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2 Days Best Shanghai Private Tour

Code: SH04

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Tour Overview

The 2 days Shanghai tour package offers a taste of China’s largest city for those on a tight schedule, where a dose of nostalgia with a modern twist enthralls and thrills. Strolling along the iconic Bund by the Huangpu River, admire the resplendent Western architecture whispering the colonial past while looking up at the futuristic skyline on the opposite bank. Take in the classic Oriental aesthetics of Yu Garden, trace ancient Chinese art and history at the Shanghai Museum, experience the traditional way of life in the picturesque Zhujiajiao Water Town, and crown your journey with a bird's-eye view from the heights, admiring this sprawling metropolis with boundless vitality. ... Read more

Trip Highlights

Personalized private tour tailored to your own schedule and interests.
English-speaking private guide, air-conditioned private car with experienced driver.
Appreciate the exotic neo-classical buildings at the Bund, and view the futuristic Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River.
Step back in time to explore the elaborate Yu Garden, with giant rockeries, ponds, and ornamental pavilions.
Daydream along the waterways in the ancient Zhujiajiao Water Town, dotted with black-tiled and white-walled traditional residences.
Lose yourself in the Xintiandi neighborhood to feel the fusion of Shanghai’s trendy shops with old stone-gate architecture.

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Day 1 Arrival in Shanghai; Visit Zhujiajiao Water Town, a Local Family & the Bund

Charming Night Scene of Shanghai

Welcome to choose our 2 days best Shanghai tour! Your private guide and the driver will meet you at the airport, railway station, or your hotel in Shanghai, and then accompany you to visit the most iconic sights in Shanghai, China’s most vibrant metropolis and financial hub.

Relax on a 1-hour private transfer to the thousand-year-old Zhujiajiao Water Town in the suburb. Crisscrossing waterways, arched bridges, and swaying little boats reveal why it is hailed as the ‘Venice of China’. Stepping into the flagstone alleyways flanked by time-worn houses with white walls and black tiles, you'll witness a timeless way of life - locals chatting and washing clothes by the water and teahouse opera filling the air. What a poetic escape light-year from the bustling metropolis of Shanghai!

We’ll take you beyond the alleys into the private enclaves and gardens that most visitors miss. Explore Kezhi Garden, a century-old estate of the town’s one-time wealthiest merchant, Hexin Garden, a secluded gem housing rare antiques, and Helong Art Gallery featuring modern art. Visit the Qing Dynasty Post Office established in 1903 to send a postcard with a vintage postmark. Also, cross the iconic Fangsheng Bridge, aka Setting-fish-free Bridge, the oldest and largest five-arch stone masterpiece in Shanghai. From its top, enjoy a panoramic view of the historic houses along the banks mirrored in the water while small boats drift leisurely through the arches. Immerse yourself in the winding, bustling alleys as you rub shoulders with locals and travelers alike, feeling the town’s vibrant soul. Around noon, enjoy a self-funded lunch or tea break. The local braised pork wrapped in leaves, sweet bean cakes, and sticky rice dumplings are highly recommended.
► FYI: If you wish to experience the hand-rowed boat at your own expense, a 10-minute ride on a shared boat with a capacity of 6 people costs CNY 200 (USD 30).

★ Exclusive Invitation: Local Family Visit

Let’s head back to downtown Shanghai to explore some historical alleyways. Delve into a local community for a family visit, where the enthusiastic host will treat you to some tea, fruits and desserts. Interact with the locals and learn about their daily lives.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Pudong Skyscrapers Seen from the Bund

Afterward, we’ll continue to the Bund in the heart of the city, where the 1.5-kilometer-long (0.9-mi) riverside promenade has witnessed Shanghai’s reincarnation from a small fishing village to an international metropolis since it opened as a treaty port in 1843. British merchants built the first trading company here, followed by a flood of foreign banks, trading companies, and associations, marking the beginning of Shanghai’s concession-era. Since then, 52 Western buildings with different styles have stood along the Huangpu River, ranging from Classicism and Renaissance to Art Deco and Eclecticism, and the Bund became the ‘Wall Street of the Orient’. If the Bund on the west bank tells Shanghai's colonial past, the east bank is characterized by modernity. Unwind at the observation deck and gaze upon the opposite futuristic skyline composed of the Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and Jin Mao Tower. Finish the visit, and your guide and the driver will escort you to check in at a well-selected hotel.

