Shanghai Tower, Zoo & Nanjing Road: 9-hour private tour

Six Shanghai landmarks in one day, with a guide who knows the route

A private 9-hour sightseeing tour of Shanghai with a professional guide covering Shanghai Tower, the Bund, Shanghai Zoo, Yu Garden, Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road. The tour includes metro fares, all entrance fees, a guide in your choice of language, and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) for lunch. Hotel pickup is included; private transportation is available as an add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Shanghai sightseeing tour

• Take metro through Shanghai
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Walk along the Bund waterfront
• See giant panda at Shanghai Zoo
• Explore Shanghai Old Street
• Visit Yu Garden
• Shop and stroll on Nanjing Road

The Experience

Shanghai Tower anchors the morning: you'll ride the rapid elevator 55 seconds to the 118th-floor observation deck called Top of Shanghai, where you stand 632 meters above the city and look out over both banks of the Huangpu River. From there the tour moves to the Bund itself, the waterfront strip that holds 26 buildings spanning different architectural eras—the symbol of Shanghai as a city layering old history and modern density. The guide walks you through what each building represents and why the skyline reads the way it does.

Shanghai Zoo comes next, a state-level facility with more than 6,000 animals spread across five exhibition zones. You'll see giant pandas, golden monkeys, South China tigers and Manchurian tigers alongside animals from across the globe—giraffes, kangaroos, penguins, hippopotamuses, sea lions. The zoo is large enough that you move through it without the feeling of rushing; the guide paces the stops so the animals stay the focus. Lunch is xiaolongbao, the soup dumplings Shanghai is known for.

The afternoon splits between two older Shanghai neighborhoods. Shanghai Old Street reads like the trading market of a century ago—small commodity vendors, narrow passages, fragments of the old city wall still standing. Yu Garden, built during the Ming dynasty and restored in 1961, is a classical private garden with the kind of architectural detail and landscaping that rewards slow walking. The layout is deliberate; the guide explains what you're looking at and why it was arranged that way. The day closes on Nanjing Road, the commercial street that runs 5.5 kilometers and holds over 600 shops—department stores, fashion boutiques, snack vendors, the Dangdang sightseeing tram. You travel by metro like a local, not by tour bus, which changes how the city feels as you move through it.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your choice of language.
• metro and subway fares.
• entrance fees to Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Zoo, Yu Garden and Shanghai Old Street.
• xiaolongbao lunch.
• hotel pickup.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want one guide to navigate you through six major Shanghai sites in a single day using metro transit, with all entrance fees included.

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Top questions

How do I get to the starting point for this Shanghai tour?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour price. The guide will meet you at your accommodation and you'll travel together from there.

What's inside Shanghai Tower and how much time do I spend there?

Shanghai Tower holds the Top of Shanghai observation deck on the 118th floor. The rapid elevator reaches it in 55 seconds, and you'll have time to stop and take in the views of the Huangpu River and the city skyline from both sides of the building.

Will I actually see giant pandas at Shanghai Zoo?

Yes. Shanghai Zoo houses giant pandas along with golden monkeys, South China tigers, Manchurian tigers and over 6,000 other animals across five exhibition zones—primates, herbivores, carnivores, birds and amphibians.

Is lunch included, and what will I eat?

Lunch is included and consists of xiaolongbao, the soup dumplings Shanghai is famous for. They're served during the afternoon portion of the tour.

What languages does the guide speak?

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

How do we get around Shanghai during the tour?

You'll travel by metro, the same way locals move through the city. Metro fares are included in the tour price, and the guide navigates the system so you don't have to figure out the routes yourself.