Pick-up at Shanghai Pudong International Airport; return transfer to either Hangzhou Xiaoshan or Shanghai Pudong International Airport, subject to confirmed flight.

Overview

The layers of the Jiangnan region reveal themselves most distinctly once the day-trippers have departed. This route includes a night in Zhouzhuang and another in the West Gate area of Wuzhen, ensuring the water lanes are experienced both in the night and on the morning of the second day, before the crowds return. Shanghai offers the riverside skyline, Suzhou follows with its classical gardens and pingtan storytelling, and Hangzhou provides a finale of wetlands and West Lake. What you take away is not just a generic water town image, but the tangible differences between them.

LyrikTrip Route Design Team

This group tour departs with a minimum of 10 participants. Please note that hotel bookings, tour dates, and airport transfers are subject to written confirmation prior to payment.

Why you'll love this trip

  • Stay in Xizha | Leave both nightfall and dawn to Wuzhen Xizha.
  • Stay in Zhouzhuang | Primarily select town centre hotels; return on foot after the night tour.
  • VIP Theatre Experience|'Songcheng Everlasting Love' VIP seats, with performance times confirmed according to tour schedule.
  • 10 Meals | Includes hotel breakfast and 10 formal meals throughout the journey.
  • International five-star | Four nights at global brands such as Sheraton and Pullman.
  • Fully guided tour only|No shopping, no optional add-ons; all activities included in the itinerary.
  • 【Staying in Xizha】 At Wuzhen, stay inside the Xizha scenic area; stroll along the water lanes in the evening, and revisit the stone bridges and alleys the next morning.
  • 【Overnight in Zhouzhuang】 Primarily featuring a hotel in Zhouzhuang Town; return on foot after the night tour. Should the accommodation change, you will be informed before departure.
  • 【VIP Seating for Show】 VIP seats for the *Songcheng Eternal Love* performance are included in the itinerary; specific showtimes will be confirmed according to the tour date.
  • 【10 Set Meals】 Hotel breakfast and ten set meals are included in the itinerary, with lunch at Meijiawu Tea Village being one of the stops.
  • International five-star stays: four nights across global brands including Sheraton, Pullman and Sofitel, with two consecutive nights in Hangzhou to spare you the daily packing hassle.
  • [Pure Sightseeing Tour] No shopping or optional extras for the entire journey. All daily itineraries and ten meals are clearly included in the schedule.
Tour route mapTour route: Shanghai, Zhouzhuang, Suzhou, Wuzhen, HangzhouShanghai · ArrivalsD1ZhouzhuangD2SuzhouD3WuzhenD4Hangzhou · DeparturesD5–D6

Things to do

Evening Cruise on the Huangpu River, Shanghai
01
Evening in Zhouzhuang, Zhouzhuang
02
Mountain Sugar River Cruise & Piping, Suzhou
03
Early Morning in Wuzhen West Gate, Wuzhen
04
Boat Ride through Xixi Wetland, Hangzhou
05
Songcheng Everlasting Love, Hangzhou
06
Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak, Hangzhou
07
West Lake Boat Tour, Hangzhou
08

Itinerary

Shanghai · Day 1

Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai

Day 1 · From the garden walls to the lights of Shanghai's riverfront

Arrive in Shanghai and explore the old town, then enjoy a night cruise along the Huangpu River.

Arrival in Shanghai Meet at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and transfer to the city centre. Subsequent sightseeing will be arranged based on your actual arrival time.
Yuyuan Garden & Nanjing Road Stroll through the old-city lanes around Yuyuan Garden, then take a walk down the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street.
Huangpu River Night Cruise In the evening, take a boat ride to view the illuminated buildings of the Bund and the Pudong skyline from the water.
Car

Zhouzhuang · Day 2

Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang

Day 2 · Shanghai Alleys and Zhouzhuang by Night

In the morning, explore Shanghai's modern and contemporary districts; in the afternoon, take a boat to Zhouzhuang; and in the evening, stroll along the waterways.

The Fourth Bunker and Neighbourhood Visit the Sihang Warehouse, then walk along Wukang Road and to Shangsheng New Studio to see Shanghai's architecture from different eras.
To Zhouzhuang After lunch, take the group coach to Zhouzhuang. On arrival, board a boat to explore the ancient town.
Evening Water Lane After dinner, stroll along Zhouzhuang’s old streets and water lanes, then return to the hotel.
Car

Suzhou · Day 3

Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou

Day 3 · Suzhou Gardens, Traditional Arts & Wuzhen Water Alleys

During the day, explore the temples, gardens and the Shantang River; as night falls, arrive at Wuzhen West Gate.

