15 Water Town Tours in Shanghai, Priced, Timed and Compared

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, combining Zhujiajiao’s canals, boat ride, local lunch, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, and Shanghai Tower. Guides such as Snow, Caroline, Xin, Jane, and Queena have led this route. The schedule can be adjusted for your interests, with Jade Buddha Temple replacing Yuyuan Garden on Mondays.

“This was an exceptional tour of Shanghai and Zhujiajiao. We enjoyed the private tour and our friendly and safe driver. Most of all we enjoyed meeting Caroline. She’s a very bubbly, smart, funny and very informative tour Guide. Her English is Read more”

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

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

Leave Shanghai by private air-conditioned vehicle for Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town. Your guide, such as Snow, Kalvin, Caroline, or Xin, leads you through old streets, gardens, markets, historic bridges, and canals. A boat ride, entrance fees, hotel transfers, and optional lunch or dinner are included.

“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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3.Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

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

Travel from your Shanghai hotel to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide such as Michael, Cassie, Robert, or Sunny. Walk old markets, visit Qing-era Kezhi Garden, sample local snacks, and ride a private boat through the canals. The five-hour tour suits families, couples, and short layovers.

“Our tour with Clair was fantastic. The transportation to the water village was smooth and very comfortable. We walked through the various shops, toured the private garden, and took a boat ride. Clair shared so much information with us about history and culture, she was an excellent guide.”

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4.Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride

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

Travel from your central Shanghai hotel to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide such as Snow, Kalvin, or Caroline. Walk old lanes and markets, see Ming-Qing bridges, visit traditional gardens, try local food, and take a calm canal boat ride before returning to Shanghai.

“My tour guide Snow was the best! Very friendly, knowledgeable and in good spirits all thru the 5 hour tour. She even thought me a little Chinese. And the Tour itself was fantastic. Highly recommended!”

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

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

Spend a full day moving from Shanghai’s 400-year-old Yu Garden and Chenghuang Miao Old Street to Zhujiajiao’s canals, Kezhi Garden, and the Bund. English-speaking guides such as Audrey, Irwin, Cindy, and Yenny lead the tour. A light Shanghai-style meal is included, while the water-town boat ride costs extra.

“This was my last day tour in China and What a wonderful way to wrap up and extraordinary trip, my tour guide was aubrey/audrey. She’s hilarious, informative and just the best persom to spend a wjole day with. The trip far exceeded my expectations, firstly that cost for a wjole day trip is pheomenal! The sites exceeded my expectations including how stunning yu garden is. Loved our added activities such as the tea shop (was no pressure to buy unlike such added activities im india). Your is an absolute must!! Wonderdul! Wonderful!!!”

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6.Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride

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

You’ll travel from downtown Shanghai to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned van, then walk old lanes, visit Kezhi Garden and a traditional temple, and ride a wooden boat through the canals. Guides such as Robert, Jun, Lucy, Shirley, and Michael tailor the pace and explain local life. Lunch or dinner is optional.

“We had a fantastic tour of the water town with our guide Cassie. She spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable about Chinese history. She took very nice photos of my wife and I during our tour, and knew all of the best locations and angles. Highly recommend this service if you’re looking for an English speaking tour guide.”

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

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

Spend a full day with a private English-speaking guide and chauffeur, starting in peaceful Zhujiajiao Water Town before returning to Shanghai for Yu Garden, Yuyuan Old Street, and the Bund. Hotel pickup, admission fees, bottled water, umbrellas, and a Zhujiajiao boat ride are included. Meals are not.

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

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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 water town. Walk its lanes, cross Fangsheng Bridge, visit Kezhi Garden and the old post office, and ride a canal boat. Guides such as Tom, Vicky, David, and Jamie are praised for clear English, local insight, and flexible pacing.

“Vicky was excellent. Driver performed safe handling of vehicle with care. Went with 2 kids 5yrs and 9yrs that enjoyed it much treating through the village. I do however recommend upgrading the boat ride to a longer one.”

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9.Private Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Tour with Lunch

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

Spend eight hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver, combining Zhujiajiao’s canals and old lanes with Yu Garden, the Bund, and Shanghai Tower. Guides such as Snow, Caroline, Berlin, and Queena are known for flexible schedules, local food advice, and helpful photo stops. Lunch and admission tickets are included.

“We had a great tour with Snow as the guide. She had a lot of knowledge of all the place we visited and was very informative and helpful. She was kemping us safe from being scammed on the market. The ride was comfortable with a very nice car with massage. I can 100% recommend.”

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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, visiting 1,700-year-old Zhujiajiao, Yuyuan Garden, Old Shanghai, and the Bund. Guides such as Tom and Sophie tailor the day to your group, while hotel or port pickup keeps this busy Shanghai outing simple. Yu Garden admission costs extra.

“Our driver Mr Mou was amazing. Our guide Sophie was exceptional. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. Her English was top notch. We had a wonderful day with her and she took the time to understand what we wanted to see. We were Read more”

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11.Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai City Flexible Private Tour

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

Spend a private day with a guide such as Annie, Sammi, Freya, or Lily, combining Zhujiajiao’s canals and old stone bridges with Shanghai sights such as Yu Garden, the Bund, the Jade Buddha Temple, and Pudong. Hotel pickup, a private car, and flexible sightseeing make this a useful first look at the city.

“Sunny and Sammi were so helpful and communicative. We had a wonderful time in Zhujiajiao, and it was so interesting to talk to Sammi as she is a Shanghai native. The whole tour was extremely well done and incredible value for what we paid, would definitely recommend to friends!”

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

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

Spend 6 to 8 hours with a private guide and driver, beginning at Shanghai Zoo for pandas and other animals before exploring 1,700-year-old Zhujiajiao. Walk stone lanes, cross Fang Sheng Bridge, eat local food and add a canal boat ride. Guides such as Cassie, Ruby, Annie and Roy are praised for clear English and personal service.

“Annie was very nice and accommodating to our requests and altering experiences as needed. Would have preferred to select which restaurant to eat at but other than that we were pleased.”

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13.Zoo and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride

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

Spend seven hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver, visiting Shanghai Zoo and Zhujiajiao Water Town. Expect pandas, traditional architecture, stone lanes, local shops, street food, and a private boat ride through the old canals. Guides including Robert, Annie, Shirley, and Lea are praised for clear English and helpful local tips.

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

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14.Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · from $99

Travel from central Shanghai to Zhujiajiao for a guided walk through old lanes, a five-arch bridge, two temples, and a canal boat ride. Hotel pickup, transport, admission, and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides such as Frank, Joy, Michael, and Evan have earned praise, but the silk-shop stop and possible shopping pressure deserve caution.

“Frank our guide was very personable and friendly. He made everyone feel welcome and had an excellent command of the English language. The village was busy but he was able to move us through the crowds and had a natural timing that Read more”

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15.Shanghai：Old Town, Yu Garden, Zhujiajiao Water Town Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 16 reviews · 1 day · from $91

This full-day outing pairs Shanghai’s old quarter and Yu Garden with the canals of Zhujiajiao. You’ll travel by bus, eat a Shanghai-style light lunch, and finish at the Bund after dark. Choose the guided day tour for transport and context, or buy a Yu Garden ticket with an English PDF guide for a self-paced visit. One guide named Cindy has earned praise for her warmth and patience.

“Nice tour, Zhujiaojiao is charming. We had the time to enjoy the all the activities. The guide was warm. And the Bund at night is breathtaking.”

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