5 Days Hong Kong Shanghai Joys Tour with Sidetrip to Suzhou

Both as two of the most flourishing metropolises in Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai seem to have much in common – dominating skyscrapers, river cruise, bustling streets and stores, colonial history, etc. Actually, they are not the same at all. This tour takes you to find the differences in a leisure and interesting way.

Highlights of this tour

• Get on a tram to the top of the Victoria Peak to enjoy panoramic views over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbor;
• Meander through the streets and bazaars of Stanley Market which sell everything under the sun;
• Visit Shanghai Museum which is one of the Best Four Museums in China, and has collected many international-standard exhibits from more than 5,000 years ago to the Qing dynasty;
• Enjoy a panoramic view of the modern face of Shanghai from the 100th floor (474m) of “the Eye of Shanghai” Shanghai World Financial Center;
• Take a day trip to explore the ornate water-town style architectures, marvel at the bustling streets and see how the silk is processed from worm to the final product in Suzhou.

Full Itinerary Day by day

Day 1 Hong Kong Arrival

Ni Hao, welcome to Hong Kong, Pearl of the Orient! Your local guide is ready to pick you up at the arrival hall of the airport, and transfer you to hotel. The rest of today is to recover from long flight, or explore this vibrant and bustling metropolis on your own.

Free Time ideas: It is one of the most popular things to do in Hong Kong to spend ten minutes riding the humble Star Ferry which sails between Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island( daily 6:30am-11:30pm). From the ferry, you can enjoy the breathtaking skyline of Hong Kong especially in the evening when the Symphony of Lights begins. 

Day 2 Hong Kong Half-day Tour & Flight to Shanghai ( B )

After breakfast, you will be picked up from selected hotels in downtown area by your private tour guide and driver to start your half day exciting Hong Kong exploration.

Firstly, you will climb to the highest point of Hong Kong – Victoria Peak (552m) via the famous Peak Tram which has operated for more than 112 years as one of the world oldest funicular railways. Walk through the verdant woods to explore hidden old buildings left by the old Hong Kong. Also ascend to the observation deck to sweep the magnificent Hong Kong skyline and tranquil harbor views. Get down from the peak, then go to visit Aberdeen Fishing Village where you will get an impressive insight of an old traditional fishing village to view the rows of old Junks and Sampans.

Continue to take a trip to the Stanley Market. Browse fancy petty commodities in various little stores and enjoy the fun of bargaining, or just order a cup of coffee or beer at the seaside café or pub, a great way to spend time away from the maddening crowds. (If you are interested in the beautiful sand beach with long coastline, soft sand and clean water, you can visit Repulse Bay instead of Stanley Market.)

After the tour, you will be transferred to catch your flight to Shanghai. After about 3 hours’ flying, you will reach Shanghai, the most flourishing metropolis in China! You will be met by local tour guide at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and escorted to check in your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable vehicle. Have a good rest!

Day 3 Shanghai City Tour (B, L)

You will take a full day of sightseeing to explore both the past and present of Shanghai. Your first stop is Shanghai Museum, one of the Best Four Museums in China. This modern museum, with a round top and a square base which symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as “round sky, square earth”, has collected many international-standard exhibits of bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ceramics, jade from more than 5,000 years ago to the Qing dynasty. To help you learn about the history and facts about the relics in the museum easily, an Audio Explanation Device will be prepared for you.

Then, take an interesting walking through the charming Former French Concession which used to be designated for the French and residential and as the premier residential for expats and retail district of Shanghai during the settlement period (1849 AD until 1943 AD) and the Republic of China era(1912~1949). Its juxtaposition between the ultra-modern and the colonial past, tree-lined streets, boutique shops, historic lane houses and villas make it a window into the city’s up-and-down history.

Next, you will drive several kilometers to enjoy a panoramic view of the modern face of Shanghai from the 100th floor (474m) of “the Eye of Shanghai” Shanghai World Financial Center.

You will then be transferred to another popular landmark of Shanghai, Nanjing Road, a shopping paradise as well as a great place to take a wonderful walk to experience the modern atmosphere of the City. Lastly, you will stop at the Bund, originally a simple towpath for transporting goods but now transformed into a feverish trading district. You will stroll along the Bund, seeing and feeling the perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while at the same time taking in the stunning Shanghai skyline with your own eyes!

Optional Activity – Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to see the city’s most significant edifices and streets sparkling under the atmospheric cover of darkness (about 50 minutes).

Day 4 Shanghai – Suzhou – Shanghai (B, L)

After breakfast, you will drive about 1.5 hours from Shanghai to Suzhou City. Start today’s trip with an interesting visit to Lingering Garden, one of the Four Greatest Gardens in China as well as the perfect representative of traditional Suzhou Gardens. The Lingering Garden has synthesized almost all the classic features of Suzhou gardens. It is composed of residential areas, shrines, family temple and garden, making fully use of the changings between big and small, bend and straight, bright and dark, tall and low, tight and disperse, with the surrounding landscapes, such as trees, flowers, lake, sky, as backgrounds to create an ingenious system of space. After visiting Lingering Garden, move on to next site – Shantang Ancient Street, a wonderful place for a relaxing walking or leisure cruise on canals. It used to be an important trade and culture center during Ming and Qing Dynasties, and now is famous as “the miniature of old Suzhou and the window of Wu culture”. Enjoy the ornate water-town style architectures, marvel at the bustling streets and savor at local snacks.

In the afternoon, you will go to explore the most historical site in Suzhou – Tiger Hill. The hill is only 36 meters in height, but covers about 3.5 acres areas with a number of historical sites some of which have history over 2,500 years. The most famous site is the Yunyan Pagoda which is an over-1000-year-old pagoda with seven stories in height and famously leans much the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Apart from the history, the Tiger Hill is also an amazing place to go for a walk, enjoy natural scenery and experience local custom. Next, transfer to Suzhou No.1 Silk Factory where you could not only see how the silk is processed from worm to the final product, but also learn some history and culture of silk in China.

After all sightseeing, drive back to Shanghai.

Day 5 Shanghai Departure (B)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, you’ll pay a wonderful visit to Jade Buddha Temple, the site of the largest Jade Buddha in the world and numerous religious artifacts, ancient statues and Buddhist scriptures. This peaceful kingdom of Buddhism hidden among modern blocks and dominating mansions is a great place for a nice break in this very busy city.

Next, you’ll be transferred to Tianzifang which is touristic arts and crafts enclave that has developed from a renovated traditional residential area in the French Concession area of Shanghai. It is the typical tourist attraction to appreciate the preservation of local Shikumen architecture. In this place full of rich flavor of life, you can leisurely stroll along the clean old alleys to watch the daily life of local Shanghai people, savor a cup of drink at the open-air café, and find some interesting things in the novel shops to feel the international feature mixed with real Shanghai culture.

In the afternoon, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your flight to next destination or home.