China Photography Tour from Shanghai - 13 Days

After breakfast, head to the Shanghai Museum, the first museum to meet international exhibition standards in China. The museum is designed to recall the shape of an ancient Chinese Ding vessel, and has a collection of more than 120,000 pieces on display, including bronze, paintings, jade, furniture for the Ming and Qing dynasty, ancient coins, and the list just keeps going. A real gem of Shanghai.

Afterwards, drive to the old town Shanghai and visit the Yu Gardens, an ancient park which was founded by the Pan family, a very rich family about 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. Witness the breathtaking landscape of the garden, to have a better understanding of the Ming garden design and layout. Next to the garden you will see a market jammed with antique and souvenir shops. 

After visiting Yu Garden, walk along Nanjing Road to enjoy the sightseeing of the Bund. Then in the evening, take a Huangpu River Cruise to see the breathtaking night scene of Shanghai.

This morning you will visit the landmark of Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The tower is located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district. It sits on the Huangpu River and opposite of The Bund. Go straight to the observation deck and have a bird's eye view of Shanghai vast scenery. Afterwards, drive to the airport for the flight to Huangshan located in southern Anhui province.

This morning continue your visit to Mount Huangshan with two new sights, Cloud-dispelling Pavilion and Xihai Grand Canyon. Be impressed by your surroundings and find yourself in a picturesque painting. The scenery keeps changing as you walk on stone steps carved right into the mountain side, as you ascend to the summit. Every step will reveal a breath-taking view.

After lunch, take the cable car down to the foot of the mountain, then drive back to Huangshan City and take a visit to Tunxi Old Street, a souvenir street lined with wooden shops and Ming-style buildings. In the evening, take the train to your next destination, Suzhou.

Today you will visit Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water towns in China. After breakfast, drive to Zhouzhuang, which is located 30 km. (19 mi.) southeast of Suzhou. This little town is famous for its  profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses and the elegant water views. Here you will visit to Hall of Shen's Residence, built in 1742, a private property of the descendant of Shen Wansan, the first millionaire of Jiangnan. The whole architectural complex is a classic example of Qing's style architecture and occupies an area of more than 2,000 sq. m. (half an acre).

In the late afternoon or evening, drive back to Suzhou and take the train to Hangzhou. The journey will take about 2 hours to travel 160 km. (99 mi.).

Beijing is the capital of China, and is an ancient and historical city which has many scenic spots and historic resorts. In the next three days, you will visit several famous attractions in Beijing. This morning, head to the center of the city and take a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in World first. The square is also a place for Chinese people to hold important occasions and celebrations. At the north end of the square lies the magnificent Forbidden City, which is an imperial palace complex for 24 Chinese ancient emperors to live during Ming and Qing Dynasties. While visiting here, you will have a better understanding of the extravagant life of Chinese ancient imperial court. Thanks to the large collection of preserved ancient wooden structures, Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

Afterwards, take a visit Temple of Heaven, a holy imperial temple where the emperors prayed for a good harvest and offer sacrifices to the God of Heaven every winter solstice. The triple-gabled circular temples in Temple of Heaven have already been one of the landmarks of Beijing. Your last sightseeing today is Summer Palace, which is an imperial garden built during Qing Dynasty. Summer Palace is famous for its natural landscape which combines the hills and open water with artificial features such as pavilions, palaces, halls and bridges into a harmony ensemble.

On your way back to Beijing, you will go to the Fresh-water Pearl Market. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kong Fu dinner show.

This morning, you will head to the old parts of Beijing and visit the Shichahai Area, to gain an understanding of the Old Hutong culture of Beijing. While wandering through these narrow alleyways, your guide will share about the interesting culture and history of old Beijing. Afterwards, drive to the Olympic Green and have a glimpse of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. 

After lunch, spend the rest of the day to explore Beijing on your own or perhaps finish up some last minute gift hunting. Your guide will be sure to offer some great suggestions on where to go.