Silversea Luxury Cruises Nach SHANGHAI

Discover the secrets to preparing delicious Chinese dumplings during this interactive, half-day cooking excursion with lunch.

Shanghai, Wet Market Visit with Chef, French Concession Area

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive to a local wet market. Upon arrival, take a guided, narrated tour with a chef. Learn about various different ingredients, how to price them and what to buy. Following your wet market visit, take a guided stroll through the French Concession area (weather-permitting) en route to the Chinese Cooking Workshop.

Chinese Cooking Workshop, Jiaozi Dumplings

Upon arrival at the Chinese Cooking Workshop, begin your interactive dumpling cooking class. Your dumpling expert teaches you to make 'jiaozi', a type of Chinese dumpling commonly eaten in China and other parts of East Asia. They are one of the major foods eaten during the Chinese New Year, and year-round in the northern provinces. Though considered part of Chinese cuisine, jiaozi are popular in other parts of Asia and in western countries. Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped in a thinly-rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. Finished jiaozi can be boiled, steamed or pan-fried.

Dumpling Preparation and Lunch

Learn how to knead and roll the dough, and create fillings and sauces. In addition to the traditional way of preparing authentic Chinese dumplings, discover some revolutionary new cooking methods and fillings to put into the dumplings, and how to concoct natural dyes made from the juice from fresh vegetables and fruits to create colourful dough wraps. Following your cooking workshop, proceed for a lunch consisting of the dishes you have helped to prepare, along with other cold appetizers. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Discover some of the many prominent highlights of Shanghai during a picturesque, half-day sightseeing excursion through this bustling metropolis.

Shanghai City and the Bund

Depart the pier for a sightseeing drive through Shanghai City. En route, a stop is made for a guided stroll through the Bund, Shanghai's most famous street. To the Europeans, the Bund was Shanghai's Wall Street, a place where fortunes were made and lost. Along this waterfront embankment stand some of the city's most prominent landmarks.

French Concession Area, Art Deco Buildings and Huaihai Road

Next, re-board your coach and proceed through the former French Concession Area. In the 1920s and 1930s, the French Concession was known for its lawlessness and decadence. As the foreign diplomatic quarter, it features top hotels, great shopping, bars and restaurants in Art Deco buildings. Huaihai Road, the former Avenue Joffre, is one of Shanghai's favourite shopping streets. After a photo stop here at Xintiandi, re-board your coach and continue on to the Jade Buddha Temple.

Jade Buddha Temple

Founded in 1881, the famous Jade Buddha Temple is highlighted by rare statues of Buddha, each carved from a single piece of white Burmese jade. Depending on the schedule of resident monks, you may be able to peek inside one of the temples to witness a prayer session. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 45-minute drive back to the pier.

Explore the beautiful, bustling city of Shanghai and its surrounds during this panoramic, half-day sightseeing excursion via open-air, vintage Jeep.

Shanghai, Open-Air Jeep Tour

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive to the meeting point, then board a convertible, vintage Jeep with your driver/guide for a picturesque sightseeing tour of Shanghai. The charm of Shanghai lies in the contrast of a very rich Art Deco heritage, and its quaint Old Town against the high-rise buildings of the city's financial centre. Also known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' or 'Paris of the East', Shanghai has always intrigued with its architectural and cultural diversity, and bustling energy at every corner.

Old Town, French Concession, Boardwalk on the Bund-Side, Pudong Skyline

Shanghai is the ideal blend of past and present. During your guided tour via vintage, open-air Jeep, ride through some of the most well-preserved neighbourhoods and watch it all unfold before your eyes. Explore the winding alleys of the Old Town, where locals still resist the wave of modernity surrounding them, stop by the mythic French Concession with its quaint, yet charming, atmosphere, or head to the boardwalk on the Bund side for a splendid view of the Pudong skyline. At the conclusion of your tour, return to the meeting point, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

The fabled city of Shanghai is China's major port and the largest city in all of Asia. This comprehensive, full-day excursion takes you to Shanghai's most popular and intriguing sites.

