2 Days Shanghai Classic Tour

Welcome to the “Paris of the East”, the metropolis Shanghai! According to your arrival schedule, your personal tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport, the port, or the railway station depending on your transport means.

Then we will drive 1.5 hours to Zhujiajiao, a cultural ancient water town with a history of more than 1,700 years, where you will spend two hours leisurely. Zhujiajiao enjoys a reputation as China's Venice, featuring unique old bridges, well-structured courtyards, calm rivers and lush willows, all of which make this town a land of antiquity, leisure and tranquility.

Zhujiajiao features 36 ancient stone bridges. Among them, Fangsheng Bridge with over 200 years history is the most famous one. “Fangsheng” means “setting fish free”, encouraging people to do good deeds. On the first and 15th days of every Chinese lunar month, monks and pilgrims will release aquatic animals under the bridge. It will be an unforgettable experience if you happen to see it.

This ancient water town is also a great place to try Shanghai’s local food. Your guide will be happy to introduce different snacks, like famous Zhujiajiao Zongzi (Sticky Rice Dumplings), which tastes nicer if eaten hot.

In the afternoon, we will go back to Shanghai city center on a comfortable drive. Stroll along the iconic Bund to appreciate gorgeous Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, and Classicism style architecture complex while listening to the history of the buildings to glimpse into the glorious past of this fabulous city.

After a leisurely stroll, take a one-hour Huangpu River cruise tour, and you will have a chance to appreciate the landmark buildings and skyscrapers along both banks from another perspective, which reveal the past, present and future of this city. In addition, two suspension bridges, the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge, look like two dragons crouching across the river. All these make the Huangpu River Cruise an excellent way to explore the city's history, culture and charming landscape.

Travel Tip: If you arrive late today and cruise on the Huangpu River at night, you will be amazed by the brilliant night views with all lights on. It is suggested to take a jacket for the night cruise in cool seasons.

After today’s trip, the guide and the driver will transfer you to check into the well-selected hotel in downtown area.

Today, your 2 days Shanghai tour will begin from Shanghai Museum, which is renowned for over 100,000 Chinese ancient artworks including bronze ware, wood and stone carvings, pottery sculptures, jade ware, Chinese porcelain, old coins, Chinese calligraphy and paintings.

The exhibition building has a round top and a square base, resembling a Ding, a tripod ancient bronze vessel, and representing the old Chinese philosophy 'the sky is round and the earth square'. The design was inspired by the museum’s most precious treasure, Da Ke Ding from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 BC). This large bronze vessel is 0.93-meter (3 ft.) high and weighs about 200 kg, boasting one of the "three bronze ware treasures in China". Your professional guide will show you all the treasures, making you dive deep into the traditional Chinese culture.

Later, we will proceed to the Yu Garden, a typical classical garden in southern China, which was constructed during the 16th century. The finely structured pavilions, winding cloisters, decorated walls and crystal ponds together make the garden a charming and tranquil land in bustling Shanghai.

After visiting Yu Garden, you can stroll around the nearby Yuyuan Old Street to taste authentic Shanghai specialties. We don’t arrange a lunch for you because you can easily get full with a lot of delicious local snacks here. Your guide will also be glad to offer some food suggestions.

Food Recommendation: Sheng Jian Bao, aka Pan-Fried Pork Buns, widely loved by locals, is a must-try snack on your Shanghai tour. The flavorful pork stuffing is filled into a crispy yet soft pan-fried wrapper with a soupy texture. It tastes incredibly juicy and delicious.

In the afternoon, you will be accompanied to visit Xin Tian Di, a former neighborhood of old Shanghai. It has been renewed as a fashionable pedestrian street now, featuring fine restaurants, upscale clubs and boutiques. Here you can also see the unique architecture, Shikumen, which was once a characteristic residential residence in Shanghai. With a history of 150 years, Shikumen records the changes of people's lives and is a miniature of the century-old Shanghai. Stroll down the alley and listen to the stories behind Shikumen.

Then, you will come to Shanghai Tower to experience the fastest elevator in the world and visit the world's highest cultural space, Duo Yun Bookstore, on the 52nd floor of this China’s tallest building. Take a coffee break here and you will be entertained with a phenomenal panoramic view over the city.

Afterward, your sightseeing trip will draw to an end as we transfer you to the airport and see you off there. If you leave Shanghai from the port or the railway station, please contact our travel consultant and we will make proper arrangements for you. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast