Emma Hofstadter
April 22, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This premium 6-day private tour brings you to four of East China’s most iconic destinations: Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huangshan, with one full day dedicated to exploring each spot for a comfortable, unhurried travel experience. Curated as a handpicked top selection of the region’s can’t-miss sights, this tour balances unbeatable value pricing with trusted, secure payment processing, letting you enjoy your cross-city East China trip with total peace of mind.
This 6-day premium private journey kicks off in dynamic global metropolis Shanghai, where you’ll dive into a mix of traditional and modern Chinese culture right from the start. From your base in Shanghai, you’ll take comfortable private excursions to the classical garden city of Suzhou and the ancient water town of Zhouzhuang, before moving on to Hangzhou’s poetic West Lake and lush, fragrant tea hills. Next, you’ll journey to the dramatic, mist-shrouded peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) for world-famous alpine scenery, before stopping at the UNESCO-listed ancient Huizhou village of Hongcun on your return trip to Shanghai. The route balances city energy, pastoral charm, and jaw-dropping natural beauty for a complete taste of Eastern China’s very best.
🌟 Day 1: Shanghai
Kick off your Eastern China adventure with your own private guide to show you Shanghai’s most beloved contrasts. First, wander the exquisite pavilions, rockeries and winding paths of Yuyuan Garden, then step out onto bustling Shanghai Old Street to soak up nostalgic old-school market atmosphere. Next, slow down with a calm, authentic traditional Chinese tea ceremony to savor local flavors. Wrap up the day with a stroll through tree-lined, historic Xintiandi in the former French Concession, before a visit to serene Jade Buddha Temple, where your guide will walk you through the site’s rich cultural and spiritual history.
🌟 Day 2: Shanghai to Suzhou & Zhouzhuang
Leave Shanghai’s busy streets behind for a full-day private excursion to Suzhou, the famous "city of gardens," and ancient water town Zhouzhuang, with comfortable private car service for the entire trip. First, explore the stunning Lingering Garden, one of China’s top four classical gardens, where every rock, pond and plant is arranged to create perfect, poetic views at every turn. Next, wander car-free Pingjiang Road, Suzhou’s best-preserved historic street lined with local craft shops and cozy neighborhood teahouses. You’ll also stop at a local silk factory to learn about Suzhou’s centuries-old world-famous silk-making tradition, from raw cocoon to finished luxury fabric, before heading back to Shanghai for the night.
🌟 Day 3: Shanghai to Hangzhou
Travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou, a city long celebrated as one of China’s most beautiful scenic destinations. Your first stop is the iconic West Lake, where you’ll glide across misty, willow-fringed waters on a relaxing boat cruise to take in the lake’s most famous views from the water. After your cruise, visit tranquil hillside Faxi Temple, a hidden gem full of ancient incense and quiet spiritual energy. End the day with a trip to the rolling Longjing Tea Fields, where you’ll sample fresh, fragrant premium Longjing green tea straight from its native growing region. After a full day of exploration, check in for the night at a comfortable 4-star hotel (or local equivalent standard). 🍽️ No meals included today | 🏨 4-star hotel or equivalent
🌟 Day 4: Hangzhou to Huangshan
Depart Hangzhou and journey toward iconic Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), with a hands-on cultural stop along the way to try two ancient Chinese traditional crafts. You’ll learn the centuries-old technique of handmade ancient papermaking, then try your hand at scripture rubbing, so you can take home a unique, personal souvenir of your trip. After your craft experience, continue on to Huangshan to settle in for the night. 🍽️ Breakfast included | 🏨 4-star hotel or equivalent
🌟 Day 5: Huangshan Mountain
Today is dedicated to exploring the breathtaking peaks of Huangshan Mountain, one of China’s most famous natural landmarks. Fuel up for your day of adventure with an included breakfast, then take a coach to the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area entrance. Ride a cable car up to the mountain’s higher elevations to save your energy for exploring, then set off to wander the stunning Beihai Scenic Area, home to jagged granite peaks, windswept ancient pines, and endless panoramic views of rolling cloud seas. Don’t miss a stop at the iconic Flying Rock, a massive balancing boulder that’s one of the mountain’s most famous natural landmarks. At the end of the day, stay overnight on the mountain at West Sea Hotel (or a comparable equivalent property during peak travel season) to be positioned perfectly for sunrise the next morning. 🍽️ Breakfast included | 🏨 West Sea Hotel or equivalent (on the mountain peak)
🌟 Day 6: Huangshan to Hongcun to Shanghai
Wake up early for Huangshan’s most unmissable experience: watching a golden sunrise paint the cloud sea and jagged peaks in warm light from Qingliang Terrace. After sunrise, enjoy a bit more leisurely exploration of the mountain before descending. Breakfast is included to start your day, then you’ll stop at the UNESCO-listed ancient Huizhou village of Hongcun, a perfectly preserved 900-year-old village with white-washed walls, narrow cobblestone alleyways, and picture-perfect waterways. Wander along the stunning South Lake and tour the village’s ornate, historic wooden clan halls to learn about traditional Huizhou architecture and local culture. After your visit, you’ll transfer back to Shanghai to wrap up your tour. 🍽️ Breakfast included
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 22, 2026
I took this tour with my partner for our 10th anniversary trip, and we had the most wonderful time. Our guides adjusted the schedule when we wanted to spend extra time browsing local markets and tasting street food, which we really appreciated. The 6-day pace is ideal, giving you enough time to see all the key highlights without leaving you exhausted at the end of each day.
January 14, 2026
This premium private tour took all the hassle out of traveling, letting me just enjoy exploring incredible new places.
November 8, 2025
As someone who prefers slow travel over rushing from landmark to landmark, this tour’s itinerary was absolutely perfect. Each of the four cities has such a distinct character: Shanghai is electric and modern, Suzhou is gentle and elegant, Hangzhou is lush and peaceful, and Huangshan feels like something out of a traditional Chinese painting. Having a full day in each let me soak up that character instead of just checking off a list of tourist spots. All arrangements were seamless from start to finish.
September 2, 2025
Consultant Lynn at HelloChinaTrip recommended this tour for my first trip to China, and it exceeded every one of my expectations. I loved that we got a full day in each location—from Shanghai’s iconic Bund to Suzhou’s serene classical gardens, Hangzhou’s sparkling West Lake, and the jaw-dropping sea of clouds on Huangshan, every destination got the time it deserved. The private cars were clean and comfortable, and each local guide shared fun insider tips that made the experience feel personal. I’d absolutely book this tour again for any future trip to the region.
May 20, 2025
The tour organization and guides were flawless, but we visited during the May Day holiday peak so Huangshan was much more wonderful than we anticipated. It was still a fantastic trip overall, just a bit busier than we would have liked.
March 12, 2025
This 6-day private tour was the perfect stress-free way to see four of East China’s most beautiful destinations.
February 19, 2025
This is the best organized international tour I’ve ever joined, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to explore East China. Everything from entry tickets to private transfers was handled perfectly, so we never had to worry about a thing. The mix of modern cities, historic gardens, and dramatic mountain scenery made for an incredibly varied and memorable trip. I can’t wait to come back to explore more of China someday.
December 18, 2024
Having a full dedicated day to explore each city made this tour feel far more comfortable than rushed multi-city itineraries I’ve taken before. Every transfer between cities was smooth, and our local guides were incredibly knowledgeable about each spot’s history.