The Bund

Depart the pier and travel by coach to the Bund, one of the symbols of Shanghai. The Bund shows off Shanghai's outstanding foreign buildings, most of which were erected before 1937. To the Europeans, the Bund was Shanghai's answer to Wall Street. In the 1930s, the string of buildings hosted the city's financial and commercial centres, and the world's greatest banks and trading empires established a base here.

New Economic Zone

Continue the drive to the New Economic Zone in the Pudong New Area. Prior to 1990, the Pudong New Area was farmland and rice paddies. Today, it is an urban experiment that is expected to become Asia's financial, economic and commercial centre. Stop for photos near the oddly futuristic Oriental Pearl TV and Radio Tower. The sixth-tallest structure in the world, this peculiar tower has become a symbol of the city and fully captures the boldness and glitz that are today's Shanghai. Next, proceed to the tallest building of China, the Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC), which was completed in 2008. Marvel at this 1,600-foot (492-meter)-high new landmark of Shanghai and take a picture.

Jin Mao Building

Visit to nearby Jin Mao Building, one of the landmarks of Shanghai and a soaring monument to the city's economic boom. A silvery pagoda, a rising bamboo shoot, and an upright pen are images evoked by the 88-storey-high Jin Mao Building in Pudong. Enjoy the panoramic view from the Observation Lounge on the 88th floor.

Jin Jiang Hotel

Midway through your busy sightseeing program, a Chinese-cuisine lunch is served at the Jin Jiang Hotel. A witness to history, the Jin Jiang Hotel has received more than 400 heads of state and government from countries all over the world since its opening. The hotel was once the place where Chairman Mao Zedong and his colleagues held meetings and it was also the site of the signing of the 1972 Sino-America joint communiqué by Chairman Mao and U.S. President Nixon.

Shanghai Old Town & Yu Yuan Gardens

Continuing on, discover Shanghai's Old Town and wander among its maze of narrow alleys and cobblestone lanes. As locals bustle about their daily activities, experience one of China's most famous dumpling cookeries and admire the area's remarkable architecture. From here, proceed to the 16th-century Yu Yuan Garden. This cultivated oasis captures the essence of the landscape art and architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has also served as the inspiration for the famous willow-pattern chinaware. High walls adorned with huge, stone dragons shelter teahouses, pavilions, rockeries and carp ponds. Make your way back to the coach by way of a small lake, which is spanned by a picturesque zigzag bridge.

Jade Buddha Temple

Next head northwest to Jade Buddha Temple, founded in 1881. Its rare statues of Buddha, each carved from a single piece of white Burmese jade, are of special interest. Depending on the schedule of resident monks, you may be able to peek inside one of the temples to witness a prayer session.

All too soon, bid farewell to Shanghai and return to the ship.

Experience a spectacular acrobatic show and a night view of the Shanghai's famous Bund during this evening. Departing the pier, a 30-minute drive brings you into the town centre and proceed to the nearby theatre for an exciting and first-rate show.

Chinese Acrobatics

For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese have practiced the art of acrobatics. Although elements of acrobatics appeared prior, the time of the Han Dynasty (221 BC-220 AD) saw on-stage displays with music. The artists combined aspects of their daily life with their individual and group talents, resulting in feats such as balancing on chairs and tables, jar tricks, rope-walking and pole-climbing. Between the 7th and 10th centuries, performances of acrobatics were often held at the imperial court. Tonight, sit back and watch in amazement as the troupe performs some of the best acrobatic art in China.

Acrobatic Show

The troupe, founded half a century ago, is renowned in international circus acrobatic circles, having toured many countries during the last decades. In an exuberant 90-minute performance that combines breath-taking acrobatics, martial arts, enchanting music, and spectacular lighting and set design, the award-winning troupe captures the essence of life's energy in a celebration of ancient and modern Chinese culture. The 40-member company includes phenomenal gymnasts, dancers, and jugglers who focus their bodies and minds to work in perfect harmony.

Following the show, enjoy a drive marveling at the city's glittering night lights transfer back to ship.

