Yellow Mountain Mystic

Day 1 - Arrive in Hangzhou
Transfer to Hotel
Meet and greet with your WildChina guide at airport where you will be picked up in a private vehicle.
Hangzhou
An ancient capital at southern end of the Grand Canal with a lake at its center and hills at its back, Hangzhou is a living expression of the aesthetic values of imperial China according to which the ultimate harmony in a landscape is shan shui, or the interplay between mountains and water. It certainly impressed Marco Polo who called it, "the finest and the noblest [city] in the world." 
Hangzhou West Lake
The old Chinese adage "above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou"  rings especially true on the banks of West Lake. Legend has it, West Lake is the incarnation of Xi Shi, one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China. Hangzhou'ls most prominent attraction, West Lake lies in the middle of the city and is dotted with islands and surrounded by ancient temples and gardens. So famous is the view of West Lake that it graces the back of the one yuan bill.
Meals included:  Dinner
Day 2 - Hangzhou
Optional Morning Tai-chi / Yoga
Relax your body and mind by starting the day with tai-chi or yoga organized by the hotel.
Tea Plantations and Chinese Tea Cultural Institute
Grown in the hills above Hangzhou for over one millennium, Longjing ("Dragon Well") tea was the preferred brew of many Chinese emperors and the tea often served today to visiting heads of state. We embark on a one-hour walk through the plantation where a manager will meet us to explain how this "bordeaux" of Chinese teas is cultivated. Then we'll get taste the famous tea ourselves. We end the day at the Chinese Tea Cultural Institute, to delve into the history of China's venerable tea culture.
Cooking Class
Visit a local market and enjoy the many spices and fresh food for sale. Try out your bargaining skills as we purchase ingredients for our cooking class that follows. Learn Chinese cuisine from a local family by preparing two tea inspired dishes followed by lunch at the local village.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum
Get an upclose look at the minerals, herbs, and even animal bones used in traditional Chinese medicine at southern China's most famous TCM pharmacy, Huqingyutang. We'll watch as the pharmacists serve customers and package drugs. According to lore, the origins of TCM date back 4,000 years to the search by a Chinese emperor for an elixir of life. Today, the treatment is founded on the use of herbs, diet and acupuncture.
Free evening
The evening is yours to enjoy Hangzhou's many restaurants or the outdoor musical spectacular "Impression West Lake," choreographed by celebrated director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Zhang Yimou.
Meals included:  Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 - Hangzhou to Huangshan City
We'll drive from Hangzhou to Huangshan City (4 hours) traveling on modern highways with periodic rest stops.
Hongcun
With beautiful bodies of water and incredible architecture, it's no surprise Ang Li filmed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the ancient town of Hongcun. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hongcun's "south lake," stretches across the bottom, and a small pond is located in the center of the village. Locals often say the village is shaped like a water buffalo. Homes surround the small pond is located in the center of the village. Locals often say the village is shaped like a water buffalo. Homes surround the small pond and we can see locals washing clothes and vegetables in the water as they've done for centuries.  [PLEASE NOTE: Hongcun is an extremely popular tourist destination. Though there will undoubtedly be lots of tourists, a visit to Hongcun is well worth the crowds.]

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 － Huangshan Mountain
Huangshan Mountain
Imagine a classical Chinese landscape painting. If it depicts mist-shrouded peaks, craggy rocks, gnarled pine trees and a sea of clouds, chances are it's of Huangshan. China's most renowned range, "Yellow Mountain," has bewitched generations of artists and poets. Today, Huangshan is a UNESCO World Heritage site and favorite destination for photographers, painters, serious hikers, and casual amblers.
The "sea of clouds" described as one of the most gorgeous natural occurrences on Huangshan, is a rare site to see. Looking down from a peak you might see clouds drifting below, enveloping the natural landscape like an ocean. Less frequented by tourists, the deep valleys and staggering peaks of Huangshan's Xihai Grand Canyon are the best vantage point. We'll ascend by cable car to Beihai (5 minutes) and walk through the Xihai are choosing one of three hiking loops. [PLEASE NOTE: The Taiping cable car that we use to descend Yellow Mountain is very large and can hold between 40 and 50 people. Though lines for the cable car can be quite long, your guide will be happy to wait while you explore more of Huangshan.]

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Bishan to Chengkan
Biking in Bishan Village
With wide, open roads we can peddle fast through the picturesque town of Bishan. Watch farmland and flowers fly by from a brand new perspective: the seat of a bike. A ride through town affords views that a walking tour simply can't. Pass by local sugar and tofu workshops and watch artisans demonstrate their craft.
Chengkan Village
First constructed 1,800 years ago, Chengkan's buildings are a reflection of the cultural practices of villagers. Placing a high value education and Confucianism the architecture is a method for teaching. Many of the buildings have a leaf carved into a stone to remind villagers: just as a leaf falls from a tree landing on the tree's roots, so too should villagers "return to their roots." Many buildings have rounded edges; a sharp corner could hurt someone walking by, while a rounded edge is more "considerate" according to Confucianism.
The merchants cared about education and produced many government officials and scholars from Anhui. One building in Chengkan houses stored invitations from emperors offering villagers prestigious government jobs.
Bamboo Basket Weaving in Lingshan Village
To protect from cold, Lingshan villagers often carry portable heaters - and they don't plug into a wall! Composed of pots filled with charcoal, they're covered by Lingshan's famous bamboo woven holders to protect hands from the heat. Lingshan is one of the only places in China where we can practice this craft ourselves. An artisan in Lingshan village will give us personal instruction on bamboo weaving.
Tunxi
We'll then transfer to Tunxi (1 hour), a modern hub of Huangshan where we'll have some time to explore and have dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 - Tunxi to Hangzhou
Morning in Tunxi
Meet and greet with your WildChina guide at airport where you will be picked up in a private vehicle.
Option 1: Ink Workshop
At this local workshop personalize an ink block by imprinting your fingers in the mixture. By mixing ashes of wood with tree sap, an artisan will teach us this ancient ink-making process.  The mixture is put in a mold with decorative designs like dragons or characters that become imprinted in the ink. After watching this complex process, we'll see why some ink brands are even more valuable than gold.

Option 2: Fengshui Compass

Want to know how to decorate your house or when to set a wedding date? The fengshui masters in Tunxi can tell you just that using their elaborate compasses. The wealthy merchants of Anhui were big fans of fengshui and used it to plan each detail of their lives. With many characters and a web of geometrical lines crossing the compass's surface, it's no surprise fengshui is a difficult art to master.
Return to Hangzhou
We'll transfer back to Hangzhou (3 hours) traveling on modern highways with periodic rest stops.
Farewell Lunch in Hangzhou
We'll have a farewell lunch in Hangzhou.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - Depart Hangzhou
Transfer to Airport
Relax while we handle your luggage and arrange for transportation to the airport. For guests with time in the morning, you are free to explore the hotel amenities or ask our guides for optional activities.
Meals included: Breakfast