Top Shanghai Cultural Tours

Discover Shanghai from its humble origins as a fishing village and hear the stories behind how it evolved to become one of the world's most exciting and cosmopolitan places! In 3.5~4 hours, our tour covers all the must-see spots in downtown Shanghai. Get ready to dive into the history, culture, art, architecture, and mouthwatering food of this vibrant city! IMPORTANT: Please note that the booking fee charged here is solely to reserve your spot, as the tour itself operates on a tips-based model, meaning you decide how much your guide deserves for their hard work. This voluntary tip is a way to recognize your guide's efforts and helps us maintain this exciting job! Booking is limited to groups of up to 4 people (adults+kids). If your group exceeds 4 people, please contact us to arrange a private tour.

Take a half day to explore the Zhujiajiao Water town by boat and explore the “Oriental Venice” with it’s meandering water alley streets, dating from the Qing and Ming dynasties. This will be a private tour, so you also will have a chance to visit the Kezhi garden and traditional temple at some point during the tour. You’ll be accompanied by an English speaking guide, who will manage everything for you and keep this stress free!

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of ERA — Journey Through Time at Shanghai Circus World, where a beautiful love story unfolds against the backdrop of Shanghai's vibrant history. This spectacular performance features breathtaking acrobatics, cutting-edge technology, and innovative stagecraft that capture the essence of China's rich cultural tapestry. With a runtime of either 60 or 100 minutes, this show is a sensory masterpiece that showcases the city's relentless spirit and the artistry of acrobatics. Experience the magic of Shanghai, where timeless traditions meet modern storytelling.

As they say, “Paris ne s’est pas fait en un jour!” (“Paris was not made in a day!”) And by the same token, neither was the French Concession of Shanghai. In 3 hours, hear captivating stories about the French Concession and its colorful past. Learn about the celebrities and commoners alike who once strolled down these streets, and find yourself becoming a part of the legacy of this place. IMPORTANT: Please note that the booking fee charged here is solely to reserve your spot, as the tour itself operates on a TIP-BASED model, meaning you decide how much your guide deserves for their hard work. This voluntary tip is a way to recognize your guide's efforts and helps us maintain this exciting job! Booking is limited to groups of up to 4 people. If your group exceeds 4 people, please contact us to arrange a private tour. Thanks for your understanding!

Shanghai is China’s biggest city and with just a day to explore, a private tour ensures you maximize your time. This full-day adventure is tailored to your interests, so you could admire the views from Shanghai Tower, visit Yuyuan Garden or Jade Buddha Temple, explore the Bund and Tianzifang, and more. Your day includes a private guide and hotel transfers; entrance fees are at your own expense.

Make the most of your time and visit two historic water towns in just one day on this private guided tour from Shanghai. Streamline your logistics with pickup and private transfers and enjoy the flexibility to customize your itinerary to your interests. Visit a classic garden, historic temple, a silk factory, or other scenic area in Suzhou, then explore the stone bridges, alleys, and canals of Zhujiajiao.

Explore one of Shanghai’s most evocative neighborhoods when you book a private walking tour of the Old City. Pick between morning and afternoon tour times, and meet your guide directly at your centrally located hotel. Once in the Old City, visit the classical Yuyuan Garden, admire the area’s Qing Dynasty–era architecture, stroll through a bustling bazaar, and otherwise follow in locals’ footsteps as you discover the historical area’s highlights.

It’s possible to visit the Great Wall of China in just one day from Shanghai. On this private guided day trip, travel by bullet train to Linhai, where you’ll refuel with lunch and explore the East Lake of Linhai before visiting the Jiangnan Great Wall, also known as the Southern Great Wall. Afterwards, stroll along Ziyang Old Street before returning to Shanghai.

Yu Garden lanes + Zhujiajiao’s water charm + hop-on-hop-off night views = your perfect Shanghai day-night adventure! Wander old-town spots, escape to the tranquil water town, then chase the city’s dazzling lights at your own pace. Don’t miss out! Detailed Itinerary 11:00 a.m. Depart for Yu Garden from the designated pick-up point. 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Visit Yu Garden, with a 1-hour stay to explore traditional garden scenery. 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tour City God Temple for 45min, immersing in local cultural and religious atmosphere. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Head to Zhujiajiao Water Town. 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Spend 3 hours sightseeing in Zhujiajiao Water Town. Includes a food tour featuring two popular local snacks: crab roe xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and Grandma’s rice dumplings, followed by free time for independent exploration. 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Return to downtown Shanghai. 6:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Board the double-decker City Sightseeing Bus for a 45min city tour

Explore Shanghai’s technological marvels on this exclusive half-day Tech Discovery Tour. Start in Lujiazui and take in views of the city’s futuristic skyline before visiting the Shanghai Tower for a closer look at its world-class architecture. Experience next-generation mobility with a real driverless car ride inside an autonomous driving zone. Continue to a cutting-edge EV showroom to see how China leads global electric-vehicle innovation. You’ll also meet humanoid robots for an immersive, hands-on interaction rarely available to the public. Designed for tech lovers, innovators, families, and curious travelers, this small-group tour offers a smooth and engaging way to explore Shanghai’s fast-moving tech scene. - Meet at Shanghai Center - Visit Shanghai Tower - Ride in a driverless car - Interact with humanoid robots

Shanghai is one of Asia’s most dynamic shopping destinations, offering everything from modern malls and designer boutiques to historic streets lined with traditional specialty shops. On this private shopping tour, your itinerary is tailored around your interests—whether you’re hunting for fashion, souvenirs, silk, electronics, antiques, or custom-made clothing. With a local guide to navigate the city’s vast retail scene, discover both well-known shopping hubs and hidden local markets, learn where to find authentic goods, and pick up insider tips on bargaining.

