Tongli Water Town with Best of Suzhou

Tour Overview

This amazing tour features two treasured cities just 90 minutes from Shanghai. You'll first visit Suzhou, famous for its canals, bridges and classical gardens including your choice of Humble Administrator’s Garden, dating to 1513, containing zigzag bridges over connected pools, Tiger Hill Island , home to the 7-story, leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda at its summit and Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site.

What You Can Expect

​As this is a private tour, you can choose your desired starting time, typically 8:30AM, and your guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of your downtown Shanghai hotel.

First, you'll relax on the 90-minute drive to the historic of city of Suzhou. Along the route your guide will share the history and culture of China and Suzhou. Suzhou has over 2,500 years of history that dates back to the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

In Suzhou, the classical gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll make a visit to the exquisitely beautiful Humble Administrator’s Garden. Its buildings, rippling waters, tranquil bridges and immaculate grounds are a feast for your senses. Alternatively, you can choose Tiger Hill, a symbol of Suzhou and a saying goes, "A trip to Suzhou is not complete without a visit to Tiger Hill." As the old town of Suzhou is under construction for subway lines, the Administrator's Garden, The Lion Forest Garden and Suzhou Museum are difficult to access. We suggest to visit Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill or Master of Nets Garden instead.

Before lunch you'll stop at the No.1 silk factory to learn about this ancient art. Suzhou has long been famous for silk. You'll discover the history, culture, and art of silk, and learn how silk is made from the mulberry to the loom. Alternatively, you can choose to visit China Embroidery Academy, renowned for intricate designs of traditional cultural symbols using elegant techniques.

You'll have lunch based on your interest, either in Suzhou or Tongli water town.

You'll then drive a short distance to the ancient Tongli Water Town. As you walk along the narrow streets, you'll visit traditional buildings, old shops, sample unique food and visit the beautiful Retreat and Reflection Garden. Along the way, your guide will help you pick out local delicacies to get a taste of Tongli.

With 55 bridges, three of them stand out, the Taiping, Jili, Changqing Bridges. They all represent a blessing. When getting married, the birth of a child, celebrating a birthday, people will walk across the three bridges to pray for health and happiness.

You'll then enjoy a gondola ride along a beautiful canal to view the locals living along the banks and ancient homes.

From here your guide and driver will take you back to your Shanghai hotel or your chosen downtown Shanghai destination.