Shanghai & the Landscapes of Jiangnan

Highlights

• Connect Nanjing’s imperial tombs, city walls and Buddhist architecture with its river life and traditional crafts.
• Walk among the bamboo at Liyang’s Nanshan Bamboo Sea between city stays.
• Explore Lingshan and spend a planned night at Nianhua Bay, followed by Taihu Lake scenery at Yuantouzhu.
• Discover Suzhou’s Master of the Nets Garden, Shantang’s waterways and the storytelling music of pingtan.
• Finish in Shanghai with Yu Garden, the Bund, Xintiandi and the neighbourhood streets around Anfu Road.

Journey outline

1. 1

   Shanghai arrival · Nanjing

   Arrive in Shanghai and continue to the old capital

   Meet your guide at Shanghai airport and travel by private vehicle to Nanjing. If your arrival time allows, ease into the city through Laomendong’s lanes, a regional dinner and a Qinhuai River cruise.

   • Meet at Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao airport, as agreed in your arrival arrangements.
   • Transfer by road to Nanjing; allow a substantial part of the day for the journey and arrival formalities.
   • Explore Laomendong and enjoy a Huaiyang-style welcome dinner.
   • Take an evening cruise through the Qinhuai River and Confucius Temple district when the arrival schedule permits.

   Nanjing

2. 2

   Nanjing

   Sacred architecture, lakeside walls and incense craft

   Begin at Niushou Mountain before returning to the city’s northern lakefront. The Taicheng section of the city wall and Xuanwu Lake reveal Nanjing’s relationship with its landscape; Xinanli adds a hands-on encounter with local incense traditions.

   • Visit Niushou Mountain’s Buddhist cultural complex and contemporary ceremonial architecture.
   • Explore the Taicheng section of the Nanjing City Wall.
   • Take a lakeside walk at Xuanwu Lake with time to pause along the way.
   • Visit Xinanli and join an arranged incense-making activity, with the format confirmed before travel.

   Nanjing

3. 3

   Nanjing · Liyang

   From the Ming sacred way to a sea of bamboo

   Explore Ming Xiaoling’s monumental setting on Purple Mountain, then leave the city for Liyang. An afternoon at Nanshan Bamboo Sea brings a change of scale, from imperial avenues to paths beneath tall bamboo.

   • Visit Ming Xiaoling and walk among the stone figures along its ceremonial approach.
   • Enjoy lunch in Nanjing before travelling by road to Liyang.
   • Explore Nanshan Bamboo Sea, choosing walking sections to suit the group.
   • Try local Liyang cooking and settle into your hotel.

   Liyang

4. 4

   Liyang · Wuxi

   Lingshan and an evening at Nianhua Bay

   Travel to Wuxi for the Buddhist cultural landscape of Lingshan, including the Grand Buddha and its surrounding architecture. Continue to Nianhua Bay for time among its lanes, courtyards and evening lights, with a planned overnight stay in the resort.

   • Transfer from Liyang to Wuxi and pause for a regional lunch.
   • Visit Lingshan’s Grand Buddha and Buddhist cultural complex.
   • Check in at the proposed Nianhua Bay inn and explore the resort at your own pace.
   • Enjoy dinner and the evening programme available during your stay; performance schedules are confirmed for your dates.

   Nianhua Bay, Wuxi

5. 5

   Wuxi · Suzhou

   Taihu Lake views and Suzhou by the water

   Spend the morning at Yuantouzhu on Taihu Lake, then continue to Suzhou. The compact Master of the Nets Garden offers an intimate introduction to classical garden design before Shantang’s canals, crafts and pingtan music.

   • Explore Yuantouzhu, also called Turtle Head Isle, for shoreline walks and broad views across Taihu Lake.
   • Enjoy lunch in Wuxi and travel to Suzhou.
   • Visit the Master of the Nets Garden, where a small space holds carefully framed views.
   • Walk along Shantang Street and join the arranged local craft activity.
   • Take a canal boat ride and hear Suzhou pingtan, a form of musical storytelling, as arranged in the confirmed programme.

   Suzhou

6. 6

   Suzhou · Tongli · Shanghai

   Water-town tea and Shanghai’s riverfront

   Begin with Tongli’s bridges, waterside lanes and a tea break, then return to Shanghai. Yu Garden and the surrounding old-town district introduce its traditional side before Nanjing Road and the illuminated Bund.

   • Travel from Suzhou to Tongli for a walk through the water town and an arranged tea stop.
   • Enjoy a water-town lunch before the road transfer to Shanghai.
   • Visit Yu Garden and explore the surrounding City God Temple and old-town area.
   • Enjoy Shanghai-style cooking, then walk along Nanjing Road and the Bund for views across the Huangpu River.

   Shanghai

7. 7

   Shanghai departure

   Shikumen lanes, neighbourhood streets and homeward travel

   Use the time before your flight to explore Xintiandi’s shikumen architecture and the leafy streets around Anfu Road. Your airport transfer is arranged around the confirmed departure time.

   • Walk through Xintiandi, where restored shikumen lanes now house cafés, shops and restaurants.
   • Explore Anfu Road’s neighbourhood streets, with time for a café stop or independent browsing.
   • Transfer to the agreed Shanghai airport for your onward flight; sightseeing is adjusted to leave adequate departure time.

Pace and transport

Seven days in China with six hotel nights and several city-to-city road journeys. Sightseeing combines garden paths, old streets, large cultural sites and evening walks. The first day includes the Shanghai-to-Nanjing transfer, so an earlier arrival supports the full proposed programme; the final day follows your flight time.

Private vehicle, Walking, Boat

What can change

Adjust the route to your arrival and departure flights, preferred walking pace and interests in gardens, architecture, craft or food. Accommodation is proposed in twin-share rooms, including an inn at Nianhua Bay; named properties and room categories follow the quotation. An English-speaking guide is proposed, with French-language guiding on request and subject to availability. No compulsory shopping stops are planned.

Usually included

• Six hotel nights, normally in twin-share rooms, including the proposed Nianhua Bay inn stay; properties and room categories are confirmed in your quotation.
• Private, air-conditioned road transport for the agreed route and Shanghai airport transfers; vehicle size follows the group.
• English-speaking guide services as specified in the final quotation.
• First-entry admission to the agreed attractions and the canal cruises, cultural activities and performances listed in the confirmed itinerary.
• Hotel breakfasts and regional meals according to the final meal plan.
• Travel accident insurance only where specified in the final quotation, subject to the applicable policy and eligibility terms.

Usually not included

• International airfares and passport or visa expenses, unless expressly included in your quotation.
• Single-room supplements, personal purchases and services outside the confirmed programme.
• Optional activities, additional food or drinks, and scenic-area transport not expressly included.
• Additional costs caused by changes to flights, transport disruption or other circumstances outside the agreed arrangements.

Adaptation notes

Tell us about mobility needs, dietary requirements and travelling companions before booking. Bamboo paths, garden thresholds, city walls and boat boarding can require steps or uneven walking. Cruises, performances, craft workshops and attraction visits depend on reservations, weather and operating schedules. The planned fourth-night stay is at Nianhua Bay in Wuxi. Any additional transport within scenic areas, meal arrangements and insurance cover are confirmed in the final quotation.