Charming Shanghai and Water Town Tour
2-Day Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour
If you are a first-time visitor, don't miss this tour! With new ways to explore Shanghai's most popular and representative attractions, you will have a better understanding of this huge city.
Explore old and new Shanghai, avoid tourist routes to explore unique points along the Bund, listen to anecdotes about the former French Concession, and relax in a rowing boat in Zhujiajiao Water Town.
Tour Highlights
- Insider's route — unique sites along the Bund that are difficult to find by yourself
- Eat like a local — learn the proper way to eat in a local restaurant
- Travel smart — avoid crowds and the rush hours in Zhujiajiao Water Town
- Listen to the stories about Yu Garden that you will never find in any guidebook.
- Save your time and energy — private transfers between your hotel and different sites
What Our Customers Said
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Chinese lantern festival and Sophie Lee. Actually March 2018 not Feb 2022
When we were there, one of the highlights was the Chinese Lantern Festival in Old Shanghai, which is both colourful and has an excellent festival atmosphere. She bought us a Chinese desert item that was small sweet sticky balls that were very good. moreJan 2023, Dave H
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Our family trip to China ended with a couple of days in historical Shanghai. We loved seeing and visiting the historic centers, traveling up the Shanghai Tower, eating delicious dumplings, and visiting the best Chinatown we have ever experienced. Our guide, Quing Quing, and driver Ken were fantastic, informative, professional and fun. Quing Quing even took us to experience the marriage market where Chinese parents try to help their children find potential mates after we expressed that it would be an interesting thing to see. Quing Quing, her American name is Clair, is an excellent and vivacious tour guide. Ask for her when you book with China Highlights you will be in good hands. --Inspire819460 moreDec 2019, Inspire819460
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With other two friends I have visited Shanghai in October 2018 and our tour guide was Mary, who has been wonderful with us. She had the smart idea to adapt the schedule of our planned tours in order to visit the city centre with few crowds, even if we were visiting Shanghai right during the Chinese national holidays. Besides the city centre with the panoramic towers, we visited the old French district, the Bund, the old city with the market and Tonglizhen, a water village just outside of Shanghai. Mary gave us also very nice suggestions about restaurants and hotels with panoramic terrace to visit in the evenings during our free time. In the end Mary was so kind to give us some Chinese salty pastries as lunch for our long train journey back to Beijing. Totally recommended!!! ---Vittorio C, Germany moreNov 2019,
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We have been in China 2 weeks and our last day was spent in Shanghai! Our guide Candy Shao was the best...Candy was so helpful in planning the highlights of the city and what we absolutely needed to see and do on our last day. Her English was great and she was young and fun...seemed more like we were hanging out with a friend. Candy also took some great photos of us to capture our experience! I would definitely recommend Candy and China Highlights to all my friends! --Vody, USA moreNov 2019,
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First of all, Daniel is a very friendly, entertaining & knowledgeable tour guide.Not only had he brought us to places in the schedule, but also helped in bookings when we went around the city on ourselves. He is online 24/7 and provided immediate responses for all the questions and inquiries. In addition, he ensured our safety not only during the trip with him, but also texted us to make sure we were back to hotel safely after our own schedule. Overall, he is more than excellent for us, as not only he had fulfilled his duty to guide us as scheduled, but more of providing us hospitality, help and knowledge beyond our exceptions and beyond what we have booked with the tour. Therefore, I would 100% recommend Daniel if any of you are planning for a trip to Shanghai. ---Catherinenodnod moreOct 2019,
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Sophie was an amazing tour guide! She is very knowledgeable about the city, and more importantly, knows all the best places to get food! I was traveling with my wife, her dad, and her grandmother. Sophie did an amazing job at making sure all four of us traveled safely and created an amazing Shanghai experience for us! If you're considering booking through China Highlights I would strongly suggest you request Sophie if possible! She felt like a part of the family at the end of the trip! ---GokiburiTTV, USA moreOct 2019,
