China’s Mountain Gardens

Days 1-2 : Fly to Shanghai

Fly overnight from the UK to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the ‘Paris of the East’ where we will stay for two nights. We transfer to our hotel and in the evening enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight Shanghai

Day 3 : Explore Shanghai

Drive to the recently opened Chenshan Botanical Garden where one of the curatorial staff will give us a guided tour of the key areas of this vast site. Home of Asia’s biggest greenhouse and over 3,000 plant species, this beautiful garden has a collection of more than 1,500 species from eastern China. Later, visit the classical Chinese garden of Yu Yuan with its renowned Penjing displays, and the old town area of Shanghai. In the evening enjoy a panoramic cruise on the Huangpu River. Overnight Shanghai

Day 4 : Suzhou Traditional Gardens

Travel to the charming city of Suzhou, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’. The highlights today are visits to two of the finest oriental gardens: the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Garden of the Master of the Nets. Overnight Suzhou

Day 5 : Grand Canal

Enjoy a cruise on the ancient Grand Canal before travelling to Hangzhou, one of China’s former imperial capitals. Here we experience an oriental tea-tasting. Set on the banks of West Lake, Hangzhou is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in China. Overnight Hangzhou

Day 6 : Hangzhou Botanical Garden

Visit Hangzhou Botanical Garden, covering 230 hectares, to see Camellia, Osmanthus, Phyllostachys, herbs and medicinal plants as well more than 5,000 plum trees from forty five species. Visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda and enjoy a relaxing cruise on West Lake. Overnight Hangzhou

Day 7 : Overnight Tunxi

Take a stroll around one of the lakeshore gardens looking out for peach trees, willow, lotus and osmanthus. Later we travel by road to Tunxi, located at the base of Huangshan.

Day 8 : Explore Huangshan

Take the cable car to the summit of Huangshan where we will spend the night. Our time here will be spent walking on the mountain. Famous for Pinus hwangshanensis, which grows out of the rocks, we also expect to see a wide rangeof ferns, mosses and trees such as Liquidambar acalycina, Magnolia, Torreya grandis and Cinnamomum camphora among many others. Overnight Huangshan

Day 9 : Tunxi Old Town

We continue our exploration of Huangshan before taking the cable car down to the base of the mountain and return to Tunxi for two nights. In the evening we explore the Old Town where, an ancient street has shops that remain as they have been for generations and is lit by traditional lanterns. Overnight Tunxi

Day 10 : Ming Townships

The area around the base of Huangshan has been inhabited for hundreds of years and has many townships dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. An exploration of the villages in the Anhui countryside such as Xidi and Hongcun reveals traditional architecture, ancient waterways and a way of life that has changed little over the centuries. Overnight Tunxi

Day 11 : Lushan

Travel by road to Jingdezhen, a city famous for producing high quality porcelain. We visit the Historical Exhibition Area to see a demonstration of traditional Qing and Ming porcelain-making. Continue to Lushan where we stay for three nights. Overnight Lushan

Days 12-13 : Lushan Botanical Garden

Lushan and its surrounding national park cover an area of 300 sq km and the mountainous peaks reach 1,473m above sea-level. Known for its huge variety of flora including pines, firs, ancient cypresses and vines, Camellia oleifera, acers, birch, ferns, orchids and primulas. Visit the Lushan Botanical Gardens with thousands of species including collections of Rhododendrons, pines, magnolias and Chinese native plants. Overnight Lushan

Day 14 : Shanghai

Transfer to Nanchang airport and fly to Shanghai. In the afternoon visit Madam Song’s Residence which is located in the French Concession district. Madam Song was once the ‘Honorary President’ of the People’s Republic of China and was also married to Dr Sun Yat Sen. Her house was built in 1920, and is a pretty western-style three-storey villa with a large lawn in the front and a beautiful garden at the back. In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner of traditional Shanghai cuisine. Overnight Shanghai

Day 15 : Shanghai – UK

Fly to the UK arriving home later the same day.

Tour includes:

Entrance charges for included sightseeing
All transportation during the tour
All meals
Internal flights
National Escort & Local Guides
International flights
All accommodation
Visas for UK & EU passport holders
Regional connecting flights available – please ask for details

Wendy Wu Tours is the leading independent specialist tour operator to China in the UK. They offer an extensive range of tour itineraries to enable you to visit famous tourist attractions such as the Great Wall, the Yangtze River or the Terracotta Warriors in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India.

Many of their tours also take you off the beaten track, to emerald lakes and traditional villages, allowing you to enjoy the authentic China experience. Other unforgettable excursions include a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s traditional Hutongs, attending a Buddhist ceremony or cruising on a traditional junk boat. They also offer the opportunity to explore a bustling city like Hong Kong or Dubai en-route for a few nights.

Our Opinion
Wendy Wu Tours allow you to not only visit famous attractions but really discover the country’s culture, natural beauty and hidden treasures. Coupled with their affordable, all-inclusive style pricing, it’s no surprise that the company is growing from strength to strength and winning multiple industry awards along the way!