Xitang Water Town Tour from Shanghai
Your guide will meet you at your Shanghai hotel and escort you to Xitang in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The journey from Shanghai to Xitang spans approximately 90 kilometers.
You'll enjoy lunch at a local eatery, savoring authentic cuisine. Return to Shanghai in the late afternoon.
Price Per Person in US Dollars
1. Book now and benefit from a free cancellation policy: full refund if cancelled up to 3 days before the experience starts (local time).
2. You will receive your booking confirmation email within 24 hours once we receive your payment.
Highlights
- Visit a water town rich in a romantic atmosphere.
- Walk along a 1300-meter-long corridor to understand the local culture.
- Admire the unrivaled water town views from a sculling boat.
- Taste unique local food and wine.
Tour Itinerary
You will be picked up at your hotel at 8:00 AM and taken to the west entrance of Xitang. This two-hour transfer not only gets you to your destination but also allows you to gradually shift your mindset from city life to the enchanting allure of Xitang, setting the stage for an exciting exploration of this famous water town.
Admiring the water town view from a river will allow you to build your first impressions of Xitang quickly and easily.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the boat ride as the boatmen navigate the waterways of Xitang. Take in the beautiful scenery, capture photos, and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere.
Return to the Starting Point: At the end of the boat ride, the boatmen will bring you back to the starting point or a designated docking area.
The 1,000-meter-long Yanyu Corridor is located near a river. There are over a hundred small shops in the roofed corridor, selling snacks and handicrafts, popular with tourists and local people alike.
The Yongning Bridge, stretching across the Xutang River, gives visitors the best vantage point for photos in Xitang. Hundreds of ancient houses are located on the south bank of the river. You can photograph all of them from Yongning Bridge.
The Xitang Wood Carving Museum is not only a place to display wood carving art, but also an important window to show the historical and cultural connotation of Xitang and the Jiangnan region.
It allows visitors to appreciate the outstanding wood carving skills of the ancients and understand the lifestyle, aesthetic concepts, and cultural traditions of the people in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Chinese food always excites. The river food and local desserts in Xitang will quickly refresh you. Feel free to tell your guide what you would like to eat, as you may notice something that looks delicious during your sightseeing.
Unlike other ancient houses in Xitang, Ni House was the residence of ordinary people, not owned by rich merchants. The exquisite furniture in the house, however, tells you that even the common people in Xitang cared very much about the quality of life.
The 68-meter-long Shipi Lane consists of 168 flagstones. More than 100 red lanterns hang on the walls of the narrow lane. That’s the most distinctive feature of a water town.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Shanghai.
What's Included
- Entrance fees.
- Meals are listed in the itinerary.
- Private transfers.
- Private English-speaking guide and driver.
- Service Charge & Taxes.
Important Info
- Operates: daily
- Departure point: Hotels in Shanghai
- Return details: returns to the original departure point
- Languages: English|German |French|Spanish|Russian|Italian (The price is based on an English-speaking guide. Extra fees apply if you need a guide with another language)
- The price of this tour will rise during the China National Day holiday (September 30th to October 7th) and the Chinese New Year holiday.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
- Cancellation received 3 or more days before departure: Full refund, excluding any penalties from hotels, airlines, and rail services, if applicable.
- Cancellation received 2 days before departure: 50% refund, excluding any penalties from hotels, airlines, and rail services, if applicable.
- Cancellation received 1 to 0 days before departure: No refund will be issued.
- No-show travelers will be charged 100% of the tour price. Additionally, we are unable to provide refunds for any unused services once the trip has commenced, whether due to non-participation, early departure, late arrival, or missed tour days.
Difference Between Each Water Town
The water towns in the Jiangnan area are mostly in the Yangtze River Delta, and each town has its charm. Wuzhen is full of ancient charm, Xitang has small bridges and flowing water, Zhouzhuang is peaceful like a painting, and Tongli has a long-lasting flavor.
| Watertown | Location | Feature | Crowded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhujiajiao | Qingpu District, Shanghai City | A charming water town near Shanghai, with busy shops and many ancient bridges. | Crowded |
| Wuzhen | Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province | A mix of art and tech, with white walls and black tiles. | Crowded |
| Zhouzhuang | Kunshan City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province | Known as China's No.1 Water Town, famous for its Twin Bridges and beautiful night views. | Most crowded |
| Tongli | Wujang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province | Old buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, a quiet place to enjoy a slow life. | Less Crowded |
| Xitang | Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province | Long covered walkways, beautiful in misty mornings and sunsets. | Less Crowded |
| Nanxun | Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province | A rich and elegant town with a mix of Chinese and Western styles. | Least Crowded |
Good to Know
- This is a private tour. The local private English-speaking guide and the private car will serve your group only.
- You will receive a confirmation letter within 24 hours of making your payment.
- Your guide will contact you in the evening (Your guide will call you at around 18:00. If you missed your guide’s phone call, he or she will send you a short message) before your tour and confirm the exact pick-up time according to your preference.
- Your guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby on the tour date at the appointed time.
- The meal (if included) is in a Chinese restaurant, and your guide will help you order the dishes according to your taste.
- There is absolutely no forced shopping.
- An extra fee applies if you need to be picked up or dropped off at airports or cruise terminals.