► Evening Inspiration: (at your own expense)
If you want to keep exploring the Bund on your own, as night falls, soak up the century-old architecture and high-rises illuminated by dazzling neon lights. The best viewing spot is along the 12th-18th buildings, and the highlighting hours are 19:00-23:00 from May to Oct., and 18:00-22:00 between Oct. and Apr. Consider taking a public ferry for only CNY 2 (30 US cents) to enjoy a panoramic view of the Bund, or board a 45-minute Huangpu River night cruise, costing CNY 150 (USD 22). Also, you can explore the vibrant night scenes at Shanghai's most bustling pedestrian street, Nanjing Road, only steps away from the Bund, offering everything from luxury brands to daily items and savory snacks. After that, you can easily hail a taxi back to your hotel in 10-20 minutes.

Accommodation: Ocean Hotel Shanghai - Business Room (4 stars) or Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel (5 stars).

Day 2 Explore Yu Garden & Bazaar, Shanghai Museum, Xintiandi Neighborhood, Shanghai Tower; See-off

Yu Garden

After breakfast, your private guide will wait for you at your hotel lobby, and then start today’s itinerary from a masterpiece of Southern China’s classic gardens, Yu Garden. Be amazed at the 400-year-old meticulously designed garden, studded with wooden pavilions, vegetation, rockeries, winding corridors, and ponds churning with fish, which blend harmoniously like a three-dimensional landscape painting hidden in the city center. Don’t forget to look up for interesting details: most roofs are adorned with small clay sculptures of historical figures, folklore immortals, or mythical creatures like dragons. You can even find out an interesting war scene on the roof, between the famous Chinese general Yue Fei (1103-1142 AD) and his enemy, both on clay horses. Stepping out of the tranquil garden, you’ll surprisingly find a vibrant contrast: the lively Yuyuan Bazaar offers everything from delicate handicrafts, souvenirs to mouthwatering snacks. Some legendary spots include De Xing Restaurant, famous for its flaky fresh meat mooncakes, and Nanxiang Steamed Buns Restaurant, highly acclaimed for its crab roe and pork soup buns. Be careful with the first bite - the skin is so delicate and the broth so rich that you’ll need a straw to enjoy it! Your guide will help you navigate the overwhelming varieties and find your favorite flavors at your own expense.

Later, your guide will accompany you to appreciate the well-laid-out Shanghai Museum, home to state-of-the-art exhibits through thousands of years of history. Browse carefully its bronzeware exhibition that tops in China, and the most unmissable one is the 3-foot-high circular Da Ke Tripod with inscription, weighing around 200 kg. The vessel is one of the “Three Bronze Treasures in China”, dating from 1046 to 771 BC, which is reported to hold meat during sacrificial ceremonies. You can also experience the "disappearing glass" while observing the displays up close, thanks to the expensive low-reflection glass, and the cleaning staff wipe the glass frequently to provide a better view.

In the afternoon, stroll through the leafy tree-lined alleys in Xintiandi Neighborhood to seek out trendy shops and fashion boutiques from New York's Soho and cool cafes from Paris hidden within the strikingly contrasting historical Stone Gate Townhouses (Shikumen). These East-West hybrid architecture has a history of over 150 years. Step through its stone-framed doorways, and touch the European-style pediments and Chinese patterns carved on the lintels to feel the blend of nostalgia and modernism. Later, we’ll go for the unparalleled panoramic view of Shanghai icons: Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center, overlooking from the Duoyun Bookstore on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower, the highest megatall skyscraper in China. If the weather permits, capture a stunning sunset over the sprawling city.
★ Courtesy Treat: One free cup of coffee or soft drink will be served for you!

At the end of the day, your guide will escort you to your self-booked hotel, Shanghai railway station, or airport for departure. If you plan to leave Shanghai today, it is better to book a flight or train after 9:00 p.m. If you’d like to book a room for tonight or discover nearby gems like Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Huangshan Mountain, our team is happy to tailor a personalized itinerary for you!

Meal: Western buffet breakfast