Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai with Yuyuan Garden

Walk Ming and Qing dynasty streets, ride a gondola through canal-lined villages, then stand on Shanghai's riverfront

A full-day private tour from Shanghai that takes you an hour outside the city to Zhujiajiao, a water town built 1,700 years ago with 36 stone bridges and riverside architecture, then returns to Shanghai to visit Yuyuan Garden and the Bund. The tour includes a gondola ride through the canals, tastings of local snacks like sticky rice dumplings and steamed pork wrapped in bamboo leaves, visits to the Qing Dynasty Post Office and Yuanjin Buddhist Temple, a private guide in your choice of language, hotel pickup and drop-off, and an air-conditioned vehicle. You can add a sit-down lunch at checkout if you prefer a full meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Zhujiajiao2h · entry included
2. The Bund30m

Explore Zhujiajiao and Shanghai highlights

• Travel to Zhujiajiao water town
• Visit ancient bridges and Qing dynasty streets
• Explore Qing Dynasty Post Office and Yuanjin Buddhist Temple
• Sample local snacks and traditional candies
• Enjoy gondola ride along canals
• Return to Shanghai
• Visit Yuyuan Garden and its rockeries
• Stroll Old Shanghai Street and taste local cuisine
• Walk along the Bund and view historic buildings

The experience

Zhujiajiao sits just an hour outside Shanghai, far enough to feel like stepping into another era. The water town's 36 stone bridges span rivers that still line the riverbanks where ancient buildings stand, their ground floors now bustling with food vendors and shops built into the historic structures. You'll walk the stone streets and Qing dynasty architecture on foot, stopping to taste local snacks (sticky rice dumplings and steamed pork wrapped in bamboo leaves), and traditional Chinese candies as you move through the town. A gondola ride glides you through the canals, and visits to the Qing Dynasty Post Office and the rural-style Yuanjin Buddhist Temple round out the water town portion of the day.

After Zhujiajiao, the tour returns you to Shanghai to see the city's iconic landmarks. Yuyuan Garden, a classic Chinese garden dating back to 1559, spreads across halls, statues, rock structures and water features, including the famous Grand Rockery and Exquisite Jade Rocks. Nearby, Old Shanghai's complex of antique streets and shops lets you taste authentic Shanghai snacks and folk customs. The Bund closes the day with dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River (former banks, trading houses and consulates from Europe, Asia and the United States) that frame Shanghai's blend of Western and Eastern architecture and culture.

The tour runs 9½ hours total and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide who speaks English, French, German or Chinese, an air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver, bottled water, the gondola ride, and all fees and taxes. You choose whether to add a sit-down lunch when you book. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The tour operates rain or shine.

What’s included

• The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Shanghai.
• a private guide speaking English, French, German or Chinese.
• an air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver.
• bottled water.
• the gondola ride through Zhujiajiao's canals.
• tastings of local snacks like sticky rice dumplings and steamed pork wrapped in bamboo leaves.
• visits to the Qing Dynasty Post Office and Yuanjin Buddhist Temple.
• entry to Yuyuan Garden with skip-the-line access.
• and all fees and taxes. You can add a sit-down lunch at checkout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Chinese

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Jennys China Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide to pace your exploration of Zhujiajiao's ancient bridges and Qing dynasty streets alongside Shanghai landmarks, rather than joining a group or managing multiple transport connections yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Zhujiajiao and why does it matter on this tour?

Zhujiajiao is a water town established about 1,700 years ago, an hour outside Shanghai, with 36 stone bridges, rivers lining the banks, and ancient buildings still standing along the riverbanks. It's the centerpiece of the day because it preserves Ming and Qing dynasty architecture and street life in a setting most Shanghai visitors never reach on their own.

Does the tour include food, and what kind?

Yes, you'll sample local snacks along the way: sticky rice dumplings (zong zi), steamed pork wrapped in bamboo leaves (zha rou), and traditional Chinese candies. You can also choose to add a sit-down lunch when you book if you want a full meal instead of snacks.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to arrange?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide in your language choice, an air-conditioned vehicle with driver, bottled water, the gondola ride, and all fees and taxes. You just need to provide your full name and passport number when you book so the operator can secure your Yuyuan Garden ticket and bypass the queue.

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

The tour runs 9½ hours total. Your guide will confirm the pickup time when you book, based on your hotel location in Shanghai.

What are the Bund and Yuyuan Garden, and why visit them on the same day as Zhujiajiao?

Yuyuan Garden is a classic Chinese garden from 1559 with halls, statues, rock structures and the famous Grand Rockery. The Bund is Shanghai's riverfront lined with historical Western-influenced buildings that once housed banks and consulates. Together they show Shanghai's modern identity after you've spent the morning in Zhujiajiao's ancient water town: a full picture of the region in one day.