Hangzhou’s beauty lies in the shimmering landscapes of West Lake, the Zen mood of thousand-year-old temples, and the perfect fusion of a modern city with natural scenery. Wuzhen is the ultimate representation of water-town aesthetics. It is not a primitive village, but an ancient town run under unified management—an experience-rich “theme-park-style” water town that offers visitors comfort. Suzhou’s beauty is that of a “delicate jade,” hidden in the classical gardens where every step reveals a new view, in the soft Wu-dialect melodies of storytelling and ballads, and along winding canals with small bridges and flowing water.
This seven-day journey through Jiangnan will take you across China’s most poetic water-town scroll. The trip begins in Hangzhou, the “Paradise on Earth,” where the rippling light of West Lake and the fragrance of Longjing tea hills let you feel the calm unity of lake and city, suffused with Zen. Next, immerse yourself in the waterside dreamscape of Wuzhen, drifting by rowboat between small bridges, flowing streams, and local homes to experience ink-wash Jiangnan by day and by night. Finally, arrive in Suzhou, the “City of Gardens,” where in the compact worlds of the Humble Administrator’s Garden and in the soft Wu-dialect of Kunqu opera, you will appreciate the refinement of classical gardens and the elegance of the literati. This is both a visual feast connecting West Lake’s breeze and moon, Wuzhen’s boat silhouettes, and Suzhou’s garden language, and a spiritual tour that deeply savors Jiangnan culture and the aesthetics of living.
Begin at Broken Bridge (Remnant Snow), stroll along Bai Causeway to Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake. From the Children’s Palace Pier, take a boat to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon. Continue on foot along Su Causeway. Head to Flower Harbor (Viewing Fish) to see the koi; then visit Leifeng Pagoda and climb to the top for a panoramic view of West Lake. In the evening, wander Hefang Street / Southern Song Imperial Street to taste Hangzhou snacks.
In the morning, visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai (Flying) Peak, feeling the tranquility of the thousand-year-old monastery and the exquisite stone carvings of Flying Peak. In the afternoon, drive to Longjing Village, stroll through the tea fields, and experience tea culture. Walk downhill from Longjing Village, hiking through Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies to Nine Creeks Misty Trees, enjoying the coolness of streams and forest. In the evening, watch the “Romance of the Song Dynasty” performance for an impressive audio-visual feast.
In the morning, visit the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Gushan Branch) and the Xiling Seal Art Society, and feel Hangzhou’s profound cultural heritage. In the afternoon, head to Xixi National Wetland Park (filming location of If You Are the One). Take an electric boat to tour and experience the artistic mood of “a stretch of stream, a stretch of mist.” In the evening, enjoy the West Lake Musical Fountain, bringing a perfect end to the Hangzhou portion of the trip.
In the morning, take a vehicle from Hangzhou to Wuzhen (about 1.5 hours by car). Upon arrival, check in. In the afternoon, take an immersive tour of Wuzhen West Scenic Area, visiting Zhaoming Academy, the Indigo Dye Workshop, and the Bound Foot (Three-Inch Golden Lotus) Museum. Take a rowboat night cruise to see waterside pavilions and buildings under the lights—breathtakingly beautiful. Experience West Scenic Area by day and by night: rivers with oar sounds and lantern shadows, ancient stone bridges, and warm yellow lights together form a stunning ink-wash painting.
In the morning, visit Wuzhen East Scenic Area. Compared with the West Scenic Area, East Scenic Area is smaller and better preserves the daily-life atmosphere of original residents. Visit the Blue Printed Cloth Workshop, Mao Dun’s Former Residence, etc., to feel a simpler water-town life. In the afternoon, take a coach from Wuzhen to Suzhou (about 1.5–2 hours). Upon arrival in Suzhou, check in to the hotel. Take a night walk along Shantang Street (Seven-Li Shantang). Admire the old street, small bridges, and flowing water under red lanterns, and savor the artistic mood described by Cao Xueqin as “among the finest places of worldly glory and elegance.”
In the morning, visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of China’s Four Famous Gardens, and appreciate this pinnacle of Jiangnan garden art. In the afternoon, stroll Pingjiang Road Historic Block. This is a riverside lane and a microcosm of Suzhou’s old city.
In the morning, visit Hanshan Temple—the “Hanshan Temple beyond the Gusu City Walls”—and feel the poetry of “the midnight bell reaches the guest boat.” In the afternoon, go to Tiger Hill, the “No. 1 Scenic Spot in Wuzhong,” to view the mysterious Tiger Hill Pagoda (China’s Leaning Tower) and Sword Pond. Return to Hangzhou or end the trip.
