Eastern China

Tour the French Concession in the historic district and stop by Taikanglu Road with galleries and fine boutique shops.

After lunch, tour Yuyuan Gardens, designed in six unique parts, making the garden seem much larger than it really is. You will find one of the best Ming rockeries here, and enjoy walking the zigzag bridge to Huxingting Teahouse.

Cross the Huangpu River and visit the Pudong economic district. Ride the elevator to the top of the tallest building in Asia, the new Shanghai City Center, for a bird’s-eye view of the old and new Shanghai by the Huangpu River.

In the evening, enjoy a banquet at Dingxiang Garden Restaurant, serving impeccable Shanghai cuisine.

After dinner, go to a performance of the famous Shanghai Acrobats.

Accommodations: Fairmont Peace or Sunrise on the Bund
Meals Included: B,L,D

In the morning, take the high-speed train to Suzhou (approximately 30 minutes, 1st class seats). Suzhou is known as the “Venice of the East” where river canals are found more often than streets. Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, with countless pavilions surrounding the tranquil lakes and gardens.

Ride a boat on the Grand Canal to Tiger Hill, with beautiful bonsai gardens.

After lunch, take a tour of the Silk Museum to learn about one of China’s most venerated crafts.

In the evening, transfer back to Shanghai. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, dinner is on your own.

Accommodations: Fairmont Peace or Sunrise on the Bund
Meals Included: B,L

In the morning, take the high-speed train to Hangzhou (approximately 1 hour, 1st class seats). Enjoy a gentle hike up Gushan Hill by the West Lake. Traditional architecture, landscape gardens, pavilions and museums line up the hillside with a bird’s-eye view of the West Lake and Hangzhou City.

At lunchtime, visit the Meijiawu Tea Plantation and meet tea farmers who continue the ancient art of Longjing tea cultivation. Enjoy lunch at a tea farmer’s home.

In the afternoon, tour Lingyin Temple, one of the earliest grand Chan Buddhist temples remaining in China today.

Take a boat ride on West Lake and tour the charming gardens on the isles.

In the evening, transfer to Shanghai. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, dinner is on your own.

Accommodations: Fairmont Peace or Sunrise on the Bund 
Meals Included: B,L

Depart the Shanghai airport on a flight (approximately 1 hour) to Tunxi (Huanghshan City) in nearby Anhui province. Anhui boasts an idyllic landscape of rice cultivation unspoiled by industrialization. Unending greenery gives the impression of vast, well-tended parkland. Upon arrival, tour the Museum of Huizhou Folk Architecture and Ink Factory.

Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel 
Included Meals: B,D

Spend the whole day visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Xidi Village. Situated in the rich green and sparkling waters of surrounding rice paddies, the village appears just as it did centuries ago. You can feel the authenticity of the rural life as you wander the stone lanes on pathways between towering vertical walls that at times narrow to shoulder width. Xidi Village dates to 900AD. Picturesquely ringed by hills, it is known as “a village in a Chinese painting.”

Lunch is at a local restaurant featuring traditional Anhui cuisine.

In the afternoon tour the quiet Pingshan Village with centuries old Huizhou architecture. This is one of oldest villages with the most historic buildings preserved. A Song dynasty temple (950AD) still stands close to exquisite family temples of Ming and Qing dynasties. A movie producer restored an ancient courtyard into a boutique inn with a trendy theme bar and cafe.

Return to Tunxi in the late afternoon. The evening is free and dinner is on your own.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel 
Meals Included: B,L

Today, take a bus (approximately 1 hour) to Anhui’s crown jewels, the incomparable Huang Mountains. Because these mountain tops are often above cloud level they offer intriguing natural light effects as well as views of the clouds from above, including the famed Sea of Clouds phenomena. The staggering beauty of granite precipices emerging from fog banks has inspired Chinese artists for centuries.

Walk forty minutes to your hotel and check into modest, yet adequate rooms. Vistas of amazing beauty lie a few minutes from the hotel. Every direction offers a unique view, as can be gathered from the scenic names of, the Nine Dragons, Daoist Priest, Ox Nose, and Hunchback. Choose between short strolls on nearby paths or longer hikes along the summit ridge.

Accommodations: Xihai Hotel 
Meals Included: B,L,D

In the morning transfer back to Tunxi (approximately 1 hour). Arrive at Tunxi airport and take a flight to Changsha (about 2 hours).

After lunch, take a flight (approximately 1 hour) from Changsha to Zhangjiajie. Meet your local guides and check into your hotel.

The rest of the day is at your leisure and dinner is on your own.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan                     
Meals Included: B,L

Today visit the Wulingyuan park with a local guide. This UNESCO world heritage site features stunning sandstone pillars strewn across the canyon. Its odd geological formations were featured in James Cameron’s film, “Avatar.” Take the Tianzi Shan cable car to the top of the canyon and tour the precipices and walkways for stunning panoramic views of the park. Descend down the Bailong Heavenly Elevator to the valley floor and walk back to the entrance next to the Golden Whip River.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant featuring Hunan cuisine.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan 
Meals Included: B,L,D

This morning, take the world’s longest cable car to the top of Tianmen Mountain. Cliff face walkways wind around the mountain (about 7km for a full loop of the top), including a section of glass walkway and the Heavenly Peak Pavilion, a temple built atop the mountain during the Tang dynasty. Take a bus on your descent that will travel through the hole of the mountain.

Stop by the Yellow Dragon Cave. This Karst Limestone cave is over 15 kilometers long with underground streams, stalactites, stalagmites, and a variety of stone formations lit by colorful lights. (Entrance fee and optional boat ride not included).

This evening, enjoy authentic Hunan cuisine.

In the morning, take a flight from Zhangjiajie to Hong Kong (approximately 2 hours).

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Your Asia Sublime expert can supply you with recommendations.

Transfer to Hong Kong International Airport and board your flight, arrive back in the USA the same day.