Zhouzhuang Water Town Tour from Shanghai
Start from Shanghai, and meet your guide at the hotel. Head to Zhouzhuang, a famed water town. Visit Shen’s House, Zhang’s House, see iconic bridges, take a boat ride, then return to Shanghai.
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 that is now a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Ponder the lifestyle and incredible wealth of a successful ancient merchant.
- Enjoy a local Kun Opera performed on an ancient stage.
- Take a sculling boat ride and admire Zhouzhuang from a different perspective.
Tour Itinerary
Your guide will meet you at your Shanghai hotel at 8:30 AM. Following a quick orientation, you’ll board a comfortable private vehicle for the 1.5 - 2 hours transfer to Zhouzhuang.
Sit back, relax, and take in the changing scenery as you journey from the bustling metropolis to the serene water town.
Let's start today's tour with the Zhouzhuang Museum, the best place to get a first impression of the city. When it was built in 1912, the building that now houses the museum was the private residence of a rich man whose family name was Zhu.
The decoration and furniture in the museum reflect Zhu's ideology and background. He abandoned his residence during the war, but fortunately, it was not destroyed. Now, in addition to the interior decoration and furniture, some precious photos, paintings, and old agricultural tools are also part of the museum's collection.
The Mi Pavilion was the favorite place for local poets and writers to share their views on literature and life. You may want to compose a poem when you see the postcard-worthy view of the water town from the pavilion.
You can soak up the atmosphere of Zhouzhuang during the 1920s by walking past the tea houses, craft shops, iron shops, traditional Chinese medicine stores, and weavers’ houses on Zhenfeng Street.
After a short walk on Zhenfeng Street, you may feel a bit hungry. Your tour guide will help you find a local restaurant where you can try out the most authentic local food.
The Shide and Yongan Twin Bridges are connected by a short stone path, so local people call them the Twin Bridges. They look like two ancient keys, and local people believe they are the keys to success and pray for success as they pass by.
Then visit The Twin Houses, which belonged to Zhang and Shen, two rich merchants whose luxurious lives in the past are now reflected in the decorations and antiques in their two houses.
Shen Wansan (1330-1376 AD) was the richest merchant in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). It is said his fortune at the time would have been equivalent to 2,000 billion US dollars nowadays.
The statues and paintings in Shen's Former Residence tell you the story of his personal life and business. He donated enormous sums of money to the government to build the Great Wall, which has become the most renowned tourist attraction in China today.
You will take a boat along the canal via which Shen Wansan entered and left Zhouzhuang, as far as the exit of the Zhouzhuang Water Town area.
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.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Please note the following penalties regarding cancellations based on the number of days between your written cancellation notice and the departure date:
- 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.
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.
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.