Zen Gardens and Waterways

This China trip starts on arrival at Shanghai airport, where you’ll be picked up for the private 1 hour transfer to the quiet aquatic town of Luzhi. The most picturesque canals now also have souvenir stores on them, however in most side canals everyday life is in full swing. You’ll enjoy strolling around this town for an hour or so and then you can step into one of the old tea houses for nice cup of hot tea.

Eventually your mini van will take you to your hotel in Tongli, only 30 minutes further down the road, before sun sets. This aquatic town is also quite idyllic and charming. The red Chinese lanterns in the entrance gates and in the courtyard of your hotel will be lit and you’ll probably want to go out for dinner on the first night of this trip from Shanghai. If you feel up to it after dinner, walk around the canals near your hotel and soak up the atmosphere.

It's the second day of your trip from Shanghai and you should try to make an early start this morning; after 11:00 the Chinese tourists will start to fill the streets, but until then it’s still quiet and you’ll have a chance to see Tongli awaken. The best way to view the city is from the water. Early in the morning you can rent a boat and a steersman to take you through the canals for only 70 Yuan, an experience may be reminiscent of the Venetian gondolas.

Many buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties are still in existence, mainly because the town was too difficult to conquer due to all of the waterways. There are three famous bridges in Tongli with names such as: Luck, Prosperity and Health. If you walk backwards over these bridges on your 66th birthday, rumour is that it will greatly improve your quality of life.

We suggest visiting the UNESCO protected Tusi Yuan garden while on your trip from Shanghai. It’s one of the most beautiful examples of a Jiangsu garden. Watch for the details around the pond, all elements are in perfect harmony. You can also visit several traders’ homes such as the Gengle Hall. This is an enormous residence with courtyards and gardens. It was designed in the 19th century for an extremely wealthy retired general.

At 15:00 (check-out is in the morning) your public bus will depart to Suzhou where you’ll catch a taxi to the train station. At 17:30 you’ll head for Shanghai in a high-speed train. You’ll see the countryside make way for apartment buildings and factory grounds in no time. On arrival at the Shanghai train station, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Either wait and see it the next evening, or if you feel up to it visit a bar/restaurant near your hotel with a overwhelming view of the illuminated Bund (until 23:00) and Pudong skyline the evening of your arrival.

On the third day of this trip from Shanghai, you can sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast under the chandeliers. Spend your day shopping at East Nanjing Road, visit the Yuyuan garden or walk through the stately mansions in the old French quarter (Huahai road) and visit the Shanghai museum in the middle of the city. 

You can also take the metro around 17:00 (please note: taxis are not allowed to cross the bridge to Pudong between 16:00 - 19:00) to Pudong and walk to the Jinmao tower. This is the highest tower in China, (at least for the time being). Go to the Grand Hyatt hotel and take three elevators to the 87th Floor, the Cloud 9 bar. A drink at the bar isn’t cheap, however the view over the illuminated city is more than worth it the extra expense. After you’ve seen the sights and had a drink or two, take a taxi cab to Xintiandi, the place to be in the evening, for a trendy dinner.

Depending on your China travel plan, at the end of this trip from Shanghai you’ll either check out of your hotel and fly back to the UK, or you’ll fly on towards your next destination to continue your China holiday. If you catch an international flight from or to Shanghai, you’ll fly through Pudong airport. This airport is connected to the city through the fastest train in the World, the German Maglev (a magnetic high-speed wonder that can easily reach speeds of 400km per hour). Riding the train is a unique and fun experience; take a cab from your hotel and you’ll be at the train station in 15 minutes (or vice versa). The module programme is also possible in reversed sequence with an extension in Tongli or Shanghai.

If you would like to continue on to a beach in China, we’ll arrange a bus to take you to Ningbo where you’ll catch a ferry to the island.