Shanghai Travel · China

Shanghai Tours — Where East Meets West

Stroll the Bund at golden hour, explore hidden Art Deco streets, and taste your way through China's most cosmopolitan city on an expertly guided Shanghai tour.

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Shanghai City Overview

Shanghai Travel at a Glance

Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city — a place where 1920s Art Deco mansions sit beneath futuristic Pudong skyscrapers, and centuries-old water towns lie just an hour from the neon-lit Bund. Once known as the "Paris of the East," Shanghai blends Jiangnan water-town heritage with cutting-edge modernity. Walk the tree-lined French Concession, admire the classical pavilions of Yu Garden, cruise the canals of Zhujiajiao, and watch the skyline transform at sunset from the historic waterfront. Shanghai is also the gateway to Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Huangshan by high-speed rail, and connects to Beijing and Xi'an in under 5 hours, making it the perfect grand finale or starting point for any China tour.

Map Focus

Shanghai, China

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City basics

4 facts

Best TimeMarch to May and October to November

Trip StyleArt Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions

RegionEastern China

Route FitWorks as a focused city stay or as part of a broader China itinerary.

More planning guides

Each topic opens a short planning layer first, then links into detailed editorial or product-led guidance.

Private Guided Tours

Shanghai Private Guided Tours

Book instantly and explore Shanghai on your terms. Our private tours are fully flexible — beat the Bund crowds at sunrise, join a hidden Art Deco walking tour, add a day trip to Suzhou's classical gardens, or explore Zhujiajiao water town. Every Shanghai tour is built around your interests, with a local expert who adapts the route in real time.

1-Day Hangzhou Private Tour from Shanghai: West Lake, Tea Village & Jiangnan Culture

Private Tours

1 dayHeritage & Culture

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCALInstant Confirmation

1-Day Hangzhou Private Tour from Shanghai: West Lake, Tea Village & Jiangnan Culture

West Lake Boat Cruise → Guo Garden → Meijiawu Tea Plantation→ Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi → Hefang Street

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Enjoy a peaceful boat ride on West Lake, surrounded by iconic landscapes, pagodas, and seasonal reflections.

Visit Meijiawu Tea Plantation to explore lush tea fields, learn traditional Longjing tea production, and experience tea culture.

Includes round-trip high-speed rail ticketsPicture-PerfectUnforgettable Landscapes

From $85

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Tailor-made Travel

Shanghai Tailor-made Travel

Plan your Shanghai trip as one chapter in a custom China route. Our advisors coordinate hotels, transfers, guides, and local experiences across cities. Shanghai connects to Beijing and Xi'an by high-speed rail in under 5 hours, or to Hangzhou and Suzhou in under 30 minutes. Every Shanghai tailor-made trip is designed around your dates, interests, and pace.

11-Day China's Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze Cruise

TAILOR-MADE

11 days / 10 nightsClassic China

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

11-Day China's Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze Cruise

Beijing → Xi'an → Chongqing → Yangtze River Cruise → Yichang → Shanghai

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Combine Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai with the slower rhythm of a Yangtze River cruise.

Local guides handle daily touring while transfers and cruise boarding are coordinated in advance.

Tailor-made TravelPrivate guide planningManual quotation

Price on request

Advisor-designed private journey

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14-Day Best of China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

TAILOR-MADE

14 days / 13 nightsClassic China

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

14-Day Best of China Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

Shanghai → Guilin → Yangshuo → Chongqing → Yangtze River Cruise → Xi'an → Beijing

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Balance Shanghai's skyline, Guilin's karst scenery, the Yangtze cruise and northern China classics.

Flights, trains, cruise boarding, luggage timing and hotel changes are coordinated by the advisor team.

