Shanghai Private Layover Tour: Bund, Tower & Jade Temple

See Shanghai's centuries and skyscrapers in a single morning or afternoon

A private guided tour of Shanghai covering the Bund, Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observation deck, the Former French Concession, Xintiandi, the Shikumen Open House Museum, and the Jade Buddha Temple, with airport pickup, private transportation throughout, lunch with vegetarian options, and all entrance fees included. The itinerary runs eight to nine hours and is available in English, Spanish, French, German and additional languages. Pickup happens at your flight arrival time or 8:30 a.m., and the tour ends with return transfer to the airport or a nearby hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Shanghai's iconic attractions

• Meet guide at airport exit
• Transfer to the Bund
• Walk along the Bund and see historic buildings
• Transfer through Pudong sightseeing tunnel
• Walk along Lujiazui Ring Bridge
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Lunch with local specialties
• Explore Nanjing Road shopping street
• Stroll around Former French Concession
• Visit Xintiandi area
• Tour Shikumen Open House Museum
• Visit Jade Buddha Temple
• Transfer back to airport or hotel

The Experience

Eight to nine hours gives you room to move through Shanghai without rushing. Your guide meets you at the airport exit and drives you to the Bund, where you'll walk past 26 buildings spanning different architectural eras — the Peace Hotel, Shanghai Customs House, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank — and see the Huangpu River skyline across the water. From there you cross into Pudong through the sightseeing tunnel and walk along Lujiazui Ring Bridge, a vantage point for photographing the district's cluster of high-rises.

Shanghai Tower comes next. At 632 meters, it's the city's tallest building, and you'll take the express elevator to the 118th floor in 55 seconds to reach the Top of Shanghai Observatory — the world's highest indoor observation deck. You have time to stand on both the 118th and 119th floors and take in the view across both sides of the Huangpu River. After that, you head to Nanjing Road for lunch, a five-and-a-half-kilometer commercial street that draws 1.7 million visitors daily and carries everything from souvenirs to luxury brands.

The afternoon moves into the Former French Concession. You'll stroll through Xintiandi, a pedestrian district that mixes Shikumen old buildings on the north side with modern architecture to the south, then step into the Shikumen Open House Museum — a 1920s house preserved as it was, with seven rooms laid out to show how a Shanghai family lived then. The final stop is the Jade Buddha Temple, an active monastery with two jade Buddhas and a collection of statues and relics. The peaceful atmosphere there contrasts sharply with the commercial energy of the earlier stops. Your guide then drives you back to the airport or your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from airport pickup through all stops and return transfer.
• knowledgeable guide in your chosen language.
• entrance fees for Shanghai Tower, Shikumen Open House Museum, and Jade Buddha Temple.
• lunch with vegetarian and local specialty options.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by MoreFunAsia

Is this one for you?Book this if your layover is 5–8 hours and you want a guided route through the Bund, Shanghai Tower, and Jade Buddha Temple without deciding what to see next—a private guide means the itinerary adapts if your flight arrives late.

Top questions

What's on the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower that makes it worth the visit?

The Top of Shanghai Observatory is the world's highest indoor observation deck, and the express elevator reaches it in 55 seconds. You stand 632 meters above the city with views across both sides of the Huangpu River, and you have time to move between the 118th and 119th floors to take in the full panorama.

How many different architectural styles will I see at the Bund?

The Bund displays 26 buildings of different architectural styles, including the Peace Hotel, Shanghai Customs House, and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. You'll walk past them and see the Huangpu River skyline across the water from the waterfront.

What does the Shikumen Open House Museum show you?

The Shikumen Open House Museum is a 1920s house preserved and renovated to show how a Shanghai family lived then. It has seven rooms — guest room, study, old people's room, master room, daughter room, pavilion room and oven room — that tell the story of daily life and the unique Shikumen architectural culture of Shanghai.

Is lunch included, and are there options for dietary preferences?

Lunch is included on the tour at Nanjing Road, with vegetarian options and local specialties available. You choose what suits your preferences when you eat.

What time does the tour start, and how do I get picked up?

Your guide meets you at the airport exit at your flight arrival time or at 8:30 a.m., whichever applies. Private transportation is included throughout the tour, and you're driven back to the airport or your hotel at the end.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour is available in English, Spanish, French, German and additional languages. You'll choose your preferred language when you book.