• Classic Shanghai With Suzhou & Tongli Water Town

    ★★★★★

    4.9/5 502 Latest reviews

    Tour Code: ODY-CN-2336

    Destination:Shanghai, Suzhou

Duration

5 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

Overview
Itinerary
Gallery
Reviews
Get a Quote

About This Trip

This 5-day tour takes you through the many moods of Shanghai, from its grand waterfront and ancient temples to leafy colonial-era streets and world-class museums. Beyond the city, a day trip to Suzhou and Tongli water town introduces a slower rhythm shaped by canals, gardens, and waterside townscapes. You’ll leave Shanghai in the morning and return in the evening, with memories of garden strolls and canal-side alleys, not just another day in the city.

Itinerary Summary

DAYPLACEHIGHLIGHTS
1ShanghaiArrival
2ShanghaiThe Bund In-Depth Walk, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Bazaar Exploration, Longhua Temple
3ShanghaiFormer French Concession, Shanghai Museum East, Shanghai Tower
4SuzhouLingering Garden, Tongli Water Town, Hand-Paddled Boat Experience
5ShanghaiDeparture
Quick Question

Itinerary

Touching down in Shanghai, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Once settled in, feel free to explore the surrounding area at your own pace. A walk along the nearby streets, a stop at a local cafe, or simply taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city makes for a pleasant and easy introduction to Shanghai.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Starting at Broadway Mansions, a leisurely walk follows The Bund, Shanghai’s historic waterfront corridor. Crossing the historic Waibaidu Bridge and passing the grand Peace Hotel, the roughly 2.5-hour walk concludes at the Bund Weather Signal Tower, with colonial-era buildings on one side and the city’s modern skyline across the river on the other.

The experience then moves to Yu Garden, a beautiful Ming Dynasty garden of rockeries, pavilions, and peaceful ponds tucked away in the heart of the old city. Just outside its entrance, the lively Yuyuan Bazaar is a great place to browse local shops and try street food, and a short stop at a silk shop offers a quick look at one of China’s most well-known traditional crafts. The day ends on a quieter note at Longhua Temple, Shanghai’s oldest and largest Buddhist temple, its ancient pagoda standing tall against the city’s southern skyline.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Wandering through the Former French Concession, it reveals a different, more relaxed side of Shanghai, with tree-lined streets, charming old villas, and a laid-back atmosphere that sets it apart from the rest of the city.

The new Shanghai Museum East is the next, bringing you to witness thousands of years of Chinese art and history, all housed in one of the city’s most impressive new buildings. The day concludes at Shanghai Tower, where you’ll enjoy a full-scale perspective of the city, with wide views across dense urban layers and the Huangpu River tracing the movement of Shanghai’s growth.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Heading out of the city, you will drive to Suzhou to visit the famous Lingering Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a classical garden defined by layered rock formations, shaded walkways, and still ponds that reflect a long-established garden tradition.

From there, Tongli awaits, a well-preserved ancient water town built around a network of canals and connected by old stone bridges. Stepping aboard a hand-paddled boat is a lovely way to see the town from the water.

By late afternoon, drive back to Shanghai.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure. As you head home, you leave with a well-rounded sense of Shanghai, its history, its energy, and the quieter, timeless charm of the water towns just outside the city.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Why Choose Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd.

12-Year TripAdvisor Award

Travellers’ Choice winner every year since 2013

No Commission Shopping

Zero shopping stops, zero pressure, zero hidden agendas

100% Private

Every tour is exclusively yours — no strangers, no shared buses

Expert Local Guides

Licensed, English-speaking guides with deep local knowledge

Real reviews from real travellers

  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eI highly recommend Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd. The team is very easy to work with, has excellent ideas and the guides are knowledgeable and easy to be with. Very solid itineraries and execution — flexible, high quality, and great value for money.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    James T.
    Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe visited both Xi’an and Shanghai under Jiuhong’s arrangement and received the same first-class service in both cities. The guides were knowledgeable, flexible, and happy to discuss all aspects of modern China — giving insights difficult to obtain elsewhere. Strongly recommended.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Greenfly
    Couples · Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe had a wonderful action-packed day. Fei Fei was amazing — her knowledge was very impressive and she was a real pleasure to be with. This was certainly the highlight of our stay in this beautiful city. Thanks so much.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Ludovic V.
    Couples · London, UK · Verified · TripAdvisor

How It Works

Share your tour ideas

Step 1

Tell us your tour ideas
Complete our inquiry form

Discuss with a travel specialist

Step 2

Discuss with a travel specialist
Customize your itinerary

Securely book your tour

Step 3

Securely book your tour
Confirm when you’re satisfied