Explore the contemporary architecture and landmarks of Shanghai with an expert architect during this scenic and informative, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Shanghai City, Old Shanghai, Bund

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive to Shanghai, a dynamic, ever-changing city comprised of two major districts, the Bund and Pudong. Today, explore an eclectic blend of historic and contemporary landmarks with your expert guide, Patrick Cranley, who imparts his knowledge and insights about the architecture of Shanghai. Upon arrival in the city, proceed to Old Shanghai for a leisurely, guided stroll along the renovated promenade known as the Bund, the city's most famous street. To the Europeans, the Bund was colonial Shanghai's 'Wall Street', a place where fortunes were made and lost. Along this waterfront embankment stands some of the city's most prominent, important and popular landmarks constructed before 1950.

Pudong, Oriental Pearl TV and Radio Tower, Shanghai Centre, Observation Deck

Leaving the Bund, venture across the river to Pudong, the modern, somewhat futuristic side of Shanghai. Prior to 1990, the Pudong New Area was farmland and rice paddies. Today, this urban experiment is fast becoming Asia's financial, economic and commercial centre. Reflecting that sweeping vision is the city's most identifiable structure, the Oriental Pearl TV and Radio Tower. Rising approximately 1,535 feet (about 468 metres) above the Huangpu River, it was commissioned to be defiantly and emblematically 21st century. The third-tallest structure in the world, the tower has become a symbol of the city, and, as Patrick explains, fully captures the boldness and glitz of modern Shanghai. Next, experience the tallest building in China during a visit to the renowned Shanghai Centre. Upon arrival, the express elevator whisks you to the top observation deck, where, at the dizzying height, you can see the city of Shanghai unfold.

French Concession Area, Art Deco Buildings, Refreshment Stop

Next, re-board your coach and proceed through the French Quarter. Also known as the 'French Concession', this neighbourhood was formed in the mid-19th century and blossomed in the early-20th century. In the 1920s and 1930s, the French Concession was known for its lawlessness and decadence. Since then, the district has survived zealous city redevelopment efforts and continues to retain its unique character. As the foreign diplomatic quarter, the French Concession features top hotels, great shopping, bars and restaurants in Art Deco buildings. Leaving the French Concession, a refreshment stop is made to further engage Patrick about the city and landmarks seen during your tour. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Experience a sample of Shanghai's old and new attractions on this introductory half-day overview excursion. On your sightseeing drive through this bustling metropolis, see the major points of interest that include the following:

The Bund

Drive through the most famous of Shanghai's streets - the symbolic Bund. To the Europeans, the Bund was Shanghai's Wall Street, a place where fortunes were made and lost. Along this waterfront embankment stand some of the city's most prominent landmarks.

The Former French Concession Area

In the 1920s and 1930s, the French Concession was known for its lawlessness and decadence. As the foreign diplomatic quarter, it features top hotels, great shopping, bars and restaurants in art deco buildings. Huauhai Road, the former Avenue Joffre, is one of Shanghai's favourite shopping streets.

People's Square

Located at the very centre of the city, People's Square is a garden-type open space surrounded by buildings and facilities for administration, cultural activities, transportation and commerce. The total green areas in the square cover 80,000 square meters. Seemingly the only broad expanse in the city, spreading before the newly built Museum, People's Square is now the most popular place for city residents to unwind.

Pudong New Area

Your sightseeing drive takes you through this area established in 1990 and through the tunnel under the Huangpu River. Pudong is the city's hot spot for investment in China. It consists of four key areas: the Finance and Trade Zone, the Jinqiao Export Processing Zone, Bonded Zone and Hi-Tech Zone.

Oriental Pearl Tower

At a height of 1,535 feet (468 metres), this is the tallest TV tower in Asia and the third highest in the world after Toronto and Moscow. Stop for photos at this Pudong landmark.

Shanghai World Financial Centre

The 1,600-foot-high (492 meters) Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC) is currently the world's second2 tallest completed building by roof, and the tallest building in China. It is a mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors.

Jin Mao Building

A silvery pagoda, a rising bamboo shoot, an upright pen - these are images evoked by the 88-storey-high Jin Mao Building in Pudong. It is one of the landmarks of Shanghai and a soaring monument to the city's economic boom. Enjoy the panoramic view from the Observation Lounge on the 88th floor. From here, the coach returns you to the ship.

