7-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou Culture Tour

Begin by ascending the Shanghai Tower, the landmark skyscraper that unfolds the whole city like a glittering scroll; then cross the Huangpu River on a public ferry to feel the pulse of Shanghai. After landing, stroll the Bund - on one side the international architecture left from the 1920s and 1930s, on the other the skyscrapers of Lujiazui, a striking contrast of past and present set on the two banks of a single river. Then step into Yu Garden, where refined layout and natural elements meet in harmony, a model of classical Chinese garden design.

Step into the old French Concession and it feels like travelling through time. Walk along Wukang Road, Huaihai Road, Fuxing Road and Sinan Road, where elegant Art Deco buildings and colonial-era mansions, villas and residences line both sides - once home to wealthy foreigners and China's upper class of the day. Sunlight filters through tall plane trees and dapples the pavement, swaying gently. Then follow the Xujiahui urban walk, from the Tomb of Xu Guangqi and the Xujiahui Library to the Gothic Xujiahui Cathedral, reading Shanghai's cultural heritage the whole way.

The Master of the Nets Garden is small in size but exquisite beyond measure - within limited space it creates the illusion of boundless expanse, a textbook of the classical Chinese garden principle of “seeing the large within the small.” After leaving the garden, stroll along Pingjiang Road: this 1,600-metre historic street has been a bustling thoroughfare since the Song dynasty, and to this day its shops stand in rows and canals wind through - Suzhou's living history.

The Tongli water town has over a thousand years of history and is famous for its well-preserved old buildings, crisscrossing canals and ancient stone bridges - a picturesque historic town. Drift slowly along the canals by boat and watch locals wash clothes at the waterside steps or sit a while on the waterside benches, and you will read the everyday rhythm of the Jiangnan water towns.

Step into Meijiawu, the tea village that is the birthplace of West Lake Longjing tea. Local tea farmers welcome you with traditional bamboo baskets and bamboo hats, and lead you into the terraced tea gardens. Learn how to select and pick the leaves correctly, then watch the tea master use a single iron wok to dehydrate the leaves and lock in that fresh green; finally master the art of brewing and make a genuine cup of West Lake Longjing with your own hands.

Step into a local Hangzhou market - not just a place to buy groceries, but a living portrait of the city's life. Wander among stalls brimming with fresh fruit and vegetables, taste authentic snacks and feel the energy of everyday streets. Then board the driverless “future bus” and watch the steering wheel turn by itself as the vehicle glides smoothly through the lanes - this is Hangzhou today: half everyday warmth, half future.