Start your private tour with a hotel pickup, and set off with your guide by air-conditioned vehicle.
On route, listen as your guide shares the history of this dynamic city. Sitting on the River Yangtze delta, Shanghai began life as a fishing village before the British named it a treaty port in 1842. The British, French, and Americans then established enclaves here, turning the city into the ‘Paris of the East’ during the early 20th century. Today, Shanghai is China’s economic hub, offering a heady mix of high rises, colonial architecture, and traditional Chinese charm.
Stop at the Yuyan Garden, in Shanghai Old Town. Believed to date back 400 years, this classical Chinese garden is composed of exquisite pavilions, ponds, bridges and sculptures. Wander through the decorative and calming landscapes, camera in hand, and learn about the garden’s history.
From here, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, a working Buddhist temple and one of Shanghai’s richest. Explore the halls and see the two revered Buddha images — one carved from pale green jade, and the other sculpted from white jade.
Break for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, and then continue to a silk reeling mill. Watch the process of reeling, where raw silk is produced from silkworm cocoons and teased into threads, and listen to tales of China’s ancient silk industry.
Next, travel to the Bund, the famous waterfront of imposing 19th-century buildings constructed by the colonial powers. Admire the grandiose architecture here and absorb the views across the Huangpu River to the skyscraper-filled Pudong district before heading for the Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s main shopping street.
Soak in the bustle of this pedestrianized street, a microcosm of modern China, and take a stroll to peruse the stores and purchase souvenirs.
After eight hours, your tour ends with a hotel drop-off.
