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Home > Shanghai > Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai
Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai
USD $135.00

Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai

Shanghai, China

Visit two picturesque Chinese towns, Suzhou and Zhouzhuang on a day trip from Shanghai. You'll see how daily life has remained unchanged over the centuries in these unique old towns. Visit the Suzhou's magnificent gardens, feast on a Chinese lunch and travel through Zhouzhuang's waterways on a Chinese-style gondola.

Founded in around 600 B.C., Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze basin and is known for its beautiful gardens. With its interconnected waterways and beautiful environment, the city is often referred to as the Venice of the East. Suzhou was one of the few cities in China to escape the ravages of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and its famous gardens survived almost intact.

Upon arrival in Suzhou, your first stop is the Net Master Garden, the town's best example of a model Ming Dynasty garden. The gardens embody the harmonious principles of Chinese garden construction, which dictate that gardens should re-create a microcosm of the universe in a confined space.

After enjoying Suzhou's gardens, you'll view the town's ancient city wall and Grand Canal. You'll also take a tour of a silk-spinning factory to see how Chinese silk has been produced since the 14th century.

After lunch, it's time to visit the water village of Zhouzhuang and board a Chinese-style gondola to cruise the town's beautiful waterways. Zhouzhuang's simple, well-preserved architecture dates back more than 900 years. The majority of residences were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and nearly 100 classic courtyards and 60 carved-brick archways are still in use. In this water village, locals live their life on the waterways, continuing to carry out everyday activities on the water, from washing clothes to shopping from vendors in boats.

USD $135.00
Traveler Reviews
Review by:   Bryan M,    June 2018 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Unfortunately, I really can't highly recommend this tour. I would say Zhouzhuang is most definitely a place to visit, but you can leave Suzhou out of it. We were picked up at 7:30 a.m. and didn't reach Suzhou until almost 11:00. The traffic in Shanghai is crazy and we had to pick up at 3 other hotels before we even headed out of the city. We could have easily taken the Metro to a central meeting point and avoided at least 1.5 hours of sitting in traffic. Suzhou is a city of 10 million people, so another nectic metropolis. The Net Masters garden is nice, but you can visit Yu Garden in Shanghai which is vastly more impressive. The grand canal in Suzhou is also quite nice, but again not worth all the driving. We then got back into the car for another 45 minute drive to Zhouzhuang. Zhouzhuang is absolutely gorgeous and I would have liked to spend much more time there, but we only had an hour as it was time to get back in the car and head back to Shanghai. Also, we gave the tip to Tom the tour guide, but I think we should have split it ourselves between Tom and the driver, who was absolutely fantastic. We assume Tom split it with him - we hope so anyway. We had tossed up between this trip and the bullet train to Hangzhou - we definitely regretted our choice.
 

Review by:   Sunil D,    May 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Great tour, very special to visit this village. Just don't mind the tourist-traps!
 

Review by:   Johnson L,    May 2018 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
This tour unfortunately did not meet up to my expectations. All my friends told me that I had to do a water village tour, so I saw this one on Viator and decided to book it.
 

Review by:   Ian C,    April 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Excellent tour , a long day , brilliant driver negotiating Shanghai Ttraffic....large wide choiced lunch...with the hi lite being the Water Village. Earlier we had been to the Masters Garden....each of these transformed from the reality of Shanghais 25 million people. I was very impressed with this tour including pickup/drop off at my hotel...an 11 hour return trip....nice pace was kept....Excellent Tour
 

Review by:   Helen B,    April 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Beautiful! Both Suzhou and Zhouzhuang are both worth seeing and a complete contrast to the busy city of Shanghai. There is lots of travelling by bus/minivan involved as they are quite some distance outside of the city but well worth it. The tour guide contacted us the day before to confirm our pick up time, she was very friendly and was very knowledgeable at both locations. Would highly recommend.
 

Review by:   Wai Ping W,    April 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
It was a all day tour. Lunch was delicious. I love the Water Village. Both the cruise and shopping were excellent.
 

