Shanghai and Modern History

The southeast region of China is of particular interest to students learning about Modern Asia. From Nanjing to Shanghai, the Western influence on China is apparent, in the architecture and the artistic culture. Shanghai’s Bund demonstrates the business and industrial development of modern China. On this educational tour, students learn about the Nanjing Massacre during the China-Japan War, see the famous traditional gardens of Suzhou, compare China’s distinct architecture styles, study original and modern techniques for silk processing, explore the visual remainders of the European Concessions, and discuss the Democratic movement headed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

Day 1: International Flight to Shanghai. Travel to Suzhou by bus.

Day 2: Suzhou 

Start your journey in Suzhou at Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu).  Regarded as “The First Scenic Spot in Wuzhong," it is the most famous sight in Suzhou.  There are old trees and cultural relics everywhere such as the Sword Testing Stone, the Broken Beam Hall, the Thousand Men Rock, the Sword Pond, the Yunyan Pagoda (the Leaning Tower), etc.

Next you will visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhouzheng Yuan) It is the largest garden in Suzhou and one of the four most famous classical gardens in China.  The entire grounds are focused around a central pond. This garden is the most representative of Chinese classical private gardens in the Ming Dynasty. Learn about the still-popular practice of gardening in the Chinese culture before moving on to view some aspects of  industry in Suzhou at the Suzhou Silk Mill.

There you will learn how silk is extracted from silk worms, and gain some hands-on experience turning it into the fine material used to create Chinese costumes. After exploring the factory, enjoy a fashion show of modern silk clothing, and the chance to buy your own Chinese clothing.

Day 3: Suzhou

Suzhou Folk Culture Museum (Suzhou Mingsu Bowuguan), This small museum is worth a visit for an insight into the local lifestyle and Wu customs unique to the people in this region. There are several sections highlighting different themes. Find out about Ancient Chinese marriage customs ; you will see a red sedan, a lavishly decorated altar, and models dressed up in wedding garb. You may also view models of local dishes and copy the ancient recipes for preparing food.

Theater plays a large role in Wu culture. This region of China has developed its own, more subtle style of opera and theater. Learn about this tradition at the Suzhou Drama Museum. Suzhou has been celebrating the dramatic arts for more than 1,000 years, and the Drama Museum best exemplifies the importance of this art form. It is housed in a restored theater. The stage is set on the upper floor of an ornate pavilion, facing a large courtyard. The courtyard is where the audience used to sit at stone tables or stand and view the performances.

Visit the Suzhou Jade Carving Factory producing both large and small jade articles, such as Buddha figures, beautiful ladies, flowers, birds, animals, bracelets, and necklaces. Suzhou has been one of the cradles for jade carving in China since time immemorial.

Day 4: Wu Xi 

Travel to Wuxi by bus after breakfast. Visit the “Three-kingdom City” and the Great Lake (Taihu Lake) by ship, which is the third largest lake in China.  Have a cultural exchange in the afternoon with local students.

Three Kingdom City (Sanguo Cheng) is part of the CCTV Movie Base and was built for the shooting of the famous TV series “Three Kingdoms.”  The whole film city occupies an area of 35 hectares. It is made up of dozens of sights as well as more than 20 warships. There are different performances every half - hour, in which you can enjoy the excitement of the ancient war yourself.

Day 5: Wu Xi

Take the Grand Canal Boat Tour in the morning. In the afternoon, enjoy shopping for antiques at the Nanchan Temple. Visit the Wu Xi Clay Sculpture Factory to learn about this important Chinese art.

Day 6: Nanjing 

The Presidential Residence (West Garden, Xu Yuan)is a small garden with a total area of 1.4 hectares. The whole garden focuses on an artificial vase-shaped pond. It has a  long and interesting history, serving as the private garden to the Ming and Qing government offices, and as part of the palace in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the presidential residence in the Republic of China.

Meet with local high-school students to play sports, practice Chinese and exchange email addresses.

Day 7: Nanjing

Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum (Zhongshan Ling)  is the most famous and representative historical sight in Nanjing. Built in the shape of a bell, the designer wished to show us that the spirit of Dr. Sun should be like the sound of the bell, ringing throughout the land.

Ming’s Tomb (Ming Xiao Ling)  This is the tomb of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, and also the biggest  of  the royal tombs in the Ming Dynasty.  It was built in the 14th century by more than 100,000 laborers.

Confucius Temple (Fuzi Miao) used to be the site where people offered sacrifices to Confucius but has now turned into one of the busiest commercial areas in Nanjing. Along the city’s mother river, Qinghuai River are lots of Chinese shops and restaurants as well as classical architecture.

Day 8:Travel to Shanghai

Take a bus to Shanghai after breakfast. Shanghai has often been called the Paris of China. Visit “Longhua Martyr's Memorial Cemetery,” “Nanjing Road” and “The Bund.”  Explore the Huangpu River by yacht in the evening.

The Longhua Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery is dedicated to the Chinese patriots killed resisting the Japanese and other colonial powers leading up to the Communist victory in 1949. This tranquil park is built around a modernist exhibition hall housing murals and memorabilia. Retrace the last steps of Chinese prisoners down the long corridor to what was once a place of execution.

Nanjing Road has long been China’s golden mile. Nowadays, you can find department stores, grand restaurants, as well as all kinds of shops along the road, which is the most famous and busiest street in Shanghai.

To the Europeans, The Bund was the equivalent of Wall Street in Shanghai. It is still the city's most eloquent reminder that Shanghai has been a very foreign creation. The Bund presents an interesting mix of 1930's American architecture with classic Chinese influences. All day and night the streets are flooded with Chinese and international tourists, going somewhere fast.

The Huangpu River Trip offers some remarkable views of the Bund and the riverfront activity. Enjoy the contrast of a cool float along the river after having been in the thick of Shanghai's pulsating streets.

Day 9: Shanghai

Visit Frenchtown, the Shanghai Art Museum and the Huzhou Pagoda.

The core of Frenchtown, the former French Concession, is the area around Huaihai Lu and the Jinjiang Hotel and is fast becoming the place to explore. Huge department stores block out the sun along a road beautifully lined with flowerboxes. The area around the hotel is full of cafes, boutiques and antique shops. Head down the side streets off Yan'an Lu to see the fin de siècle architecture.

The nearby Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar offers some delicious lunchtime snacks and welcome greenery. The Pan family, rich Ming Dynasty officials, founded the gardens, which took 18 years (from 1559 to 1577) to be nurtured into existence.  More than 100 specialty shops and restaurants jostle shoulders over narrow laneways and small squares.

Shanghai Art Museum

Shanghai Art Museum is the foremost contemporary art museum in People's Republic of china. Established over 40 years ago, the museum through continuing expansion gradually becomes an important space for the social and culture exchange in Shanghai. Learn about the artist's relation to the Chinese Cultural Revolution, while browsing through the galleries of 20th century artistic expression in China.

Huzhou Pagoda

Huzhou Pagoda, built in 1079 AD, is the leaning tower of China, with an inclination now exceeding the tower at Pisa by 1.5 degrees - at last count. The 62 ft. tower started tilting about 200 years ago. 

Day 10: International Flight to U.S.

Or Extension to Beijing - 4 Days

Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen's Square, Peking Acrobats, etc.