Home > Shanghai > Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour
USD $89.00
Zhujiajiao Water Village Half Day Tour
Shanghai, China
Visit the the picturesque Zhujiajiao is a classic water village, over 400 years old with a signature five-arch bridge spanning the Cao Gang River. Zhujiajiao was an important town for local trade, shipping goods in and out of its man made canals to the river.
During this half-day, guided sightseeing tour you will stroll the maze of paths and bridges, and take a boat ride to view the residences of this nicely-preserved water village. Zhujiajiao is also home to two impressive temples, which add to the charm and historic significance of the village. After a few Hours sightseeing in Zhujiajiao, you'll make a stop to shop for silk. Learn how silk making became a major industry in China for clothes, accessories, quilts and handmade rugs.
We had our guide Michael and our person of contact Jane who were both absolutely wonderful. The guide was super informative and gave a thorough history of the town and the religions of China through the tour. The tour group itself wasnt large, so it was very intimate and you were able to really see some of the older Chinese culture that you cant appreciate in the city. After the tour you are brought to a show room for Chinese silk and shown how silk is made. The staff in the showroom are very friendly and eager for you to buy their products however, they do not make you feel significantly uncomfortable about it. The only parts about this tour thatare tough is the traffic during the ride there and back, which, in one of the most populated cities in the world you cant avoid. _br/_ Additionally, if you purchase anything from the silk showroom have the staff go over your receipt with you. I had thought that I was overcharged for something but instead I didnt realize the breakdown so have them explain it to you in detail. Additionally, it is a government facility so expect an automatic tax charge on your product of about an extra 30.00 American. When we thought we had an issue, our tour contact Jane was on top of our concerns and willing to help us verify everything was ok. Between our tour contact and our tour guide, we couldnt have had a better experience. Keep an open mind, maintain patience with traffic, and verify your receipts and you will love it too.
Review by: Svetlana M, February 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Tara D, December 2017
For a half day tour I did enjoy visiting Zhujiajiao Water village but the drive was made longer by bad traffic, what should have taken an hour, took an hour and a half each direction. It turned out to be a private tour for me as I suppose no one else was signed up on the day I took it, so I had the guide to myself and we were driven there by a driver in a nice car. The Water Village and gardens were good but maybe not as extensive as I thought, it's more an old section surrounded by the more modern buildings. The guide Alina was good but I also feel that she could have told me more history/info especially as it was just the two of us. When we got back into the centre of Shanghai I was taken to a Silk 'factory' though it was actually just a big shop that showed you how silk is made. This is definitely a stop to get you to buy something and felt awkward for me. Generally though, I would recommend this bearing in mind that it is just a half day tour and it was a convenient way for me to get there.
Review by: riejoker, October 2017
Verry ood tour._br/_ I liked it a lot._br/_ Not to far driving and not to commercial._br/_ Better than the daytour to the water villages._br/_ Price as OK for this tour._br/_ The daytour is overpriced.
Review by: Alexandros A, August 2017
Tour Was Ok our tour guider was good with us and helped also with a problem with our bag luggage _br/_ Silk factory was nice but we didn't like the fact that they Insist to buy expensive items from them
Review by: Matthew A, July 2017
My review is about the actual tour - and not about the guide or the driver. They were both terrific, the van was very clean and air conditioned, and the guide was terrific - very friendly and informative and spoke very good English.
Review by: Larry P, July 2017
Frank our guide was very personable and friendly. He made everyone feel welcome and had an excellent command of the English language. The village was busy but he was able to move us through the crowds and had a natural timing that placed us in places throughout the Village that less populated or empty. It was at those points he told us some very interesting historical details and was inviting to questions and comments of all tour members. Highly recommend this tour.
Review by: ratnakarpai15, May 2017
Excellent trip. The guide arrived on time around 12:30PM at the hotel with a well kept SUV. We drove to the Water Village and the guide was well informed and patient during the trip and helped us with some graet pictures. Would recommend it anybody interested in doing this half a day trip without missing anything.