Review by:   Alison,    March 2018 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
We went on this Tour on 26th March 2018_br/_ Tour Guide_br/_ The tour guide was informative and pleasant_br/_ Van_br/_ The van was very cramped and uncomfortable - lots of bumpy roads, poor driver and no room to stretch legs_br/_ The main downside of this trip was that we were first to be picked up at 0730 we then spent 2 hours going round Shanghai picking up 4 other groups. We were returned to our hotel at 8pm in the evening as we were the first on we were also the last off. So 12.5 hours in a cramped uncomfortable van was not my idea of fun._br/_ The trip to Suzhou and Zhounzhuang Water Village was very good and if you were lucky enough to be last one and first off the day would not have been too arduous.
 

Review by:   Stephen A,    March 2018 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
This is an excellent day trip if you don't have much time to spare. The Master of Nets Garden Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village are both fascinating and worth seeing. As was the unexpected detour to see a silk factor as long as you don't mind the hard sell_br/_ What was good_br/_ Knowledge of the guide, organisation, food and sites_br/_ What was bad_br/_ As with any day trip there is little opportunity to do your own thing. If you see something interesting and want to explore forget it - it's a pretty tight schedule. _br/_ Also It's a really long day with most of it on the coach. Our hotel pick up was 08:00 and we arrived at Suzhou at about 11 and left Zhouzhuang around 4. We got back to Shanghai at 17:30 as promised but it took 3 1/2 hours to get back to our hotel as we crawled round dropping people off at different hotels. At one point we were only 5 kms from our hotel but didn't actually make it there for another hour and a half due to another drop off- pretty frustrating. If I'd have known I would have organised my own transport via the metro to and from a more central point which would have saved us about 3 hours in traffic.
 

Review by:   batraider,    March 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This was a wonderful tour and our tour guide, Frank, has a tremendous amount of knowledge. He really made the experience enjoyable. All the stops were fabulous, especially Zhouzhuang. The gondola ride and walk through the town made it all worth while. The silk factory was very interesting and well worth the stop. I would recommend this tour!
 

Review by:   segunajose,    February 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
An awesome tour
 

Review by:   Aaren S,    February 2018 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Great tour. Tour guide could have been more helpful about how to deal with local vendors, but the overall experience was good!
 

Review by:   bernadetteyap,    January 2018 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
Although the tour guide Tom was OK and polite, the experience with the driver of the van completely spoiled our tour. The driver tremendously disregarded the safety of his passengers. He was: _br/_ 1 driving recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic_br/_ 2 speeding on wet roads and tailgating_br/_ 3 wearing earphones and watching a video on his phone, which he placed on the speedometer I stood up, seeing that he was inattentive on the road, saw this myself, and informed the guide_br/_ I asked for a change of driver, to which Tom said was not possible. I was adamant that safety is not negotiable, and Tom assured me that his office manager would speak with the driver. I asked that all devices be kept away from him, including the earphones. Tom agreed. Tom appeared intimidated by the driver, and was afraid to demand safe practices immediately.
 

Review by:   roy.beveridge,    January 2018 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Exactly as described _br/_ Great day
 

Review by:   Colin C,    December 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
OK. somewhat like disney world
 

Review by:   Stine,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
It was nice. We change the date of the tour because of the weather risks on the day i wanted to go.I was glad they did, because it was an amazing tour.The weather was splendid, and the guide was nice
 

Review by:   syncropooh,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
In Suzhou we went thru I beautiful garden, I can only imagine that it is 10 times better when the flowers were blooming. But even in the cold winter it was wonderful to see. Next we went to Silk factory we was very informational on making silk and the products that come from the silk. Lastly we visited the the beautiful water village of Zhouzhuang, I wish we had more time and it was not raining because it was so quaint and beautiful to look at and see what was around the next corner. Frank, the tour guide was very knowledgable about the area's and went out of his was to make it a great day.
 

Review by:   Ellen d,    December 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This tour was awesome. Our tour guide was an expert in languages and his background knowledge was astonishing. Amazing background information about all the sights. The village itself it cute but very touristy, like most attractions in China. I still recommend going!Thanks for the great day!
 

