11 Days China Classic Gardens Tour

Day 01  Arrive in Beijing

Activities: Arrive in Beijing. Be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Just relax and take a leisured stroll around the city. You can excurse and reveal this charming city by person. Happy travel!

Accommodation:Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing

Meals: No Meals

Day 02  Beijing

Activities: Today's delightful highlights cover the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Roasted Peking Duck is recommended for your dinner, and a Peking Opera show after dinner is recommended for your night show, which are both exclusive in our quotation. Feel free to contact our travel advisor about the details and cost.

Accommodation:Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing

Meals: B/L

Day 03  Beijing

Activities: Today you will visit the Badaling Great Wall in the morning and the Ming Tombs in the afternoon.

Accommodation:Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing

Meals: B/L

Day 04  Beijing -  - Nanjing

Activities: Visit the Summer Palace and the lovely pandas in Beijing Zoo. Fly to Nanjing and transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation:Tianfeng Hotel-Nanjing

Meals: B/L

Day 05  Nanjing

Activities: Today you will visit the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Confucius Temple.

Accommodation:Tianfeng Hotel-Nanjing

Meals: B/L

Day 06  Nanjing -  - Suzhou

Activities: Transfer to Suzhou and check in the hotel. Visit the Tiger Hill, the Garden of the Master of the Nets and the Humble Administrator's Garden.

Accommodation:Bamboo Grove Hotel-Suzhou

Meals: B/L

Day 07  Suzhou -  - Zhouzhuang -  - Suzhou

Activities: Drive to Zhouzhuang, the No. 1 Water County of China. Then back to Suzhou.

Accommodation:Bamboo Grove Hotel-Suzhou

Meals: B/L

Day 08  Suzhou -  - Hangzhou

Activities: In the morning, visit Hanshan Temple. In the afternoon, transfer to Hangzhou by train. Upon arrival, check in the hotel.

Accommodation:Hangzhou Lakeview Hotel

Meals: B/L

Day 09  Hangzhou

Activities: Today you will discover the West Lake, the Six Harmonies Pagoda, the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Inspired Seclusion) and the Museum of Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugstore. At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Accommodation:Hangzhou Lakeview Hotel

Meals: B/L

Day 10  Hangzhou -  - Shanghai

Activities: Transfer to Shanghai by train and check in the hotel upon arrival in Shanghai. Visit the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden, and the Bund. Shanghai Acrobatics is recommended for your night show, which is exclusive in our quotation. Feel free to contact our travel advisor about the details and cost.

Accommodation:The Bund Hotel Shangha

Meals: B/L

Day 11  Depart from Shanghai

Activities: In the last day, after you enjoy the breakfast in Shanghai, you will be transferred to the airport. Your amazing 11 Days China Classic Gardens Tour is finished.

Accommodation:

Meals: B

Day 01  Arrive in Beijing

Beijing is the cultural and political capital of the People's Republic of China. This ancient city has remained a constant throughout the many incarnations of the Chinese nation, a history stretching back over 5000 years. The history of modern Beijing, however, began in the 13th century, when Genghis Khan built his fortress city Khanbaliq amongst the ashes of Yanjing ?C the Liao Dynasty capital that he burned to the ground in 1215. Beijing remained the centre of power throughout the reigns of the succeeding Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties ?C most of the last 800 years. After the Nationalist Government in Nanjing was usurped by the Communists Party in 1949, Mao Zedong made his capital in Beijing; famously announcing the birth of the People's Republic of China in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949. Beijing's lengthy and diverse history can be seen on the streets of Beijing, in the variety of monuments and palaces built by emperors and governments over the centuries. Beijing is one of the world's most iconic cities; full of must-see sights for all first-time visitors to the Middle Kingdom.

Day 02  Beijing

Today you will visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. And you have the chance to taste the Beijing Roasted Duck.
Tiananmen Square: Tiananmen (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), is located in the center of Beijing. It was first built in 1417 and named Chengtianmen (the Gate of Heavenly Succession). At the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was seriously damaged by war. When it was rebuilt under the Qing in 1651, it was renamed Tiananmen, and served as the main entrance to the Imperial City, the administrative and residential quarters for court officials and retainers. The southern sections of the Imperial City wall still stand on both sides of the Gate. The tower at the top of the gate is nine-room wide and five-room deep. According to the Book of Changes, the two numbers nine and five, when combined, symbolize the supreme status of a sovereign. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Tiananmen was the place where state ceremonies took place.
Forbidden City: Forbidden City also known as Palace Museum was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the ancient time, the emperor claimed to be the son of the heaven and therefore their supreme power was conferred upon them from the heaven. Their residence on the earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where the God lived in the Heaven. Such divine place was certain forbidden for the ordinary people and it is why the Forbidden City is so called. The museum is a real treasures house of Chinese cultural and historical relics, recognized as one of the most important five palaces in the world. The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of the traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment. In 1961 the Palace Museum was listed as one of the important historical monuments under the special preservation by the Chinese central government and in 1987, it was nominated as the world cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
Temple of Heaven: The Temple of Heaven is a large park and temple complex situated in more or less the south central area of Beijing. Its center piece is a large tower built, it is said, entirely of wood and not using a single nail. It is said that the main features of the park are its trees and inhabitants. The park is filled with more than a thousand species of tree, some of which are hundreds of years old, despite their relatively small size. One thing you could notice here is that most of the architecture here. Every day, the park also attracts thousands of residents who come to practice singing, martial arts, Peking opera, chess, dancing and calligraphy. Of course, this can be said of many parks in Beijing, but the Temple of Heaven attracts more than its fair share.
Beijing Roast Duck: Beijing Roast duck is thought to be one of the most delicious dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will never forget to have a try. The two famous restaurants that serve Beijing Roast Duck are Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant and Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, both of which have a history of over one hundred years. They represent two different schools of roasting duck. Bianyifang, founded in 1855, makes use of a close oven and straw as the fuel, which won't make flames go directly onto the duck. Before being put into the oven, a duck is filled with specially-made soup to make it possible to roast the duck outside and boil it inside at the same time.

Day 03  Beijing

Today you will discover the Badaling Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.
The Badaling Great Wall: The Great Wall at Badaling is the best representative section of the Great Wall. It is more than 7 meters high and 5 meters wide. It was the strategic point of Juyongguan Pass in ancient times. Many other fortresses and beacon towers were constructed at the strategic points. This section of the Great Wall has drawn great attention from the Chinese government since the foundation of P.R. China. It was designated a major historical site under state protection in 1961. The Great Wall was listed "a World Cultural Heritage" by the UNESCO in 1987. The Great Wall at Badaling is preserved as a historical monument and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
The Ming Tombs: Located at the foot of the Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, Beijing, the Ming Mausoleums, occupying an area of 120 square kilometers, are well preserved and have the biggest number of emperors buried in the world.

Day 04  Beijing -  - Nanjing

The Summer Palace: The Summer Palace landscape, dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water surface. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, garden and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural artifacts, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.

Day 05  Nanjing

Today you will visit the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Confucius Temple.
Mausoleum of Dr.Sun Yat-sen: With a solemn atmosphere, Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's Mausoleum is built at the foot of the majestic Purple Mountain. Viewing above, it presents a shape of bell with the meaning that Chinese people should always keep in mind Doctor Sun's will and dedicate to build a strong China.
The Confucius Temple: The Confucius Temple built in the Song Dynasty is a place to worship the great philosopher Confucius. This area has been the center of Confucian study for over 1.500 years. Now it has become a commercial center, with many featured shops. Also you may enjoy the famous local snacks there.

Day 06  Nanjing -  - Suzhou

Today you will visit the Tiger Hill, the Garden of the Master of the Nets and the Humble Administrator's Garden.
Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest of all classical gardens in Suzhou. It is centered upon the broad expanse of a lake, making up about one fifth of the total area. With well-spaced buildings, the garden landscape and water space are simple, extensive and natural, possessing the traditional appearances of the Ming Dynasty. It is divided into three parts; the eastern, middle and the western parts. The house lies in the south of the garden.

Day 07  Suzhou -  - Zhouzhuang -  - Suzhou

Zhouzhuang, once called Zhenfengli, is located in Kunshan City, 30 km to the southeast of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, covering an area of 0.4 square km. Although there are other towns in China such as Tongli, dissected by streams, rivers and canals, Zhouzhuang is the most famous such "water town" nowadays for its quiet and exquisite surroundings, and simple and ancient architecture.
Water is the soul of Zhouzhuang and travelling by water is really the only way to get to the heart of the little town. Gondola-like boats travel swiftly up and down the canals. Sitting on the prow, you get a closer look at the carvings on the bridges, and the details of the waterside residences. You may see local women washing clothes in the water. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot places where the recent Universal movie "Pavilion of Women" was filmed.

Day 08  Suzhou -  - Hangzhou

As the saying goes - 'Gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them'. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. At present more than 60 gardens are kept intact in Suzhou, and a series of them have been listed in the World Heritage List, including the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Garden of Master of Nets and the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty.

Day 09  Hangzhou

Today you will discover the West Lake, the Six Harmonies Pagoda. the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Inspired Seclusion) and Museum of Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugstore.
Six Harmonies Pagoda: Located on the Yuelun Hill besides Qiantang River, Six Harmonies Pagoda was built by King of Wuyu to ward off Qiantang bore. As high as 59.89 meters, this grand pagoda has 7 sides and 8 stories. Looked down from the top, all Qiantang River beauty is bird viewed. Now near Six Harmonies Pagoda, a Garden of Chinese Ancient Pagodas with more than 100 pagodas and towers in various dynasties has been constructed to display Chinese pagoda culture integrated.
Lingyin Temple, west of the famous West Lake in East China's Hangzhou city, stands at the foot of the Beigao Peak and faces the Feilai (Peak That Flew Here) Peak across a stream. With many old trees, groves of bamboo, and quiet and beautiful surroundings, the Lingyin Temple is one of the most famous temples south of the Yangtze River.

Day 10  Hangzhou -  - Shanghai

Today you will visit the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden and the Bund.
Shanghai Museum: As the biggest museum in China, Shanghai Museum has a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural heritages. The museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy.
Yuyuan Garden: A traditional Chinese park decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rockeries. Yu Garden is not only a famous classical garden in South China, but also a major historic and cultural site under state protection.
Acrobatics: Acrobatics is an interactive art form. Whether you are old or young, educated or illiterate, you can appreciate it as long as you can see. There is no language barrier and cultural border. When you watch a Chinese acrobatics, you are strongly impacted both mentally and physically. It is truly and unforgettable experience. It is no doubt that Shanghai is the best place to enjoy a perfect Chinese acrobatic show. The Acrobatics at Shanghai are not to be missed. They are held each night and last for about 2 hours. An acrobatic show has become one of the most popular evening entertainments for tourists in Shanghai. You can enjoy gravity-defying contortionism, juggling, unicycling, chair-stacking, and plate-spinning acts at the following stages.

Day 11  Depart from Shanghai

In the past few days you have had a wonderful time in China. You must be fascinated about China. We are sure that you enjoy the splendid culture and unique scenery and you can be our best ambassadors to share that experience with your friends and neighbors. We sincerely hope to see you revisit China again with your friends. Also we hope you are satisfied with our GWV's information and service.