Tour AC06 - Cuisine and Culture

Day 1: Canada - Shanghai
We start our journey to the Middle Kingdom with a transpacific flight to Shanghai.

Day 2: Shanghai We arrive in Shanghai, the economic centre of modern China. We are greeted at the airport by our local tour guide and make our way to the hotel. We get a good night’s sleep and prepare for our first day of touring in this land of wonder and mystery.

Day 3: Shanghai - Suzhou - Wuxi
After a delicious buffet breakfast featuring both local and international delicacies, we travel by coach to Suzhou, known in China as “Paradise on Earth” since ancient times for its extraordinary beauty and delicate elegance. The city is referred to by many as the “Venice of the East” because it is built around the Grand Canal, while others call it “Garden City” for its abundance of classical Chinese gardens. Two highlights on our tour are Tiger Hill and the Master of the Nets Garden. After enjoying a dinner featuring local specialties and a silk fashion show in the evening, we travel by coach to Wuxi.

Day 4: Wuxi - Yangzhou
Today, we tour Wuxi, a city that has been dubbed “Little Shanghai” for its recent economic development. With over 3,000 years of history, Wuxi is also one of the oldest cities in China. We visit the acclaimed Turtle Head Park, where we take in the beauty of Lake Tai, the third-largest lake in China. For lunch, we’re served the specialty of the local cuisine: Wuxi Spare Ribs. In the afternoon, we visit Three Kingdoms City, a 35-hectare movie set used to shoot the Han Dynasty epic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and a freshwater pearls farm. In the evening, we make our way to Yangzhou.

Day 5: Yangzhou - Nanjing
On the fifth day of our tour, we enjoy the splendor of Yangzhou. This 2,500 year-old city is home to countless traditional Chinese pavilions that will keep your cameras clicking. We visit the Slender West Lake and the Ge Garden. While in Yangzhou, we make sure to indulge in the local Huaiyang cuisine, which includes the famous Yangzhou Fried Rice, a popular dish loved all over China. At night, we continue our tour to Nanjing via motor coach.

Day 6: Nanjing - Wuzhen - Hangzhou
Nanjing is the capital city of the province of Jiangsu. It served as the capital of China through six dynasties and is littered with cultural relics, fascinating museums, and breathtaking scenery. Highlights on our tour include the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the Confucian Temple, the Qinhuai River, and Nanjing Museum. After enjoying the local Qinhuai flavour for lunch, we continue our journey to Wuzhen. Wuzhen is a charming water town with 1,300 years of history. This small town in the province of Zhejiang is a picture-perfect combination of canals, bridges, and traditional Chinese architecture. In the evening, we make our way to Hangzhou by coach.

Day 7: Hangzhou - Ningbo - Xikou - Shaoxing
This morning, we continue our tour with a coach ride to the seaport city of Ningbo. Ningbo is the birthplace of the 7,000 year-old Hemudu Culture. This Neolithic culture was one of the first to cultivate rice and lived in long stilt houses. Our time spent in Ningbo takes us to the Tianyi Pavilion Museum where the Tianyige Library, the most ancient surviving library in China, is found. We then continue the tour to Xikou, the home of the famed Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-Shek. It has since become a famous tourist destination in China. In the afternoon, we drive to Shaoxing, a city characterized by its 500 bridges. After day of sightseeing, we enjoy the local cuisine with a hearty dinner.

Day 8: Shaoxing - Hangzhou
Today, we visit East Lake before spending the day in Hangzhou. A famous saying in China roughly translates: "In heaven, there is paradise; On earth, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." When Marco Polo visited this city in the thirteenth century, he referred to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world." Our visit takes us to West Lake, arguably the most famous lake in China. While here, we witness the Ten Scenes of the West Lake, each presenting a unique kind of beauty. Later, we visit the Yellow Dragon Cave and taste the celebrated Longjing (Chinese for Dragon Well) Tea. In the evening, we enjoy local delicacies for dinner before retiring to our hotel.

Day 9: Hangzhou - Shanghai
As one of the distinct highlights of our tour, we visit Shanghai, the undisputed commercial and financial heart of the country. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, this modern metropolis is widely regarded as the citadel of China's economic development. Originally a sleepy fishing town, Shanghai became China's most important city by the twentieth century and is now a centre of popular culture, intellectual discourse, and political intrigue. Shanghai is famous for the Bund and its architecture reminiscent of early twentieth century Europe, the skyscraper-lined banks of the Huangpu River, the shopping heaven that is Nanjing Road, and the refreshing oasis in the heart of the city - the Yuyuan Gardens. After a delicious dinner, take advantage of Shanghai's vibrant nightlife for the perfect ending to your vacation in China.

Day 10: Shanghai - Canada
Today, our local tour guide sees us off at the airport, and we fly home to Canada. Have a wonderful trip!