This is a deep cultural tour following the footprints of Chinese poetry. We will go to the poetry cities in Jiangnan, visit the places where poets left their footprints a thousand years ago, from the West Lake of 'To compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Zi', to the Hanshan Temple of 'Outside Suzhou city the Cold Hill Temple', and to Yangzhou of 'In the mist and flowers of March, I go down to Yangzhou', feel the thousand-year charm of Chinese poetry in the landscape, experience the Jiangnan scenery in the poems, interpret the stories behind the poems with the poetry teacher, experience poetry calligraphy by yourself, taste the Jiangnan food in the poems.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Hangzhou, First Experience of West Lake Poetry

09:00-11:00: Arrive at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, private transfer to Park Hyatt Hangzhou, check in, rest for a while, adapt to the Jiangnan climate.

14:00-15:30: Visit Su Causeway of West Lake, which was built by Su Shi when he was the governor of Hangzhou, he dredged West Lake and used the silt to build this causeway. You can walk along Su Causeway, appreciate the spring scenery of West Lake, feel the humanistic mark left by the poet a thousand years ago.

15:30-16:30: In the century-old tea house by West Lake, our poetry teacher will interpret Su Shi's 'Drinking at the Lake, First Sunny then Rainy':

    The water shimmers in the sun, fine and bright;
    The mountains are misty in the rain, strange and wonderful.
    I want to compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Zi;
    She is always charming, no matter light or heavy makeup.

The teacher will explain the creation background of this poem, and the story of Su Shi and West Lake, let you deeply understand the connotation of this eternal masterpiece.

16:30-17:30: Poetry calligraphy experience, you can write this eternal masterpiece with a brush under the guidance of the teacher, leave your own poetry memory.

18:30: Dine at Lou Wai Lou restaurant by West Lake, taste authentic Hangzhou cuisine, here you can taste Dongpo Pork invented by Su Shi, and West Lake Vinegar Fish, these are the Jiangnan food in the poems, you can taste the taste that the poet ate thousands of years ago.

20:00: Appreciate the night view of West Lake, feel the night beauty of West Lake.

Day 2: Lingyin Temple, Thousand-year Zen Poetry

09:00-12:00: Visit Lingyin Temple, the thousand-year ancient temple written by Bai Juyi: 'One mountain gate becomes two mountain gates, the two temples originally from one temple'. You can visit the Mahavira Hall of Lingyin Temple, feel the thousand-year Zen culture, visit the stone carvings of Feilai Peak, appreciate the thousand-year Buddhist art.

12:00-13:00: Dine at the vegetarian restaurant of Lingyin Temple, taste the vegetarian food of Lingyin Temple, feel the Zen food culture.

14:00-15:30: Our poetry teacher will interpret Bai Juyi's 'Lingyin Temple':

    One mountain gate becomes two mountain gates, the two temples originally from one temple.
    The east stream water flows into the west stream water, the cloud of the south mountain rises from the north mountain cloud.
    The flower of the front platform blooms, the back platform can see, the bell of the upper world sounds, the lower world can hear.
    I think of the place where my master practiced, the sweet osmanthus falls one after another.

The teacher will explain the story of Bai Juyi and Lingyin Temple, and the fate of the poet and Zen, let you feel the integration of Zen and poetry.

15:30-17:00: In the tea garden of Lingyin Temple, you can taste West Lake Longjing, feel the Jiangnan tea culture, and listen to the teacher explain more Zen poetry.

18:00: Return to Hangzhou urban area, dine at the characteristic restaurant.

Day 3: Suzhou, The Millennium Mood of Maple Bridge Night Mooring

08:00-10:00: Take the high-speed train to Suzhou, private transfer after arrival.

10:30-12:00: Visit Hanshan Temple, the thousand-year ancient temple written by Zhang Ji: 'Outside Suzhou city the Cold Hill Temple, the midnight bell sound reaches the passenger boat'. You can visit the bell tower of Hanshan Temple, listen to the thousand-year bell sound, feel the mood of the poet at that time.

12:00-13:00: Dine at the characteristic restaurant near Hanshan Temple, taste Suzhou cuisine.

14:00-15:00: The poetry teacher will interpret Zhang Ji's 'Night Mooring at Maple Bridge':

    The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky;
    Maple trees and fishing fires, I face the sorrow and sleep.
    Outside Suzhou city the Cold Hill Temple;
    The midnight bell sound reaches the passenger boat.

The teacher will explain the creation background of this poem, Zhang Ji failed the imperial examination that year, passed by Maple Bridge, wrote this eternal masterpiece, let you feel the mood of the poet.

