Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 144 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai worth booking?
Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai is a 5-hour experience in Shanghai, China, from $40 per person. It scores 87 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 144 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 87 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (144)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $40 per person
Embark on a bespoke 5 or 8-hour private tour with a knowledgeable, dedicated guide and an exclusive private vehicle. Start your journey at Shanghai Zoo if you choose the full-day tour, where you can spot adorable giant p
What you get
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
- Round-trip private transfer
- Boat ride
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
About this experience
Embark on a bespoke 5 or 8-hour private tour with a knowledgeable, dedicated guide and an exclusive private vehicle. Start your journey at Shanghai Zoo if you choose the full-day tour, where you can spot adorable giant pandas most lively during their morning feeding session for fantastic photos. Then travel to Zhujiajiao, the picturesque ancient water town renowned as the “Oriental Venice”. Wander winding alleys and historic stone bridges, glide along tranquil canals on a relaxing hand-rowed boat, and visit serene Kezhi Garden, an elegant classical private Chinese garden. You can also discover well-preserved traditional herbal pharmacies and a Qing Dynasty post office hidden inside the old town. Convenient pickup is offered from your Shanghai hotel or cruise port.
What's included
Included
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
- Round-trip private transfer
- Boat ride
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- A professional driver guide
Not included
- Lunch(If you choose half-day tour)
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Shanghai Zoo (Shanghai Dongwu Yuan)
If you choose the full-day tour, we will pick you up at your hotel before heading to the zoo as our first stop. Shanghai Zoo is a popular urban wildlife park best known for its lovely giant pandas. The pandas are most energetic and playful in the morning during feeding time, making it the perfect moment to take vivid, wonderful photos of them eating bamboo and moving around actively. Besides star pandas, you can also see various exotic birds, primates, big cats, and native animals across spacious enclosures. It is a relaxing, family-friendly attraction, ideal for wildlife lovers to enjoy close animal encounters and capture great snapshots.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
If you choose the half-day tour, we will pick you up at your hotel and then head straight to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town. Zhujiajiao is Shanghai’s best-preserved ancient water town with over 1,700 years of history. You will see crisscrossing canals, old stone bridges including iconic Fangsheng Bridge, well-kept Ming & Qing-style riverside houses and ancient courtyards. You can take a relaxing wooden boat cruise, wander old streets lined with specialty snack shops and century-old stores, taste local delicacies, and capture classic water-town scenery, escaping downtown hustle for authentic traditional Chinese waterfront charm.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Zhujiajiao Kezhi Garden
When you arrive at Zhujiajiao Water Town, your first stop will be Kezhi Garden, also known as Ma’s Garden. It is the largest private classical garden in Zhujiajiao Water Town, built over 15 years starting from 1912. You can appreciate unique Sino-Western blended buildings, ponds, rockeries, winding corridors, the Nine-zigzag Bridge, and stele corridors with ancient calligraphy works. It features tranquil layered scenery with pavilions and towers, offering quiet surroundings and exquisite photo spots, and embodies the traditional Chinese philosophy of balancing study and farming.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Fangsheng Bridge
After the garden visit, you will walk along the canals to Fangsheng Bridge, which is the landmark stone arch bridge of Zhujiajiao with a long history. You will board a hand-rowed wooden boat for a leisurely boat ride along the canal. Drifting under the bridge, you will admire old riverside houses, quaint waterfront lanes, and lush riverside views on both banks. It is a fantastic spot to capture classic water-town scenery and experience the peaceful, slow lifestyle of ancient Jiangnan water towns.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Daqing Post Office
Built-in 1903, the old post office witnessed the development of China’s postal service. It is not a huge place but it's nice to walk through the old wooden building's interior, with mildly interesting exhibits such as vintage postcards and an imperial postie's uniform.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
After the boat ride, you will go to North Street. It is the bustling main commercial street in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, lined with old riverside buildings, snack stalls, and traditional stores. Lined with characteristic local restaurants, this is where we arrange your lunch if you choose the full-day tour. You can savor authentic delicate water-town specialties here after strolling around, tasting typical water-town flavors while feeling the lively old-town atmosphere along the canal.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Shanghai
After you’ve taken plenty of photographs, your guide will recommend a restaurant for lunch (at your own expense). After your meal, visit some local shops with your guide on hand to help translate prices. Your tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel or the port.
