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4-Day Jiangnan Poetry Tour · Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Suzhou, Zhouzhuang
4 days / 3 nights · Hangzhou / Shaoxing / Suzhou / Zhouzhuang

4-Day Jiangnan Poetry Tour · Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Suzhou, Zhouzhuang

Hangzhou / Shaoxing / Suzhou / Zhouzhuang · 4 Days 3 Nights · Relaxed

Reference Price

$580Rise / Person

  • Purely for fun, no shopping
  • The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
  • Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a group2–8 people
IntensityRelaxed
Best seasonMar–May, Sep–Nov
Traffichigh-speed rail + tour bus
AccommodationBoutique hotel 3 nights
Departure MonthMarch to May, September to November
View daily schedule Customized according to this line

Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance

Itinerary Details

All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service

A condensed version for when time is short: one city in one day, stepping on all the names mentioned in the poems.

Day-by-day itinerary4 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport

Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.

  1. D1Arrived in Hangzhou · West Lake

    DestinationEverywhere→ Hangzhou

    Meals
    Meals are self-managed
    Accommodation
    Hangzhou Hotel
    Transport
    Airport/Station Pickup and Drop-off
    Distance
    Within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailArrive in Hangzhou at various destinations, with a dedicated airport or station pick-up to your hotel. Afternoon free time.
    It's recommended to spend a full day circling West Lake: Broken Bridge—White Embankment—Gushan—Su Causeway, take your time; Liangzhu is in the north of the city, so wait another half day.

    West Lake dining: Pian'er River, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp; Zhiwei Temple by the lakeside is a time-honored brand.
    In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Shaoxing, and stay overnight in Shaoxing.

  2. DestinationShaoxing → Suzhou

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Shaoxing Hotel
    Transport
    High-speed rail / tour bus → Suzhou
    Distance
    Intercity Transfer
    Stops
    Daily detailShen Garden: A private garden of the Southern Song Dynasty, famous for Lu You and Tang Wan's 'The Phoenix with the Hairpin.' The garden is small but full of stories.
    Lu Xun's Hometown: Sanwei Study, Baicao Garden, and Lu Xun's ancestral home form a single street, free to visit.
    Jian Lake and Ancient Narrow Road: Water remnants of the Tang Poetry Road in eastern Zhejiang, the narrow path is a stone-paved embankment used by ancient people to pull boats.
    East Lake: A cliff lake left by quarrying, where taking a black-awning boat through caves is the most interesting.
    Meals: Stinky tofu, braised pork with dried mustard greens, yellow wine drunken chicken.
    Tips: Yellow wine has a strong aftertaste; first-time drinkers are recommended to drink warm; Some sections of the ancient narrow road are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. In
    the evening, take a high-speed rail or tour bus to Suzhou, and stay overnight in Suzhou.

  3. DestinationSuzhou → Zhouzhuang

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Suzhou Hotel
    Transport
    High-speed rail / tour bus → Zhouzhuang
    Distance
    Intercity Transfer
    Stops
    Daily detail
    Dining at Hanshan Temple on Pingjiang Road at Humble Administrator's Garden Lion Grove


    : Suzhou-style noodle soup, squirrel mandarin fish, mute pan-fried food; Pingjiang Road has many snacks, but it's recommended to eat outside the alley.
    In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Zhouzhuang and stay overnight in Zhouzhuang.

  4. DestinationZhouzhuang → Airport drop-off / station drop-off

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Not included
    Transport
    Private vehicle for transfer to airport/station
    Distance
    Walking about 4-6 km within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailTwin Bridges: The group of bridges that made Zhouzhuang famous in Chen Yifei's paintings, with the key bridge shape being the most photogenic.
    Shen Ting and Zhang Hall: Representatives of Jiangnan residences. Shen Ting has seven courtyards and five gates, allowing you to clearly see how wealthy families live.
    Tongli Ancient Town (replaceable): Tongli is quieter than Zhouzhuang. Tuisi Garden is a World Cultural Heritage site, suitable for those who don't want to squeeze.
    Roaring boat: Boatwomen row through bridge arches, the most worthwhile small expense.
    Meals: Wansan pork knuckle, sock-bottom crisps, Taihu white shrimp.
    Tip: The ancient town is quietest before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Tickets include several small attractions; you must keep your ticket stub for entry and exit.
    Shuttle service will be arranged according to flight or train time and stop, ending the itinerary.
Key facts
Departure pointGather in Hangzhou, disperse in Zhouzhuang
Number of people in a groupSmall group of 2-8 people
Recommended monthMar–May, Sep–Nov
AccommodationBoutique hotel 3 nights
TrafficHigh-speed Rail Tourist Bus
IntensityRelaxed

Route Overview

Main Jiangnan Poetry Travel Route: Hangzhou West Lake and Liangzhu, Shaoxing Shen Garden and the Zhejiang East Tang Poetry Road, Suzhou Gardens and Pingjiang Road, stay one night in the water towns, and finally conclude in Nanjing. The entire itinerary is scheduled day by day, including accommodation and travel flow.

The whole journey lasts 4 days, moving along "Hangzhou → Shaoxing → Suzhou → Zhouzhuang / Tongli → Nanjing": Hangzhou / Shaoxing / Suzhou / Zhouzhuang. The pace is arranged as "one city, one segment," with high-speed trains primarily used for intercity travel, and if the travel time exceeds 5 hours, flights are arranged.

Destinations on This Route

  • Hangzhou: It is recommended to spend a whole day around West Lake, strolling slowly from Broken Bridge—Bai Causeway—Solitary Hill—Su Causeway; Liangzhu is in the northern part of the city and requires a separate half day.
  • Shaoxing: Shen Garden and Lu Xun's Former Residence are close together in the city and can be visited consecutively, while East Lake and the Ancient Fiber Road each require half a day.
  • Suzhou: The gardens showcase "changing scenery as you move," with the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lion Grove Garden separated by only one street, which can be visited in half a day; Pingjiang Road is most pleasant in the evening.
  • Zhouzhuang: Stay one night in the town, walking around both at dawn and dusk, which is more rewarding than daytime group tours.

Associated Cultural Route

This route belongs to the Mist and Ink Charm: Jiangnan Poetry Travel series. There are other itineraries of different durations with the same theme for comparison.

Costs include

  • Accommodation listed in the itinerary (double occupancy)
  • First entrance tickets to the attractions specified in the itinerary
  • Ground transportation listed in the itinerary (high-speed rail / tour bus / scenic area sightseeing bus)
  • Full-time Chinese-speaking tour guide service
  • Daily breakfast, and meals specified in the itinerary
  • Travel agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance

Cost not included

  • Round-trip international airfare between the place of departure and China
  • Personal visa and document fees
  • Main meals and personal expenses not listed
  • Optional items (cable car, additional boat rides, performances, etc.)
  • Tips for guides and drivers (voluntary)
  • Single room supplement

Booking Reminder

After confirming the itinerary and dates, pay the deposit, and the remaining balance should be paid 15 days before the trip. Cancellation more than 30 days before departure will get a full refund of the deposit, 70% refund for 15-30 days, 50% refund for 7-15 days, and no refund within 7 days. Popular sites such as Mogao Caves and Sanxingdui require real-name reservation, please submit ID information at least 15 days in advance. For seniors over 70 and children under 12, please indicate in the remarks, and we will adjust the daily walking amount.