Zhujiajiao and Shanghai Tower Private Tour with Sunset

Boat through a 1,700-year-old water town, then watch Shanghai from above at sunset

A private guided tour of Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town combines a boat cruise through the best-preserved water town in the region, lunch there, afternoon walks through Xintiandi's historic Shikumen architecture, and sunset views from Shanghai Tower's observation deck. Hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, all entry fees and lunch are included; the tour runs 8 to 9 hours and operates in English, Spanish, French, German and other languages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhujiajiao, Xintiandi and Shanghai Tower

• Meet guide at hotel at 09:00 a.m.
• Transfer to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
• Explore Zhujiajiao by boat and foot
• Visit Kezhi Garden and City God Temple
• See Qing-period post office and Yuanjin Temple
• Enjoy local specialty lunch in Zhujiajiao
• Transfer to Shanghai downtown
• Appreciate Shikumen style houses in Xintiandi
• Visit Shikumen Open House Museum
• Walk along the Bund and admire architecture
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Admire sunset views from Shanghai Tower
• Return to hotel and end service

The Experience

Your guide meets you at your hotel at 9am and drives you to Zhujiajiao, a canal-laced town 30 minutes outside Shanghai with a recorded history stretching back over 1,700 years. The morning unfolds on foot and by boat through narrow waterways lined with Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, stone bridges and small temples. You'll pass the Qing-period post office—the oldest surviving one in eastern China—and stop at landmarks like Kezhi Garden and the City God Temple. The boat ride itself is the point: it's how the town reveals itself, one bend at a time.

Lunch is a local specialty meal in Zhujiajiao before you transfer back to Shanghai's downtown. The afternoon splits between two contrasts. Xintiandi shows you the Shikumen style—narrow townhouses built in the 1920s that blend Chinese and Western design—now converted into cafés, bars and shops that capture how Shanghai's younger generation lives. You'll also step inside the Shikumen Open House Museum, a preserved 1920s family home with seven rooms laid out as they were then: guest room, study, bedrooms, kitchen. It's a snapshot of everyday Shanghai a century ago. Then you walk the Bund, the riverfront that defines the city, and see 26 buildings spanning different eras and styles—the Peace Hotel, the Shanghai Customs House, the Pudong Development Bank—all standing together as a timeline of Shanghai's growth.

The day ends at Shanghai Tower, the city's tallest building at 632 meters. An express elevator reaches the 118th-floor observation deck in 55 seconds. From there you have a bird's-eye view of both sides of the Huangpu River, and if the weather holds, you'll catch the sunset over the water. Your guide then returns you to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, French, German or other languages.
• boat cruise through Zhujiajiao's canals.
• lunch at a local restaurant in the water town.
• entry to Shikumen Open House Museum.
• access to Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observation deck.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, small family or group of friends and want a single day that covers both Shanghai's ancient water-town roots and its modern skyline—the private guide and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together without anyone building it, and you see the sunset from the tower instead of planning around crowds.

Top questions

What is Zhujiajiao and why is it called the Venice of Shanghai?

Zhujiajiao is the best-preserved of four ancient water towns near Shanghai, with over 1,700 years of recorded history. It's known for its network of canals, waterways, stone bridges and narrow alleys lined with buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, earning the nickname for its resemblance to Venice's canal-based layout.

How do you explore Zhujiajiao during the tour?

You explore Zhujiajiao on foot and by boat. The boat cruise takes you through the town's canals and waterways, passing landmarks like Kezhi Garden, the Qing-period post office, the City God Temple and Yuanjin Temple before you return to walk the alleys and bridges at ground level.

What is the Shikumen Open House Museum and what will I see there?

The Shikumen Open House Museum is a 1920s townhouse that has been preserved and renovated to show how a Shanghai family lived in that era. It has seven rooms—guest room, study, bedrooms, pavilion and kitchen—arranged to tell the story of one household and display the unique architectural style and lifestyle of Shanghai people in the 1920s.

When do you visit Shanghai Tower and what is there to see?

Shanghai Tower is the final stop of the day. You take an express elevator to the 118th-floor observation deck, which reaches that height in 55 seconds. From there you have a bird's-eye view of Shanghai and the Huangpu River on both sides, with a chance to see the sunset if weather permits.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes private transportation from your hotel, a boat cruise in Zhujiajiao, lunch in the water town, entry fees to all attractions, and a professional guide in your chosen language. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of the service.