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Our guide Karen Wen made our trip to Shanghai, the garden city of Suzhou and the Water Village of Tongli very memorable and wonderful. Karen is very passionate with her job as a local guide. She has a lot of knowledge of every place that we visited which made us relate to and understand what we’re visiting. She took us to restaurants that served the best xialongbao and to an old restaurant in Suzho where we ate the best garlic shrimp and steamed fish. She also changed our itinerary when she saw how tired we were coming from Zhangjiajie. Our driver is excellent . I highly recommend you book your trip to China Highlights. It’s local guides are all excellent. ---oesca,USA moreOct 2019,
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Shanghai is like Manhattan on 'steroids". Not just in terms of population, but more so in the expansive geography. That's not too much of an issue if you stay near the Bund on the Pu river (BTW highly recommend Les Suites Bund Orient hotel in the perfect location with million-dollar views from the large rooms of the skyline, luxurious, great customer service, and food. Good value too). A great tour guide brings all these buildings, the river, and most importantly the history to life. Sophie gave us an in-depth tour of the Bund, then took us across the river early in the morning to the top of the Shanghai Tower before it got crowded. The river cruise in the evening was spectacular and such an easy way to see the ever-changing illuminated skyline from so many varied perspectives. The cruises (actually almost everywhere except western-style hotels don't get that they can make a lot of money selling alcohol--maybe need more time for this western habit to evolve?). so capped off the night at the "Long Bar" in the Waldorf Astoria with a nightcap (wanted to go to the rooftop bar at the Fairmont overlooking the river but it was closed for a private event. Oh well next time). We had a second day so headed out to Suzhou and Tongli old water towns. Logistically ask the tour agency to take you there by high-speed train then use a private car/bus to get around (this wasn't Sophie's fault). Traffic can be a bear. --takeaction, USA moreOct 2019,
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Suggested Itinerary
Your private guide will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals hall or in your hotel's lobby. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will be ready for you to explore Shanghai.
Visit Yu Garden, which is a delicate classical garden that is hidden among high buildings. You will hear interesting stories about its former owner, and learn why its dragon wall almost killed its former owner.
Walking along the Bund, you will learn about Shanghai's rise. Your guide will take you into historical buildings where you can touch the old items and he/she will tell you stories about their past.
Wander through alleyways to get a glimpse of the locals' lifestyles. Your guide will take you to a famous local restaurant to taste Shanghai's most typical snack — xiaolongbao (steamed buns). Learn the proper way to eat one or you will burn your mouth!
Be like a local as you hop on a public ferry among the crowds to cross the Huangpu River and slowly travel from old Shanghai to Shanghai's Pudong New Area.
Take the fastest elevator in the world and ascend the highest building in Shanghai — the Shanghai Tower. You can enjoy seeing the Oriental Pearl TV Tower below you and get a bird's-eye view of the entire city.
Hotel options:
Sunrise On The Bund
Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai, Bund view
Yuyuan Garden The BundWander in the former French Concession where your guide will tell you stories about the buildings and the colonial history. Pass by the stylish buildings constructed a century ago and try to find a famous one.
Next, your guide will take you to a hidden treasure of art — the Propaganda Poster Art Centre. There, you will find exaggerated posters that record the history of the Mao era, and your curiosity about communism will be satisfied.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Zhujiajiao Water Town. Walk over the bridges and by the river, and relax in a rowing boat. This lovely town will make you forget that you are next to a big city.
After Zhujiajiao Water Town, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the airport or train station and wave goodbye.
Former French ConcessionTrip Notes
1. Customizing the Tour — According to Your Needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary and extend or shorten it to suit your schedule.
For example, you can add activities in the first day or remove some attractions.
2. 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
A short stay (up to 6 days) in Shanghai and the surrounding cities is more convenient now as there is no need for a visa.
It's permissible to stay within the administrative areas of Shanghai municipality, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province for up to 144 hours. Contact us to find out more.
Tour Price
Price includes:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
