Select a downtown Shanghai pickup time and point, such as your hotel, and make the journey to Suzhou by private, air-conditioned vehicle. On route, inform your guide if there’s anything you want to see more of. As your tour is private, the itinerary can be tailored around you.
With a 2,500-year-old history, Suzhou was one of China’s major medieval cities, and attracted writers and painters drawn by its beauty. Today, it boasts a charming old quarter famed for its classical gardens, canals, and silk-making.
See the 14th-century Panmen Gate and surrounding scenic area near the remaining city moat and walls. View the Song-, Yuan-, Ming-, and Qing-era buildings here before strolling along canalside Shantang Street. Pass boats and bridges, and learn about Suzhou’s centuries-old Wu culture as you watch waterside life.
After a Suzhou-style restaurant lunch overlooking the canals, tour a silk factory. Discover the art and history of silk-making, and perhaps purchase some pieces (own expense).
Next, explore arguably the best of Suzhou’s UNESCO-listed gardens. Savor the exquisite landscapes, created in 1342 by a Buddhist monk, as you wander around the sculpted rocks, ponds, and pavilions.
Your tour finishes at your downtown hotel or chosen central Shanghai location.
