Shanghai
The Bund & French Concession Day Tour
The 1920s riverfront in daylight, the old town at the middle of the day, and plane-tree streets in the Concession — ending on the promenade at blue hour.
From US$109/per person
View tourShanghai
Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Day Tour
Sixty minutes from Shanghai, a still-working canal town of 36 stone bridges — arrive before the coaches, boat the canal, eat river shrimp for lunch.
The short version
Zhujiajiao is the closest classical water town to Shanghai, about an hour by metro or car, and it is still a town rather than a film set: 36 stone bridges, houses opening straight onto the canal, and a boatman who will sing if asked. The trick is arrival time — before 09:30 it belongs to residents, after 11:00 it belongs to tour groups.
- One hour from Shanghai, and best reached before 09:30.
- 36 stone bridges; Fangsheng Bridge is the one to walk across.
- The boat ride is 20 minutes and costs almost nothing — do it.
- Lunch is river shrimp, braised pork and rice wine from the town's own brewers.
What not to miss
07:30
Hotel pickup
Metro Line 17 or a private car, whichever gets you there first. Arriving early is the entire point of this tour.
08:40
Walk in from the east gate
Into the old town before the shops open — laundry on the canal walls, residents buying vegetables, no crowds.
09:30
Fangsheng Bridge and the boat
Across the 72-metre stone arch, then a sculled boat down the canal to the next bridge. The boatman works the pole with his foot.
11:00
Kezhi Garden and the temple
A private Qing garden of pavilions and rockeries, then the town temple — both quiet before lunch hour.
12:30
Riverside lunch
River shrimp in wine, braised pork belly, water spinach, and the town's own rice wine poured from a jar.
14:00
Back streets, then return
Two hours to wander the back lanes, watch a shoemaker, and buy zongzi before the drive back to Shanghai.
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- Private vehicle or metro fares for the day
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Zhujiajiao old-town pass
- Hand-sculled boat ride on the canal
- Riverside lunch with one local drink
- Bottled water and zongzi tasting
Not included
- Breakfast and dinner
- Gratuities
- Souvenirs and the town's paid museum add-ons
- Personal travel insurance
Pickup, timing and getting around
Pickup at 07:30 from any hotel inside the Outer Ring Road. If you are staying in Pudong, add 20 minutes and we will take the car rather than the metro.
Saturday is workable but Tuesday to Thursday is better. If your schedule forces a weekend, we move the boat to the first slot and eat lunch at 11:30 to stay ahead of the coaches.
Route diagrams are schematic and illustrative, not to scale.
More day tours from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai Museum & West Bund Art Day Tour
Bronzes and ceramics in the morning, a noodle lunch, then the riverside galleries of West Bund — China's best general museum plus the country's liveliest art district.
From US$99/per person
View tourFrequently asked questions
Which water town is best near Shanghai?
Zhujiajiao for proximity and authenticity — one hour, still residential. Tongli is better preserved and worth the extra 40 minutes if you have a full day. We do not run Zhouzhuang on weekends.
Can I get there by metro myself?
Yes — Line 17 to Zhujiajiao station, then a 15-minute walk. The reason to take a guide is navigation inside the old town, ordering lunch, and knowing which courtyards are open.
How long is the boat ride?
About 20 minutes, hand-sculled, from Fangsheng Bridge to the next bridge down. It costs very little and it is the single best thing in town for the money.
Is the town authentic or rebuilt?
Structurally original — the canal network and bridge positions date to the Ming and Qing. Some shopfronts have been standardised, which is why we walk the back streets rather than the main drag.
Explore next
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Before you fly
- Do I Need a Visa for China? Requirements, Costs and How to Apply
- China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How It Works
- Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards and Cash
- China's High-Speed Rail: How to Book, What It Costs, How Fast It Goes
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Honest Risks and How to Avoid Them
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
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