Suzhou: Often referred to as the 'Venice of China', Suzhou is a city of winding rivers and canals, arched bridges and beautiful ornamental gardens. Located in the southeast corner of Jiangsu province, the city covers approximately 8,500 sq km and has a population of more than 6 million. It is within easy reach of Shanghai by both road and rail. As long ago as the 13th century when Marco Polo declared Suzhou 'a very noble city', Suzhou has been attracting visitors, and despite the city's sprawling industrial and residential growth, it retains a timeless ambience. Its narrow tree-lined streets and cobbled alleyways are ideal for exploring by foot or by bicycle, and many of the city's gardens, museums and temples are within easy reach of the city center. The city's waterways are also a wonderful vantage point from which to witness daily life and trips on small canal boats are popular with visitors. Historically, Suzhou has a much less colorful past than its neighbor Nanjing. Created around 500BC by Prince He Lu of Wu who literally carved Suzhou out of the swamps, the city had a tradition of luring men of culture rather than men of power. It was these learned citizens who were responsible for creating the beautiful gardens for which Suzhou is renowned. The most notable are the 16th century Humble Administrator's Garden, the romantic Lingering Garden, the tiny Garden of the Master of Nets, and the city's oldest garden, the Pavilion of Blue Waves.

Cruise along the Canal: The Grand Canal is the world's longest man-made waterway, being 1,800 kilometers long. The canal connects the present cities of Beijing in the north and Hangzhou in the south, which served as dynastic capitals in the past, and contains 24 locks and 60 bridges. Since most of China's major rivers flow from west to east, the fact that the Grand Canal runs north and south provides it as an important connector between the Yangtze River valley and the Yellow River valley, and other minor river systems. It is being restored as a water-diversion conduit. The series of waterways in eastern China is not only very long, but also very old, which makes the Grand Canal a masterpiece of both the ancient and the new. The oldest section, which is between the Yangtze River and the Huang He, was constructed during the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. The building of the canal began in 486 B.C. during the Zhou Dynastry. It was extended during the Qi Dynastry, and later by Emporor Yangdi of the Sui Dynasty during six years of furious construction from 605-610 A.D. The shifting of China's "breadbasket" from the wheat and millet producing regions of the north to the rice fields of the south prompted Sui Dynasty emperors in the 6th century to construct the canal linking this productive southern region to the northern captials. Beginning in 584, existing portions of the canal, dating as far back as the Zhou danasty, were linked together into a unified system that streched some 1800 kilometers.

The southern section connected the north to Yangzhou on the Yangtze river. A branch built in 608-609 that led to the Beijing region was designed to supply the armies protecting the north and northeastern frontiers. The Grand Canal greatly improved the administration and defense of China and served to increase the economic interdependence of the north and south. The political unity under the Sui made it possible to build the Grand Imperial Canal. Building techniques were primitive, and the peasants, who did most of the work, endured much suffering. About half of the six million men recruited to build the Canal died at their work. This contributed to the downfall of the shortlived Sui Dynasty (589-618). This "artificial Nile" accomplished for China what the real Nile had done for Egypt thousands of years ago. It integrated the north and the south and formed the basis for a unfied national economy. It also restored the authority of the imperial officials who were needed for the administration and maintenance of the Canal. Hence the foundations were laid for the brilliant epoch of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as China emerged as the most powerful state in the world.

Garden of the Master of the Nets: The smallest garden In Suzhou, it was laid out in the 12th century, abandoned, then restored in the 18thcentury as part of the residence of a retired official. According to one story, the official announced he’d had enough of bureaucracy and would rather be a fisherman. The eastern part of the garden is the residential area originally with side rooms for sedan-chair lackeys, guest reception, and living quarters. The central part is the main garden. The western part is an inner garden where a courtyard contains the Spring-Rear Cottage, the master’s study. This section and study was duplicated and unveiled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1981.

Suzhou No. 1 Silk Factory: Suzhou is famous for producing high quality silk and the city is home to the China Silk Museum which traces the fabric’s 5,000 year history. Participants will see the process of silk manufacturing beginning with retrieving the silk from cocoons to weaving the fabric. Guests may see a fashion show and then spend time in the gift shop that sells fabrics, duvets and other items.

Morning take bullet train to Hangzhou and bus back to Shanghai

Visit Linyin Temple (Temple of Inspired Seclusion): Lingyin Temple is one of the best-known Buddhist monasteries in China. Built in 326AD at the foot of Lingyin Mountain, the main hall is 34 meters (111ft) tall - incredibly high for a 1 story building. In the center of the hall there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was carved from 24 pieces of camphor wood. The 2 stone pagodas in front of the hall were built in 960 during the Song dynasty (960-1271). With magnificent mountains and high trees around the monastery, it is a beautifully scenic area with numerous cultural relics.

Lunch at a local restaurant, followed with afternoon Cruise on West Lake: Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou as well as one of the most beautiful sights in China. Early in the Song dynasty, the famous poet Su Shi compared the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra: "Ripping water shimmering on sunny day; Misty mountains wonder in the rain; Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi; the West Lake is always alluring". So the Lake is also known as Xizi Lake. With an area of 6 sqkm and a circumference of 15km (9 miles), West Lake, surround in three sides by rolling wooded hills, has captivated countless visitors for centuries.

Legend has it that West Lake was originally a jewel fallen from heaven. Actually it is a lagoon formed as a result of natural changes and human efforts. Ten thousand years ago, the lake was much larger than its present surface of 5.6 square kilometers. Later, as silt accumulated and weeds overgrew, the lake shrank in size. The present West Lake consists of 5 sections, namely the Outer Lake, North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake.