Zen Gardens and Waterways

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Shanghai - Luzhi - Tongli - Suzhou - Shanghai
Duration:
4 days / 3 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £ 558.- per person

Drift through lantern-lined canals and swing by traditional tea houses on your way to sleek and glitzy Shanghai. It’s a trip of eye-opening extremes, pitting the old world against the new. You’ll get a taste of traditional China followed by a flash of neon drama in Shanghai, a city packed with skyscrapers. First, you’ll get lost in the poetry of ancient China, floating along narrow waterways and wandering through a maze of cobbled alleyways flanked with red glowing lanterns. Then, you’ll hit the buzzing streets of Shanghai.

Day 1 – Shanghai – Luzli – Tongli

Arriving in Shanghai, you’ll be collected by your private driver for the journey to Luzhi, set on quiet rippling canals. You’ll see everyday life in full swing along the banks, stop in a traditional teahouse for a cuppa and sift through the small souvenir stalls.

After Luzli, you’ll continue to Tongli, another half an hour down the road. Another village perched on a tangle of canals; it’s full of local atmosphere and charm. Here, you’ll settle into your courtyard hotel, lit with dangling red lanterns. You can take a walk along the canals and try some traditional Chinese dishes.

Day 2 – Tongli – Shanghai

Today, your time is your own before you leave for Shanghai. Make an early start to beat the tourist crowds that flood the town around 11am. Until then, you’ll feel as though Tongli is almost yours alone. The best way to see the town is from the water, so you can hire a local boat and explore the network of sleepy canals.

In the afternoon you’ll be collected by a private driver to take you to nearby Suzhou, where you’ll hop on the high-speed train to Shanghai. The journey is an experience in itself. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, located in the hustle and bustle of Nanjing Road, and a short distance from the well known Bund promenade.

Days 3-4 – Shanghai – departure

You’ll have the whole day to explore Shanghai, watching life unfold on the streets, strolling between the skyscrapers and learning about its interesting past. Watch local practising Tai Chi in the park and wander past the stately mansions of the Old Quarter. You can spend the evening sampling local dishes and sipping cocktails in rooftop bars before leaving Shanghai the following morning.