China · WATER TOWN TOURS IN SHANGHAI

The 15 Water Town Tours in Shanghai We Would Book Again

25 tours  ·  from $60

The 15 best water town tours in Shanghai you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason, so start there.

Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Private Day Tour - A local lunch beside the canals
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Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Private Day Tour

1.Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,016 reviews · from $246Our pick

Spend about eight hours with a private guide and driver, pairing Zhujiajiao’s canals and local lunch with Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, and Shanghai Tower. Guides such as Snow, Caroline, Xin, Judy, Jane, and Queena are praised for clear English and flexible planning. Monday visits replace Yuyuan Garden with Jade Buddha Temple.

“We had a wonderful day exploring both Shanghai city highlights and Zhujiajiao Water Town with our guide, Queena. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and very attentive throughout the tour. We visited the Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden, and The Bund, and later enjoyed a relaxing boat ride through the beautiful canals of Zhujiajiao. The lunch was delicious as well. Overall, it was a perfect experience and we highly recommend Queena and this tour! She had superb English and her enthusiasm was the best! 10/10”

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Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride - The Canal Boat Ride
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Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride

2.Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 661 reviews · from $148

Travel by private air-conditioned vehicle from your Shanghai hotel to Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town. Your guide leads you through old streets, markets, gardens, bridges, and canals, with entrance fees and a boat ride included. Lunch or dinner is available as an upgrade.

“We had a very pleasant half-day trip with an excellent guide, a cozy boat ride and a delicious local lunch. Highly recommended to everyone, thank you Xin!”

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Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden - The private drive from Shanghai
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Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

3.Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 460 reviews · 5 hours · from $139

Travel from your Shanghai hotel in a private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide such as Michael, Cassie, Annie, or Robert. Walk Zhujiajiao’s old markets, visit Kezhi Garden, taste local snacks, and cruise the canals by private boat during this flexible five-hour tour.

“We enjoyed so much and Michael was a wonderful guide!”

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From Shanghai: Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride - A private ride from your Shanghai hotel
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From Shanghai: Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride

4.Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · 5 hours · from $171

Leave your Shanghai hotel for a five-hour private visit to Zhujiajiao. Walk the old street and market, see Ming and Qing bridges, sample local food, and ride the canals with an English-speaking guide such as Snow, Kalvin, or Caroline. A private car, driver, entrance fee, and boat ticket are included.

“Timing was punctual. Jenny is very friendly and communicate very well. Helped us negotiate prices for our shopping. Gave us extra curriculum to try ear 👂 cleaning. Overall the tour was excellent, and I very much recommend.”

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Yu Garden, Old Street, Bund & Zhujiajiao Water Town Bus Tour - Meeting at Yu Garden and starting the morning
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Yu Garden, Old Street, Bund & Zhujiajiao Water Town Bus Tour

5.Yu Garden, Old Street, Bund & Zhujiajiao Water Town Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 244 reviews · 8 hours · from $60Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel for a full day of classic Shanghai sights. You’ll tour Yu Garden and Old Street, eat Shanghai-style snacks, explore Zhujiajiao and finish at the Bund. Guides such as Audrey, Cindy, Irwin and Yenny are praised for clear explanations and friendly help.

“I had a wonderful time with Audrey. It was a small group with just 4 of us and the guide, and we had a really great time! I just came as I had a long stopover at Pudong, and this was the perfect way to spend the day in Shanghai. Everything was smooth and we were well looked after.”

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From Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride - A smooth start from downtown Shanghai
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From Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride

6.Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · from $139

Take a private half-day trip from downtown Shanghai to Zhujiajiao with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, garden and temple entry, and a traditional boat ride. Guides such as Lucy, Robert, Jun, Shirley, and Michael tailor the walk to your interests.

“Michael our guide was very personable and informative. A cold but enjoyable day overall. We would certainly recommend the tour.”

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Shanghai Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden, Bazaar, Bund - Yu Garden’s carved halls and quiet corners
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Shanghai Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden, Bazaar, Bund

7.Shanghai Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden, Bazaar, Bund

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · from $229

Spend about 10 hours with a private English-speaking guide, chauffeur, and air-conditioned minivan. Cruise Zhujiajiao’s canals, explore Yu Garden and its market, then finish on the Bund. Hotel pickup, admission fees, bottled water, umbrellas, and the water-town boat ride are included.

“The Bund is very very beautifull place! Shure! We recommend!!!!”

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Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai - Kezhi Garden, a quieter change of pace
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Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai

8.Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · from $160

Travel from Shanghai with a private guide and driver to Zhujiajiao, a 600-year-old canal town. Walk its lanes, ride a small wooden boat, visit Kezhi Garden, Fangsheng Bridge, and the old post office. Guides such as Tom, David, and Vicky have earned praise for clear English and flexible local advice.

