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I only did the Pre-Trip Bulletin #2
In the next week or two I hope to have more information regarding a 2-night/3-day pre-trip visit to the historic water towns of Hangzhou and Suzhou. It would involve taking a morning train from Shanghai to Hangzhou on Sept. 8 and returning to Shanghai on Sept. 10. Anyone wanting to join me would be welcome. (It would be at your own expense and the Sierra Club would assume no liability.) Subject to exchange rate fluctuation, the cost would be approximately $400, double occupancy, with a single supplement adding an additional $100.

Hangzhou/Suzhou final Itinerary

The plans have been finalized to visit these two ancient and beautiful water towns, and the itinerary is shown below. Our agent will be arranging all reservations: train, hotels, meals, transportation, guide, etc.

If you wish to participate in this pre-trip excursion, please let me know as soon as possible. I have already bought my plane ticket and am arriving in Shanghai in the late afternoon of September 7, and plan to take a mid-morning train to Hangzhou on the 8th, returning late afternoon on the 10th. The trip starts at 4 pm on the 11th, and I leave for home on Sept. 23rd (the day the trip ends). Because of this schedule, I will not have much pre-trip time in Shanghai, so for those who wish to visit the water towns and explore Shanghai, you will have to arrive even earlier, or stay later. (I will have suggestions for touring Shanghai in a later Bulletin.)

Day 01– Sep. 08: Transfer to the train station for a mid-morning train from Shanghai to Hangzhou. Afternoon boat ride on West Lake and tour of Longjing Tea Plantation. 1 night at the Haihua Hotel in Hangzhou.
TripAdvisor | Hangzhou Impressoin West Lake Water Show

Day 02 – Sep. 09: Morning visit to the Lingyin Temple and Six Harmonies Pagoda. Afternoon train to Suzhou. Then visit Pingjiang Ancient Street. 1 night at the Nanlin Hotel in Suzhou.
Visit Suzhou Silk Factory.

Day 03 – Sep. 10: Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Suzhou Museum, the Garden of the Master of the Nets and the Panman Water Gate. Transfer to the train station for a late afternoon train back to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, take a taxi to the hotel on your own.

As noted above, the cost is RMB 2,849.00 ($413) per person based on double occupancy. A single supplement is RMB 640.00 ($93). Please note: this cost does not include two nights’ dinners and cab fare to and from the train station.

There will be a guide to get us on the train in Shanghai, and another guide to meet us at the other end at Hangzhou, and get us on the train for Suzhou as well as on the train returning to Shanghai. A guide will also accompany us in both cities to explain their historical and cultural significance.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you with your plans.

Best regards, Kathie