Destinations: Shanghai + Hangzhou + Suzhou
Itinerary Highlights
Why Choose This Itinerary?
For middle-aged and elderly travelers, an annual physical exam is an indispensable part of health management. In many countries, booking a comprehensive physical often requires waiting weeks or even months, and the costs can be quite high. Shanghai boasts the most well-established foreign-oriented medical service system in the country. The international medical departments of many top-tier Class A hospitals offer flexible, customized checkup packages, with results provided in English along with reference ranges. Our role is not to make choices for you, but to give you full control—based on your medical history and preferences, you can select any institution within our network, and we’ll handle all appointments and paperwork in advance. On the day of your appointment, a medical escort will accompany you throughout the process, providing translation and guidance. We schedule the health checkup for the morning of the third day, allowing guests to adjust to the time difference and the city environment during the first two days. Early on the third day, you’ll complete all blood tests on an empty stomach, and the reports are typically ready the following day. By the time you board the high-speed rail to Hangzhou and Suzhou, you'll already have your health checkup reports in hand, allowing you to enjoy the leisurely pace of the Jiangnan water towns without any worries for the rest of your journey.
Your flight will land at Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao Airport. A private car will pick you up and take you to a quiet hotel in the Jing'an or Huangpu districts. The day is primarily dedicated to rest and adjusting to the time difference. In the evening, your medical escort will meet you at the hotel to confirm your selected hospital and health checkup package, and provide you with a bilingual (Chinese-English) checklist of pre-exam precautions.
Day 2 · Shanghai
In the morning, head to the Bund and stroll along the Huangpu River promenade to admire the architectural ensemble of international styles—the dome of the HSBC Building, the clock tower of the Customs House, and the dark green copper roof of the Peace Hotel, each with its own unique charm. Across the river in Lujiazui, the three skyscrapers—Shanghai Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Jin Mao Tower—stand side by side. In the afternoon, stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street from People's Square all the way to the Bund, where you can purchase butterfly pastries and pear syrup candies at time-honored food shops. In the evening, take a cruise on the Huangpu River to enjoy the dazzling night view as the lights on both banks reflect off the water.
Day 3 · Shanghai (Medical Checkup Accompaniment Day)
In the morning, on an empty stomach, head to the International Medical Department of a Grade A-III hospital of your choice. An attendant will accompany you throughout the medical checkup—which includes basic tests such as a complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, lipid and blood glucose profiles, an electrocardiogram, and an abdominal ultrasound. The entire process takes about three to four hours, and the medical center provides a light breakfast. The attendant handles all registration, communication, and report retrieval but does not participate in any medical decisions. In the afternoon, if you have the energy, visit the Yu Garden and the City God Temple. Take a stroll across the Nine-Turn Bridge, enjoy a cup of tea at the Lake Heart Pavilion, and browse the nearby souvenir markets for some mementos.
Day 4 · Shanghai → Hangzhou
In the morning, take the high-speed rail to Hangzhou—a journey of about one hour. Upon arrival, check into a hotel by West Lake. In the afternoon, stroll along the lakeside promenade from Yipark to Broken Bridge, with the expansive waters of West Lake on your left and the dark-green silhouettes of South Peak and North Peak in the distance. In the evening, savor Hangzhou-style cuisine; West Lake Vinegar Fish, Dongpo Pork, and Beggar's Chicken are all classic choices.
Day 5 · Hangzhou
In the morning, take a painted boat tour of West Lake and visit San Tan Yin Yue Island. This small island in the middle of the lake is famous for its "island within a lake, lake within an island" layout; the "My Heart Resonates with Yours" Pavilion on the island offers the best vantage point for viewing the three stone pagodas. Afterward, head to Huagang to watch the fish; schools of red carp swim freely here, while the six stone bridges on Su Causeway are arranged in order from south to north. In the afternoon, visit Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak. The statue of Shakyamuni in the Great Hall of the Buddha exudes solemnity and dignity, while the more than 300 Buddhist statues carved into the cliffs of Feilai Peak date from the Five Dynasties period through the Yuan Dynasty.
Day 6 · Hangzhou
In the morning, head to Longjing Village. Hike uphill along the tea garden paths to the mountaintop observation deck, where you'll be greeted by a panoramic view of terraced green tea fields. We stopped at a tea farmer's home to sample "Mingqian Longjing" and watch the host hand-fry the tea; the tea liquor was clear and bright green, with a fresh, crisp taste and a sweet aftertaste. In the afternoon, we strolled along Hefang Street and the Southern Song Imperial Street, where silk shops, fan stores, and traditional Chinese medicine shops lined the streets side by side. The freshly made, handmade "Dingsheng Cake" was warm, soft, and chewy—well worth a try.
Day 7 · Hangzhou → Suzhou
In the morning, take the high-speed rail to Suzhou—the journey takes about an hour and a half. In the afternoon, visit the Humble Administrator's Garden—the vast expanse of water in front of Yuanxiang Hall is filled with lotus flowers, and the Sihuan Pavilion stands on an island in the pond. Sitting here, enjoying the breeze while gazing at the Jianshan Tower across the water, you'll appreciate how the garden skillfully employs the "borrowed scenery" technique to incorporate the Beisi Pagoda, located one kilometer away, into the landscape. In the evening, stroll through the Pingjiang Road historic district. Tea houses and Pingtan performance venues line both sides of the riverside cobblestone path. Find a riverside teahouse to listen to a performance of Suzhou Pingtan and experience the melodious softness of the Wu dialect.
Day 8 · Suzhou
In the morning, visit the Suzhou Museum. Designed by I. M. Pei, the building features white walls and black-tiled roofs as its base, with geometric glass and steel structures creating an architectural space that is both strikingly modern and fully integrated into the context of Jiangnan gardens. The museum's crown jewels are the "Secret-Color" porcelain lotus bowl from the Five Dynasties period and the "Pearl Relic Stupa" from the Northern Song Dynasty. In the afternoon, explore Liu Garden—Guanyun Peak is the tallest Taihu stone in Jiangnan gardens, while Wufeng Xian Guan is the largest surviving camphor wood hall in the region; the winding corridors twist and turn, offering a new perspective with every few steps.
Day 9 · Suzhou
In the morning, head to Tiger Hill. The seven-story, octagonal Tiger Hill Pagoda, built during the Song Dynasty, has stood tilted for a thousand years yet remains standing, earning it the nickname "China's Leaning Tower of Pisa". The waters of Jianchi Pool remain a serene green year-round; legend has it that the entrance to the tomb of King Helü of Wu lies at the bottom of the pool. The cliff carvings and ancient trees on the mountain exude a sense of ancient mystery. In the afternoon, head to Guanqian Street for shopping. Candies from Caizhizhai, pastries from Huangtianyuan, and silk from Qiantaixiang are all perfect souvenirs to take home as memories of Suzhou.
Day 10 · Departure from Suzhou
Free time in the morning. If time permits, you may visit the Masters of the Nets Garden again; the small courtyard of Dianchun'ao was once recreated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as "Ming Xuan". A private car will be arranged to take you to the station based on your high-speed rail or flight schedule.
