All-inclusive Half-day Private Tour To Zhujiajiao Water Town
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Shanghai, China
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- LunchLunch or Dinner
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- All Admission
- Gratuities For Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Free Pickup/Drop off from any location in Shanghai!
Itinerary
1
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
5 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 42 reviews
Judy_M, Apr 2026
Bill was our personal (three of us) guide through Zhujiajiao. He was excellent. Fluent English speaker, with no accent, which made easy to talk to him and understand his comments. Knowledgeable about the history and sites in the town. Tour included transportation via Didi (their Uber), private tour through the town, entry into a garden museum, boat ride, and a simple dumpling lunch, all for a reasonable price. What I liked best was that Bill was very communicative, via WeChat, before the tour so I could ask questions before the trip regarding precise details for pick up times, who to expect to pick us up, where, etc.. Originally we were suppose to meet with the driver at another hotel , but Bill willingly arranged for our pick-up at the hotel where we were staying. If you want a private, very good tour guide, who is personable, friendly, accommodating
and professional, Bill is your guy! Great tour!
Kate_J, Mar 2026
Our guide Bill led us on the All-inclusive Half-day Private Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town, and everything was perfectly organized. From the initial contact before the tour, through the transfer, to the tour itself – everything went smoothly and professionally.
The tour was very interesting and gave us a chance to “peek into” rural life. The place is incredibly charming and full of history. The gardens are beautiful, and the small number of tourists allows you to truly feel the local atmosphere.
The boat ride, reminiscent of a “little Venice,” was a wonderful experience, the lunch was delicious, and the evening walk through the local handicraft stalls had a unique charm.
We sincerely recommend it! Kate & Dora
vic_k, Mar 2026
Time well spent. Guide was excellent. He was informative and friendly. It was over an hour drive from central Shanghai. Once on site it was a different “world”.
SUZIE_S, Jan 2026
We booked our tour for 8:30am to visit Zhujiajiao Water Town, an ancient village built partly on water, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.
The drive from our hotel took about one hour, and from the moment we met our tour guide Bill, we knew we were in good hands. Bill spoke very fluent English and was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging throughout the day.
At Zhujiajiao, Bill walked us through the town’s rich history, explaining its heritage, architecture, and daily life. One of the absolute highlights was the boat cruise through the canals—peaceful, scenic, and a beautiful way to experience the town from the water.
For lunch, Bill took us to a local spot serving dumpling soup, and honestly, it was the best dumplings we’ve ever had. The soup was inside the dumpling itself, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour—simple, authentic, and unforgettable.
After lunch, we wandered through the village market where we saw some truly unique local delicacies, including smoked frog, which is considered a specialty of the area. We also saw insects being dried and sold, something you don’t see every day (unfortunately, we didn’t manage to take photos).
Once our village stroll ended, our DiDi arrived and dropped us off at People’s Square. This place was massive—easily four times the size of Chadstone—with stunning lights and a multi-level shopping complex. We explored for a couple of hours before meeting Bill again for the evening food tour.
The food tour group included some fellow Melbournians: two sisters from Bentleigh and a guy from Carlton named Alex, which made the experience even more fun and social.
Evening Food Tour Highlights:
1. First stop: A dumpling restaurant where dumplings were rolled and steamed fresh on the spot—absolutely delicious.
2. Second stop: A small local restaurant serving egg-free fried rice and fried dumplings, both packed with flavour.
3. Third stop: A noodle place featuring noodles with spices, pork, pork liver, pork intestine (revealed only after tasting!), pickles, tofu, and vegetables—an adventurous and authentic experience.
4. Final stop (dessert): Sticky blood rice pudding, a hot sweet rice drink, and another hot rice-based dessert mixed with tamarind—comforting, warming, and the perfect end to the night.
