Jiangnan Taoist Quest & Longhu Mountain Cultivation
$3697
This itinerary connects Hangzhou, Longhu Mountain, and Shanghai, with Jiangnan culture, traditional Chinese medicine heritage, Taoist cultivation courses, and modern city exploration as the core themes. It is designed for international guests who want to experience Chinese tradition, mountain cultivation, and cosmopolitan city life in one journey.
Itinerary Summary
Arrive in Hangzhou and begin with a gentle West Lake walk, from Broken Bridge to Bai Causeway and Hubin night views, entering the poetic atmosphere of Jiangnan.
Visit Lingyin Temple for blessings, explore Feilai Peak carvings, taste Longjing tea in the village, and walk through the peaceful scenery of Nine Creeks.
Experience traditional Chinese medicine culture at Hu Qing Yu Tang and Fang Hui Chun Tang, including pulse diagnosis, herbal heritage, medicinal cuisine, and old-street exploration.
Travel by high-speed rail to Longhu Mountain, check in at the Taoist cultivation site, visit Tianshi Mansion, and join the opening ceremony for the retreat.
Begin Taoist cultivation with morning wellness practice, Taoist culture lessons, Baduanjin exercises, and introductory self-cultivation sessions.
Continue training with Baduanjin, Qingping sword practice, Taoist philosophy, self-understanding lessons, and an introduction to talisman culture.
Complete the cultivation program with Qingping sword practice, an in-depth Tianshi Mansion visit, closing blessing ceremony, and return transfer.
Arrive in Shanghai by high-speed rail and discover the Bund’s historic architecture, Nanjing Road’s city energy, and the first impression of modern Shanghai.
Enjoy a Shanghai citywalk through Wukang Road, Xintiandi, Yu Garden, and Lujiazui, ending with a Huangpu River night cruise.
Visit Jing’an Temple in the morning, enjoy final shopping and a farewell lunch, then transfer to the airport for departure.
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Hangzhou and begin the journey at West Lake. Walk along Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway, and Hubin area, experiencing the poetic charm of Jiangnan through lakeside views and evening city lights.
1. West Lake walk · Broken Bridge in snow
2. Autumn Moon over Calm Lake · Solitary Hill exploration
3. Lakeside night view · music fountain
Hangzhou West Lake State Guesthouse or Shangri-La Hangzhou or similar.
West Lake State Guesthouse: located on the west bank of West Lake at the former Liu Zhuang site, with views of Su Causeway Spring Dawn; served as a G20 Summit reception hotel.
Shangri-La: located in the Hubin Road commercial area, a 5-minute walk to the West Lake music fountain, with convenient shopping and dining.
- Breakfast: hotel buffet (included).
- Dinner: on your own.
- Arrive early for the West Lake music fountain; before 18:30 is recommended. The Bai Causeway walk is about 2 km, so comfortable flat shoes are recommended. Hangzhou is rainy in spring and summer, so carry rain gear.
Explore Hangzhou’s spiritual and tea culture, from Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak to Longjing Village and Nine Creeks. A day filled with temples, mountain paths, tea aromas, and quiet Jiangnan beauty.
1. Lingyin Temple blessing
2. Lunch in Longjing Village
3. Nine Creeks misty forest hike
4. Longjing tea garden walk
3. Hefang Street night market
Hangzhou West Lake State Guesthouse or Shangri-La Hangzhou or similar.
- Breakfast: Hotel buffet (included).
- Lunch: Longjing Village farmhouse meal (included).
- Dinner: On your own (recommended Hefang Street snacks).
- Tickets for Lingyin Temple should be reserved in advance through the official WeChat account. Wear non-slip shoes for the Nine Creeks hike, especially after rain. When buying tea in Longjing Village, choose reputable farmers and purchase rationally because pre-Qingming Longjing is expensive.
Step into Hangzhou’s traditional Chinese medicine heritage at Hu Qing Yu Tang and Fang Hui Chun Tang. Through pulse diagnosis, medicinal cuisine, and herbal experiences, discover the wisdom of Chinese wellness culture.
1. Hu Qing Yu Tang heritage Chinese medicine house
2. Medicinal cuisine lunchMedicinal cuisine lunch
3. Fang Hui Chun Tang TCM clinic
4. Hefang Street · Southern Song Imperial Street
Hangzhou West Lake State Guesthouse or Shangri-La Hangzhou or similar.
- Breakfast: Hotel buffet (included).
- Lunch: Hu Qing Yu Tang medicinal cuisine (included)
- Dinner: On your own (recommended Hefang Street snacks).
- Avoid being too hungry or too full before the TCM experience. Do not bathe within 4 hours after acupuncture or cupping. Hefang Street is about 2 km on stone-paved roads, so watch your step. The Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum ticket is CNY 10; keep some cash on hand.
Travel by high-speed rail from Hangzhou to Longhu Mountain, one of China’s sacred Taoist sites. After arrival, check in, visit Tianshi Mansion, and begin the Taoist retreat with an opening ceremony.
1. High-speed rail to Yingtan
2. Registration at Tianshi Mansion
3. Tianshi Mansion tour
4. Opening ceremony
Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion Wellness Institute rooms / Wendaoju guesthouse (Trip.com 4-diamond standard).
Wendaoju: a secluded mountaintop guesthouse with 270° panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Danxia peaks, equipped with wellness incense and tea sets, hand-copying sutra tools, and natural herbal sleep pillows.
- Breakfast: Hotellocal term (included).
- Lunch: High-speed rail light meal (included).
- Dinner: Taoist vegetarian meal (included).
- High-speed rail tickets are recommended to be booked 30 days in advance. Longhu Mountain has Danxia landforms and large temperature differences between day and night, so bring a windproof jacket. Tianshi Mansion cultivation schedule should be confirmed in advance. Taoist vegetarian meals are light; inform us in advance of any dietary requirements.
Begin the Taoist cultivation experience with morning wellness practice, Taoist culture lessons, and Baduanjin training. This day introduces the balance of movement, stillness, and self-cultivation.
1. Student registration at Tianshi Mansion
2. Student registration at the Wellness Institute
3. Evening vegetarian meal
4. Opening session
Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion Wellness Institute rooms / Wendaoju guesthouse (3 nights).
Wendaoju: a secluded mountaintop guesthouse with 270° panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Danxia peaks, equipped with wellness incense and tea sets, hand-copying sutra tools, and natural herbal sleep pillows.
- Breakfast: Taoist vegetarian meal (included).
- Lunch: Vegetarian meal (included).
- Dinner: Vegetarian meal (included)..
- During cultivation, wear loose comfortable sportswear or practice clothes and bring soft-soled practice shoes or sneakers. Longhu Mountain has Danxia landforms and large day-night temperature differences, so bring a windproof jacket and rain gear. Taoist vegetarian meals are light; tell us in advance about special dietary needs. Practice within your ability and inform the Taoist master of chronic conditions such as hypertension or heart disease. Completion certificates and blessed talismans are Taoist ritual items; please keep them properly and respect the religious culture.
Continue with deeper Taoist practice, including Baduanjin, Qingping sword, self-understanding lessons, and talisman culture. The day combines physical training with spiritual and cultural learning.
1. Morning practice · wellness standing posture
2. Taoist culture
3. Practice · Baduanjin
4. Opening session
5. Understanding self and others | Four Pillars astrology | Qimen Dunjia
Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion Wellness Institute rooms / Wendaoju guesthouse (3 nights).
Wendaoju: a secluded mountaintop guesthouse with 270° panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Danxia peaks, equipped with wellness incense and tea sets, hand-copying sutra tools, and natural herbal sleep pillows.
- Breakfast: Taoist vegetarian meal (included).
- Lunch: Vegetarian meal (included).
- Dinner: Vegetarian meal (included)..
- During cultivation, wear loose comfortable sportswear or practice clothes and bring soft-soled practice shoes or sneakers. Longhu Mountain has Danxia landforms and large day-night temperature differences, so bring a windproof jacket and rain gear. Taoist vegetarian meals are light; tell us in advance about special dietary needs. Practice within your ability and inform the Taoist master of chronic conditions such as hypertension or heart disease. Completion certificates and blessed talismans are Taoist ritual items; please keep them properly and respect the religious culture.
Complete the retreat with Qingping sword practice, an in-depth visit to Tianshi Mansion, and a closing blessing ceremony. Depart with a certificate, peace talisman, and meaningful memories of Taoist cultivation.
