Wuzhen and Xitang water towns from Hangzhou: Private day tour

Two water towns, one guide, the whole day mapped out for you

A private day tour from Hangzhou to Wuzhen and Xitang, two ancient water towns in southeast China, with a local English-speaking guide, driver, vehicle, entrance fees and lunch. You explore Wuzhen's 1,300-year-old canal streets and stone bridges in the morning, then drive to Xitang in the afternoon to walk its Ming and Qing Dynasty alleyways, visit preserved garden houses and temples, and see the town lit by traditional lanterns at night before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Wuzhen and Xitang Water Towns

• Pick up from Hangzhou hotel
• Drive to Wuzhen Water Town
• Stroll stone alley streets in Wuzhen
• Explore local stores and water market
• Enjoy lunch at riverside restaurant
• Drive to Xitang Water Town
• Explore street markets and garden houses
• Visit local museums and historic sites
• Enjoy night view with traditional lanterns
• Transfer back to Hangzhou hotel

The experience

How do you see two of China's most famous water towns in a single day without renting a car or navigating on your own? This tour picks you up from your Hangzhou hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and handles the driving, the entrance fees and the route. Your guide is a local who speaks English and knows the history and layout of both places, so you're not reading a map or guessing which alley to turn down.

Wuzhen comes first. It's a National 5A attraction, China's highest rating, with more than 1,300 years of history built into its stone bridges, canal-side residences and narrow alley streets. You'll walk through the town at your own pace with your guide, stop at the local market along the water, browse the small shops, and break for lunch at a riverside restaurant. The afternoon shift takes you to Xitang, a thousand-year-old town in Jiashan where Mission: Impossible III was filmed. The Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings are still intact. You can visit the Chinese Wine Museum, the Button Museum, or explore the garden houses and historic temples depending on what interests you. As the sun sets, the town fills with traditional lanterns. That's when most visitors photograph it. After the evening light fades, your driver takes you back to your hotel or drops you in central Hangzhou.

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total. Lunch is included at Wuzhen. If you order dinner in Xitang, you pay the restaurant directly. The pace is set by your guide and your own interest in each stop, so you're not herded through on a fixed schedule with a large group. Infants can ride in a stroller, and the itinerary works for all fitness levels. Wear comfortable shoes for the stone streets and bring a light layer: the tour runs in all weather.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking local guide.
• experienced driver with air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to Wuzhen and Xitang.
• lunch at a riverside restaurant in Wuzhen.
• hotel pickup and return transfer to your hotel or central Hangzhou.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00

AgesAdult (8 to 88 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you're not on a bus with other travelers. It's just you, your guide and your driver. That means you set the pace at each stop and can spend extra time at a site that interests you without holding up a group. It suits anyone who wants to see both water towns in one day without driving themselves or figuring out the local transport, and who prefers a guide who knows the history and can answer questions as you walk.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Wuzhen Water Town actually like when you get there?

Wuzhen is a 1,300-year-old town built along canals with stone bridges connecting narrow alleyways lined with traditional residences, small shops and a working water market. You walk through the alley streets, explore the local stores, and stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant. The town is rated National 5A, China's highest attraction rating, and the architecture and canal scenery are what draw most visitors.

Can I choose what I do in Xitang, or is the itinerary fixed?

You have choices in Xitang. Your guide will show you the main sites (the Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, the garden houses and historic temples), but you can decide which museums to visit, like the Chinese Wine Museum or Button Museum, based on your own interests. You're not locked into a set schedule.

Is the boat ride on the water included in this tour?

The boat ride is optional and depends on which version of the tour you book at checkout. Some options include it. Others don't. Check the booking page to see which one you're selecting.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

The tour includes pickup from your Hangzhou hotel, the driver and air-conditioned vehicle, your English-speaking local guide, entrance fees to both Wuzhen and Xitang, and lunch at a riverside restaurant in Wuzhen. If you order food or drinks in Xitang, you pay the restaurant directly.

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

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total. You'll choose your preferred departure time when you book, and your guide will pick you up at that time from your hotel. The return to your hotel or downtown Hangzhou happens in the evening after the lantern lighting in Xitang.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You're walking through town alleyways on stone streets, so wear comfortable shoes, but there are no steep climbs or strenuous activities. Infants can travel in a stroller, and children must be accompanied by an adult.