🌟 Final Thoughts
This tour was the perfect combination of history, culture, local life, and incredible food. Bill was an outstanding guide who went above and beyond to make the day seamless and memorable. If you’re visiting Shanghai and want an authentic, well-paced, and deeply enjoyable experience, this tour—especially with Bill—is an absolute must-do.
Logan_D, Dec 2025
I had a wonderful 6-hour day trip with Bill, truly the ideal length for a half-day adventure. He arrived right on time, and from that moment the experience flowed effortlessly. Bill highlighted fantastic points of interest along the way, always offering to take photos and making sure my food, sightseeing, and tour preferences were taken into account. His attention to detail and warm personality made the day feel both personalized and easy.
Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to see the sights with comfort, convenience, and a great guide! Great for a solo traveler!
Anonymous, Nov 2025
Our guide Bill was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. We had a great tour.
I recommend this tour.
Sameer_K, Sep 2025
Had an amazing experience with Bill. He's so friendly and easy to get along with. Showed us all around water town. Thanks for an amazing time Bill.
Joe_S, Sep 2025
Amazing experience, Bill was very knowledgeable and was welcoming. Would do again, best part was waking through the garden!
Karen_C, Sep 2025
Comprehensive trip to the beautiful canal-filled ‘original’ Shanghai. Bill is a very friendly, incredibly knowledgeable guide. It was great to be able to ask questions about both old and new China, and lunch was best dumplings ever!
Johannes_d, Aug 2025
We had a wonderful tour with Bill and enjoyed it thoroughly. He is an outstanding guide; knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely caring. From the very beginning, Bill made everything effortless, organizing the tour and arranging transportation with perfect efficiency. Everything ran smoothly, just like clockwork.
Our visit to Zhujiajiao was a highlight and truly unforgettable. As Bill said, “This town is the authentic face of Shanghai,” and we couldn’t agree more.
We highly recommend both the tour and Bill as a guide!
Ekaterina_D, Jul 2025
Really amazing place. Must see. Bill is very good and professional guide. We spent a lovely afternoon in a really nice place
Ian_K, Jul 2025
Bill was an excellent tour guide.Very friendly and knowledgeable.We had a most enjoyable time.Would reccomend this tour to everyone.
mario_c, Jul 2025
It was a great experience and Bill was excellent and knowledgeable.I would recommend this tour.Thanks
Alison_S, Jul 2025
I wasn't sure if this tour would be interesting but Bill was a wonderful guide and shared so much history and context that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole time. Extra points for finding me something vegetarian to eat!
helen_t, Jul 2025
We are a three-generational family group and i speak for all of us when i say that this was the best trip ever. We all enjoyed iit so much. From pick-up in a super-duper high tech taxi to the tour of the wonderful old water village conducted by our fabulous guide Bill, to our traditional meal of dumplings, everything was seamlessly organised and executed.
We all recommend this tour 100 percent.
Many thanks, Bill, u r a true star.
James_C, May 2025
Although this was 1 year ago, my wife and I would like to say that the tour guide (I think he is called Bill) was very helpful, speak fluent English, good knowledge about the tour and don't mind to go an extra mile to do his job. He is highly recommended.
Christian_W, Apr 2025
Had an awesome time touring with Bill! He’s super knowledgeable and speaks excellent English, which made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. With over 10 years of guiding under his belt, it really shows – he gave tons of interesting insights not just about the tourist spots, but also shared a deeper layer of Chinese culture that you don’t usually hear about in the West.
What I really appreciated was how open he was to chatting – I had a lot of questions, and he answered them all with patience and depth. We ended up having some great conversations about the car industry (which I'm into) and even his take on my home country – super interesting stuff!
Bill really helped me understand more about how Chinese people think and see the world, which made the trip even more meaningful.
Easily a 5/5 – would definitely take a tour with him again!
Vencer_V, Apr 2025
Bill, was the tour guide. Excellent English, very informative on tour details. He also does food tours, and Shanghai city tours. Loved the dumplings tasting on the city town tour. Can't go wrong choosing Bill as tour guide.
