Private China journeysEnglish-speaking guides20+ years · Licensed agency
Shanghai & the Water Towns
East China

Shanghai & the Water Towns

Art deco lanes, a sci-fi skyline and canal towns within an hour. Shanghai is the easiest introduction to modern China.

3Journeys
March–May · September–NovemberBest time
The feeling

The future, with a river view.

Shanghai rewards travellers who look beyond the Bund. The former French Concession is a maze of plane trees, lane houses and small galleries. The Bund is best at 6am, when the city is running and the river is still quiet. Across the water, Pudong's skyline is a reminder of how fast this country has changed.

We use Shanghai as a base for the water towns of Suzhou, Zhouzhuang and Hangzhou — classical gardens, canals and tea houses that feel a world away from the skyscrapers.

Plan a journey here
Region
East China
Best time
March–May · September–November
Ideal length
4–10 days
Access
Flight or high-speed rail
Style
Private, tailor-made
All journeys here are private and can be combined with other regions.
Don't miss

The essentials,
and the quieter corners.

These are the experiences we build into most journeys here — but the best days are often the ones we leave open.

The Bund at sunrise and after dark

The signature experience — worth planning your route around.

Former French Concession lane houses

Best with a specialist guide and time to slow down.

Suzhou's classical gardens

We weave this in where it fits your interests and the season.

Hangzhou's West Lake and tea villages

We weave this in where it fits your interests and the season.

Journeys here

Ways to travel
Shanghai.

Start with one of these, or use them as a starting point for something entirely your own.

All journeys
Beijing to Shanghai by Bullet TrainIcons
Shanghai & the Water Towns6 days · 5 nights

Beijing to Shanghai by Bullet Train

Six days between China's imperial capital and its most modern city, with a high-speed train ride through the heartland.

From, per person$2,890
Shanghai & the Water Towns — China travel guide · Efind Tours