5 Days Suzhou Huangshan Tour with Water Town and Local Villages

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Suzhou Arrival & Suzhou City Tour
   Explore Classical Gardens and Silk-making Traditions

   Upon your arrival at Suzhou airport/train station, our local English-speaking guide and driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate and your guided Suzhou tour begins!

   The first site will be the Humble Administrator's Garden, an excellent example of a classical Chinese garden. It enjoys equal fame with Summer Palace in Beijing, Summer Mountain Resort in Chengde, and Lingering Garden also in Suzhou as one of China's four most famous gardens. In 1509 of the Ming Dynasty, the supervising censor Wang Xianchen resigned and went back to his homeland because of disappointed ambition in politics and spent 16 years building the garden.

   

   Next, go for a walk along one of ancient China's greatest engineering projects - the Grand Canal and enjoy a far view of Panmen Gate which was originally built in 1351 in the Yuan Dynasty.

   Afterward, follow your guide to stroll down the Shantang Old Street. It was once a prosperous commercial street in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Here you can enjoy the old residential houses and sample some local snacks.

   Last, pay a visit to Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory. Founded in 1926 as a state-owned factory, it is a good place to know how local experts harvest silk. If you visit the factory in late spring and summer, there is a great chance to see silkworms producing cocoons in the demonstration area which is the first step of silk production.

   Meal: Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Suzhou

2. Day 2: Suzhou to Huangshan Tour by High-speed Train
   Discover Ancient Water Town Charm and Elegant Stone Bridges

   After hotel breakfast, continue your Suzhou trip with a 50-minute drive to the amazing Tongli Water Town.

   With a history of more than 1000 years and was established in the Song Dynasty, Tongli is a typical ancient water town in the southern Yangtze River with bridges, flowing water, and households. It is divided into 7 islands by 5 streams and connected by 49 old bridges. There are many nice gardens, mansions, and former residences of celebrities.

   Your tour guide will take you to see the old residential houses scattered in the alleys of the town. Most of them were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Brick carving is a big highlight of these houses.

   

   Among all the gardens in this old town, the Retreat and Reflection Garden is the only one included in the World Cultural Heritage List. Although it is small with an area of 5674 square meters, it has all kinds of pavilions, corridors, rockeries, and ponds which are pleasant to the eyes.

   Another must-see is the elegant stone bridges throughout the town. The most famous ones are the Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge. The local people have the custom of crossing the three bridges on their wedding day. You can have a walk on the bridges and look at the boats floating on the streams.

   After finishing the relaxing sightseeing, transfer to the train station for a high-speed train to Huangshan. After 3.5 hours of train riding, you will arrive at Huangshan. Our local driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate and drive to a local hotel for check-in. Have a good rest for tomorrow's mountain hiking!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Huangshan City

3. Day 3: Mount Huangshan Tour
   See Strange Peaks and Enjoy Stunning Sunset Views

   After hotel breakfast, meet your Huangshan guide and drive for around 1 hour to Yellow Mountain. Upon arrival, follow your guide to take the shuttle bus to Yungu Station and then take a cable car up the mountain. Start your Mount Huangshan hiking through the Beihai Scenic Area, passing Begin-to-Believe Peak, Black Tiger Pine and other attractions, and finally arrive at the Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion to enjoy the sunset. This is one of the classic routes for hiking in Huangshan Mountain. Visitors can overlook the magnificent view of the West Sea Grand Canyon here.

   If physical strength permits, it is worthwhile to continue to the Bright Summit, where you can not only enjoy the wonders of the Flying-over Rock, but also have a great view of the main peak of Mount Huangshan.

   After all the visits, return to your hotel and have a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight on Mount Huangshan

   

4. Day 4: Huangshan Culture Tour
   Watch the Sunrise over Yellow Mountain, Explore Traditional Crafts

   Early in the morning, go to Refreshing Terrance, which is the perfect place to watch the sunrise, the first light of the sun. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Continue hiking to Lion Peak, along the way to enjoy the wonders of the Monkey Watching the Sea, the spirit monkey life-like, the sea of clouds tumbling like a fairyland. At the end of the Huangshan Mountain tour, take the cable car from Yungu Station and go down the mountain.

   After that, you will be transferred back to Huangshan city center to explore Tunxi Ancient Street. With a total length of 1,272 meters, it is the best-preserved ancient street in China with the most architectural styles of the Southern Song Dynasty and the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Surrounded by mountains and water, the street consists of more than 300 Huizhou-style buildings and is lined with stores selling tea, cultural treasures, and specialties from Huizhou.

   

   Then, go to visit the Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory, located in Shexian County, a long-established ink-making brand with a history of more than two hundred years. Here you will visit the purely handmade production process and feel the fragrance of ink. Also, you can buy various ink sticks and ink slabs in the showroom, enjoying a dual experience of culture and art.

   After the visit, go to your Huangshan City hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Huangshan City
5. Day 5: Huangshan Village Tour, Departure
   Admire Huizhou Architecture and Capture Scenic Beauty

   Today you will explore the real local culture in old villages. Hongcun and Xidi are the two major ancient villages in Yixian County, famous for their Huizhou-style architecture and beautiful natural scenery.

   Hongcun Village is backed by the remaining veins of Huangshan Mountain, in the shape of a "cow" layout. Here the South Lake and the Moon Pond are like pearls inlayed. Xidi Village is shaped like a boat. With the lake in front of the village sparkling, Ming and Qing dynasty ancient houses are scattered.

   Both villages have preserved a large number of ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Whether it is the quiet Hongcun or the idyllic Xidi, it is excellent for photography and exploring Hui culture.

   After the relaxing sightseeing, you will be dropped off at Huangshan airport/train station for departure. Your 5-day private Suzhou and Huangshan tour package ends here. Hope you had a great time with us.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A