Learn about the modern Jewish history in Shanghai on this half-day outing that includes visits to the Ohel Moishe Synagogue, the old Jewish ghetto area, Huo Shan Park, the Jewish settlement region, and the Arts & Crafts Research Institute.

From the mid-19th century when the Sephardic Jewish merchant group began to appear in Shanghai, to the early 1940s, the Jews in Shanghai rose to become the largest Jewish community in the Far East. While the Nazis persecuted and massacred the Jews in Europe in the 1930s and during World War II, Shanghai was the only city in the world that freely allowed Jews to enter, requiring of them no visa, guarantee, or other documents. The city became a major destination of the Jewish people seeking asylum. From 1937 to 1939 approximately 30,000 European Jews swarmed into Shanghai - more than the total number of the Jewish refugees taken in by Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and New Zealand during the same period.

After settling down in Shanghai, the Jews lived together peacefully among the inhabitants of Shanghai and played a large role in promoting the economic and cultural development of the city with their outstanding creative power and wisdom. The Chinese and Jewish people each shared wealth and woe together in the hardships of the war years, forging a profound friendship. Since China's opening and reform policy, many 'Shanghai Jews' have come in succession to Shanghai to visit relatives, invest, make efforts or offer advice for the economy and construction of Shanghai, thus composing a new chapter in the history of Chinese and Jewish friendship. 'Shanghai Jew get-togethers' have become commonplace in various countries and districts where Jews have settled throughout the world.

The coach takes you from the pier to the Huo Shan Park, for a brief look at the Memorial Tablet for the Jews living in Shanghai during World War II. Next, follow your guide on foot through the Old Jewish ghetto area. Visit the Ohel Moishe Synagogue; while no longer an actively-functioning synagogue, today it serves as a museum.

Drive by outside of the Ohel Rachel Synagogue and through the French concession area. Here you can see the old Jewish theatre, the Jewish Club and Settlement. Disembark the coach and spend some time exploring the Arts & Crafts Research Institute in the area.

At the conclusion of your insightful look at Shanghai's Jewish history, return to the ship.

Explore Shanghai at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Shanghai at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Shanghai at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Shanghai at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with yourd driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Venture beyond the modern metropolis of Shanghai to discover one of East China's traditional waterside towns on this intriguing this full-day outing with your exclusive guide in your air-conditioned van.Your private tour is for up to 4 of your friends and family. Situated beside the Dianshanhu Lake, Zhujiajiao illustrates the customs and culture of old-world China.

Commencing your journey at the pier, travel approximately an hour and a half past rustic farms and rippling fields of rice to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town well-known throughout the country with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 18 square miles (47 square kilometres), the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Endowed with another elegant name - Pearl Stream - the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with attached courtyards all transport people, who are living amidst the hustle and bustle of the modern big city, to a world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquillity.

Upon arrival in this small town, leisurely make your way along meandering streets and narrow alleyways on foot. Admire Zhujiajiao's numerous stone bridges and centuries-old buildings of white wall or black brick. Reminiscent of Venice's canals, local women display their wares from wooden boats bobbing in the water. Although this community boasts 36 moss-covered bridges, the most famous is the five-arched Fangsheng Bridge, a remnant of the Ming dynasty.

Continue your exploration at Daqing Youju, a post office that dates back to the Qing dynasty, the only remnant of its kind in East China. Visit the Tongtianhe Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, the largest in Zhujiajiao that accounted for almost half of the business scale of all pharmacies in the area in late Qing dynasty. For centuries, this Pharmacy has established its fame among the locals as it has adhered to the principle of 'Healing the Pain & Saving the Life' based on traditional Chinese ethics and medical culture. Today, the essence of traditional business and prescription practices as well as the original 'Shikumen'-style front gate and some of the old furniture have been well retained.

We suggest you stop for a traditional lunch of Chine-style cuisine served at a local restaurant. Following lunch, visit a silk factory where you have the opportunity of observing some of the ancient techniques in producing this elegant fabric. See the workers removing the fibres from cocoons before winding them onto spools. Later see how the fibres are woven into silk threads.

Relax in your private vehicle for the return driver to Shanghai.

