Begin your 8-hour tour with a pickup from your Shanghai hotel, and journey southwest through thesuburbs by private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Relax into your comfortable seat, and take in the views as you make your way to Nanxun, one of several traditional water towns on the delta of the River Yangtze, but one of the least-visited by tourists.
On route, listen as your guide shares tales of this ancient town's history. Founded during the 12th and 13th centuries, Nanxun grew in prosperity due to its silk trade, and now offers a picturesque blend of gardens, canals, bridges, and narrow lanes fringed by distinctive old Chinese- and Western-style houses.
After roughly 1.5 hours, arrive and set off on a walking tour around the charming streets. Absorb the peaceful atmosphere and stop to see some historical Western-inspired houses, built by affluent silk merchants who returned here after their travels in Europe.
Enjoy a gondola trip along the willow-draped waterways, passing arched bridges, traditional temples, and other historical sites. Then, break for lunch at a local restaurant recommended by your guide, savoring some of the traditional Chinese dishes on offer.
Next, continue with your walking tour, exploring more of Nanxun's sights like the Little Lotus Garden, once a private garden of one of Nanxun’s wealthiest merchants; and the 100-Houses Complex, a stretch of quaint canalside houses dating from the Ming Dynasty.
After several hours of exploring and relaxing, return to Shanghai, where your tour concludes with a late afternoon hotel drop-off.
