Zhujiajiao Water Town tour: Private boat ride & lunch

Stone bridges, canal boats and a family garden built for old Shanghai wealth

A half-day private tour from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao Water Town, 45km away, with hotel pickup and drop-off, includes a boat ride through the canals, a walk through the old streets and traditional market, a visit to a Ming and Qing Dynasty family garden, and an authentic Shangese lunch or dinner. Morning or afternoon departures let you fit the tour around the rest of your day. The English-speaking guide shares the history of a water town established 1,700 years ago.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhujiajiao Water Town

• Pickup from Shanghai hotel
• Transfer to Zhujiajiao Water Town
• Stroll old street and market
• See stone bridges from Ming and Qing Dynasties
• Take relaxing boat ride on canals
• Visit traditional Chinese family garden
• Return to Shanghai hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Shanghai hotel at your chosen time (morning or afternoon), and a drive to Zhujiajiao, a water town on the outskirts of the city that has stayed largely untouched by modernization. You'll stroll the old streets and traditional market where vendors sell local specialties, then walk past the stone bridges built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The guide explains the area's 1,700-year history as you move through it.

The boat ride is the centerpiece: you drift through the meandering canals while the guide shares stories about how the town evolved. Afterward, you visit a traditional Chinese family garden to see how wealthy residents lived centuries ago, with the elaborate architecture and design that defined that era. Lunch or dinner (authentic Shangese cuisine with a vegan option available) is included before the return drive to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Shanghai hotel and back.
• bottled water.
• an authentic Shangese lunch or dinner with a vegan option.
• all admission fees to Zhujiajiao attractions.
• and a professional English-speaking guide for the full half-day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Bill's Fantastic Tour

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own guide and vehicle rather than joining a group, which means the pace and stops are yours alone. Choose it if you want to explore at a relaxed speed without the timing pressure of a shared group, or if you prefer to ask questions without competing for the guide's attention.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How far is Zhujiajiao from downtown Shanghai?

Zhujiajiao is 45km from downtown Shanghai, about a half-hour drive depending on traffic.

What's included in the lunch or dinner?

An authentic Shangese meal is included. If you follow a vegan diet, let the operator know when you book and they'll prepare a vegan option instead.

Can I choose the morning or afternoon departure?

Yes, you pick either morning or afternoon when you book, so the tour fits your schedule in Shanghai.

What happens on the boat ride through the canals?

You take a relaxing boat ride on the meandering waterways while your guide tells you the history and stories of Zhujiajiao and the families who built the town.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, transportation is wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller if needed.