If you’re travelling from Guilin, you’ll be at Shanghai airport at around 14:00 where you’ll be picked up for your private 1 hour transfer to the quiet aquatic town of Luzhi along the Yangtze River. The most picturesque canals along the Yangtze River now have souvenir stores on them, however in most side canals everyday life is in full swing. You’ll see elderly men playing Mah-jong, half deteriorated house boats amidst water lilies, women hidden behind dark stoves…. every alcove offers a new view. Every house by the Yangtzi River has a dock, although this may not be much more than a set of stairs leading into the water at times. This is where the people who live here grow herbs, wash their clothing and store anything that doesn’t fit into their small houses. Fish for dinner are kept fresh in a fish basket in the water. In short, you’ll enjoy strolling around this town for an hour or so and then you can step into one of the old tea houses for nice cup of hot tea.

Eventually your mini van will take you to your hotel in Tongli, only 30 minutes further down the road, before sun sets. This aquatic town is also quite idyllic and charming. The red Chinese lanterns in the entrance gates and in the courtyard of your hotel will be lit and you’ll probably want to go out to one of the restaurants nearby for dinner. If you feel up to it after dinner, walk around the canals near your hotel for a little while and soak up the atmosphere.

Try to make an early start this morning; after 11:00 the Chinese tourists will start to roam the streets, but until then it’s still quiet and you’ll have a chance to see Tongli awaken. The best way to view the city is from the Yangtze River water. Early in the morning you can rent a boat and a steersman to take you through the canals for only 70 Yuan. The experience may be reminiscent of the Venetian gondolas, but obviously much less expensive. Narrow, uneven cobble stone streets and old trees line the canals.

Many buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties are still in existence, mainly because the town was too difficult to conquer due to all of the waterways. The first Floor of the Nanyuan tea house offers a splendid view of the canals and everything around them. There are three famous bridges in Tongli with names such as: Luck, Prosperity and Health. If you walk backwards over these bridges on your 66th birthday, rumour is that it will greatly improve your quality of life. Unfortunately we can’t say the same for the local cormorants. They are captured, attached to a rope and held on a boat in the middle of the water where they can catch a fish from time to time. Then they’re pulled back on board and returned to their roost. Any bird that becomes to wild or picks at its handler gets smacked.

On a more pleasant note, we suggest visiting the UNESCO protected Tusi Yuan garden. It’s one of the most beautiful examples of a Jiangsu garden. Watch for the details around the pond, all elements are in perfect harmony. You can also visit several traders’ homes such as the Gengle Hall. This is an enormous residence with courtyards and gardens. It was designed in the 19th century for an extremely wealthy retired general.

At 15:00 (check-out is in the morning) your public bus will depart to Suzhou where you’ll catch a taxi cab to the train station. At 17:30 you’ll head for Shanghai in a high-speed train. You’ll see the countryside make way for apartment buildings and factory grounds in no time. After a while it will become dark and you’ll see the lights on the many skyscrapers (Shanghai has twice as many as New York). On arrival at the Shanghai train station a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Either wait and see it the next evening, or if you feel up to it visit a bar/restaurant near your hotel with a overwhelming view of the illuminated Bund (until 23:00) and Pudong skyline the evening of your arrival.

Today you can sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast under the chandeliers. You’ll need your energy for the evening. Spend your day shopping at East Nanjing Road, visit the (mostly busy, so find a quiet corner) Yuyuan garden or walk through the stately mansions in the old French quarter (Huahai road) and visit the Shanghai museum in the middle of the city. The museum is quite modern and approachable, however it is also very specialized and not everyone is an expert in Chinese porcelain, coins, stamps, drawings or furniture. It will however give you a newfound respect for the diversity of Chinese art.

Take the metro around 17:00 (please note: taxi cabs are not allowed to cross the bridge to Pudong between 16:00 - 19:00) to Pudong and walk for 10 minutes to Jinmao tower. This is the highest tower in China, at least for the time being. Go to the Grand Hyatt hotel and take three elevators to the 87th Floor, the Cloud 9 bar. A drink at the bar isn’t cheap, however the view over the illuminated city is more than worth it the extra expense. After you’ve seen the sights and had a drink or two, take a taxi cab to Xintiandi, the place to be in the evening, for a trendy dinner. There are many stores and bars with lively terraces. All international brands are at the front of the menu.
 

Depending on your travel plans, you’ll either check out of your hotel and fly back to Australia or you’ll fly on towards your next Chinese destination. If you catch an international flight from or to Shanghai, you’ll fly through Pudong airport. This airport is connected to the city through the fastest train in the World, the German Maglev (a magnetic high-speed wonder that can easily reach speeds of 400km per hour). Riding the train is a unique and fun experience; take a cab from your hotel and you’ll be at the train station in 15 minutes (or vice versa). The module programme is also possible in reversed sequence with an extension in Tongli or Shanghai.

If you would like to continue with the Putuoshan... the island that time forgot module, we’ll arrange a bus to take you to Ningbo where you’ll catch a ferry to the island.