Mala_A, Mar 2025
My first tour while on my 2nd day at Shanghai. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Bill was my guide who messaged the night before to arrange the pick up and meeting point. Bill was on time, he speaks great English, is very friendly and outgoing. I learnt a lot about China from Bill on our ride to Zhujiajiao water town. The boat ride was great, I enjoyed walking through the ancient town. The garden was fascinating. We walked past Hanfu costume shops and I mentioned how I wanted to dress up. Bill was accomodating and I was able to get Hanfu dressup and professional photography. He waited patiently, held my bags and translated for me. We had lunch, the dumplings were delicious. Bill gave me a souvenir to take home, a cotton carry bag with a picture his daughter drew when she was young. That was a sweet gesture. I highly recommend this tour or having Bill as your guide. Loveliest man. Would be joining him on other tours when I’m back in Shanghai. Thank you Bill for such a lovely day I’ll always cherish!!!
Michelle_F, Mar 2025
What an amazing experience! Bill is amazing! Clear community from start to finish. Bill is so knowledgeable and his English is incredible.
Worth every penny!
Layla_N, Feb 2025
I had the most incredible time exploring Zhujiajiao with Bill as my tour guide. His extensive knowledge, friendly inviting demeanor and exceptional English were just what I needed for my solo exploration day. Thanks for a wonderful time, Bill!
Peggy, Feb 2025
Excellent tour of the Venice of Shanghai. Bill was an exceptional tour guide - Shanghai native, historian, patient, and kind. My husband and I had a wonderful day. If you have an afternoon when visiting Shanghai and want to get out of the city, I highly recommend this tour.
Lisa_J, Feb 2025
Bill was an excellent guide and his English is very good. He met us at the cruise terminal in Shanghai with a private car and driver. We drove to Zhujiajiao and first took a boat ride on the canals. We got off in town and explored the interesting street shops and walked over stone bridges. Bill paid our admission to a beautiful garden in the town and introduced us to some delicious fried dumplings at a local restaurant. After several hours, our driver took us back to the shop. It was a terrific day. Highly recommend!
Lydia_C, Nov 2024
This tour was great, we enjoyed visiting the town and learning more about its history. Bill was very knowledgeable and took care of all the logistics seamlessly. Highly recommend!
Helen_D, Nov 2024
This was my second tour with Bill and was as fantastic as the first. He is an excellent guide and the destination was fantastic.
Angel_P, Oct 2024
We spent a perfect half day tour. Bill is a great guide. He ensured the visit was interesting, fun and informative. He is very knowledgeable and speaks perfect English. 100% recommended!
CarlosHenrique_C, Oct 2024
This tour was an incredible experience from start to finish! The place itself was breathtaking, filled with unique sights and rich cultural insights. Both the guide and the driver were outstanding—knowledgeable, friendly, and truly went above and beyond to make the day memorable. The guide provided fascinating details that made the location come alive, while the driver ensured a smooth and comfortable journey throughout. I truly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore; it's a perfect blend of charm and learning that you won't want to miss!
Everton_V, Oct 2024
Bill is a great guide, took me to Water town village, we took a boat, and Chinese Garden, explained the history, Thanks for the coffee. Highly recommended.
Pierrefranois_H, Oct 2024
What a romantic, beautiful traditional side of Shanghai !
Bill is a fabulous guide, he books the taxi for You from Your hotel to join him at the water city, manage the trip very well, keep You updated by WhatsApp, gives You all the precious informations You must get about history, the site and answers all Your questions, we shared some dumplings together before leaving the place and going back in a taxi to Shanghai cbd.
Sigrid_M, Sep 2024
I really had a great Time with Bill, visiting the Ancient Water Town. he really explain and share many things from the culture. Bonus: he was the best taking me Pictures!! Thanks à lot Bill!! Really recommended.
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