Review by:   Jennifer W,    November 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
Most of the time was spent in the car. The van was not very comfortable.
 

Review by:   John M,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
The guide, Rita, was amazing. Gave a lot of interesting information and was very personable. This trip was worth every bit that was paid for. Pick up and drop off a the hotel were handled perfectly. It is a long day, especially depending on traffic getting in and out of Shanghai, but getting to see the silk factory and the water village were well worth it.
 

Review by:   hjohnst1,    November 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Rita was an amazing tour guide! So knowledgeable approachable and friendly! We had perfect weather for this wonderful day. The beautiful garden in Suzhou was very picturesque and the water town Zhouzhang was so scenic. The trip in the gondala was very relaxing and was a highlight!
 

Review by:   Mark G,    October 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
The small van we were on was cramped and it got hot and it had no AC. Also, it was raining yet the driver was driving over 90kph and we hydroplane a couple of times and the van had no seatbelts. The guide was fine and the tour itself was quite rushed due to the traffic.
 

Review by:   LOIS B,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
The history and sights coupled with my amazing guide were exceptional.
 

Review by:   mary.gregory,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Thoroughly enjoyable day with a knowledge pleasant guide. Would recommend this trip
 

Review by:   Andrew D,    October 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Excellent day out in a group tour - our last day in Shanghai and despite the pouring rain managed to see the sights and a nice river cruise with a singing lady!
 

Review by:   carol.daji,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
We had a great time on this trip with our two kids. Our tour guide Frank is very informative and offers great insights into Shanghai. Very well organised tour, highly recommended.
 

Review by:   Leslie Yesenia A,    October 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Amazing tour with a Frank. He is very knowledgeable and gave us great information on the three tours I took with him.
 

Review by:   matt,    October 2017 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
Zhouzhuang was definitely worth the visit but our tour guide said maybe one-sentence every 15 minutes. We got more info off wikipedia and the posters that were in English. For example, she ate lunch by herself instead of sitting with us and explaining the dishes, etc. Choose a different tour company!
 

Review by:   Guy L,    October 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Zhou Zhuang was great! The canals and alleyways were great fun to explore. Su Zhou was good too but as someone who has lived in China the garden was not as great as the water town of Zhou Zhuang. Our guide Tom was great. Knowledgeable about not only the tour but many other facets of Chinese history. He also tutored me on my rusty Chinese language skills.
 

Review by:   riejoker,    October 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
The tour was not as interesting as the half day tour to the watervillage, witch we did the day before this one._br/_ The Suzhou visit was very sad,we just visit 1 garden and the food in the silkfactory was terrible._br/_ Than the afternoon was to a commercial Zhouzhang. Nice but to many touristic shops._br/_ If I had to book it again I would not do the daytour anymore but I only choose the half daytour._br/_ The transport to Suzhou was too long just to see half an hour a garden._br/_ Also the worst of all was the driver from the minivan. He was looking a movie on his cellphone while he was driving._br/_ My husband saw this and told me._br/_ I spook to the guide and tol him how inrisponsible this driver was._br/_ I had to come back with him to Shanghai , but I didn't like it at all._br/_ The guide was OK and was also surprised by this incident.
 

Review by:   varsha612,    September 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Tour guide Tom was great.
 

Review by:   Olivier H,    September 2017 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
First stop of this trip was a gardenhouse in Suzhou. Nice but not very impressive. The next visit to a so-called silk factory was in my opinion the main purpose of this tour. Lunch there was below average, the factory nothing more than a fabricated small museum. The group was guided through shop after shop and the guide seemed very knowledgable about the goods and even how to operate the credit card terminals. Last stop at the water village made us think of a theme park, more than a historic setting. As for the information given, this was reduced to a few anecdotes. Relevant historic or geographic information was scarse. Would not recommend.
 

Review by:   David L,    September 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Great tour. Rita our tour hostess was fantastic and explained so much about traditional life in easy to understand terms.
 

