6 Days Zhejiang Highlights Tour from Hangzhou

Day 1 Hangzhou Arrival

Pick up from airport / railway station & hotel check-in

Welcome to Hangzhou, the “Heavenly City on Earth” and capital city of Zhejiang Province! Upon your arrival, your local travel guide and driver will meet you at Hangzhou airport / train station and then escort you to your hotel in the downtown and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is on your own to discover the beautiful view of Hangzhou City!

Arrival Idea: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport has many flights of about 1-3 hours with most domestic destinations like Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc. and also some direct international flights to San Francisco, Amsterdam, Madrid, Sydney, Vancouver, Rome, Singapore, etc. Besides, you can take a bullet train from Shanghai (1-1.5 hrs), Beijing (4.5 hrs), Guangzhou (6 hrs), Suzhou (1.5-2.5 hrs), Nanjing (1.5 hrs), Huangshan (3 hrs), Zhengzhou (3 hrs), Xiamen (6.5 hrs), Changsha (3.5 hrs), etc.

• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Day 2 Hangzhou - Wuzhen - Hangzhou (B, L)

Today’s highlights: Wuzhen (West Scenic Area), Qiaoqi Conservation Area

Good morning! After your breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to discover Wuzhen Water Town with about 1.5 hours’ driving. Wuzhen with over 6,000 years old is one of the four great water towns at the region south of the Yangtze River and one of the ten most charming famous towns in China. Praised as the “last town resting on water in China” and a land flowing with mink and honey, Wuzhen is the top popular place to see the typical look of water towns in south China.

Upon your arrival, take your time to discover the West Scenic Area of Wuzhen, which is most popular among international visitors with over 20 scenic spots telling the culture, history and folk custom of Wuzhen and terrific night lights sightseeing. Stroll leisurely along the well-preserved streets and lanes to visit the remained dyeing workshop with herbs and hanging cloths, “three-inch “golden lotuses” with over 800 pairs of various foot binding shoes, old post office operating for more than 110 years, etc. Of course, you will not miss the Bailian Pagoda, Tongji Bridge and Renji Bridge, large classic garden, ancient academy, soy sauce workshop, plentiful of old constructions from Ming and Qing era, and various shops and stores selling local handicrafts and snacks. (Optional activity: you can get on a sculling boat to admire the water town sightseeing from a different angle along the little river, which needs extra payment.)

After that, drive back to Hangzhou and enjoy an interesting cultural visit to Qiaoxi Conservation Area which was called “Little Shanghai” for its prosperity in Ming and Qing era due to the convenient linking by the Grand Canal. Now, this cultural street block preserves lots of old folk dwellings and industrial sites and has a series of themed museums and exhibitions to introduce the culture and history of the Grand Canal, Hangzhou and China. Go to China Museum of Knives, Scissors & Swords to admire various scissors used in daily life and learn the developing story of Zhang Xiao Quan. It is a nationally renowned brand of knives and scissors of nearly 400 years old and still favored by lots of domestic consumers. Besides, have a great look at plentiful of swords for military defense and knives from ancient to now! Walk to the adjacent China Umbrella Museum. You will know how the world first umbrella was inspired from lotus leaves, their special status in Chinese literature, irreplaceable meanings in the wedding and marriage in China, detailed processing, etc. with displays of rich types and colors of umbrellas of different materials in China and the world. Then, go to the nearby Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion to watch the live demonstration of painting on oiled paper umbrellas and various handicrafts, such as making potteries, embroideries, bamboo weaving, etc. (Optional activities: You can experience one of the handcrafting activities if you are interested and time permits, which needs extra payment.)

After today’s visiting, be escorted back to your hotel in Hangzhou downtown. Have a good sleep!

• China Umbrella Museum
• China Museum of Knives, Scissors & Swords
• Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion
• Wuzhen Water Town - Last Town Resting on Water in China
• Wuzhen Water Town West - Bailian Pagoda

Day 3 Hangzhou (B, L)

Today’s highlights: West Lake, Meijia Dock Dragon Well Tea Village, Hefang Street, Hu Qing Yu Tang

Today, after breakfast, you’ll first make the symbolic visit to the picturesque West Lake, which is the iconic site of Hangzhou and a pretty UNESCO World Heritage. Just as the famous traveler Marco Polo did and wrote: “A voyage on this lake offers more refreshment and pleasure than any other experience on earth”, you will start with a 45-minute leisure cruise to enjoy the tranquil lake views as well as the ancient pagodas, traditional arched bridges, tree-lined walkways, beautiful hills, green islands and lush gardens including visit to the beautiful Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon. After the cruise, stroll or take a sightseeing vehicle leisurely around to pass the famous Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge, Gushan Hill, parks of Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond, Lotus Swaying in the Breeze, Orioles Singing in the Willows, etc. (As the lake is too large, you can take the sightseeing vehicle at any place on the route to save energy. The fee is included.)

