Zhujiajiao Water Town & Shanghai City Private Tour with Guide

Seven to eight hours split between ancient canals and modern skyline

A private day tour of Shanghai pairing the water town of Zhujiajiao with the city's main landmarks: Yu Garden, the Bund, Pudong's financial district and optional Jade Buddha Temple. Your guide meets you at your hotel, drives you to Zhujiajiao for the morning or afternoon, then spends the remaining half day on your choice of Shanghai sites. Hotel pickup and drop-off, private car and English-speaking guide are included. Lunch or dinner can be added at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Zhujiajiao3h · entry included
2. Yu Garden1h 30m
3. Shanghai World Financial Center1h
4. Jade Buddha Temple1h · entry included

Explore Zhujiajiao and Shanghai highlights

• Meet guide at Shanghai hotel
• Travel to Zhujiajiao water town
• Explore old alleys and Fang Sheng Bridge
• Visit local markets and handicrafts
• Optional gondola boat ride
• Return to Shanghai city
• Visit Yu Garden or explore China Town
• Walk along Lujiazui sky bridge
• Photo stop at Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• Walk along the Bund and Huangpu River
• Optional visit to Jade Buddha Temple
• Drop off at Shanghai hotel or downtown

The experience

The tour splits into two halves. You start with a flexible departure (morning or afternoon, your choice), and spend about four hours in Zhujiajiao, the best-preserved water town near Shanghai. Your guide walks you through the old stone-paved alleyways, up the ancient Fang Sheng Bridge, past local street markets and historical landmarks. A gondola ride on the canals is available at your own cost. The town's layout and pace let you move at your own speed while your guide explains the local customs and history.

The second half unfolds in Shanghai proper, and here the itinerary is genuinely flexible. Yu Garden (an elegant Ming and Qing dynasty garden built over five centuries ago) is a standard stop, with its zigzag bridge, pavilions and ponds. The garden closes Mondays. From there, your guide can take you to the Bund for a walk along the Huangpu River with views of both old colonial and modern architecture, or head to Pudong's financial district to photograph the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center against the skyline. If you want to climb one of the observation decks, that's an optional add. The Jade Buddha Temple, with its two Burmese jade statues, is another choice. If you've already seen any of these, your guide will adjust to other neighborhoods: the Former French Concession, People's Square, Xintiandi, Tianzifang or Nanjing Road shopping street.

Lunch or dinner can be included if you select that option at checkout. The private car stays with you throughout, and your driver handles all transport between sites. The tour ends with drop-off at your Shanghai hotel or another downtown location you request.

What’s included

• Private driver with air-conditioned car.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the downtown area.
• English-speaking local guide for the full seven to eight hours.
• lunch or dinner if you book that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private Tour OnlyGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 12:00Guide and private transfer: an excellent guide and an air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver are included (food and entrance fees are not). Pickup is included.

Private tour with lunchGuide in English · 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Tour with lunch only: an excellent guide, an air-conditioned car with a private driver, and a tasty lunch are all included. (Entrance fees are not included.) Pickup is included.

Private tour with dinnerGuide in English · 12:00 and 12:30Tour with dinner only: an excellent guide, an air-conditioned car with a private driver, and a tasty dinner are all included. (Entrance fees are not included.) Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 12:30

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 41

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to explore Zhujiajiao before the crowds arrive, or the afternoon slot if you prefer to start in Shanghai and end at the water town. The flexible itinerary means you're not locked into a fixed route through the city: your guide adjusts to what you actually want to see, so couples, families and solo travelers all get a day built around their own interests rather than a preset schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What exactly is Zhujiajiao and why is it called the Oriental Venice?

Zhujiajiao is one of the best-preserved ancient water towns near Shanghai, built with canals, stone bridges and traditional Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. The Venice comparison refers to the network of waterways and narrow alleyways that define the town's layout, along with the gondola rides available on the canals.

Can I choose which Shanghai sites to visit, or is the itinerary fixed?

The itinerary is customizable. Yu Garden and the Bund are standard stops, but your guide will adjust based on your interests and what you've already seen. Jade Buddha Temple, Pudong's skyscrapers, the Former French Concession and other neighborhoods are all options you can swap in or out.

Is the gondola ride in Zhujiajiao included in the tour price?

The gondola ride is available at your own cost, roughly USD 30 per boat for up to six passengers. It's optional, so you can skip it and explore the town on foot instead.

What time does the tour start, and can I choose morning or afternoon?

You choose either a morning or afternoon departure based on your schedule. The tour runs seven to eight hours total, split between Zhujiajiao and Shanghai city. Your guide meets you at your hotel for pickup.

Is lunch or dinner included?

Lunch or dinner is included only if you select the "Private Tour with Lunch" or "Private Tour with Dinner" option at checkout. The base "Private Tour Only" option does not include a meal.

Are there any sites that might be closed on the day I visit?

Yu Garden closes every Monday, so if that day falls on your tour date, your guide will substitute another site or adjust the itinerary. All other attractions operate in all weather conditions.