Full Day Tour of Suzhou, with Lunch
Suzhou,the famed ancient city of culture in the Yangtse Delta, has always been a favourite haunt for tourists, especially as it's only 60 miles from Shanghai. Suzhou's history traces back to the late Shang Dynasty period in the 11th century B.C.when the first state south of the Yangtse was formed. The name of Suzhou itself originates from Gu Su Terrace,a pleasure palace built by King He Lu of Wu (reign 514-496 B.C.) on Gu Su Hill to the west of the city. In the Song
Dynasty, silk products made in Suzhou enjoyed, as they still do, a special reputation across
the land, and fascinating landscaped gardens and pagodas began to appear in growing numbers.
Streams with a total length of 24 km. crisscross the city and quaint stone bridges are
found everywhere with boats sailing under them. It should be no surprise that Suzhou is
called the Bridge City and sometimes the 'Venice of the East'. |
Suggested Itinerary
| 8:30 | pickup at your hotel in Shanghai |
| 9:00 - 9:37 | Travel by train to Suzhou |
| 9:40-10:20 | Humble Administrator's Garden (one of the four best traditional gardens in China) |
| 10:20-10:50 | Lion Grove Garden (600-year old garden celebrated for its rock formations, hence the name "Kingdom of Rocks") |
| 11:00-11:40 | Research Institute of Suzhou
Embroidery (the best place for seeing how they embroider "double-faced" work and modern cross-stitching. You can purchase real works of art here!.) |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch at Nan Yuan Hotel (a three-star hotel) |
| 13:10-14:00 | Silk Factory (see how a silkworm becomes a cocoon and how workers extract threads from cocoons. Here is a paradise for purchasing silks! Guidance on fair prices and bartering included.) |
| 14:10 - 14:30 | Panmen Gate (2500-year old fortification, the only survivor of Suzhou's original eight city gates) |
| 14:30-15:15 | Boat Excursion (take a boat along the Grand Canal and taste the atmosphere of the "Venice of China") |
| 15:15-16:00 | Tiger Hill (900-year old Leaning Pagoda, as famous as the one in Pisa. A symbol of Suzhou and a must for all visitors.) |
| 16:40-17:40 | Travel by train or bus back to Shanghai |
| 18:00 | Return to the hotel |
Prices
| 1 person | US $ 100 |
| 2 -5 people | US $ 70 per person |
| 6 - 10 people | US $ 60 per person |
| Price includes: 1. Personal guide service 2. Admission to gardens 3. All transportation - taxis, trains, boat service 4. Chinese lunch with beverage |
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