Experience the unique history, flavours and culture of Shanghai during this exclusive, dinner and live jazz excursion at the iconic No. 1 Waitanyuan.

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Experience requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

All Silversea Experience fares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. All Silversea Experiences are non-transferable and non-refundable within 90 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Silversea Experiences are owned by independent contractors and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.

Shanghai, No. 1 Waitanyuan

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 75-minute drive to No.1 Waitanyuan. Waitanyuan ('Source of The Bund' in Mandarin), is a magnificent historical complex located at the northernmost tip of the Bund, Shanghai's renowned riverside embankment, and is characterised by world-class period architecture and views of the Pudong Business District. Now a private club, No. 1 Waitanyuan offers a wide array of diverse services, facilities and event spaces in one of Shanghai's most iconic period buildings; part of a sprawling complex of historical Waitanyuan treasures.

Renaissance- and Veranda-Style Architecture, English Garden, Old Trees

Located at No. 33 Zhongshan Dongyi Road in Shanghai, this former British Consulate General was founded in 1849 but destroyed by fire in 1870, then redesigned in 1870-1872 into a two-story brick building incorporating the Renaissance and veranda styles. This expansive building features a total of five floors, including two above-ground floors covering a construction area of approximately 3,707 square yards (about 3,100 square meters), and underground floors covering over 11,960 square yards (about 10,000 square meters). The building has a typical, English-style garden in front, and is surrounded by 27 old trees to create a serene environment.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail, Dinner Accompanied by Live Jazz Music

In 1994, No. 1 Waitanwan was classified as an outstanding Historic Building in Shanghai, and, along with the Bund Building Cluster, a Key Cultural Relic Unit under State Protection in 1996. To echo its historic features, the interior is themed by 'historic architecture and contemporary art dialogue', and comprised of collections from many contemporary artists whose works reflect the communication between eastern and western cultures. Upon arrival at this private, exclusive venue, proceed for a pre-dinner cocktail. Afterward, you are seated for a set-menu, dinner accompanied by a live performance of jazz music for your dining pleasure. At the conclusion of your evening, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 75-minute drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach. This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair, but is not recommended for guests prone to motion sickness. Lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes are recommended. Guests must be at least 21 years old to be served alcoholic beverages. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas. Operation of this tour is subject to weather conditions; depending on the weather on the day of this excursion, the outdoor space at No. 1 Waitanyaun may not be available for use. The driving distance between the pier and venue is approximately 75-minutes in each direction. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

The ancient, moated city of Suzhou is famous for its gardens and silk industry. On this full-day outing, come away with a sense of appreciation of the arts and natural fascinations of the area, the Silk Embroidery Research Institute, the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Grand Canal.

Following a two-hour journey through the countryside of rich farmlands and villages, arrive at the garden city of Suzhou. An ancient proverb says 'to be happy on earth, one must be born in Suzhou'. Marco Polo was equally enthusiastic following his visit to this historic town.

Rich bureaucrats of the Qing and Ming dynasties built elaborate palaces and exquisite classical gardens. A canal cruise introduces you to the sights, sounds, and activities along this picturesque waterway. Other highlights of your visit include the following:

Silk Embroidery Research Institute

On your guided tour, see some of the exhibitions that provide a thorough history of Suzhou's silk industry over the past 4000 years. After the tour, there will be an opportunity to purchase some of the items made at the institute.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Dating from the early 1500s, this garden is considered to be one of Suzhou's best. It features streams, ponds, bridges and islands of bamboo. Leaving the garden, proceed to the Bamboo Grove Restaurant (or similar) for a Chinese-style, set-menu lunch, followed by a cruise on the Grand Canal.

Grand Canal

A cruise on this fascinating waterway is a must on any visit to Suzhou. The ancient canal joins Suzhou with another garden city, Wuxi, and is still a vital link in transportation today. Observe local life passing by as you glide down Suzhou's own Grand Canal.

At the conclusion of your outing, re-board the coach for the journey back to the ship.

Experience the modern face of Shanghai on this half-day excursion that features an eight-minute ride on the fastest ever Maglev Train and the spectacular panoramic view from the top floor of Jin Mao Building.

Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train

Departing the pier, the coach takes you to the Long Yang Lu Station in the Pudong New District, where you board the Maglev Train for an eight-minute ride to the Pudong Airport. Made with ground-breaking German technology, the Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train is the new state-of-the-art mode of transportation in Shanghai. The Maglev has no wheels; it floats on an electromagnetic cushion propelled along a guideway at incredible speeds. Built at a cost of over one billion U.S. dollars, it runs for over 20 miles (33 kilometres) from Long Yang Lu Station to the Pudong International Airport. It can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hours (430 kilometres per hour), the highest speed of any operational ground transport.

During your ride, experience the sensation of flying as the train instantly accelerates to maximum speed. Afterwards, pause for a short while before the train returns you to the Long Yang Lu Station.

Pudong New District

Re-board the coach and drive to the Lujiazui Area of the Pudong New District. Developed from farmland only a decade ago and now home to numerous high-rise office buildings, this area has become the financial centre of China. Stop for photos at the futuristic Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the highest TV Tower in China and third-highest in the world. Then, continue to the famous Jin Mao Building, take an express elevator to the observation deck, and enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai and Huangpu River.

The coach returns you to the ship after this dynamic tour.

Venture beyond the modern metropolis of Shanghai to discover one of East China's traditional waterside towns on this intriguing, full-day excursion. Situated beside the Dianshanhu Lake, Zhujiajiao illustrates the customs and culture of old-world China.

Commencing your journey at the pier, travel by coach for approximately an hour and a half past rustic farms and rippling fields of rice to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town well-known throughout the country with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 18 square miles (47 square kilometres), the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains. Endowed with another elegant name - Pearl Stream - the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with attached courtyards all transport people, who are living amidst the hustle and bustle of the modern big city, to a world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquillity.

Upon arrival in this small town, leisurely make your way along meandering streets and narrow alleyways on foot. Admire Zhujiajiao's numerous stone bridges and centuries-old buildings of white wall or black brick. Reminiscent of Venice's canals, local women display their wares from wooden boats bobbing in the water. Although this community boasts 36 moss-covered bridges, the most famous is the five-arched Fangsheng Bridge, a remnant of the Ming dynasty.

Continue your exploration at Daqing Youju, a post office that dates back to the Qing dynasty, the only remnant of its kind in East China. Visit the Tongtianhe Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, the largest in Zhujiajiao that accounted for almost half of the business scale of all pharmacies in the area in late Qing dynasty. For centuries, this Pharmacy has established its fame among the locals as it has adhered to the principle of 'Healing the Pain & Saving the Life' based on traditional Chinese ethics and medical culture. Today, the essence of traditional business and prescription practices as well as the original 'Shikumen'-style front gate and some of the old furniture have been well retained.

A traditional lunch of Chinese-style cuisine is served at a local restaurant.

Following lunch, visit a silk factory where you have the opportunity of observing some of the ancient techniques in producing this elegant fabric. See the workers removing the fibres from cocoons before winding them onto spools. Later see how the fibres are woven into silk threads.

Re-board the coach for the return drive to the ship.

The Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai is Shanghai's legendary landmark in the heart of the Bund, since 1929. It is the iconic building located right in the center of the Bund where Shanghai's finest epicurean lifestyle is defined by all the award-winning restaurants and bars. It is also in the unrivaled shopping area on Nanjing Road, where it is the perfect place to explore Shanghai's spectacular scenery and vibrant lifestyle.

Fairmont Peace Hotel, Peace Museum guided by Architecture Expert Patrick Cranley

Your evening World Cruise Collection excursion will be started with an interior visit to Peace Museum in Fairmont Peace Hotel guided by Patrick Cranley, who is the president of Historic Shanghai (Shanghai Art Deco's parent organization), which he co-founded in 1998 with Tina Kanagaratnam and Tess Johnston. A native of Baltimore, USA, he has been a student of Chinese affairs for more than thirty years and has lived in China for two decades.

