanghai. John was able arrange its return to me at the hotel by the next morning. moreJan 2018, Rocky H
|
Suzhou & Gardens Tour
Our guide, Deng, met us at the train station and took us to our hotel. She was also our tour guide for the next two days, where we visited the many gardens of Suzhou (Lingering, Humble Administrators and Tiger Hill). Deng was friendly, knowledgeable and always on time. She gave us some excellent inside perspectives on the areas of Suzhou. We especially enjoyed the Night Tour of the Nets Master, where Deng made sure we were well positioned to see the next presentation. Suzhou is a wonderful city to visit and we enjoyed our time there. Thank you Deng. moreNov 2017, Robert C
|
Suzhou was a pleasure to explore
I was fortunate to have Huang Min as my tour guide for Suzhou. His interest in traditional Chinese culture and Chinese design helped me to really appreciate Suzhou. When we visited buildings he would show me things like how the buildings were made and different techniques used back in the old times. He would also mention how many of the items and rooms I saw were used and their function in Chinese culture. I felt he went above and beyond in that respect. I felt like I was doing more than just spectating, and the tour felt more personal because of Huang Min. He had a lot of knowledge to pass on. The lunch was delicious at yangyang dumpling restaurant. I needed help to use chopsticks and Huang Min showed me how to use them. My hands got tired so I ended up using a fork anyway, but it was a pleasant experience with really tasty food. I loved Suzhou and I hope to visit again someday. I did many more things on the tour, but to summarize I would say Suzhou was special to me. Huang Min helped make it special. moreSep 2017, smael_nicolas
|
Suzhou another place you just have to got to
The Gardens are incredible,bonsai by the 100,s and each one perfect.The locals in the park singing and dancing.Lunch was incredible (SO SO GOOD)The water town was like stepping back in time.I loved every minute i spent in this beautiful place. Can i say you need a guide to explain the reasons behind things and to show you things as simple as where to stand to get a photo. Well my guide Deng from china highlights a true local and an amazing guide with bucket loads of knowledge and a huge amount of patients for my hundreds of questions. moreJun 2017, cer75
|
Suzhou a beautiful city of gardens
Arriving in Suzhou we were met by our very knowledgeable and experienced guide Ming who immediately took us to a famous dumpling restaurant for a delicious lunch. In spite of having grown over the years from a small city to a city in the millions of inhabitants, Suzhou retains in its center town the traditional architecture and feel of days gone by which makes it one to the loveliest places to visit. The highlight of a visit to Suzhou is its famous classical gardens, we started by visiting 'The Humble Administrator's Garden' where we learned that the important elements in a Chinese garden are not only the vegetation but also the water features, the rocks, and the buildings each with its own function making the garden an extension of the home. That same evening we went to a show at the 'Master of Nets' garden, it was magical to see the garden at night and the show was moving from building to building with the audience following and consisted of traditional music and singing, a short humorous play (which with Ming's help we could follow in spite of not understanding a word) , some dancing, and a short historical drama. Our hotel in Suzhou was a beautiful building in traditional Suzhou style around a lovely courtyard and was a few steps away from the 'Lingering Garden' which was my personal favorite, every element of the garden is uniquely chosen to form a perfectly harmonious whole. In addition to the gardens we visited the Pamnen ancient city gate and Tiger hill, which are both interesting and beautiful historical sites. We loved everything about our vist to Suzhou, our hotel, our guide Ming, the wonderful traditional restaurants, the old town historical streets, and most of all the gardens. Thanks to China Highlights for such a wonderful visit. moreJun 2017, Marylene P
|
Suggested Itinerary
Activities
Your private guide will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals hall or train station. An experienced driver with a comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) will be ready to escort you to your hotel. Your guide will help with your hotel check-in. Have a good rest to prepare for your trip the next day.
Optional evening ideas
If you still have surplus energy in the evening, you can stroll along Nanjing Road, Shanghai's most popular pedestrian street. Or walk along the Bund to get a feel for Shanghai's magnificent modern nightlife.
Night View of the BundQuick Facts
The Bund
- The oldest building on the Bund was built in 1846. It used to be the Richards Hotel, but is now the Astor House Hotel.
- There are 22 heritage buildings still on the Bund.
- Classic architectural styles on the Bund include Baroque, Gothic, and Romanesque.
Yu Gardens
- These used to be private gardens. They have over 400 years of history. For political reasons, their owner was almost killed by the emperor (see below).
- These were the most domineering private Chinese gardens, with five resident dragons. A dragon was symbolic of the emperor, and only emperors could use dragons as decoration.
Activities
You will have a Western breakfast at your hotel. Your private driver and guide will be waiting in the lobby after breakfast, prepared with drinks and map, ready to maximize your time.
Visit the archetypal traditional Chinese gardens, Yu Gardens, and appreciate their elaborate layout.
Get a feel for Shanghai's history by walking around the Former French Concession Precinct. Wander through the Bund to experience the combination of ancient and modern.
Have a bird's-eye view of the entire city of Shanghai, take the fastest elevator in the world, and stand on the highest building in Shanghai — the Shanghai Tower.
The BundQuick Facts
Meijiawu Tea Plantation
- This tea village is situated behind West Lake Park and is an important tea production base. Here you are in a beautiful natural environment. Just relax and enjoy the special tea culture. Taste the fragrant tea while appreciating the beautiful village scenery.
Activities
Your guide will accompany you to the train station in Shanghai. Sit back and enjoy a fast and comfortable bullet train journey. After an hour relaxing on the train, meet your Hangzhou guide at the train station.
Hangzhou is the birthplace of high-quality Chinese green tea –dragon-well tea. Visit Meijiawu Tea Plantation and learn the process for making tea.
Drive towards West Lake and pay a visit to Lingyin Temple, the most prosperous temple in Hangzhou. Then enjoy a relaxing boat ride on West Lake.
Meijiawu Tea Plantation The West LakeActivities
Take a bullet train from Hangzhou to Suzhou, and meet your Suzhou guide at the station.
Your first visit in Suzhou will be to Lingering Garden. This lovely little garden contains many exquisite designs. Look carefully on the ground, at the windows, and at the small gates. You will find many surprises!
Take a rickshaw and head into the narrow lanes of Suzhou’s old town. Observe local life by the ancient canal, and explore a food market.
In the afternoon drive 40 minutes to the Tongli Water Town, enjoy the lovely stone bridges and ancient architecture.
Tongli Water TownOptional evening ideas
Night Tour of The Nets Master Garden
Visiting classical gardens by night is a totally different experience from during the day.
Follow the staff’s guidance using lanterns, explore the quiet garden, and appreciate some traditional Chinese performances, including Kun Opera, traditional instruments, Pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect), and a tea ceremony.
Opening hours are 19:30-22:00, from late March to late November.
Activities
In the morning, your guide and driver will escort you to Suzhou train station, and you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, from where you can easily return to downtown Shanghai.
Transportation Suggestion
If you need to go to Shanghai Pudong Airport, a shuttle bus is available from Hongqiao Railway Station. You could alternatively take the metro.
If you prefer a private transfer from Suzhou direct to Shanghai, please let us know.
Trip Notes
Customizing the Tour — According to Your Needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, and extend or shorten it to suit your schedule.
For example, you can add activities in the first day, or remove some attractions.
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
A short stay (up to 6 days) in Shanghai and the surrounding cities is more convenient now as there is no need for a visa.
It's permissible to stay within the administrative areas of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province for up to 144 hours. Contact us to know more.
Tour Price
Price includes:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
