5-Day Shanghai, Wuzhen & Hangzhou Tour: Ancient China Meets Future Tech

Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

If you enter Shanghai through Pudong International Airport, consider taking the Shanghai Maglev Train (optional; will be charged extra), one of the world's fastest commercially operated maglev services, with its maximum operating speed reaching 431 km/h (268 mph).

The Maglev Train will take you from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road Station in just 8 minutes. Your driver will pick you up from the station.

The rest of the day is free for you to have a rest or explore the city on your own.

Optional evening activity:

Watch a Shanghai acrobatic show - ERA: Intersection of Time at Shanghai Circus World. The show takes about 90 minutes, featuring traditional Chinese acrobatics, modern multimedia effects, dance, and spectacular stunts. The motorcycle globe act is a highlight.

Begin today with a visit to Shanghai Museum East. Allow around 1.5–2 hours to look at vessels that span approximately 3,600 years of history and 20 galleries devoted to jade, ceramics, and Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Then take a ride in a driverless vehicle to experience China's latest advances in smart mobility. See how AI handles acceleration, lane changes, and stopping.

A unique outdoor dining experience awaits. You will get to a urban park, and have a drone food delivery experience. Order your lunch through a mobile app or mini-program, the drone will then deliver it to a designated point in the park.

Followed by a visit to Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China, at 632 meters high. You will take one of the fastest elevators to the 118th-floor observation deck within 60 seconds. Sitting 546 meters above the ground, the deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the historic architecture along the Bund and the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong.

Good to know: Before heading up, it is recommended to watch the short film A Skyline in Motion in the B1 exhibition area to learn how Shanghai has transformed over more than 170 years.

Continue to the Bund, a waterfront pedestrian street along the Huangpu River. Admire the 52 European-style buildings that reflect Shanghai's international past, and the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui across the river. The striking contrast between old and new makes it one of the most iconic sites of Shanghai.

End the day with an optional Huangpu River cruise (at an extra cost), lasting approximately 50 minutes. It allows you to enjoy the Bund's historic buildings and the glittering skyscrapers of Lujiazui from the water.

Take a high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Tongxiang (approximately 30–40 minutes), followed by a private transfer to Wuzhen.

Enjoy your time at Wuzhen Xizha Scenic Area. This traditional Jiangnan water town boasts a history of over 1,300 years. Follow your local guide to leisurely wader along its narrow riverside lanes that are lined with whitewashed houses, dark-tiled roofs, stone bridges, and old workshops. Highlights in this area include: 

• Blue Calico Dyehouse: with indigo-dyed fabrics hanging from tall wooden racks.

• Historic post office: You can mail a distinctive postcard home from the post office.

• The waterside theater: Offers a glimpse into traditional local culture and performances.

If you like, you can also hop on a traditional wooden boat (optional, at an extra cost) propelled by a boatman using a hand-held oar. Admire the riverside homes from the water as you glide through narrow canals and pass beneath stone bridges. This is a classic Jiangnan experience that is highly recommended for first-time visitors.

After exploring Wuzhen, a private transfer will take you to Hangzhou. The drive will take about 1-1.5 hours. Check into your hotel in Hangzhou after arrival.

Today, besides visiting the most celebrated natural scenery in Hangzhou, you'll also have a chance to experience the centuries-old Chinese traditions and rapidly developing technology scene.

After breakfast, begin today with a visit to the West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that embodies cultural significance and landscape aesthetics in the mind of Chinese people. Nestled among rolling hills and the city, the lake is frequently associated with Chinese poetry, and folklore.

You can explore the Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, willow-lined shores on foot or take a relaxing boat ride (optional, with an extra cost) on the West Lake to appreciate the broad vistas, iconic landmarks, and distant hills from the water.

After that, visit Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum and Science and Technology Hall. Hu Qing Yu Tang is one of the most time-honored and best-known Chinese medicine brands in Hangzhou. The museum preserves elements of a traditional Qing Dynasty pharmacy and introduces the history of Chinese medicine through displays of medicinal herbs, traditional processing techniques, classical remedies, and wellness practices.

After discovering this centuries-old tradition, head to Wensan Future Technology Center to learn how digital innovation is shaping modern Hangzhou - an important hub for artificial intelligence and emerging industries. Expect to watch robot performances, interact with AI-powered technologies, explore smart living scenarios, and discover how cutting-edge technology is reshaping everyday life here.

Today is for you to discover Hangzhou's Buddhist heritage and Longjing tea culture. After breakfast, head to Feilai Peak to see an impressive collection of more than 300 Buddhist stone carvings dating from the Five Dynasties period to the Yuan Dynasty. These statues are carved into the hillsides, showcasing an important tradition of Buddhist rock art in southern China. The cheerful, big-bellied Maitreya Buddha statue is the most eye-catching.

Move on to Lingyin Temple, which can be dated back to around 1,700 years ago. As one of China's most renowned Buddhist monasteries, the temple offers a spiritual atmosphere and treasured Buddhist heritage.

Your guide will then escort you to Meijiawu Tea Village, one of the main growing areas for West Lake Longjing. Surrounded by rolling tea plantations, the village offers scenic scenery and hands-on tea experiences. If you visit in Spring (between late March and early May), consider visiting a local family (optional, at an extra cost) and try tea-making activities, such as picking tea leaves by hand; watching skilled tea makers hand-roast fresh leaves in large heated woks; tasting freshly made Longjing tea and enjoying a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, etc.

After the visit, enjoy a private transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport or the railway station for your onward journey.