Then, leave the lake and drive uphill to Meijiawu Tea Village, a refreshing wonderland surrounded by mountains with a large area of emerald Dragon Well tea plantations in neat lines and curves. Walk among the tea plantations with fun and take beautiful photos (Optional activity: you can pay a visit to the local tea grower’s family and experience picking tea leaves, watching stir-drying tea leaves, enjoying tea ceremony, tasting Dragon Well tea, etc., which needs extra payment.).

After that, enjoy a nice historical walk at Hefang Street, a unique pedestrian street to see the typical old and prosperous Hangzhou in South Song era. Stroll to admire the ornate old styled Chinese architectures, interesting local handicrafts, delicious snacks, etc. Then, walk to the century-old Chinese pharmacy on the street - Hu Qing Yu Tang, which is also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum and was built by Xueyan Hu, a famous merchant in late Qing dynasty. Many locals still visit senior doctors there for treatment today. Marvel at the magic of traditional Chinese medicine by looking at the countless traditional Chinese medicines and herbs, various traditional tools and watch the live processing of medicines.

After today’s visiting, be escorted back to your hotel in downtown. Have a good sleep!

Evening Ideas: 1) watch a magnificent night show - Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, a live performance by Yimou Zhang with changing lights, music and dancing on the West Lake, which usually starts at 7pm, needs extra payment; 2) feast your eyes with an amazing Music Fountain Show at Third Park, near the eastern lakeside of West Lake, free charged.

• Picturesque West Lake with Lotus Flowers in Summer
• West Lake Summer Scenery
• West Lake Boating Experience
• Relax at Dragon Well Tea Plantation
• Longjing Village Tea Plantation
• Hefang Street
• Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum

Day 4 Hangzhou - Ningbo (B, L)

Today’s highlights: Former Residence of Chiang Kai-shek, Tianyi Pavilion, Ningbo Museum, The Old Bund

After breakfast, be escorted from you hotel to Ningbo with about 2.5 hours’ driving. First, visit the Former Residence of Chiang Kai Shek to know more historical stories of that important influential political and military celebrity in modern Chinese history and know the life, work and entertainment of the elder and younger generations of Chiang. Step into Fenghao House that is the most important one and where Chiang married his first wife Mao. You will find the calligraphy by Chiang on his son’s 40-year-old birthday and great carvings, paintings, gardens, halls, etc. And go to Yutai Salt Shop where Chiang Kai Shek was born in 1,887. The shop was set up by Chiang’s grandfather and the present building was refurbished by Chiang in 1946 after fires and white ant erosion. Enjoy the layout with bedrooms, kitchen, etc. and the characters on the gate top. Continue to find the Little Western-style House that was constructed in 1930 with small and exquisite structure. Enter the house of 2 floors to see the displays and designs in the study, reception room, bedroom, etc. and learn the story of Chiang and his son. Continue your walk to find Wenchang Pavilion where Chiang and Song Meiling lived, Wuling School, Wulin Gate, etc. in the residence site.

Next, go to Ningbo Museum, which is the proud work by Wang Shu winning The Pritzker Architecture Prize and was built with lots of tiles from the old buildings in Ningbo. Then, enter to know how Ningbo developed from the Hemudu era to the international port city nowadays step by step with over 60 thousand pieces of collections of ceramics, bronze, bamboo carvings, jades, paintings and calligraphy, etc. Also, you will experience traveling back to the 20th century of Ningbo with the simulating street scenes.

Drive to the downtown to explore Tianyi Pavilion (Tianyige Museum), the best highlight of Ningbo. This private library of more than 400 years old is the oldest library in Asia and also one of the three earliest great family libraries around the world (the other two: Malatesta Library and Medici Family Library in Italy). Till now, it preserves about 300 thousand ancient books of diverse fields collected by the Fan family. Walk around the ancient traditional Chinese museum to closely look at those rolls well kept in the closets with outstanding techniques to prevent fire and moist and stroll leisurely around the garden to feel the quiet and antique flavor with sculptures, tablets, paintings, calligraphy works, etc. in rich old Chinese charm.