From Zhouzhuang to Suzhou After breakfast, we drive to Suzhou and begin the tour at Hanshan Temple, set beside the ancient city canal on the city's west side.
Humble Administrator's Garden and Shantang River Wander through the halls, rocks, and framed views of the Lingering Garden, then take a boat ride down the Shantang River to enjoy a Suzhou Pingtan performance.
Head to Wuzhen After exploring Suzhou, transfer by coach to Wuzhen, where you will check in and enjoy dinner within the Xizha Scenic Area.
West Zha Night Cruise After dinner, stroll past the stone bridges and waterside alleyways of West Gate, staying within the scenic area.
Car

Wuzhen · Day 4

Wuzhen
Wuzhen
Wuzhen

Day 4 · Wuzhen Morning and Hangzhou Water Route

Stroll along the canals of Xizha in the morning, then head to Hangzhou by car.

Xizha Morning Tour Departing from your accommodation within the scenic area, follow the waterways past stone bridges and riverside homes.
Travel to Hangzhou and Xixi Wetland After lunch, transfer to Hangzhou. Enjoy a boat tour through select waterways in Xixi Wetland, followed by a ride on the scenic area's electric shuttle.
Romance of Song Dynasty Watch the 'Songcheng Thousand-Year Romance' performance from the VIP seats, with the specific showtime confirmed according to the group tour schedule.
Car

Hangzhou · Day 5 - Day 6

Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou

Day 5 · Temples, Tea Plantations & West Lake

Walk from Feilai Peak Rock Carvings to Chacun, then devote the afternoon to the West Lake.

Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak Visit the Flying Peak rock carvings and the Lingyin Temple grounds; scenic area shuttle services and incense flower vouchers are included.
Meijiawu Tea Village Lunch at the tea village, a tasting of local teas, and a stroll along village paths past the tea fields.
West Lake Boat Tour Take a boat tour through a section of West Lake, then disembark and walk along Su Causeway to Huagang Fish Pond.

Day 6 · Hefang Street and Return Journey

Dedicate the final morning to Hangzhou, then transfer to the airport for your confirmed flight.

Hefang Street Walk along Hangzhou's historic commercial street; adjust the duration of your stop based on the early return flight time.
Airport Transfer Transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport or Shanghai Pudong Airport on the confirmed outbound flight; the itinerary concludes here.
Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

  • Accommodation4 nights at an international five-star hotel and 1 night at a guesthouse within the West Scenic Area of Wuzhen
  • MealsHotel breakfast and 10 arranged meals
  • Tour Guide and VehicleFull tour with Chinese-speaking local guide and group transport
  • Admission ticketIncludes Yu Garden, Huangpu River cruise, Zhouzhuang admission with shuttle boat, Hanshan Temple, Lingering Garden, Shantang Street boat ride with Pingtan performance, Wuzhen Xizha, Xixi Wetland electric cart and boat tour, Songcheng VIP seating, and Lingyin Temple with Feilai Peak shuttle plus West Lake cruise

Not Included

  • Round-trip transportFlights between Taiwan and Mainland China
  • Personal expensesBeverages, tips, laundry, and personal purchases not listed in the itinerary

Special Notes

The itinerary is subject to group formation, flight availability, and venue availability.

  • Group formation conditions — A minimum of 10 guests is required for this tour to operate. Departure is not guaranteed until written confirmation is received.
  • Scheduled items — Songcheng seats and final airport transfers are subject to reconfirmation based on the confirmed departure date and flight.

Is Six Days Your Length?

Need other days?

6 days

To keep two nights in a waterside town and a full day in Hangzhou, you need 6 days so that the itinerary doesn't have to be compressed.

Good to Know

Group Type
Group departure, minimum 10 people
Language
Chinese-speaking guide
Start and end cities
Arrive in Shanghai; depart from Shanghai or Hangzhou on your confirmed flight

Your Private Concierge Service

Jenny

Jenny

China Private Travel Route Consultant

“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”

Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.

20+
Years
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Trips Designed
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On-Trip Care

Step 01

Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

24h

First concept delivered

Step 02

We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

100%

Private, never off-the-shelf

Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

30%

Deposit to confirm

Step 04

Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

24/7

Support throughout your journey

Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe

Guest Reviews

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China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.

Do this before you fly

VPN & Internet Access

What's blocked

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.

Download before you leave

It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.

Hotel Wi-Fi tip

Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.

Good news

WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

Your concierge sets this up on Day 1

Paying in China

China is cashless

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.

International cards now work

Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.

Carry some cash

We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.

Booking this trip

Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

We handle the paperwork

Visa & Entry

Do you need a visa?

Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.

240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.

Processing time

Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.

What we provide

Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

Our responsibility, always

Safety & Practical Tips

Is China safe?

China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.

Health & medications

Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.

Language

English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Every credential is independently verifiable — you don't have to take our word. Trip design, contracting, payment and support are handled by LyrikTrip, a Hong Kong-registered company you can look up in the Hong Kong Companies Registry's online search. On the mainland we operate through our own licensed travel agency (Nanjing Langke International Travel Service, licence L-JS-101018); ground execution is handled by a licensed agency under Tuniu, a US-listed group (Nanjing Tuniu International Travel Service, licence L-JS-CJ00107), running its own ground operations with no subcontracting. Enter either licence number on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's National Tourism Supervision Service Platform to verify. Payments are charged by card via Stripe into a corporate account — no private transfers — and card purchases carry a bank chargeback mechanism. Before departure you sign a formal contract with the itinerary, restaurants and hotels spelt out in writing.

No shopping and no optional add-ons for the entire trip — this is written into the itinerary. Ten attraction tickets, ten main meals and five nights of accommodation are all included in the price; the itinerary lists what you do each day, hour by hour, with no shopping stop anywhere. The only thing not included is the cross-strait flights (see Q7).

All four nights are international brands, and here's the list: Sheraton Shanghai Pudong Riverside, Pullman Zhouzhuang, and in Hangzhou a choice of Sofitel Hangzhou / Hotel Indigo Hangzhou Shangcheng / Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Qiantang (one per city from the list). You can look these up online yourself. The backup hotels are the same tier — no quiet substitution. The one thing to flag up front is the Zhouzhuang night: the primary option, Pullman Zhouzhuang, is right in town; if it's fully booked and we move to an equivalent hotel in downtown Suzhou, the tier is the same but the "staying in town" part is gone. If that happens we'll tell you in advance, never on-site.

No, it's not a private homestay. Tong'an Inn, Zhaoming Library and Shuixiang Yizhan are all run officially by Wuzhen Tourism inside the Xizha scenic zone. Staying inside the zone is genuinely different: unlimited face-scan entry/exit, free shuttle buses and free luggage transfer — after the daytime crowds disperse, Xizha belongs to overnight guests.

This route only departs Sunday or Saturday, precisely so Wuzhen lands on Tuesday or Wednesday — weekend Xizha is very different from weekdays, and we already dodge that in the scheduling. On top of that, staying inside Xizha lets you roam at night until 9pm and head out at 6:30am, two windows before day-trippers arrive.

Capped at twenty-five, and the seats are never full: ten to nineteen travellers get a 33-seater, twenty to twenty-five get a 38-seater, with empty seats the whole way. Want no group at all? Add NT$10,800 per person when travelling with four or more to upgrade to a private charter (for 4–8 people).

Cross-strait flights are not included — this is a land-joining tour: you book your own flights, and we can help suggest options (e.g. China Airlines CI501, departing Taoyuan 08:40, arriving Pudong 10:50). After landing there's a pickup point at Pudong Terminal 1 with a private transfer into the city; from then on, all six days have vehicle and guide. The return airport drop-off is also in the itinerary.

For the six days on tour you basically don't need any mainland payment app: tickets, transport, accommodation and ten main meals are already covered, and a guide accompanies you throughout. If you want to buy something on your own, you can use cash, and the guide will help. For mobile data or roaming, we suggest arranging a SIM or roaming plan in Taiwan before departure — our support team can advise.

It differs on three things you can check one by one: one, staying inside the Xizha scenic zone in Wuzhen (standard tours visit for two hours in daytime and stay outside town); two, staying in Zhouzhuang town and strolling back to the hotel after the night tour; three, ten main meals fully included and every restaurant named, with lunch budgeted at RMB 100 and dinner averaging RMB 144. If these three don't matter to you, the NT$20,000-plus tier is a reasonable choice — we also have an entry tour at NT$9,600 to try first.

Yes, with two things made clear up front. Itinerary: two of the six days are longer (day three until 9pm, day five until 7:30pm), the other four are relaxed, and both Hangzhou nights are in the same hotel so there's no repacking; the itinerary is broken down hour by hour so you can review it first. Discounts: ticket reductions are refunded on-site in cash — over 70 refunds up to RMB 122, aged 60–69 refunds RMB 44, and a first-issue Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (issue number 01) refunds RMB 102, verified on the spot with documents and settled at the actual refund amount.

Payment is by card via Stripe, charged in full at booking, with a formal contract signed. The cancellation policy is in writing: 20% loss at 31 days or more before departure, 50% at 8–30 days, and 70% within 7 days.

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