1. Morning practice · Baduanjin | wellness standing posture | inner-observation meditation
2. Taoist culture · Qingping Sword
3. Understanding self and others | Four Pillars astrology | Qimen Dunjia
4. Talisman culture
Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion Wellness Institute rooms / Wendaoju guesthouse (3 nights).
Wendaoju: a secluded mountaintop guesthouse with 270° panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Danxia peaks, equipped with wellness incense and tea sets, hand-copying sutra tools, and natural herbal sleep pillows.
- Breakfast: Taoist vegetarian meal (included).
- Lunch: Vegetarian meal (included).
- Dinner: Vegetarian meal (included)..
- During cultivation, wear loose comfortable sportswear or practice clothes and bring soft-soled practice shoes or sneakers. Longhu Mountain has Danxia landforms and large day-night temperature differences, so bring a windproof jacket and rain gear. Taoist vegetarian meals are light; tell us in advance about special dietary needs. Practice within your ability and inform the Taoist master of chronic conditions such as hypertension or heart disease. Completion certificates and blessed talismans are Taoist ritual items; please keep them properly and respect the religious culture.
Arrive in Shanghai by high-speed rail and explore the Bund and Nanjing Road in the evening. From historic architecture to the Lujiazui skyline, experience the city’s blend of heritage and modern energy.
1. Morning practice · Qingping Sword
2. Tianshi Mansion tour
3. Closing ceremony (blessing)
4. High-speed rail arrival in Shanghai
5. The Bund international architecture
6. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai or Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund or similar.
Fairmont Peace Hotel: a Bund landmark and legendary 1929 Art Deco hotel. Its jazz bar features nightly performances by the senior jazz band, and some rooms overlook the Huangpu River and Lujiazui.
Waldorf Astoria: located at No. 2 on the Bund, combining a century-old neoclassical heritage building with modern luxury.
- Breakfast: high-speed rail light meal (included)
- Dinner: on your own (recommended high-end restaurants at Three on the Bund / Bund 18).
- The best time to photograph the Bund night view is 19:30-21:00. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is 1.2 km long, so comfortable flat shoes are recommended. The Peace Hotel jazz bar requires advance booking. Shanghai is hot and humid in summer; bring sunscreen and a portable fan.
Enjoy a full-day Shanghai citywalk, from Wukang Road and Xintiandi to Yu Garden, Lujiazui, and a Huangpu River night cruise. Discover Shanghai’s elegance, old-city charm, and modern skyline.
1. Wukang Road Citywalk
2. Yu Garden · City God Temple
3. Lujiazui skyline
4. Huangpu River night cruise
Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai or Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund or similar.
- Breakfast: Hotel buffet (included)
- Lunch: Xintiandi Shanghai local cuisine (included)
- Dinner: On your own (recommended Bund view restaurants).
- The Wukang Road walk is about 2 km and shaded by plane trees, making it cooler in summer. Shanghai Tower observation deck tickets are CNY 180 and should be booked in advance. The Huangpu River cruise lasts about 50 minutes; arrive at the pier 30 minutes early. Take care when taking photos at the Yu Garden zigzag bridge.
On the final day, visit Jing’an Temple for a peaceful moment in the heart of Shanghai, followed by last-minute shopping and a farewell lunch. Transfer to the airport and conclude the Jiangnan Taoist journey.
1. Jing’an Temple morning bell
2. Nanjing West Road shopping
3. Transfer to airport
4. Airport drop-off and departure
- Breakfast: Hotel buffet (included)
- Lunch: Shanghai local farewell banquet (included)
- Dinner: On your own
- Jing’an Temple tickets are CNY 50; booking through Trip.com in advance is recommended. Prepare RMB coins for blessing rituals. Pudong Airport is about 45 km from downtown; leave 3 hours before flight departure. Farewell gifts include blessed talismans, a Longhu Mountain cultivation booklet, a hand-drawn Hangzhou-Longhu Mountain-Shanghai map, a TCM wellness tea gift box, and Tongle Aviation Travel Agency cultural souvenirs.
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please send a scanned copy of the personal information page of your passport to your booking agent at least 15 days before departure, so that we can purchase your train tickets and make reservations for attractions..
3. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps – Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.
4. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps.
5. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China.
6. Foreign-language guide service is not included. English guide reference: CNY 9.5 per hour, 10 hours per day; overtime is CNY 100 per hour.