Private Shanghai Tour: Tower, Jewish Museum, Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple tour, explore ancient Buddhist site, largest in Shanghai, rich history in modern city

Private guided tour of Shanghai covering the Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observation deck, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, the French Concession's Sinan Road, Huaihai Road shopping district, Xujiahui Catholic Church, and Longhua Temple — about 8 hours with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German or Mandarin and recommends local restaurants along the route based on your preference. All entrance fees are covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Shanghai's history and landmarks

• Meet guide at hotel at 09:00 a.m.
• Visit Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
• Walk along Lujiazui Ring Bridge in Pudong
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Walk on Shanghai Binjiang Avenue
• Explore Huaihai Road Commercial Street
• Stroll along Sinan Road and visit Sinnan Mansion
• Visit St. Ignatius Cathedral
• Visit Longhua Temple
• Transfer back to hotel

The Experience

The tour starts at your hotel at 9am and heads first to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, housed in the former Ohel Moishe Synagogue. The museum documents the lives of over 20,000 Jewish residents who fled Europe during World War II and lived in the Shanghai Ghetto during the Japanese occupation. You'll see photographs, films, personal items and learn about the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's role, then walk through Huoshan Park and the surrounding neighborhood where your guide points out sites from that era.

From there you transfer to Pudong, where the modern Shanghai rises in skyscrapers. The Shanghai Tower — 632 meters tall — is the next stop. An express elevator reaches the 118th floor in 55 seconds, where the indoor observation deck (called the Top of Shanghai Observatory) is the world's highest. You have time to take in the bird's-eye view of both sides of the Huangpu River from the 119th floor. After the tower, you walk along Lujiazui Ring Bridge for photographs of the skyline, then move to Shanghai Binjiang Avenue on the east bank of the Huangpu River, praised as the new Bund of Pudong.

The afternoon shifts to the French Concession. You'll walk Sinan Road, lined with plane trees and early 20th-century garden houses now holding boutique hotels, restaurants, bars and designer shops. Then comes Huaihai Road, one of Shanghai's busiest shopping streets and known for its elegance and romance. Your guide recommends where to eat — a small local eatery or a more formal restaurant, depending on what appeals to you. Before heading back to your hotel, you visit Xujiahui Catholic Church, built in 1896 in Gothic style with a 50-meter spire, and finish at Longhua Temple, which spans over 20,000 square meters and follows strict traditional Buddhist proportions.

What’s included

• Private guide in your choice of five languages.
• private transportation throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.
• entrance fees to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observation deck, and Longhua Temple.
• guide recommendations for local restaurants based on your preference.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours

Is this one for you?The 8-hour timeframe means you see the major landmarks — from the tower's observation deck to the oldest temple in the city — without the logistics of arranging transport, tickets or a guide yourself, but it also leaves the afternoon free if you want to explore a neighborhood on your own or rest before evening plans.

Top questions

What is the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and why does it matter?

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, housed in the former Ohel Moishe Synagogue, documents the lives of over 20,000 Jewish refugees who fled Europe during World War II and lived in Shanghai's Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees during the Japanese occupation. The museum holds photographs, films, personal items and records of their experiences.

How high is the Shanghai Tower observation deck and what can you see from it?

The observation deck on the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower is the world's highest indoor observation deck. From there you get a bird's-eye view of Shanghai and can see the panorama of both sides of the Huangpu River from the 119th floor as well.

What makes Longhua Temple significant in Shanghai?

Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai, with a history spanning over 1,700 years, and also the largest, occupying over 20,000 square meters. The entire courtyard was built in the style of traditional Buddhist symmetry according to Chinese concepts of beauty.

What is included in the price of this tour?

The tour includes a knowledgeable private guide, private transportation, bottled water, all entrance fees for the attractions, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Your guide can recommend restaurants along the route, though lunch itself is not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide is available in English, Spanish, French, German and Mandarin Chinese, so you can choose the language that works best for you when you book.