Hotel pick up and drop off, private professional guide and experienced driver all included, you can follow a suggested itinerary or choose based on your situation and interests . Pick up time flexible based on your situation.

Swap the bustle of Shanghai for Zhujiajiao Water Town, without the hassle of research, planning, or navigating, on this all-inclusive, half-day, private tour from Shanghai. Enjoy convenient pickup and private transfers from your Shanghai hotel, then explore the highlights of the scenic water town with a local guide to provide enriching commentary. Includes a boat ride and lunch.

Immerse yourself in Shanghai’s little-known Jewish districts—known as “Little Vienna”— on this specialty-themed private tour. Highlights include collections of photographs, films, and personal items at the Jewish Refugees Museum, the old stone houses and winding back alleys that once housed a thriving Jewish immigrant population, and British-Jewish art-deco heritage along the Bund waterfront.

Combine a private sighting seeing tour with Zhujiajiao water town -known as the “Little oriental Venice” and see the national treasure animal-Panda at Shanghai zoo. Explore old alley streets of ancient town fully of local scenes, travel with your own expert guide to gain a great insight into local culture, custom and history. Different options cater to different travel requests, all with private door to door transfers included

At the beginning of World War II, about 30,000 Jewish refugees fled from Europe to Shanghai. Calling themselves “Shanghailanders”, most settled in the Hongkou District where the local residents kindly offered food and medicine for these displaced people. The Jewish community thrived in the Hongkou. Bakeries, stores, cafes, synagogues, schools, clinics, cemeteries, and even a Jewish newspaper all flourished there.

Discover the Jewish history of Shanghai on a half-day tour with an expert guide. Hear about Jewish immigration to Shanghai and visit important sites around the Hongkou district, also known as the Shanghai Ghetto, where thousands of Jewish refugees lived during World War II. Stop at the memorial plaque in Huoshan Park and the Jewish Refugees Museum—formerly Ohel Moishe Synagogue. Your guide shares fascinating stories about the people whose lives intersected in Shanghai.

Visit some of Shanghai’s most evocative neighborhoods, and learn all about China’s Communist Party as you go, on this half-day history tour. Meet your guide at your centrally located Shanghai hotel, and begin your tour in Xintiandi, where you’ll see the site of the party’s First National Congress. Continue by subway or taxi to the Propaganda Poster Art Centre, which exhibits materials dating from the Cultural Revolution. As you explore, learn more from your guide about key moments in modern Chinese history.

Escape the bustle of Shanghai—and visit one of the region’s most beautiful and historical “water towns”—on this private, half-day trip to Zhujiajiao. Pick between morning and afternoon departure times, and set off directly from your Shanghai hotel. Upon arrival in Zhujiajiao, you’ll have time to wander its ancient streets, admire its heritage architecture, go for a boat ride down its canals, and enjoy a local meal (if option selected). At tour’s end, return directly to your hotel.

Stroll through the Shanghai's trendy French Concession neighborhood with a guide on this private walking tour. Follow your guide's lead to unearth hidden courtyards, Art Deco buildings, and typical Shanghai street scenes. Highlights include the Lanxin Theater, the Cathay Mansion, the former residence of Dr. Sun-Yat Sen, Fuxing Park, and others. Includes all entrance fees and option to visit a tea house.

Treat yourself to a smooth and stress-free arrival in Shanghai during this private one-way airport transfer. Enjoy a personalized meet-and-greet in the arrivals hall, with two hours of free wait time in case of flight delays. Ride in a comfortable, climate-controlled car with ample luggage space and complimentary bottled water. Get dropped off door-to-door at any hotel in the city.

Take a private cooking class in the home of your chef-instructor to learn about Chinese cuisine and experience daily life in Shanghai. Start with hotel pickup and a guided market tour that includes samples of popular snacks. Then head to your instructor’s home for a hands-on cooking lesson. Afterward, enjoy a lunch or dinner that you helped to make, accompanied by lively conversation.

Enjoy a more immersive way to explore popular Shanghai areas such as Xintiandi and the French Concession—and sample many traditional dishes—on this small-group food tour. With your guide in the lead, discover sights and bites you'd miss on your own. Look forward to sampling Shanghainese dishes such as scallion oil noodles, soup dumplings, steamed buns, and more, and learn about the history and culture of the city.