Then, enjoy a leisure historical stroll at The Old Bund in Ningbo. Opening to outside world in 1844 AD, it is the earliest Bund in China and more exquisite than The Bund in Shanghai. Walk to admire the plenty of beautiful old buildings of various international styles well kept from over a century ago, including banks, consulate, cathedral and church, post office, and some privater mansions and feel the contrast modern vitality of bars, pubs, cafe, etc. along the street.

After today’s visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Ningbo downtown and help you with the check-in procedure. Have a good sleep!

• Tianyi Pavilion - Oldest Library in Asia
• Ningbo Museum Exterior Design
• The Old Bund in Ningbo - Earliest Bund in China
• Former Residence of Chiang Kai-shek - Fenghao House

Day 5 Ningbo - Putuoshan (B, L)

Today’s highlights: Puji Temple, One Thousand-Step Beach, Unwilling-to-leave Temple, Purple Bamboo Forest, The Goddess of Mercy Statue

You will be picked up by your guide and driver in your hotel lobby, then set off on the trip to Putuoshan which is about 1 hour & 40 minutes' driving away from Ningbo downtown. After arrival at Zhu Sha Jian of Zhoushan City, embark a ferry to Putuoshan, which will take about 15 minutes to get to Putuoshan Dock. Disembark the ferry to check in your hotel.

Start your visit with a short walk from the dock to Puji Temple. Built in 916, this magnificent temple is the oldest as well as the largest temple on Putuoshan Mountain. Every big Buddhist event or ceremony is usually held in the temple. In front of the temple is a beautiful pond for lotus. The Duobao Pagoda near the Puji Temple, built to store Buddhist sculptures, is one of the "Three Great Precious of Putuoshan", and still remains the original face as in Yuan Dynasty(1271~1368).

Then take a sightseeing bus to One Thousand-Step Beach on the eastern side of Putuoshan Island. Walk leisurely on this over 2000-meter long white beach, let the waves kiss your toes and enjoy the clean sky and sea sceneries. Next, transfer by sightseeing bus to next attraction - Unwilling-to-leave Temple. In the year 858, the Japanese Buddhist Hui'e received a precious statue of Avalokitesvara. While on his way back to Japan, he was detained by a storm, which was seen by Hui'e as a sign that the Avalokitesvara was unwilling to leave. Then Hui'e decided to leave the statue on Putuoshan, and built a temple to place the statue which was named Unwilling-to-leave Temple. Near the temple locates the famous Purple Bamboo Forest which is believed to the original ashram of Avalokitesvara (the Goddess of Mercy). Walk several minutes down the bamboo forest, you will reach the landmark site of Putuoshan - the Goddess of Mercy Statue which is 33 meters (108 feet) tall and made of copper.

Lastly, get back to your hotel. The rest time of today is free for you to have dinner and walk around.

• Puji Temple
• The Mercy of Goddness
• Putuoshan Sunset

Day 6 Putuoshan & Putuoshan Departure (B, L)

Today’s highlights: Fayu Temple, The Nine-dragon Caisson, Nine-dragon Scree, Huiji Temple, the Sky Lamp Stage

After breakfast, take a park bus to Fayu Temple, 2.8km from Puji Temple. The Nine-dragon Caisson on the ceiling of the Nine Dragons Hall, together with some glazed tiles used on the temple, was relocated from the imperial palaces of Ming Empire in Nanjing in Qing Dynasty(1636~1912). There is also a Nine-dragon Screen which is aged, giant and tall but can see any crevice though it was jointed by flagstones. Apart from the grandiose halls, the temple is also full of huge, rare and old trees scattering in the yards or along the yellow-walled paths, which make it easy for people to find the peace in mind.

After visiting Fayu Temple, you will go to take the fast cable car which takes only several minutes to the Huiji Temple on the top area of Putuoshan. The temple is covered by colorful glazed tiles. Its halls and yards were constructed in traditional Garden-Architecture Style in Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Not so far away from the temple is the Sky Lamp Stage where you can get clear panoramic views of Putuoshan, white beaches and blue seas in the far distance. After that, descend the mountain by walking (about 2088 stone steps) about 30mins.

Take park bus to the dock to catch a ferry to Zhu Jia Jian. Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your flights / train off Zhoushan. Tour ends.

• Sacred Fayu Temple in Putuoshan
• Buddha Summit Mountain