Zhouzhuang Water Village Tour from Shanghai

5 Reviews

5 star

2
4 star

2
3 star

1
2 star

0
1 star

0
Location: Shanghai, China
Duration: 
                                5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Overview
Schedule
Pricing

Take a gondola ride through the elegant waterways of Zhouzhuang, the 'Venice of the East.’ You’ll step into the old residences of Zhang House and Shen House, and wander through the vast expanse of courtyards, arcades and rooms that make up these complexes. Don’t miss out on visiting one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, with its other-worldly landscapes and stunning architecture.

Highlights

Sightseeing tour of the Zhouzhuang water village
Enter the ancient and immense residences of Zhang House and Shen House
Enjoy a ride on a Chinese-style gondola through the Old Town
See views unique to Zhouzhuang like the Silk Mill and the Double Bridges
Hotel pickup and drop-off included

What You Can Expect

A Chinese-style gondola rowing across the Zhouzhuang old town

With its interconnected waterways and dreamy landscapes, Zhouzhuang is one of the top water villages in China. Take a step back in time to view magnificent canals and stone bridges. The majority of the town’s residences were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and nearly 100 traditional courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are still in use. You will visit two of the most popular sights in this water town: Shen House and Zhang House.

Shen House was a private property built in the Qing style, and occupies an enormous area of over 2,000 square feet (186 square meters). It features charming displays like a water gate, a gate tower, a tearoom and a main hall. It also has artworks including carvings that tell historic stories, a painted sculpture of Shen Wansan, and other cultural relics such as folk instruments. Zhang House is equally impressive, with 70 rooms taking up over 1,900 square feet (177 square meters). It is a graceful residential house with a tranquil courtyard and pond.

After walking with the locals in the town's cobbled lanes, you will be taken on a Chinese-style gondola ride through the old town, where you can admire the simple and well-preserved architecture that dates back more than 900 years. Locals still live their life on the waterways, carrying out daily activities such as washing clothes and shopping from vendors on boats. You will have the opportunity to take many photos of this picturesque town.

This tour provides hotel pickup and drop-off and is a great way to learn about the cultural background of China’s Jiangsu province.

Customer Reviews

See all reviews

Merran T

5 star rating: Highly Recommended April 2013

We were picked up at our hotel promptly by two charming local guides who spoke good English. There were only four people on the tour so it was very personalised and we got to interact with the guides. The village was very interesting as was travelling to it. Our guides were very informative and we were impressed with the whole tour.

Jacquelyn P

5 star rating: Highly Recommended August 2012

I recommend this tour to anyone staying in Shanghai for more than a day. Strolling along the water and the actual ride on the water was great. Definitely agree to tip the lady paddling the boat to sing to you. It's unforgettable and you can really make there day my tipping them a couple dollars worth.

Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.

Schedule Details

Departs

Departure point

Departs from your Shanghai city hotels

Departure time

2pm

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pickup time.

Duration

5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Return details
Returns to original departure point

Additional Info

Inclusions

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gondola cruise
Local English-speaking guide
Entrance fees to scenic spots as indicated in itinerary
Transport by air-conditioned coach

Exclusions

Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)

Additional info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be over the age of 2

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity. What's this?

Local operator information

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.