Full day private tour - Hangzhou highlights from Shanghai

This private day trip is customized for travelers in Shanghai with a tight schedule, spend one day to visit the highlights in Hangzhou and to understand its time-honored fame as 'Heaven on Earth'. Escorted by a private tour guide and driver, you will enjoy the amazing scenery at renowned West Lake, visit the Red Carp Pond in the south of the Flower Harbor Park and explore the splendid Lingyin Temple. Your professional guide and driver will escort you to Hangzhou with the fame as 'Heaven on Earth'. Your full-day Hangzhou highlights sightseeing starts here.

Your first stop will be the most renowned Hangzhou landmark - West Lake noted for the scenic beauty that blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites. The entire 5.68 square kilometers water area is surrounded by green hills and divided into many scenic spots by bridges, dykes and ancient buildings, you will take a boat to visit the West Lake and admire its beauty. Then visit the Red Carp Pond – one of the "Ten West Lake Prospects" and view over one thousand red carps. Lunch will be arranged in a well-selected restaurant for you to taste the local food. Then continue to visit the splendid Lingyin Temple - the oldest temple in Hangzhou. The temple was listed for protection as a key historical and cultural site and is considered a leading center for research relative to Chinese Buddhist culture. Follow your guide to explore the profound history, see the delicately painted ceiling with phoenixes and dragons, a number of ingenious Buddha statues, pagodas and Buddhist grottoes. Have a visit to the most famous Hangzhou Longjing Tea (Dragon Well Tea) and learn the tea culture and history.

Afterward, drive back to Shanghai and drop you off at a centrally located hotel to conclude the Hangzhou day trip.