Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Water Town: Private Day Trip with Gondola

Gondola rides and 1,700-year-old stone bridges: a day split between water town and modern Shanghai

You spend the morning in a 1,700-year-old water town riding a gondola beneath ancient bridges and walking past Qing dynasty temples and shops, then choose your Shanghai afternoon from six different routes: modern towers, film parks, colonial mansions, or markets. The private guide adjusts stops to match what you actually want to see, lunch is at your preference, and the All Inclusive Package adds snacks and the gondola ride so nothing surprises you at the gate. Nine hours, one driver, no transport logistics to arrange.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Zhujiajiao2h · entry included
2. Shanghai Museum1h
3. Shanghai Tower1h · entry included
4. Shanghai Chedun Film Park2h · entry included

Zhujiajiao and Shanghai highlights

• Visit Zhujiajiao water town
• Ride gondola under bridges
• Explore Qing dynasty streets
• Visit Qing Dynasty Post Office
• Visit Yuanjin Buddhist Temple
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Explore selected Shanghai highlights

The experience

"Which route speaks to you?" your guide asks as you settle into the minivan, and that's when you realize this isn't a fixed itinerary. It's a conversation. The nine-hour day starts an hour outside Shanghai in Zhujiajiao, a water town built 1,700 years ago, where 36 stone bridges arch over rivers and Qing dynasty buildings still line the banks. You'll glide beneath those bridges in a gondola, walk streets lined with food vendors and small shops, and stop at the Yuanjin Buddhist Temple and the old Post Office. It's the kind of place where time moves differently, and the guide lets you set the pace.

After Zhujiajiao, the route splits. You pick from six options when you book: some lean into Shanghai's modern side (the Shanghai Tower with its 128 stories and world's fastest elevators at 74 km/hr), others toward its history (the Shanghai Chedun Film Park, which recreates 1930s-40s Shanghai across 800,000 square meters, or Thames Town, a British-themed district 30 kilometers out). There's also the 1933 Old Millfun, a former slaughterhouse turned restaurant and shop complex that Atlas Obscura calls a "Gotham-Deco achievement in concrete and steel." If markets are your thing, you can hit the fabric and custom tailor markets or the knockoff goods bazaar. The guide discusses what fits your interests and adjusts the stops accordingly.

Lunch happens at a place you choose, and if you pick the All Inclusive Package, it includes local snacks tasting and the gondola ride is already covered, so you're not negotiating meals or entry fees mid-day. The minivan is air-conditioned, the driver knows the routes, and you move between stops without figuring out transport yourself. Wear comfortable shoes. The water town involves walking on stone streets, and some of the Shanghai stops (especially the markets) reward time spent wandering.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan with experienced driver.
• private guide for the full nine hours.
• water.
• one entrance fee if you select All Inclusive Package.
• local snacks tasting if you select All Inclusive Package.
• gondola ride in Zhujiajiao if you select All Inclusive Package.

Options for this experience

2 options

Service with a guide and transfer.Guide in English or Chinese · 08:30This option covers a premium car with driver, an expert tour guide service, and a Confucius Tea ceremony. The entrance fee, boat ride, and lunch are at your own cost. Pickup is included.

All Inclusive PackageGuide in English or Chinese · 08:30This option covers every entrance fee, a gondola ride, a premium car with driver, an expert tour guide, a local lunch, and water. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to4h 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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Jennys China Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see both old Shanghai (the water town's ancient canals and temples) and new Shanghai (the tower, film park, or markets) in one day without arranging your own transport between them: the private guide and fixed route mean you move smoothly between stops and don't spend time figuring out how to get there.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

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

How far is Zhujiajiao from central Shanghai?

About an hour outside Shanghai by car.

Is the gondola ride included in the base price?

It's included if you select the All Inclusive Package. Otherwise it's an add-on.

Can I choose which Shanghai attractions to visit?

Yes. There are six recommended route options (including Shanghai Tower, Film Park, Thames Town, markets, and colonial mansions), and you select when you book. The guide can also adjust based on your interests.

How long is the total day?

Nine hours from start to finish.

What's included in the All Inclusive Package?

Water, local snacks tasting, the gondola ride, private guide, air-conditioned minivan with driver, and one entrance fee.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch?

You choose where to eat, and the guide takes you there. Dietary requirements can be noted at booking.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

What should I wear?

Comfortable shoes are essential, especially for walking the stone streets of Zhujiajiao and exploring markets. Dress for the weather, as the tour operates in all conditions.