A frequent speaker on Shanghai history, architecture, society and business, Patrick Cranley has also written for dozens of newspapers and magazines worldwide, and has authored chapters in Insight Guide Shanghai, Still More Shanghai Walks, and Step by Step Shanghai. His collection of Shanghai Art Deco furniture was featured in Shanghai Style by celebrated author Lynn Pan. His historic and architectural tours of Shanghai are recommended by Condé Nast Traveler; Luxe Guide to Shanghai; Nota Bene; Departures magazine; and by a number of top-tier travel companies.

In the quiet, dedicated space of the Peace Museum are collected items and memorabilia of the hotel : silver table-ware, porcelain, crystal and antiques that decorated the rooms and halls, items of hotel use, Art Deco furnishings, newspapers and photographs of the hotel and its celebrity visitors, brochures and books that tell the tale of the grand old hotel in its three periods of The Cathay Hotel of the 1930s and 40s, The Peace Hotel of the 1950s and the Peoples' Republic of China and now, the beautifully restored Fairmont Peace Hotel which opened in 2010. Hotel guests and visitors may sit or read in the Museum, furnished as an old Shanghai Reading Room or discuss the collection and its history with the Chinese and foreign curators. Parts of the exhibition are changed to give focus to various historical or artistic features.

Jazz Bar, Old Jazz Band Performance & Drink

Then, you will step into the iconic Jazz Bar in the hotel, the only address in China for legendary jazz, carrying guests instantly back to the private clubs of the 20's and 30's with its comfortable and authentic décor. Here you can relax and enjoy not only the drink but also a performance conducted by Old Jazz Band, which is made up of six veteran musicians whose average age is 82.

After the reception, you will walk back to the modern Shanghai Bund, and take the coach back to Silver Whisper.

See two true highlights of the city of Shanghai, Yu Yuan Gardens and the Shanghai Museum, on this half-day exploration.

Yu Yuan Gardens

Board the coach and depart from the pier for the brief drive to the gardens. In the crowded maze of cobbled alleyways that comprise the old Chinese city of Shanghai, catch a glimpse of part of this city's rich history. Here, visit the Yu Yuan, or Mandarin Gardens, which inspired the famous willow pattern chinaware. Built for the Pan family, wealthy Ming dynasty officials of the mid-16th century, the garden is surrounded by high walls adorned with huge stone dragons. Inside, numerous halls and pavilions of characteristic architectural style are connected by moon gates and zigzag bridges designed to discourage the entrance of demons who can only move in a straight line.

Next, proceed to the new Shanghai Museum, located at Renmin, or People's Square.

Shanghai Museum

Opened in 1995 and regarded as the world's finest showcase of Chinese art and antiquities, the museum contains an excellent and well-displayed collection of old bronzes and ceramics as well as paintings and scrolls. Documenting 5,000 years of Chinese history, this museum's collections include galleries with ancient sculptures, jade, coins, Ming and Qing furniture, and Chinese seals.

Listen as your guide provides an introduction of the museum. Then, explore independently or if you prefer, follow the guide through the bronze and porcelain exhibits, to the Ming and Qing furniture, calligraphy, and Painting and Chinese seals. Re-group at the appointed time.

As your tour of the museum concludes, re-board the coach and return to the ship.

Our Simply Hotel selection is the perfect choice for those who want a centrally located setting from which to discover - or rediscover - the city. Rooms in these 4.5 and 5-star properties are generally Standard Double or King rooms that provide comfortable accommodations and superior service for those who wish to extend their trip with a cultural or shopping experience in some of the world's most iconic cities.

For your convenience, we can easily organize transfers between the airport and hotel or between the hotel and the pier so that you only have to decide how much or how little you wish to do.

Hotel brands that we consistently feature include Intercontinental, JW Marriott, Fairmont or the Conrad Group.

Grande Hotel is for those who want to begin or prolong their Silversea holiday - luxury accommodations, exclusive service and impeccable attention to detail in style. Grande Hotel guests appreciate the finer things in life. These properties have been chosen not only for their prime location but for their outstanding service and their exceptional quality.

For your convenience, we can easily organize transfers between the airport and hotel or between the hotel and the pier so that you only have to decide how much or how little you wish to do.

Hotel groups that are frequently featured in our program include Shangri-La, Four Seasons, Peninsula or Fairmont to name just a few.