80 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
Half-day Zhujiajiao Tour
Zhujiajiao Tour: Entrance fees, boat ride, private English speaking driver guide and comfortable transfer service are inclusive. Pickup included
Full-day Zhujiajiao Tour
Full-day Zhujiajiao Tour Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Shanghai Driver Guide
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes
- Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time upon booking
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 144 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
144 verified traveler reviews for Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing choice for group tour
I booked this tour for our team summit, and it was an excellent experience. Tom was very patient while we got everyone gathered, and he provided a comfortable, air-conditioned bus for all of us. On the way to the city and throughout the tour, he shared many interesting insights about Chinese culture and the local community. He also made sure to drop us off at the restaurant we requested right on time. Our whole team had a wonderful time. Highly recommended!
via Viator
Great guide for Watertown!
Our guide, Tom, was professional, knowledgeable, very approachable & knows Zhujiajiao at the tips of his fingers. We had an interesting morning wandering around the Watertown with Tom giving us background info for each place we visited & during our boat ride along the canal.
via Viator
Brilliant last day in Shanghai
This was our last day activity in Shanghai before heading back home. Tom was a fantastic driver and guide. The car was lovely and spacious, he drove really well, and we really enjoyed talking to him about life in Shanghai and China. The water town was great and a fun way to spend half a day.
via Tripadvisor
A short trip from Shanghai
Wow! Patrick was one of the best guides I ever had. He was knowledgeable, accessible and even accommodated a last minute request. Simply amazing! I would do it again if I could.
via Tripadvisor
The driver is nice, but overall it wasn't a good experience. Waste of money
1- Hidden cost , I paid the driver 350 for the airport pick up, this wasn't mentioned during my booking even though I have selected the airport as the pick up point. 2- The airport offers a similar trip free of charge for long flight connections. 3- Few places were meant to be visited but cancelled because there was a ticket needed. Poor planning. 4- I have spent half the time in traffic.
Response from the operator: I'm sorry I didn't meet your expectation. I answered all your questions below. 1. Airport pick up is not included. I have email you and told you clearly. I have suggested you that you can take Metro or Maglev to city and we pick you up there freely. If you take a taxi to city it takes you more than I charged you. I charged you CNY350 for round transfer. I didn't make any profits. I only want to save your time. Unfortunately, you think I over charge you. Please check how much it will cost by taxi. Thank you. 2. The Airport offers free city tours. Not this 100 kilometers away Zhujiajiao water village tour. If you like those free tours why do you choose my service？ 3. Please tell me which places meant to be visited and cancelled because tickets？Please check the itinerary. Kezhi Garden and Boat ride included. Which one you didn't see？ 4. It takes about 1.5 hours from Pudong airport to Zhujiajiao Water Village. It took you one hour and 40 minutes there. How can you say half the time in traffic？The tour is about 5 hours. But I want you to see as much as possible, I freely expand it to almost 7 hours. You said your back is uncomfortable after a long flight. I helped you find a cheap massage. Why you don't value these extra hours and extra services？
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $40 to $380
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 50
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 87
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Shanghai.
How much does Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai cost?
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Prices start at $40 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Shanghai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Shanghai is not rushed.
Is Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 87 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 144 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Shanghai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai?
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Around 50 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Shanghai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Shanghai and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour from Shanghai start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Shanghai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Shanghai?
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On Outty we rank every Shanghai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights, Suzhou Private Day Trip from Shanghai with Bullet Train Option, 4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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