NZCFS Grand Canal Heritage Tour
Travel from Beijing to Shanghai visiting important sites along the route of the Grand Canal. Be captivated by the magnitude of this ancient engineering feat. The stops along the way are selected for their various points of interest, from the history of the trade, society and culture along the ancient transportation route to the attractions of modern cities with their beauty and unique features.
Appreciate some very famous historical figures — from Confucius, with a side trip to his birthplace Qufu, to the birthplace of highly esteemed ‘eldest son’ of modern China, Zhou Enlai in Huai’an. Spend a night on the summit of holy mountain Tai shan.
A tour of beautiful gardens, architecture and scenery, and unique traditions from silk manufacture to the world famous vinegar of Zhenjiang. Here enjoy a vinegar tasting of some of the more refined vinegars of the world! Enjoy diverse specialty cuisine of the region, and other interactive activity .
Take a pictorial journey along the route and find the detailed itinerary below Tour in Pictures (pdf) and Itinerary.
Download Tour in pictures (PDF)
A simple draft outline of the itinerary and an indication of the activity is as follows:-
Beijing:
- Jinshan Park
- Houhai Lake
- Great Wall of China
- China Grand Canal Museum
- Canal forest park
Tianjin:
- Dagukou Fort ruins
- Ancient culture street
- Tangliuqing New Year prints
- Eye of Tianjin
- Puyi’s former residence: the last Emperor of China
Mount Taishan:
- One of five sacred mountains of China, holding great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance.
Qufu – hometown of Confucius:
- Known as Kong Fuzi or Kongzi (551-479 BCE), a Chinese philosopher, teacher and political thinker whose ideas profoundly influenced Chinese culture, philosophy and ethics.
- Experiential activities including Tablet rubbing, bamboo slips, seals, and calligraphy.
Tai’erzhuang – ancient town:
- Tai’erzhuang Ancient Town is home to 18 ponds and 15 kilometers of streets and lanes along the waterways, as well as old ferries.
- An important culture place, Tai’erzhuang has many temples, churches, and pavilions along its waterways.
Huai’an:
- Wu Cheng’ en; a Chinese novelist and poet best know for his classic work ‘Journey to the West’, also known as ‘the Monkey King’.
- Caoyun System Museum
- Zhou Enlai; a prominent Chinese politician, the first Premier of the People’s Republic of China.
Yangzhou & Zhenjiang:
- Geyuan Garden
- Vinegar Museum
- Xijindu old streets
- See Yangtze River from atop Biegushan Hill
Suzhou:
- Silk Museum
- Suzhou Museum
- Liuyuan Garden
- Shangtang Street
Jiaxing – Wuzhen water village:
- Foliage dyeing
- Fully exploring the well-protected water village, see cultural and historical sites
Hangzhou:
- West Lake
- See the tea fields. Taste, pick, and roast tea leaves
- Explore local museums
Shanghai:
- French Concession area
- The Bund
September
Arrive Beijing(Depending on arrival time)
Having local breakfast, then wandering along Beihai Park
Song Qingling Former Residence
Rickshaw tour through hutongs in Shichahai Park area
Climbing up to the Jingshan park to have a bird’s eye view of the Forbidden City(Palace Museum) and Tian’anmen Square
Whole day Great Wall tour:
Huanghuacheng Great Wall, about 80km away from the city center, to have a close look at the ‘wild’ Great Wall, away from crowds of tourists
Visit the chestnut garden, tracing back to 800 years ago
Whole day to explore Grand Canal sites:
The Grand Canal Museum
The Grand Canal Cultural Park
Beijing-Tianjin via Bullet train
The Fifth Avenue: old Concession area
The Market of exotic goods
The Dagukou Fort Ruins Museum, a complete military defense system with over 500 years’ history
Activities in Tianjin:
Former Residence of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China
Italy Street
Ancient Culture Street
Boat trip on the Great Canal to Yangliuqing Ancient Town(about 80min)
The Eye of Tianjin: Ferris wheel, the city landscape(from the boat)
Shi’s Mansion: the most famous local landlord’s mansion
Chinese New Year’s Poster Hall – national intangible heritage
Tianjin-Taishan Mountain via Bullet train
Arriving in Tai’an around 11:30
Up Taishan Mountain by cable car
Taishan-Qufu via coach (1.5hrs)
Sunrise in Taishan Mountain
2 of 3 Confucius Sites in Qufu: Confucius Temple, Cemetery, and Mansion
Activities in Qufu:
3rd of the 3 Confucius Sites: Confucius Temple, Cemetery, and Mansion
Interactive activities including tablet rubbing, bamboo slips, seals for signature, and calligraphy
Qufu-Tai’erzhuang (2.5hrs)
Explore Tai’erzhuang Ancient Town by the canal and enjoy the shows and night views
Tai’erzhuang-Huai’an (1.5hrs)
The Battle of Tai’erzhuang Memorial Hall: a battle of Japanese aggression War in 1938 – the first major Chinese victory of the war
Grand Canal National Culture Park
Activities in Huai’an:
Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall – the first premier of new China
Wu Cheng’en Former Residence (the author of Journey to the West, one of the 4 great classical novels in China)
Caoyun System Museum: a centralized transportation system used by central governments of imperial China to collect grain etc.
Huai’an-Yangzhou (2.5hrs)
Geyuan Garden
The Grand Canal of China Museum (3hrs)
Yangzhou-Zhenjiang (0.5hrs)
By public ferry across the Yangtze River (10min)
Xijindu Old Streets
Chunjiangchao Square to see the conjunction point of the Canal and Yangtze River
Beigushan Hill to have a bird’s eye view of the city and the Yangtze River (1-2hrs)
Visit a wet local market for some snacks
Zhengjiang-Suzhou (3hrs)
Vinegar Culture Museum: Zhenjiang Vinegar, famous home and abroad
Silk Museum to learn about the history and techniques of silk
Activities in Suzhou:
Suzhou Museum, a Chinese garden style design
Lingering Garden
Shantang Street
Suzhou-Wuzhen Water Village (2hrs)
Interactive activity in the foliage dyeing workshop
Explore the well-protected water village: west part, enjoy some drink by the water
Wuzhen-Hangzhou (2hrs)
East part of the water village, more local residents
Taste a cup of local Longjing green tea in a tea house
Interactive activities: picking and roasting tea leaves
Activities in Hangzhou:
Morning exercise along the West Lake
Experiencing the local public transportation on the canal (40min)
After getting off the boat, explore the museum area: Grand Canal Museum, Sword & Scissors Museum, Umbrella & Fans Museum, Art Museum etc.
Hangzhou-Shanghai (3hrs)
Oriental Pearl Tower to have a bird’s eye view of the city
Night view along the Bund
Activities in Shanghai:
Explore the modern city of Shanghai, may include East Nanjing Road, People’s Park, Shanghai Museum, French Concession area (including Fuxing park and Site of First National Congress of CPC
24th
September
- All travel (including international)
- All meals typical of the region
- Accommodation (4 star or best available, twin share — single supplement available on request)
- Site entry and performance entry fees
- Entry Tickets
* Visa and travel insurance costs not included
$8,500 (est.)
| Duration: | 21 days |
| From: | 4 September 2024 |
| To: | 24 September 2024 |
Experience the real China with Dave Bromwich.
Dave Bromwich has been designing and taking tours to China for more than a decade. His over 50 visits have taken him to every province and his knowledge of the country are clear in these specialty tours. Unlike many commercial tours currently available, Dave’s NZCFS quality tours provide depth, engagement, culture, scenic wonders, history and unforgettable experiences.