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Thank you so much for organizing our trip to Burma. It really was the trip of a lifetime

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ANCIENT WATER TOWNS OF CHINA

We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements

Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursion to accommodation

OVERVIEW ITINERARY TOUR DETAILS REVIEWS HOTELS

This tour discovers the small towns of Suzchou and Wuzhen which are compared to the illustrious Italian city because of their intricate network of canals and stone bridges, as well as Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as a “Heaven on Earth”, at least in part due to the West Lake, a recent addition to UNESCO’s world heritage sites

Along the way you’ll learn, absorb and savor the sights, sounds and subtle nuances through unique interactions that only a trip with Backyard Travel can offer.

Your guide will show you behind the scenes of the real China as you experience the wonderful watery towns, and step back in time to the rural areas.

THE BACKYARD DIFFERENCE

Take a morning bike ride round the narrow streets of Suzhou’s old town.
Discover the old wooden houses, cobbled streets and beautifully sculpted stone bridges of Wuzhen.
Spend time with bonsai specialist who will show you his art.
In Wuzhen, have the choice between 04 different optional day tours, including visits to either a Chinese water puppet theatre, take part in a wine-tasting session, pay homage at the home of Mao Dun, a famous 20^th century revolutionary writer or visit a traditional dye workshop.
See China’s largest bamboo forest and one of the greatest examples of ecotourism in the country.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS

Shanghai – Suzhou - Wuzhen

Wuzhen – Anji - Hangzhou

Hangzhou - Shanghai

Day 1

Shanghai – Suzhou - Wuzhen Arrival

The first day of your scenic study of the ‘water towns’ will start with an hour-long journey by car to Suzhou, the most famous of the ‘Venices of China’ you’ll visit on this wonderful tailored tour. The world-famous Suzhou Gardens are considered some of the most beautiful in China.Once in Suzhou you can take a morning bike ride round the narrow streets of the old town, a good way to avoid the early crowds that come to see the famous gardens. China’s love affair with the bicycle over the last 15 years is no more evident than in Suzhou. Cycling along the cobbled streets, you will notice the white sculpted wooden facades and black tile roofs of the local houses. The chances are, as you cruise along the many canals you will also notice the locals still using the canals to wash their clothes.

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Overnight in Wuzhen

Meals included on this day: None

Day 2

Wuzhen – Anji - Hangzhou

The morning of day two of your tour gives you full control of what you’d like to do. As your stay in the village grants you access to a number of major sites which differ vastly, our options provide something for everyone. Depending on what interests you most, you can tailor your day’s plans and your guide will be happy to give you any advice you need.

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We have selected the following activities for you to choose from:

Option 1: Guided tour of the Gongsheng Distillery followed by a wine-tasting session. If you don’t want to try the local wine then don’t hang around too long, even just a whiff of its strong fragrance could get you tipsy!

Option 2: You will be taken to watch one of the daily performances at the flower drum opera. The Chinese shadow puppet theatre also puts on daily shows which demonstrate the ancient Chinese art form of puppeteering. The practice, which dates back over 2,000 years, can be attributed to Liu Bang, a famous Han army general, who used shadow puppets to trick his enemies into retreat by making them believe that there were thousands of soldiers waiting and ready to defend from attack.

Option 3: Perfect for fans of literature, with this option you can visit the ancestral home of Mao Dun, a famous 20^th century revolutionary writer, critic and journalist, whose most famous work was Ziye, a grand novel depicting life in cosmopolitain Shanghai and Spring Silkworms as well as many short stories.

Option 4: Or, if you are interested in the art of textiles, then you can visit a printing atelier who will explain the techniques used in the production of traditional Chinese clothing.

Following your morning visits, continue to Anji County which is a 2.5- hour drive from Wuzhen. Here, see the greatest examples of ecotourism in the whole country – the largest bamboo forest in China. In the past years, the local government hasbecome aware of the environmental importance of bamboo and have implemented a new policy named ‘the three pures’: pure air, pure water and pure earth. Local farmers who cultivate the land must pass rigorous ‘ecological checks’ before being allowed to continue their business.

Interestingly this forest area was used as a backdrop for one the scenes in the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. Fans of the film may remember the fight scene filmed here between Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) and Yu Jiao Long (Zhang Ziyi). Journey into the center of the forest and feel the heart of China, in the silence of the emerald green forest around you.

Nearby, you will have the chance to see some tea plantations, another specialty of the region of Zhejiang and home to Longjing tea (one of most expensive teas in the world). Tea is China’s favorite drink and gained popularity in the Tang dynasty (618-907) when it was traded around the world. During your trip to the plantation, you may also be fortunate enough to meet a local tea producer who can introduce different tea types: green tea, black tea, Oolong tea, fragrant tea, white tea or even ancient ‘tea bricks’.

Continue to Hangzhou, the ancient capital of the Southern Song dynasty (1127 – 1279) and the current provincial capital of Zhejiang province.

Overnight in Hangzhou

Meals included on this day: Breakfast

Day 3

Hangzhou - Shanghai Departure

Marco Polo described Hangzhou as a “Heaven on Earth”, at least in part due to the West Lake, a recent addition to UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Each season here offers something different, yet spectacular in its own way: in winter, the snow rests upon the water and transforms the lake into a piece of art with frozen plants.

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