Shanghai day tour by metro: Tower, Museum & Qibao Old Town

See Shanghai's skyline, temples and ancient streets in one full day without arranging transport

A private 10-hour Shanghai day tour with hotel pickup includes admission to Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund and Qibao Old Town, plus metro travel as locals do and a professional guide. The guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German or Mandarin, and the price covers all entrance fees and three traditional snack tastings at Qibao Old Street.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Shanghai sightseeing tour

• Meet guide at hotel lobby
• Take metro through Shanghai
• Visit Shanghai People's Square
• Explore Shanghai Museum
• Visit Jade Buddha Temple
• Walk along the Bund waterfront
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Explore Qibao Old Town and taste snacks
• Enjoy Qibao night scenery

The Experience

Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby and the day moves through Shanghai's layers—from the crowded energy of People's Square at the city center, through the Shanghai Museum's bronze wares and classical paintings, to the Jade Buddha Temple, where two jade statues brought from Burma in 1882 sit in a rebuilt sanctuary that feels removed from the modern streets around it. The route uses the metro, so you travel the way locals do instead of sitting in a car.

The Bund comes next: 26 buildings of different architectural styles line the Huangpu River's west bank, from the Peace Hotel to the Shanghai Customs House, and you walk the waterfront to see both sides of the river. Then the Shanghai Tower—632 meters tall, the city's tallest building—takes you up 118 floors in 55 seconds on an express elevator to the indoor observation deck, where the bird's-eye view holds the whole sprawl of Shanghai below you. The day ends at Qibao Old Town, a thousand-year-old settlement that is the only ancient town still part of greater Shanghai. You walk the old streets, taste three rounds of Shanghai's traditional snacks at different vendors, and stay into the evening to see the charming night scenery when the lanterns come on.

All entrance fees are included, and the guide handles the logistics—you do not arrange tickets or figure out the metro lines. If you need private car transport instead of metro travel, that is available as an option at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• admission to Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Shanghai Tower and Qibao Old Town.
• metro travel throughout the day.
• professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish, French, German or Mandarin.
• three traditional snack tastings at Qibao Old Street.
• all entrance fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German or Mandarin, so choose the language that works for you—the commentary flows in real time as you move through each stop. The 10-hour pace suits travelers who want to see Shanghai's major landmarks in one day without managing their own transport or tickets.

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Top questions

What is the Shanghai Tower observation deck like, and how high up does it go?

The Shanghai Tower's indoor observation deck sits on the 118th floor at 632 meters high—the world's highest indoor observation deck, called the Top of Shanghai Observatory. An express elevator reaches it in 55 seconds, and from there you have a panoramic view of the entire city.

What kind of snacks will I taste at Qibao Old Town?

Qibao Old Town is known for a great variety of Shanghai traditional snacks. The tour includes tastings at about three snack bars as you walk the old streets, so you sample local specialties without having to decide what to order yourself.

Does the guide speak English, or are there other language options?

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

How long does the whole tour take, and what time does it start?

The tour runs for 10 hours total. Your guide picks you up at your hotel lobby in the morning and the day covers all six major stops—People's Square, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Shanghai Tower and Qibao Old Town—ending in the evening when the old town is lit up.

Do I need to buy metro tickets separately, or is transport included?

Metro travel is included in the tour price. You travel by metro as locals do, and the guide handles the navigation, so you do not buy separate tickets or figure out the lines yourself.

What is the Jade Buddha Temple, and why is it significant?

The Jade Buddha Temple is a venerable Buddhist temple built in 1928 to house two jade Buddha statues that a monk named Huigen brought from Burma in 1882. Although its history is not long compared to other Chinese temples, its classical architectural style and peaceful atmosphere make it distinctive in the modern city.