Private Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour
Narrow alleys and early-1900s villas reveal how French Shanghai shaped modern China.
A private walking tour through Shanghai's French Concession with a local English-speaking guide, covering the area's colonial history, Xintiandi (site of the First Communist Party Conference), and hidden neighborhoods. You'll visit a French-style park and Zhou Enlai's former residence, then explore Tianzifang's designer shops and cafes before the tour ends.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Private walking tour of French Concession
- Meet guide at predetermined location
- Walk through Shanghai French Concession
- Learn history of French colonialism
- Visit Xin Tian Di conference site
- See French-style park and Zhou Enlai residence
- Stroll streets with apartments and villas
- Explore back alleys of small-town Shanghai
- Visit SOHO area and Tianzifang arts enclave
- Tour ends at Tianzifang
What’s included
- A local English-speaking guide who leads the private walking tour.
- access to all sites mentioned in the itinerary.
- Every day 10:00 14:00
Information
Walk the French Concession in Shanghai with a private guide: see Xintiandi, Zhou Enlai's residence, and 1900s villas on cobblestone streets that still feel like Paris.
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The experience
Your guide meets you at a predetermined location in Shanghai and walks you through the French Concession, the 19th and 20th-century district that was once governed by France and served as the center of Catholicism in Shanghai. The cobblestone paths and quaint architecture still carry that European feel. Along the way, your guide explains how this area shaped the cultural, social and political transitions that led to modern China, including the First Conference of the Communist Party, which took place at Xintiandi.
The tour takes you past apartments and villas from the early 1900s, many built for both local residents and expatriates, then veers off the main streets into back alleys where you'll see small-town Shanghai life that most visitors miss. You'll visit a French-style park and the former residence of Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China. The walk ends in Tianzifang, Shanghai's SOHO arts and crafts enclave, where you can rest and browse designer stores, restaurants and coffee shops on your own time.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.
What is Xintiandi and why does the tour visit it?
Xintiandi is the site of the First Conference of the Communist Party of China, a pivotal moment in the country's history. The tour includes it as a key landmark of the French Concession's political significance.
Can I walk the French Concession on my own, or do I need a guide?
You can walk it alone, but a private guide explains the history and points out details you'd otherwise miss: the French colonial architecture, the role of the area in Shanghai's religious and political life, and the stories behind the villas and parks.
What is Tianzifang and what happens there?
Tianzifang is an arts and crafts neighborhood full of designer stores, restaurants and coffee shops. The tour ends there, giving you time to rest and explore on your own.
How much walking is involved on this tour?
The tour is a walking tour through neighborhoods and alleys, suitable for all physical fitness levels. The operator notes that all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.
Do I choose the morning or afternoon departure when I book?
Yes, you select either the morning or afternoon departure at checkout, depending on which fits your Shanghai schedule better.
Operated by Shanghai Pathways. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 10 days ago
Private Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour
2h · EN +1
from US$ 123.08 per person
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