Private Shanghai Zoo & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour
- Duration7 hours
- Daily
- Private
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This private day combines two of the most family-friendly experiences around Shanghai. Your own English-speaking guide and driver pick you up at your hotel in central Shanghai in a private air-conditioned vehicle and take you first to Shanghai Zoo, where giant pandas, golden monkeys, tigers and elephants live among wide lawns and shady trees. You then drive to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town on the city's western edge, to cross its stone bridges, explore canal-side lanes and glide along the waterways on a private boat ride. Entrance tickets and the boat are included. The tour suits families with children, couples and friends who want both animals and old China in one relaxed day, at a pace set only by your group.
Highlights
- Giant pandas and golden monkeys at Shanghai Zoo
- Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with Ming and Qing houses
- Fangsheng Bridge, the great five-arch stone bridge
- Private canal boat ride through the old town
- Own guide, driver and air-conditioned vehicle all day
- Zoo and water town tickets included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Shanghai
Full Description
Shanghai Zoo
Shanghai Zoo lies in Changning District in the west of the city, close to Hongqiao. It opened to the public in 1954 on grounds that had earlier been a private sports club, which is why it still feels like a park, with broad lawns, lakes and tall trees. It is one of the largest and best-known zoos in China and a favourite weekend outing for local families.
The stars are the giant pandas, usually most active in the morning when they are fed bamboo. You can also see golden snub-nosed monkeys, rare South China tigers, Asian elephants, peacocks, giraffes and many birds. Your guide plans the route so you reach the pandas at the best time and explains how China protects its native species. Allow about two hours.
Zhujiajiao Water Town
About an hour's drive west of downtown, in Qingpu District, Zhujiajiao is one of the best-preserved water towns in the Shanghai area, with a history of around 1,700 years. It grew rich in the Ming and Qing dynasties as a market town for rice and cotton cloth, and its whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs still line the canals, with stone steps leading down to the water.
A Zhujiajiao day trip from Shanghai is the easiest way to see a traditional Jiangnan water town without travelling to Suzhou or Hangzhou. Your guide leads you along North Street, a narrow lane of Ming and Qing shopfronts, past old pharmacies, tea shops and snack stalls, and tells the story of daily life when boats were the town's only transport.
Fangsheng Bridge and the Old Lanes
The symbol of Zhujiajiao is Fangsheng Bridge, built in 1571 and rebuilt in the nineteenth century, a five-arch stone bridge about 70 metres long and the largest of its kind in the Shanghai area. Its name refers to the old custom of releasing live fish into the river as an act of kindness. Climb to the top for the classic view down the main canal.
Around the bridge, smaller stone bridges, a temple to the City God, the Buddhist Yuanjin Temple and Kezhi Garden, a twentieth-century garden mixing Chinese and Western styles, are all within a few minutes' walk. Is Zhujiajiao worth visiting? If you want to see old Shanghai before the skyscrapers, yes; weekday mornings and late afternoons are calmest.
Private Canal Boat Ride
The highlight of the water town is the boat ride. A boatman rows a traditional covered wooden boat through the canals, under stone bridges and past houses whose back doors open onto the water. With the default option the boat is private for your party, so you can sit back, take photos and chat with your guide without sharing.
The ride lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and gives a completely different view of the town, low on the water and away from the busy lanes. The best time to visit Zhujiajiao is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild; in summer, the boat's canopy offers shade, and in winter the misty canals are very atmospheric.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupYour guide and driver meet you at your hotel in central Shanghai at your preferred time.
- Shanghai ZooVisit the giant pandas, golden monkeys, tigers and elephants with your guide, about two hours.
- Drive to ZhujiajiaoTravel west by private air-conditioned vehicle to the water town, about one hour.
- Zhujiajiao water townExplore North Street, Fangsheng Bridge and the canal-side lanes, with time for lunch on your own, about one and a half to two hours.
- Private boat rideGlide along the canals on a private wooden boat, about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Return to your hotelDrive back to central Shanghai for drop-off at your hotel or another city-centre address, about seven hours after pickup.
What's included
- Private English-speaking guide
- Private driver with air-conditioned vehicle
- Shanghai Zoo entrance ticket
- Zhujiajiao water town entry
- Private canal boat ride
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Shanghai
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Pickup from outlying areas such as Pudong or the theme park area (on request)
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 3–6
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Couples, families and friends who want a private tour, just your group
- Anyone who wants to see it from the water
Think twice if
- You get seasick easily
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users, as the water town has many stepped bridges and the boat is boarded from stone steps
Meeting point
We pick you up from your hotel in central Shanghai at the time you prefer, usually in the morning so you reach the pandas while they are active; your guide waits in the lobby. At the end of the day we drop you back at your hotel or another city-centre address. Hotels in the Pudong airport or theme-park areas are outside the included zone and can be arranged on request.
Important information
- Bring your passport; attractions in China may ask for it
- Wear comfortable shoes: the water town has many stone bridges and steps
- Food and drinks are not included; Zhujiajiao has many snack stalls and small restaurants
- Pandas are most active in the morning, so an early start is best
- Bring sun protection in summer and warm clothes in winter for the boat
- Mobile payment apps are used everywhere; carry some cash for small purchases
- Some Western apps are blocked in China; install alternatives before you travel
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private tour?
It is fully private: your own English-speaking guide, driver and air-conditioned vehicle, and a private boat in Zhujiajiao, for your party only.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
Yes. You can spend longer with the pandas, shorten the zoo to have more time in the water town, or change the start time. Just tell your guide.
How many people fit in the vehicle and the boat?
The vehicle is matched to your party size. The traditional boats take a small group, so for larger families tell us your numbers when booking.
Is the price per person or per group?
The guide, vehicle and boat are private for your group, while entrance tickets depend on the number of guests. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for your party.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup and drop-off at hotels in central Shanghai are included.
What is included?
A private English-speaking guide, a private driver with air-conditioned vehicle, the Shanghai Zoo entrance ticket, entry to Zhujiajiao water town, a private canal boat ride and hotel pickup and drop-off in central Shanghai.
How long is the tour?
About 7 hours from pickup to drop-off.
Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?
It is perfect for children, who love the pandas and the boat. The water town has stepped bridges and the boat is boarded from stone steps, so it is difficult for wheelchair users.
What should I bring?
Your passport, comfortable shoes, water, sun protection or warm clothing depending on the season, and a camera.
When is the best time to go?
Start in the morning for the pandas. Spring and autumn give the most pleasant weather in the water town; weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
Can we find halal food on this tour?
Lunch is on your own. Shanghai has many halal (qingzhen) restaurants, often noodle shops run by Hui Muslim families; tell your guide and they will help you find a suitable place along the route or back in the city.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date in the booking panel on this page. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes and agrees the pickup time with you.
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