Private Full-Day Shanghai Tour: East & West Highlights

Eight hours, both sides of Shanghai, one guide who knows it

A private full-day tour of Shanghai with a live guide in English, Spanish, French or Chinese covers the Bund's colonial architecture, Yu Garden's Ming Dynasty halls and rockery, the French Concession's tree-lined streets, and three of the city's tallest buildings in Lujiazui. Hotel pickup and flexible start time are included. Observation deck entry is optional so you choose based on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shanghai Tower30m
2. Oriental Pearl Tower15m
3. Shanghai World Financial Center15m
4. French Concession1h
5. The Bund1h

Explore Shanghai's iconic landmarks

• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• See Oriental Pearl Tower views
• Explore Shanghai World Financial Center decks
• Walk through Yu Garden
• Stroll old business street near Yu Garden
• Visit Confucius Temple and tea ceremony
• Explore French Concession area
• Walk along The Bund riverside promenade

The experience

The guide meets you at your hotel and the day splits between east and west Shanghai. Lujiazui holds three skyscrapers: Shanghai Tower, the world's fastest elevators climbing 632 metres to the highest observation deck; Oriental Pearl Tower, which held China's tallest title for thirteen years and has a glass-floored sphere at the top; and Shanghai World Financial Center, where the 100th floor walkway sits inside transparent walls. Each observation deck is optional, so you pick which ones suit the weather and your energy.

The west side moves slower. Yu Garden dates to 1559 and spreads across halls, statues and the famous Grand Rockery and Exquisite Jade Rocks: the guide walks you through the layout so the garden reads as a whole instead of a collection of corners. Nearby, Confucius Temple sits on the grounds where Shanghai was still a fishing village during the Yuan Dynasty. A complimentary tea ceremony happens there. The Bund follows: dozens of colonial-era buildings line the Huangpu River, and the walkway lets you read the architecture and the history of European, Asian and American trading houses all at once.

French Concession closes the day with tree-lined streets and the mix of colonial and modern Shanghai that makes the neighbourhood distinct. The guide knows the story of how it got there and what changed. Transport is included (either a private car for the whole day or metro and taxis, depending on which option you book), and you return to your hotel at the end. An authentic dumpling lunch is part of the all-inclusive options. If you choose guide-only, you arrange your own meal.

What’s included

• Personal guide in your chosen language.
• hotel pickup and return.
• flexible start time.
• entrance fees to Yu Garden and Confucius Temple (with complimentary tea ceremony).
• authentic dumpling lunch (all-inclusive options only).
• private car or metro and taxi transport (depending on option).
• observation deck entry is optional and you choose which ones to visit.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide onlyUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30Flexible tour option: this option includes guide service only, giving you the greatest freedom to choose your sites and meals. Pickup is included.

Fully inclusive, with metro and taxisUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 09:30Authentic dumpling lunch. Travel by metro and taxis: this option includes entrance fees, lunch, and public metro and taxi transport. Pickup is included.

Fully inclusive, with private carUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 09:30Authentic dumpling lunch. Private car: a modern vehicle with air conditioning and ample room. All entrance fees: this option includes all entrance fees (except observation decks) and lunch. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jennys China Tours

Is this one for you?Book the all-inclusive option with private car if you want one vehicle for the whole day and don't want to navigate the metro between stops. Choose metro and taxis if you prefer to move through the city like a local and save on transport cost. The guide-only option works if you're comfortable arranging your own lunch and transport but want someone who knows the history and can explain what you're standing in front of.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

394 verified traveler reviews

5 ★380

4 ★8

3 ★5

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's inside Shanghai Tower and can I skip the observation decks if I don't want them?

Shanghai Tower holds the world's fastest elevators and the highest observation deck in the world at 632 metres. All three Lujiazui observation decks (Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center) are optional, so you decide on the day based on weather, crowds or how you're feeling.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and how does transport work?

Hotel pickup is included. The guide meets you at your centrally located hotel and returns you there at the end. You choose between a private car for the full day or metro and taxis, depending on which option you select at checkout.

What is Yu Garden and why does it matter?

Yu Garden is a classic Chinese garden built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty. It's filled with halls, statues, water features and the Grand Rockery, a famous rock formation, so the guide can show you how a traditional garden was designed to work as a whole, not just a series of pretty spots.

Is lunch included and what if I have dietary needs?

An authentic dumpling lunch is included in the all-inclusive options with private car or metro and taxis. The guide-only option doesn't include a meal. Let the operator know any dietary requirements when you book so they can arrange accordingly.

How long is the tour and when can I start?

The tour runs eight hours. You pick your start time when you book, so you can choose the hour that works best for your schedule.