Route Overview
A route designed for depth, not distance
Pace built around energy, not a checklist. Star-level hotels confirmed privately. One real local culture thread on every route.
Day by Day
The shape of the trip
A representative shape. We finalize each morning during the planning call so the route reflects your interests and pace.
Slow Hangzhou-Suzhou-Lijiang
City stops, day ranges, and the main movement between anchors are shown before you ask a planner to confirm the route.
Tap any day to open the full plan — where you stay, what you do, meals, what is included, and traveler notes. All 11 days are shown below.This route is fully customisable — adjust it with a specialist →
Day1 Shanghai — The Bund & Jiangnan gateway
Touch down and just breathe — no rush today. Shanghai is a soft landing, and your guide spends day one quietly working out your rhythm so the whole trip bends around you, not some script.
near the Bund or the former French Concession - near the Bund or the former French Concession
the Bund and Pudong skyline
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around xiaolongbao when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Shanghai is the modern gateway to refined Jiangnan
Day2 Shanghai — The Bund & Jiangnan gateway
Slow start or early one, totally your call. Yu Garden and the old town is roughly the heart of today, and we leave plenty of breathing room so nothing feels rushed. Food-wise, hold out for xiaolongbao — worth it.
near the Bund or the former French Concession - near the Bund or the former French Concession
Yu Garden and the old town
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around xiaolongbao when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Shanghai is the modern gateway to refined Jiangnan
Day3 Shanghai — The Bund & Jiangnan gateway
We’ll build today loosely around the French Concession lanes, at your pace and nobody else’s. Expect a small surprise or two your guide pulls out depending on the day. xiaolongbao sorts the eating. And here’s the bit that’s properly ours: Shanghai-style qipao tailoring and Jiangnan silk — a master tailor and a silk house. Most tours can’t get you in the room — we can.
near the Bund or the former French Concession - near the Bund or the former French Concession
the French Concession lanes + private intangible-heritage session
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around xiaolongbao when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Shanghai is the modern gateway to refined Jiangnan
Day4 Hangzhou — West Lake & Longjing tea
Today’s the kind you’ll be showing people photos of later — a West Lake morning by boat, with the freedom to slow right down whenever something catches your eye. Lunch or dinner usually circles back to West Lake fish.
lakeside near the West Lake - lakeside near the West Lake
a West Lake morning by boat
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around West Lake fish when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Hangzhou is Song-dynasty refinement and tea culture
Day5 Hangzhou — West Lake & Longjing tea
Ease into the Longjing tea terraces with a tea master today. Nothing’s rigid — your guide flexes things around the weather and how you’re feeling, so it stays comfortable start to finish. And West Lake fish is exactly what you’ll want when hunger hits.
lakeside near the West Lake - lakeside near the West Lake
the Longjing tea terraces with a tea master
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around West Lake fish when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Hangzhou is Song-dynasty refinement and tea culture
Day6 Hangzhou — West Lake & Longjing tea
Honestly, this is one of those days people bring up for years. We’ll point you at Lingyin Temple — and since it’s all yours, you linger where it grabs you and wander off when you’re ready. Somewhere in there, West Lake fish, the kind locals actually line up for, not the tourist version. And here’s the bit that’s properly ours: Longjing pan-firing and West Lake silk-umbrella craft — a tea-master roasting session. Most tours can’t get you in the room — we can.
lakeside near the West Lake - lakeside near the West Lake
Lingyin Temple + private intangible-heritage session
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around West Lake fish when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Hangzhou is Song-dynasty refinement and tea culture
Day7 Suzhou — Classical gardens & canals
Today leans into the Humble Administrators and Lingering gardens. No stopwatch — your guide reads the crowds, the light and frankly your mood, and shapes the day from there. When you get hungry, Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes is the move.
near Pingjiang Road - near Pingjiang Road
the Humble Administrators and Lingering gardens
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Suzhou is the apex of Jiangnan garden and silk refinement
Day8 Suzhou — Classical gardens & canals
Slow start or early one, totally your call. a Pingjiang Road canal walk is roughly the heart of today, and we leave plenty of breathing room so nothing feels rushed. Food-wise, hold out for Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes — worth it.
near Pingjiang Road - near Pingjiang Road
a Pingjiang Road canal walk
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Suzhou is the apex of Jiangnan garden and silk refinement
Day9 Suzhou — Classical gardens & canals
We’ll build today loosely around Tongli or Zhouzhuang water town, at your pace and nobody else’s. Expect a small surprise or two your guide pulls out depending on the day. Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes sorts the eating. And here’s the bit that’s properly ours: Su embroidery (Suxiu) and Kunqu opera — a double-sided embroidery studio and a Kunqu garden recital. Most tours can’t get you in the room — we can.
near Pingjiang Road - near Pingjiang Road
Tongli or Zhouzhuang water town + private intangible-heritage session
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around Suzhou sweet-savoury dishes when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Suzhou is the apex of Jiangnan garden and silk refinement
Day10 Lijiang — Naxi old town & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Today’s the kind you’ll be showing people photos of later — the Lijiang Naxi old town canals, with the freedom to slow right down whenever something catches your eye. Lunch or dinner usually circles back to Naxi grilled fish.
a Naxi courtyard in the old town - a Naxi courtyard in the old town
the Lijiang Naxi old town canals
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around Naxi grilled fish when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Lijiang is living Naxi culture under a snow peak
Day11 Lijiang — Naxi old town & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Ease into Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley today. Nothing’s rigid — your guide flexes things around the weather and how you’re feeling, so it stays comfortable start to finish. And Naxi grilled fish is exactly what you’ll want when hunger hits. And here’s the bit that’s properly ours: Naxi Dongba script and Naxi ancient music — a Dongba scholar and an ancient-music recital. Most tours can’t get you in the room — we can.
a Naxi courtyard in the old town - a Naxi courtyard in the old town
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley + private intangible-heritage session
Breakfast at hotel; one guided local meal built around Naxi grilled fish when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Lijiang is living Naxi culture under a snow peak
Dates & Pricing
Choose a tentative date - see your seasonal supplement
Base price for standard non-holiday departures. Chinese national holidays add a supplement automatically.
Slow Hangzhou-Suzhou-Lijiang
Choose a date window below, or set an exact start date here.
Base per traveller$6,240.00
Seasonal supplement+0%
Trip value before offer$6,240.00
Pay in full today: 20% off$1,248.00
Full payment due today$4,992.00
Deposit plan: 10% off trip value$624.00
Deposit plan total after 10% off$5,616.00
20% deposit due today after 10% off$1,123.20
Deposit balance after planner confirms$4,492.80
Holiday supplement is shown before checkout. Final guide, room, and rail availability is confirmed by a planner.
Trusted private travel framework
Similar Private Routes
More private journeys you may like
Hand-built routes in a similar style. Every one is private-only and fully adjustable to your pace.
Yangtze Family Cruise
Private pacing, route support, hotel logic, and seasonal planning.
Panda + Pandas First-China
Private pacing, route support, hotel logic, and seasonal planning.
Fujian Tulou Overnight
Private pacing, route support, hotel logic, and seasonal planning.
Naxi Lijiang & Shangri-La
Private pacing, route support, hotel logic, and seasonal planning.
