Our local English-speaking guide and skilled driver pick you up at your Shanghai hotel at around 8:30 am (or your convenient time) to cover the essential city spots.

First stop is one of Shanghai top-notch spots--Yuyuan Garden in the old town district. Shaded alcoves, carp pools, pavilions, whispering bamboo, stony recesses dotted the garden could shelter you from the outside bazaar bustle.

Transfer to Shanghai Museum of People's Square for the precious art collections like different dynasties' bronze wares, potteries and paintings.

Then stroll along elevated riverside promenade of the Bund to soak in the bustle like vocal hawkers, toy vendors, posing tourists. Don't miss the chance to see how the foreign architects' talent is displayed via the architecture cluster.

Continue the tour in the worshipper-frequent Jade Buddha Temple to appreciate its centerpiece statue--a 1.9m-high pale-green jade Buddha.

Then take in a full picture Shanghai metropolis on the 100th observant deck of Shanghai World Financial Center, a new Shanghai landmark for its unprecedented height.

Call it a day by transferring back to your Shanghai hotel to get rest for the next day side trip of Shanghai.

Our guide and private driver meet you at your Shanghai hotel at around 8:00 am (or your convenient time) then head for Suzhou and Tongli.

Let's start Suzhou tour with the largest private garden in Suzhou--Humble Administrator's Garden. Bamboo fences, thatched pavilions, humble cottages and the natural scenery display simple but elegant style of the garden.

Later, explore Suzhou Grand Canal by boat. The boat ride takes you past nice scenery like tree-lined river banks, humpbacked bridges, ancient city gates, and old low-rise houses dotted with red lanterns or residents' laundry.

Then head for Suzhou No.1 Silk Mill to see how the sleek silk made from the silkworm cocoon.

After half an hour's driving from Suzhou, we then come to the over-1,000-year-old Tongli Water Town. You can flexibly explore this tranquil town in your own way and cover the spots that interest you. Main draws of the town are as follows.

Jiayin Hall is a good example of the traditional heritage with its intricate carvings collection and rich Chinese cultural connotations behind them.

Tongli is a town of bridges. Among the 49 bridges in the town, the three most famous are Taiping (peace), Jili (luck) and Changqing (celebration) that carry the locals' kind wishes for peace, fortune, happiness and heath whenever walking over them.

Tuisi Garden, built between 1885 and 1887, is nice for a stroll and for exploring the theory of harmony of the garden designer in the layout of pavilions, terraces, halls, rockeries and ponds.

Conclude the water town tour by transferring back to your Shanghai hotel or getting off at your desired spot in city center.