Shanghai Zhujiajiao Water Town tour with boat ride

Sculling boat through ancient canals, then walk bridges and alleyways lined with traditional houses

A half-day tour from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao Water Town includes hotel pickup, a professional English-speaking guide, a traditional sculling boat ride on the canals, and a minivan return to the city center. The morning departure gets you there before peak hours, leaving the afternoon free. Hotels within the Middle Ring Road are included. Those outside incur an additional transfer fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Zhujiajiao Water Town

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to Zhujiajiao Water Town
• Walk around alleyways
• Take traditional sculling boat ride
• Snap photos of bridges and houses
• Try local food (optional)
• Drive back to Shanghai
• Stop at Yu Garden subway station
• Return to hotel or visit Yuyuan market

The experience

One hour's drive in an air-conditioned minivan takes you out of Shanghai's center to Zhujiajiao, a water town built around canals and walkways. Your guide meets you at pickup and stays with you through the visit. The early timing means you arrive when the alleyways are quieter, the town draws crowds by midday, so you move through at a pace that lets you actually see the bridges, gardens and traditional residential houses instead of pushing past them.

The boat ride is the core of the visit: you board a small traditional sculling boat and travel the canals that thread through the town. Your guide narrates as you pass under arched bridges and past the old houses built right up to the water's edge. Walking the alleyways afterward, you get a sense of how the town is organized. The canals are the main streets, and the narrow lanes connect them. Zhujiajiao is also known for local food and snacks. You can stop to try things at your own expense if you want to.

The return drive ends at the nearest subway station near Yu Garden, where you leave the minivan and make your own way back to your hotel using the directions your guide provides. If you have time and interest, the Yuyuan market is nearby and walkable from the drop-off point, so you can add an hour there if the rest of your day allows it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within the Middle Ring Road of Shanghai.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full tour.
• traditional sculling boat ride on the canals.
• air-conditioned minivan with driver.
• free umbrellas.
• unlimited bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel China Guide

Is this one for you?The morning departure and six-hour round trip leave your afternoon free for other Shanghai plans, making this tour work for travelers with limited time or business schedules. If your hotel sits outside the Middle Ring Road, budget for an additional transfer fee at checkout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the drive from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao?

The minivan ride takes around one hour each way, so plan roughly two hours of travel time in total for the day.

What exactly happens on the boat ride in Zhujiajiao?

You board a traditional sculling boat and travel the small canals that run through the town, passing under bridges and past the old waterfront houses while your guide explains the history and layout of the water town.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the professional English-speaking guide, the boat ride ticket, the minivan with driver, free umbrellas, and unlimited bottled water are all included. Meals and tips are not.

Where does the tour drop me off at the end?

The minivan stops at the nearest subway station near Yu Garden in Shanghai, and your guide gives you directions to your hotel from there. You can also visit the nearby Yuyuan market on foot if you want to extend your afternoon.

Do I need to be fit or athletic for this tour?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels. Wear comfortable walking shoes because you'll spend time on the alleyways, and the guide can help you pace the walking portions.