Review by:   James S,    September 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Bit of a long drive but the tour and the location were perfect we had a perfect day and the canal boat operator sang to us as we meandered around the water village _br/_ A must do to get away from the tourist traps
 

Review by:   Amy T,    September 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
It was incredibly hot on the day I took this and I think the guide cut things short because of that. We kind of hurried through the garden at Suzhou and didn't see a lot. The water village was beautiful though.
 

Review by:   margandgreg,    August 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Most memorable trip. Alina was the perfect hostess. She gave us a running commentary while travelling and detailed information about the sites we went to. This a 'must do' trip when visiting Shanghai. Thank you to the driver too.
 

Review by:   Kevin S,    August 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Had a great day, saw a lot. Our tour guide was ok.
 

Review by:   Oleg M,    August 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
You have to see it for your own eyes
 

Review by:   hoffmann123abc,    August 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
There was not a lot to see in Suzhou, The Garden was nice, but apart from this, just an old bridge an part of an old city gate._br/_ We were 30 min in the water village, wasn't great._br/_ The young Tour Guide did not know to give us lots of information. He learnt most of the information by rote._br/_ In total about 4 hours in the bus, too long
 

Review by:   Shirly B,    July 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Suzhou and Zhouzhuang were nice place.. but it seems a bit rush on the tour... and Tour guide doesn't know much on the history of the places. Lunch was bad..
 

Review by:   Douglas D,    July 2017 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
It was a 4-hour trip each way from hotel to Water Village in a van without functioning seat belts or air conditioning in 37C heat and without water. The floor of the van was rusted through in several places. The tour guide was knowledgeable and articulate. He was as frustrated as the rest of us. The food at lunch was below par but adequate. I think that safe, modern transportation and an adequate supply of cool water it would have been up to Viator standards.
 

Review by:   John C G,    July 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
An interesting tour and a nice break from Shanghai. LOTS of photo opportunities.
 

Review by:   Ramon N,    May 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This was an excellent trip. The tour guide was knowledgeable and spoke English very well. He was patient with our desires to make last moment purchases of souvenirs.
 

Review by:   Theresa J,    May 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Fantastic. Highly recommended.
 

Review by:   Elena K,    May 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Suzhou was not that great,very average garden and short walk on the Dragon Bridge, but water village was awesome! Lunch was also very good, and the whole trip was smooth and well planned, timely pick up from the hotel. Tour guide was nice and willing to help and gave a lot of information. It's 90min. Drive from Shanghai to Suzhou.
 

Review by:   April H,    May 2017 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Our guide Rita was fantastic and shared a lot of great information about the region. But I wish we and #39;d had more time to spend in Zhouzhuang and less time at the silk factory in Suzhou. Also the lunch at the silk factory restaurant wasn and #39;t very good.
 

Review by:   Robin A,    April 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Our guide, Rita, was exceptional. She was friendly and offered a tremendous amount of insight not only about the tour, but about everything from the Chinese culture and history to typical day to day life.
 

Review by:   Katarzyna M,    April 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Suzhou garden is nice small but nice. Suzhou silk factory also is worth to see! and definetly buy some silk there! Zhouzhuang water willage is also nice. Crowded but nice. Indeed people live on water! If you will have change - go there! : Guide which i have told us many interesting things so im really happy i went on this trip!
 

Review by:   MVIC,    April 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The Suzhou part of this trip was not what I expected but I still enjoyed it. Lunch was nice, but the highlight of the day was Zhouzhuang water town. It was beautiful and felt reasonably authentic, which is not always the case in China.
 

Review by:   Alan C,    April 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Very nice tour. Seemed a bit rushed since there was a fair amount of driving to get to our destination, but overall nice tour. Our tour guide was very good and knowledgeable.
 

Review by:   H Edwards E,    April 2017 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
I have given a low review as we did not get any time at the water village to browse the little shops. We were rushed through by our guide, and I was looking forward to do a bit of shopping. She gave us too much time at the silk shop, as she got commission there.This excursion was very expensive and I felt we were doing her a favour to be there. We were also rushed through at the private gardens, where there were small craft shops as well.. I felt sorry for the stall holders.As much as I enjoyed the water village it just felt I wasted my money.
 

All Traveler Reviews...

USD $135.00
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