Shanghai Private Tour: Tower, Bazaar, River Cruise & Meal

Shanghai Tower's 360-degree city view, a Ming-dynasty bazaar, river lights, and a meal built around soup dumplings.

A five-hour private tour of Shanghai with hotel pickup includes Shanghai Tower (China's tallest building), Yuyuan bazaar, a Huangpu River cruise, and Shanghai-style lunch or dinner depending on your chosen departure time. Your guide speaks English or Chinese and customizes the route to your interests; if you've visited some attractions before, you can swap them for alternatives like the Jade Buddha Temple or Tianzifang. Yuyuan Garden entry is optional and costs extra; the garden closes Mondays.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Shanghai with food and sights

• Hotel pickup by local guide
• Visit Yuyuan bazaar and shop
• Taste famous snacks at bazaar
• Enjoy lunch or dinner at local restaurant
• Visit Shanghai Tower observatory
• Take Huangpu River cruise
• Return to hotel

The Experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel lobby at either 10am or 2pm, depending on whether you want lunch or dinner. The morning starts at Yuyuan bazaar, a Ming and Qing dynasty market filled with souvenir shops and restaurants where you can wander, photograph the architecture, and taste local snacks like spring rolls and soup dumplings if you want to graze before the main meal. Yu Garden sits next to the bazaar if you decide to add it; just let your guide know when you book (it's closed Mondays).

After the bazaar, you'll eat at a local restaurant serving Shanghai classics: Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings with pork or crab) and Hong Shao Rou (Chairman Mao's favorite braised pork). The afternoon takes you to Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, where the observatory at 632 meters gives you a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city. Then comes the Huangpu River cruise, where you'll see the colonial Bund buildings on the west bank—the Peace Hotel, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank—and the modern skyline on the east: Oriental Pearl TV Tower, World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower itself. If you chose the afternoon departure, the river lights up as you cruise, turning the whole trip into an evening view.

The tour is private to your party and flexible: if you've already seen some of these spots, your guide can swap in alternatives like Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Tianzifang (the former French Concession), or the Propaganda Poster Art Center. Transport is by private air-conditioned vehicle. At the end, your guide returns you to your hotel, or to Pudong International Airport if you selected that option at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English or Chinese.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Shanghai Tower entrance fee.
• Huangpu River cruise.
• Shanghai-style lunch or dinner (soup dumplings, braised pork, and other local dishes).
• airport drop-off at Pudong International Airport if you select that option at checkout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Amazing Shanghai Trip

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to eat lunch and spend the afternoon at Shanghai Tower and on the river; choose the afternoon departure if you prefer dinner and want to see the city lights on the water. Either way, the private vehicle and guide let you linger at Yuyuan bazaar or swap in a different attraction if you've seen the main stops before.

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Top questions

What exactly is Xiao Long Bao and why is it famous in Shanghai?

Xiao Long Bao is a soup dumpling—minced pork wrapped in a thin skin—that is a signature of Shanghai cuisine with over a hundred years of history. The pork version is the most classical; during crab season you can also try the crab-meat version. You'll taste it at the restaurant stop during your tour.

Can I visit Yu Garden if I want to, or is it already included?

Yu Garden is optional and not included in the base tour price. It sits next to Yuyuan bazaar, so you can ask your guide to add it when you book. Entry costs extra, and the garden closes on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

What's the view like from Shanghai Tower?

Shanghai Tower's observatory sits at 632 meters and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city. The operator calls it the "airborne city" and "city's smart eyes"—you see the whole Shanghai landscape from one vantage point.

Does the Huangpu River cruise look different if I choose the afternoon departure?

Yes. The afternoon departure includes the river cruise after dark, so you see the city's lights reflected on the water and illuminating the skyline. The morning departure shows you the same buildings and layout in daylight.

Can I swap out attractions if I've already seen Shanghai Tower or the bazaar?

Yes. If you've visited some of the main stops before, you can choose alternatives based on your interests: Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Tianzifang (the former French Concession), TV Tower, Jinmao Tower, World Financial Center, or the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center. Let your guide know when you book.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, your professional guide, Shanghai Tower entry, the Huangpu River cruise, transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and Shanghai-style lunch or dinner depending on your departure time. Yuyuan Garden entry is optional and costs extra. Gratuities are not included.