The 9 Yu Garden Tours in Shanghai That Repay a Whole Day

1.Best of Shanghai Day Tour, including Jade Buddha Temple & Bund & Yuyuan Garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 338 reviews · from $79Our pick

Spend about eight hours exploring Shanghai with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Shanghai Museum, People’s Square, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Old Street, and Xintiandi. Lunch, admission fees, air-conditioned transport, and city-center hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Guides such as Tom, Elena, and Michael are noted for clear English and strong local knowledge.

“Tom was an excellent guide and very proud of his city. The lunch was delicious and very filling. It rained all day but that didn’t keep us from getting to see everything.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Yu Garden Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 260 reviews · 4 hours · from $16

Visit Shanghai’s 400-year-old Yu Garden with a digital admission ticket and access to its classical Jiangnan pavilions, rockeries, ponds, exhibitions, furniture, and calligraphy. You receive a QR code by email or WhatsApp, then explore at your own pace during a morning or afternoon entry period. Bring your passport and check the code carefully before arrival.

“Very pretty but quite overcrowded with tours. Would still recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

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!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

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!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Private Yu Garden, The Bund, French Concession, Pudong Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $120

This four-hour private Shanghai tour links Yu Garden, Old Town, the Bund, the Former French Concession, and Pudong. Your guide, often Tom, Vicky, Alice, or Jaime, explains the city’s past and present while a private vehicle handles the long hops. You’ll also sample traditional tea in a local tea house.

“Hello - would highly recommend taking the tour with Tom if you have limited time (business). He is very friendly, eloquent and explains and points out pertinent details about all the sights you are seeing. He also picks you up and drops you off for convenience. His English is excellent so expect very fluid conversation. I was very happy with the outcome.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Yu Garden Ticket+Lantern Festival Entry combo

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 49 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

You get entry to Yu Garden, a 400-year-old Jiangnan garden, plus access to the seasonal Yuyuan Lantern Festival. Expect rockeries, ponds, pavilions, traditional buildings, heritage lanterns, riddles, and the Nine-Zigzag Bridge. The garden and festival use different addresses, so check your email QR code and allow time to reach each site.

“The lights were absolutely stunning, it was so beautiful to see. The downside was that it was very busy and you were constantly ushered forward with whistles. I understand that they need to keep the crowd moving but the constant noise of whistles made it difficult to fully enjoy. Having said that, the lanterns were truly beautiful, the surroundings were breathtaking and I am very pleased I went.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $80

Meet guides such as Sunny, Annie, Sunni, or May at your downtown hotel for a private visit to Yu Garden, Old Town, and Yuyuan Old Street. Expect about two to two and a half hours of walking, local transport, garden admission, and a tea tasting. Pickup outside central Shanghai costs extra.

“My guide Sunni met me at the hotel and we headed off to Old Town to see the shops and visit Yu Garden. The Qing dynasty garden is an amazing collection of pond, pavilions and bonsai, I spent a short time there but you easily spend hoRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Shanghai Night River Cruise and Light Tour with Yuyuan Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $108

Spend 3 to 4 hours seeing Shanghai after dark with a private guide and vehicle. Cruise the Huangpu River, view the Bund and Lujiazui, browse Yuyuan Bazaar, then walk through the Former French Concession. Guides including Mary, Queena, Caroline, Judy, Kalvin, and Xin have helped guests find good boat views and local food.

“We undertook this tour on New Year’s Eve! So it was a challenge to get from our hotel to the boat due to the vast crowds on the street. Our driver was amazing and Mary, our wonderful guide, manage to get us on the boat on time. The Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review