Shanghai: Bund, Yu Yuan Garden & Jade Buddha Temple Private Tour

One Day Through Shanghai's Layers: Gardens, River & Temple

You visit Yu Yuan Garden, walk the Bund's waterfront, spend time in the Shanghai Museum's 120,000-piece collection, drive through the French Concession, stop at Jade Buddha Temple, and finish at Xintiandi. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking driver, transport, and water. You choose your lunch spot and how long to stay at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Shanghai's cultural highlights

• Visit Yu Yuan Garden
• Explore Shanghai Old Street
• Walk along the Bund waterfront
• Tour Shanghai Museum of Ancient Chinese Art
• Drive through Former French Concession
• Visit Jade Buddha Temple
• Explore Xintiandi nightlife district

The experience

You wonder, before booking, whether a single day can actually hold Shanghai: the old gardens, the colonial streets, the river, the temple, the nightlife. Turns out it can, if someone else is driving. The day starts at your hotel or port with an English-speaking driver who handles the route while you sit back and watch the city shift from one era to the next. First stop is Yu Yuan Garden, a Ming dynasty creation that feels like stepping into a scroll painting: stone bridges, pavilions, water channels, the kind of place where time moves differently. It's not rushed. You walk through it at your own pace, no group herding, no schedule pressure.

After Yu Yuan comes the Bund, Shanghai's waterfront on the Huangpu River, where the skyline hits you: old colonial buildings on one side, the financial district climbing up the other. You drive along it, stop to walk, take in the architecture exhibition. Then the Shanghai Museum, which holds over 120,000 pieces of ancient Chinese art across 21 categories. This is the part where the driver gives you space. You spend as long as you want inside while he waits. Lunch happens somewhere in the middle of the day (you choose where or the driver can suggest something), and then you're moving again through the Former French Concession, tree-lined streets that still feel European, quieter than the rest of the city.

The Jade Buddha Temple comes next, with its Burmese jade statues that are genuinely old and genuinely precious. You're not fighting crowds here. The driver knows the timing. The final stop is Xintiandi, a district of boutiques, restaurants, and bars where you can stay and explore on your own time or head back to your hotel. The whole day is structured but not rigid. You're not locked into a group schedule, and the driver adjusts if you want longer somewhere or want to skip something. Bottled water is in the vehicle. The minivan is air-conditioned. You wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothes.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• English-speaking driver guide for the full day.
• bottled water.
• visits to Yu Yuan Garden, the Bund, Shanghai Museum, Former French Concession, Jade Buddha Temple, and Xintiandi (entry fees to attractions are separate).

Options for this experience

2 options

No walking guide includedGuide in English · 08:30The English-speaking driver offers background information before taking you to each spot, and then you explore the place on your own.

Includes a walking guideGuide in English · 08:30Our driver-guide walks you to each place and gives an introduction on site.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Child (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tom's Tour

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see Shanghai's major landmarks in one day without arranging their own transport, tickets, or navigation. The driver handles the route and timing, leaving you free to focus on each place.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 5): free.

How long is the full Shanghai city tour?

The tour runs a full day, typically from morning pickup through early evening, with a lunch break built in. Exact duration depends on your hotel location and how long you spend at each site.

Is lunch included in the price?

No, lunch is not included. You choose where to eat during the break, or the driver can recommend restaurants near your current location.

Can I skip any of the stops?

Yes. The itinerary covers Yu Yuan Garden, the Bund, Shanghai Museum, French Concession, Jade Buddha Temple, and Xintiandi, but you can adjust based on your interests. Let the driver know at the start of the day.

What if I want to stay longer at one location?

The schedule is flexible. If you want extra time at the museum or the garden, the driver will adjust the rest of the day around it.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes, you travel in an air-conditioned minivan throughout the day.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel or port pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned minivan transport, English-speaking driver, and bottled water. Entry fees to attractions are separate.

Can the driver recommend lunch spots?

Yes, the driver can suggest restaurants, though the choice and cost are yours.