WHAT CAN YOU EXPERIENCE WITH US
Our route takes you through the southern Yangtze Delta, far from the urban bustle of Shanghai, Kunshan, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shaoxing deep into the mystical Taihu river basin, interwoven with countless canals, and toward the Tianmu mountain range in the west. Along the way, you’ll encounter authentic steaming food stalls, late-night street food stands, houseboats with cast-iron pots, and fragrant street markets. In cooking classes and workshops, you’ll learn how tofu, Xiǎo Lóng Bāo (soup dumplings), soy sauce, and many other local specialties are traditionally made. Join in the seasonal tea or rice harvest or, if you prefer something less well-known, try your hand at harvesting bamboo or lotus, and take part in the making and tasting of Huáng Jiǔ, an essential wine in Chinese cuisine, or Bài Jiǔ for those who prefer something stronger. The best part? After your experience, your handcrafted products are sent directly to your home. For tea lovers, we’ve also created experiences tailored for true connoisseurs immersing you in the local tea secrets of the region and dedicating the journey entirely to tea. Things get especially fascinating as we explore the distinctive traditions of the once-independent cultures of Wu and Shanyin make this journey an unforgettable experience.
Create your personalized culinary journey with us or let us handpick authentic places and activities just for you.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is available with our renowned luxury resort partners and/or, upon wish, with carefully selected local families
5 / 5
TRAVEL EXPERIENCE TYPE
Private guests
DURATION FROM
5 days+
REMARK
Suitable for families with kids
Daily curated culinary experiences, all local transport with hotel and airport transfers, accommodation in selected lodgings, access to hot springs, and three meals per day. Find more details in our FAQ.
Culinary
PRESERVED OVER GENERATIONS
Traditional tofu making with a local family by the water canal (year-round)
Preparation of Shanghai-style soup dumplings (Xiǎolóngbāo) in a cozy family kitchen (year-round)
Practice the art of hand-pulled noodles (year-round)
Discover and prepare traditional Chinese desserts (seasonal)
Immerse yourself in the world of Chinese spirits from the essential yellow rice wine (Huángjiǔ) used in Chinese cuisine to the distillation of white liquor (Báijiǔ)
Hairy crab season – join the harvest from wild tidal creeks (October–November)
Private market tour & cooking class with a legendary local chef: transforming river/lake delicacies into gourmet dishes (year-round)
Traditional Chinese dietary therapy and a full-body check-up with a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) doctor (year-round)
Agriculture & Garden
GLIMPSE INTO FARMER'S LIFE
Rice planting and harvesting in hidden, hand-tended flat-land fields (June–September)
Tea leaf picking in the highlands amidst morning mist and forgotten infusion ceremonies (late February–May)
Harvesting and preparing bamboo shoots in a tranquil bamboo forest (March–May)
Lotus blossom harvesting on secluded ponds and canals, with tastings and cooking classes (June–August)
Mushroom foraging and forest cuisine of the region, with a private cooking class led by a top chef (autumn)
Art & Artisanry
LEARN FROM TRUE MASTERS
Kunqu Opera dinner with performance and a private artist talk (seasonal)
Private storytelling, Suzhou Pingtan Pipa performance with dinner (seasonal)
Creation and Carving of Chopsticks with Decorative Ornaments (year-round)
Get an inside look at a modern Chinese food-tech company (year-round)