Tailor-made TravelPrivate guide planningManual quotation

Price on request

Advisor-designed private journey

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15-Day Ultimate China Scenic & Cultural Journey

TAILOR-MADE

15 days / 14 nightsAdventure

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

15-Day Ultimate China Scenic & Cultural Journey

Shanghai → Huangshan → Hangzhou → Guilin → Xi'an → Beijing

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Add Huangshan, Hangzhou and Guilin to the Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing classic route.

Pair old villages, mountain viewpoints, river scenery, imperial history and city neighborhoods.

Tailor-made TravelPrivate guide planningManual quotation

Price on request

Advisor-designed private journey

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7-Day Beijing & Shanghai Highlights by High-Speed Train

TAILOR-MADE

7 days / 6 nightsHeritage & Culture

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

7-Day Beijing & Shanghai Highlights by High-Speed Train

Beijing → Shanghai → Zhujiajiao → Shanghai

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Use high-speed rail to connect Beijing's imperial sites with Shanghai's modern neighborhoods.

Cover the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Bund and a water town in one week.

Tailor-made TravelPrivate guide planningManual quotation

Price on request

Advisor-designed private journey

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10-Day China Heritage Escape: Shanghai, Gardens, Mountains & Water Towns

TAILOR-MADE

10 days / 9 nightsHeritage & Culture

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

10-Day China Heritage Escape: Shanghai, Gardens, Mountains & Water Towns

Shanghai → Suzhou → Huangshan → Huangling → Hangzhou → Shanghai

THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE

Experience the contrast between modern cities, ancient towns, peaceful countryside and breathtaking mountain landscapes in one thoughtfully designed journey.

Explore centuries-old gardens, historic streets, traditional villages and architectural treasures that showcase the rich heritage of Jiangnan and Huizhou.

Tailor-made TravelPrivate guide planningManual quotation

Price on request

Advisor-designed private journey

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Start a Tailor-made Trip

Top Things to Do on Your Shanghai Tour

The Bund

The Bund anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

French Concession

French Concession anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

Yu Garden

Yu Garden anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

Pudong skyline

Pudong skyline anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

Zhujiajiao water town

Zhujiajiao water town anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

Shanghai neighborhoods

Shanghai neighborhoods anchors the Shanghai experience for travelers planning Art Deco streets, contemporary skylines, food neighborhoods, and water-town extensions.

Travel Notes

Shanghai Travel Blogs

Practical planning reads from our Shanghai-based advisors — the best Bund photo spots, how to use the Maglev and metro, where to eat beyond the tourist strips, and which water town fits your schedule. Real advice from real trips, updated regularly.

9 min read

China Transit Visa 2026: Requirements, Application & Stopover Guide (Updated May 2026)

A practical stopover guide explaining China G visas, 240-hour visa-free transit, route eligibility, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou transit rules, and documents travelers should prepare.

3 min read

Shanghai's Hidden Art Deco Architecture Walk

Plan a private Shanghai Art Deco walk through historic streets, apartment houses, cinemas, cafes, and Former French Concession architecture.

Shanghai Travel FAQs

Clear answers to the questions travelers ask most — how many days to spend in Shanghai, the best time to visit, whether a Suzhou or Hangzhou day trip is worth it, and how to get around. Each answer is written by our local team and kept current.

What should travelers know about entertainment in Shanghai?

Shanghai works best when entertainment plans are matched to your hotel area, daily route, and preferred pace. Our team keeps this editable in the city CMS so operations can keep advice current.

Can this entertainment plan be customized?

Yes. The Shanghai page is structured around private planning, selected products, and local notes, so this answer can be adjusted as products and customer requirements change.

Wider Horizons

Extend Your Shanghai Trip

Shanghai is a natural gateway to eastern China's best scenery and culture. Head to Hangzhou's West Lake or Suzhou's classical gardens by high-speed rail in under 30 minutes, climb Huangshan's granite peaks, or connect to Beijing and Xi'an in under 5 hours. Our advisors can weave any combination into a single seamless Shanghai trip.

6 ToursNorthern China