15:00-17:00: Visit Pingjiang Road, the ancient street of Suzhou. You can experience the slow life of Suzhou, visit the ancient bridge of Pingjiang Road, feel the water town culture of Jiangnan, buy special Su embroidery handicrafts.

18:30: Dine at the characteristic restaurant in Pingjiang Road, taste Suzhou special food, such as Squirrel Mandarin Fish, Sizzling Eel Paste.

20:00: By the Maple Bridge, we will arrange a night mooring experience for you, feel the mood of the midnight bell sound, let you personally experience the scene of the poet at that time.

Day 4: Yangzhou, Going down to Yangzhou in the Smoke and Flowers of March

08:00-10:30: Take the high-speed train to Yangzhou, private transfer after arrival.

11:00-13:00: Visit Slender West Lake, the famous city written by Li Bai: 'Farewell to you at the west of Yellow Crane Tower, going down to Yangzhou in the smoke and flowers of March'. You can walk along Slender West Lake, appreciate the spring scenery of Slender West Lake, visit Five Pavilion Bridge, Twenty-four Bridge, feel the Yangzhou spring written by the poet.

13:00-14:00: Dine at the characteristic restaurant near Slender West Lake, taste Huaiyang cuisine, such as Yangzhou Fried Rice, Lion Head.

14:30-15:30: The poetry teacher will interpret Li Bai's 'Farewell to Meng Haoran Going to Yangzhou':

    Farewell to you at the west of Yellow Crane Tower,
    Going down to Yangzhou in the smoke and flowers of March.
    The lonely sail far shadow disappears in the blue sky;
    Only see the Yangtze River flowing to the end of the sky.

The teacher will explain the creation background of this poem, the story of Li Bai sending Meng Haoran to Yangzhou, let you feel the friendship of the poets.

15:30-17:30: Visit Ge Garden, the famous garden of Yangzhou. You can understand the garden culture of Yangzhou, feel the charm of Jiangnan garden.

18:30: Dine at the characteristic restaurant in Yangzhou, taste the Yangzhou morning tea specialty, even it is night, you can also taste the Yangzhou special dim sum.

Day 5: Wuxi, The Best Scenery of Taihu Lake

08:00-10:00: Take the high-speed train to Wuxi, private transfer after arrival.

10:30-13:00: Visit Yuantouzhu, the core scenic area of Taihu Lake written by Guo Moruo: 'The best scenery of Taihu Lake, after all is in Yuantouzhu'. You can take a cruise boat, tour Taihu Lake, appreciate the beautiful scenery of Taihu Lake, visit Taihu Fairy Island, feel the vast mist of Taihu Lake.

13:00-14:00: Dine at the characteristic restaurant in Yuantouzhu, taste the Three White of Taihu Lake, white fish, white shrimp, silver fish, these are the special food of Taihu Lake.

14:30-15:30: The poetry teacher will interpret Guo Moruo's 'Yuantouzhu':

The best scenery of Taihu Lake, after all is in Yuantouzhu.
The sail shadow far connects the sky, the wave light floats the sun.

The teacher will explain the story of Guo Moruo and Taihu Lake, let you feel the culture of Taihu Lake.

15:30-17:00: Visit Lingshan Holy Land, the famous scenic area of Wuxi. You can visit Lingshan Giant Buddha, feel the charm of Buddhist culture.

18:00: Return to Wuxi urban area, dine at the characteristic restaurant.

Day 6: Shaoxing, The Phoenix Hairpin of Shen Garden

08:00-10:00: Take the high-speed train to Shaoxing, private transfer after arrival.

10:30-12:00: Visit Shen Garden, the famous love garden written by Lu You: 'Red crisp hands, yellow seal wine, the city full of spring color the palace wall willow'. You can visit Shen Garden, understand the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan, visit the Phoenix Hairpin stele, feel the love culture in the poems.

12:00-13:00: Dine at the characteristic restaurant in Shaoxing, taste Shaoxing special food, such as Shaoxing Yellow Wine, Fennel Bean.

13:30-14:30: The poetry teacher will interpret Lu You's 'Song of Phoenix Hairpin':

    Red crisp hands, yellow seal wine, the city full of spring color the palace wall willow.
    The east wind is evil, the happy feeling is thin. A cup of sorrow, several years of separation. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
    Spring is as before, the person is thin and empty, the tear stain red wets the silk handkerchief.
    The peach blossom falls, the idle pool pavilion. The mountain alliance is still there, the brocade book is hard to send. Mo, mo, mo!

The teacher will explain the love story of Lu You and Tang Wan, the creation background of this poem, let you feel the love in the poems.

14:30-17:00: Visit Lu Xun's Former Residence, understand the culture of Shaoxing, visit Sanwei Study, Hundred Grass Garden, feel Lu Xun's childhood.