Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai: Hand-Rowed Boat

Drift under stone bridges in a hand-rowed wooden boat, then walk the winding alleys of a 1,700-year-old water town.

A private guided tour of Zhujiajiao, Shanghai's best-preserved ancient water town, departing from your Shanghai hotel or cruise port with a dedicated English-speaking guide and driver. The half-day tour (5 hours) covers Kezhi Garden, a hand-rowed boat ride along the canals, and the old streets of Zhujiajiao; the full-day option (8 hours) adds Shanghai Zoo in the morning, where giant pandas are most active during feeding time. Lunch at a local restaurant is included on the full-day tour only. Round-trip private transfer, bottled water, and all attraction entry are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day private tour to Zhujiajiao

• Hotel pickup in Shanghai
• Visit Shanghai Zoo to see giant pandas
• Travel to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town
• Explore Kezhi Garden
• Walk to Fangsheng Bridge
• Take hand-rowed boat ride on canal
• Visit old post office
• Stroll North Street and have lunch
• Shop at local stores with guide
• Return to hotel or port

The Experience

Your guide picks you up at your hotel or cruise port and the route depends on which tour you book. On the half-day tour, you head straight to Zhujiajiao. On the full-day tour, the morning starts at Shanghai Zoo, where giant pandas are most playful during their feeding session—the best time for photographs. You'll also see exotic birds, primates, big cats and native animals across the park's spacious enclosures before driving out to Zhujiajiao, about an hour from Shanghai.

Zhujiajiao itself has over 1,700 years of history and sits on crisscrossing canals lined with Ming and Qing-style riverside houses. Your guide leads you through the old streets to Kezhi Garden, the largest private classical garden in the water town, built starting in 1912. Inside you'll find Sino-Western blended architecture, ponds, rockeries, the Nine-zigzag Bridge, and winding corridors with ancient calligraphy—quiet spaces designed for photographs. From there you walk to Fangsheng Bridge, the landmark stone arch, where you board a hand-rowed wooden boat for a leisurely drift along the canal. You'll pass old riverside houses and quaint waterfront lanes, seeing the water-town landscape the way it's been seen for centuries. The boat ride is the centerpiece of the morning or afternoon, depending on your tour length.

After the boat, you'll walk North Street, the main commercial street lined with old buildings, snack stalls and traditional shops. On the full-day tour, lunch is arranged at a local restaurant here—you'll taste authentic water-town specialties. Your guide can also help translate prices if you want to browse the local shops. The tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel or port. The operator provides a professional driver who speaks English, and the vehicle is private to your group only.

What’s included

• Round-trip private transfer from your Shanghai hotel or cruise port.
• a professional English-speaking guide and driver for your group only.
• entry to Kezhi Garden.
• a hand-rowed wooden boat ride along the canals.
• bottled water.
• lunch at a local restaurant (full-day tour only).
• Shanghai Zoo entry (full-day tour only).

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Shanghai Driver Guide

Is this one for you?Choose the half-day tour if you want to focus on Zhujiajiao's canals, gardens and old streets without the zoo; pick the full-day option if you're traveling with children or wildlife enthusiasts and want to see the giant pandas in the morning before heading to the water town. The private vehicle and guide mean you move at your own pace and don't wait for other groups.

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Top questions

What is Kezhi Garden and what will I see there?

Kezhi Garden, also called Ma's Garden, is the largest private classical garden in Zhujiajiao, built over 15 years starting from 1912. You'll walk through Sino-Western blended buildings, ponds, rockeries, winding corridors, the Nine-zigzag Bridge, and stele corridors with ancient calligraphy, all arranged to embody the traditional Chinese philosophy of balancing study and farming.

How long is the hand-rowed boat ride and what will I see from it?

The boat ride is a leisurely drift along the canal under Fangsheng Bridge, the landmark stone arch. You'll pass old riverside houses, quaint waterfront lanes, and lush riverside views on both banks—classic water-town scenery that's ideal for photographs and gives you a sense of the slow, peaceful lifestyle of ancient Jiangnan water towns.

If I book the full-day tour, when do I see the giant pandas at Shanghai Zoo?

On the full-day tour, Shanghai Zoo is your first stop after pickup. Giant pandas are most energetic and playful during their morning feeding time, which is when you'll visit—the best moment to photograph them eating bamboo and moving around actively.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Lunch is included only on the full-day tour. Your guide will arrange a meal at a local restaurant on North Street in Zhujiajiao, where you'll taste authentic water-town specialties and traditional local flavors while sitting along the canal.

What happens if I'm arriving on a cruise ship instead of staying at a hotel?

Cruise passengers are welcome; pickup and drop-off at the port are included. At booking, you'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time so the guide can plan the route around your ship's schedule.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, as you'll be strolling through old streets and gardens. The tour operates in all weather, so dress appropriately for the season. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.