“Bit of a drive but good thing to do and see something than just Shanghai proper”

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Shanghai: Private Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Tour with Lunch - Walking Zhujiajiao’s old lanes and gardens
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Shanghai: Private Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Tour with Lunch

9.Private Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · 8 hours · from $255

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide such as Snow, Caroline, or Berlin, traveling by private car from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao and back. Walk old lanes, take a canal boat, eat a local lunch, visit Yu Garden or Jade Buddha Temple, and finish with skyline views from the Bund and Shanghai Tower.

“Snow deserves 6 stars. We will be sure to have family and friends visiting Shanghai request her. She was cheerful, attentive and insightful throughout the day. She tailored the tour and the food to our requested. Mr. Qi was an excellent driver and never missed a beet dropping us off and picking us up. Snow and Mr. Qi worked as a team to make the day hassle free. Thanks to both of them! Alena was doing the booking and answered all our questions quickly and accurately. - May and Jonathan”

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Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai Highlights Private Trip - The one-hour ride from Shanghai
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Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai Highlights Private Trip

10.Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai Highlights Private Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · from $133

Spend about eight hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver, combining Zhujiajiao’s canals and old buildings with Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, and the Bund. Guides such as Tom and Sophie are praised for clear English and flexible pacing. Hotel and port pickup are offered.

“What an incredible trip. We only had a day in Shanghai and wanted to maximise our time. Seeing the water town was phenomenal and the boat ride was lovely. Then seeing Shanghai's main attractions including doing a traditional tea ceremony was really special. Definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to pack a lot into a day.”

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Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Flexible Private Tour - Choosing your Shanghai afternoon
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Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Flexible Private Tour

11.Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Flexible Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $170

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide and driver visiting Zhujiajiao Water Town, then choosing Shanghai sights such as Yu Garden, the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, or Pudong. Guides such as Annie, Freya, Sammi, Lily, and Feifei are noted for clear English and flexible pacing.

“Had an outstanding experience booking with Sunny travels. She is very prompt with replying and made good suggestions to ensure my tour ran smoothly. My driver and tour guide made me feel very comfortable and looked after. Annie was an amazing tour guide and she went above and beyond. She explained things in detail and gave me a good insight into the Chinese culture. She also answered my many questions. I could not have asked for a better tour guide. She ensured my dietary requirements were met. Thank you for a lovely day.”

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Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Full Day Trip from Shanghai with Lunch and Dinner - The Wuzhen boat ride is the day’s quiet pause
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Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Full Day Trip from Shanghai with Lunch and Dinner

12.Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town Private Full Day Trip from Shanghai with Lunch and Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $284

Travel from Shanghai with a private guide such as Caroline, Kimi, or Bella, and compare two old canal towns in one long day. Walk Wuzhen’s stone lanes, take a boat cruise, eat local food, then see Xitang’s sunset, lit-up canals, shops, and riverside dinner.

“Tour guide Caroline is very energetic, supportive & caring especially when we ended up spent much longer than the schedule.”

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Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Shanghai Zoo and Panda - Starting at Shanghai Zoo for the pandas
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Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Shanghai Zoo and Panda

13.Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Shanghai Zoo and Panda

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $166

Spend six to eight hours with a private guide and driver, visiting Shanghai Zoo’s giant pandas before exploring Zhujiajiao’s stone lanes and canals. Guides such as Cassie, Ruby, Annie, and Sammi help shape the day around your pace. Choose a tour option with lunch and a boat ride.

“I have an amazing experience with Cassie she was a great guide through Shanghai, in the zoo and the water city, have a lot of patience and make me feel like at home, very nice, gentile and smily, waiting for me during all the tours and showing me the boundaries of the city, I recommend her all my friends who was the opportunity to visit the city”

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Shanghai: Zoo and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride - Shanghai Zoo and the appeal of seeing pandas
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Shanghai: Zoo and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride

14.Zoo and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 7 hours · from $190

You’ll visit Shanghai Zoo, then explore Zhujiajiao with an English-speaking private guide such as Robert, Annie, Shirley, or Lea. Walk the old markets, see Ming and Qing buildings, enjoy local food and shopping, and ride a private boat before returning to your downtown hotel.

“Everything was very well. Our guide was very kind and patient with us. Thank you”

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Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour - Walking through the old lanes
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Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour

15.Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · from $99

You’ll spend about four hours exploring Zhujiajiao with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, a canal cruise, temple visits, and a silk-making demonstration. Guides such as Frank, Joy, Michael, and Evan have been praised for clear English and helpful commentary, though traffic and shopping stops can affect the pace.

“Tour Was Ok our tour guider was good with us and helped also with a problem with our bag luggage Silk factory was nice but we didn't like the fact that they Insist to buy expensive items from them”

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New in Water Town Tours in Shanghai

★ 5.0Private Half -Day Tour to Qibao Ancient Water TownFrom $983 reviews
★ 4.5Half-Day Zhujiajiao Water Town Wonders Small Group TourFrom $12010 reviews
★ 5.0Delve into Wuzhen Water Town: Private Tour from ShanghaiFrom $2646 reviews
★ 5.0All-inclusive Half-day Private Tour To Zhujiajiao Water TownFrom $14010 reviews

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