Review by: Stella, May 2017
Creepy guide therefore not a pleasant drive. Not authentic as the town is just for tourists. Very disappointing.
Review by: Tracy C, March 2017
My tour guide Evan was great! Even with the traffic, we made good time and saw everything we were supposed to see. It was drizzling/rainy the day we went but that was fine since the village wasnt as crowded. The boat ride was fun and relaxing._br/_ The hotel pick up and drop off was very convenient and the car we had driving us around was nice, clean, and comfortable. I'm glad to have booked this tour.
Review by: VICKI B, November 2016
Frank our guide spoke good English and was very informative. The water village deifinetley was VENICE in the EAST.So many little shops, food stalls, and tourist attractions. I loved it
Review by: maggievamores, October 2016
Our tour guide Frank was very good.
Review by: Laura F, September 2016
The place was great, however some part of the tours, like the stroll across the old town resembled more to a marathon than a proper visit. I also would have enjoyed more info about the garden we visited. But overall the group was great and I really enjoyed spending time in their company.
Review by: Susan H, July 2016
Pick up at hotel was on time, the guide was very good, the only downside was not being able to have the boat trip, due to a typhoon approaching, although it was not windy nor was the water rough, and this was the part we were looking forward to. The village was good to walk round with interesting houses.
Review by: Marissa M, June 2016
I would totally recomend Viator, I originally booked this tour and since there was no group for this they called me and offered me another option instead that was even longer, this definitely speaks of the great service of viator.
Review by: scott S, May 2016
Joy our tour guide was very very informative, please pass on my thanks, the places we went to were absolutely great, the only issue I have is the travel time, one of the ladies was picked up at 7am and it was 10.30 before we got to our 1st site, then when it finished that same lady was in the car for nearly 4 hours before she got home.
Review by: Janet Y, May 2016
This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Our tour guide, Frank was a friendly and very informative young man. An extremely pleasant walk through the village with Frank pointing out and explaining many of the local cuisine. This was followed by a trip on the canal in a gondola, showing us a different perspective of the village. A very peaceful place to visit during the week, the weekends though might be a bit more hectic. I can definitely recommend this tour.
Review by: Jessica L, January 2016
Nothing special about this tour. The water village was interesting but you can easily check it out yourself as there are signs everywhere. The guide was okay but I don't feel like I learned anything. The itinerary stated that there would be a silk demonstration but we never had one. Instead they asked for us to be picked up earlier with no explanation of why and when they arrived we were told that we would be going to a jade centre at the Bund where they tried to make us buy jewelry and that we would need to have lunch there none of this was in the itinerary. This was clearly because they were catering to the itinerary of another person on a different tour who was lumped in with us, evident because he did not seem at all surprised by this. They effectively wasted an hour of our time and changed our itinerary to suit their own convenience. Do NOT book with this dishonest company.
Review by: Helen M, October 2015
Ms Joy was a joy! Her spoken English was good but I'm not sure how much she understood the questions we asked. But it was enough. The village is pretty and Mr. Wu garden and house were an added bonus._br/_ The van driver was a hoot. Buckle up!
Review by: Uriel H, February 2015
The worst tour I ever had. First the van on we were traveLing smelled like an ashtray.The tour guide was so tired (I guess) that went sleeping all way on the route. When we arrived the place just took us to shops and two or three places without almost no explanations. The place although beautiful
Review by: Joy Q, February 2015
We arrived in the morning and took this tour from midday - we saw some of the surrounding country and our tour guide Frank was superb. He ensured we saw both the old and the new, the original and the reconstructed. Excellent.
Review by: Viet Quoc N, October 2014
Great tour that I enjoyed end to end. The tour guide is very friendly and fluent in English. It a good alternative if you don't have time to go to Suzhou
Review by: Quiana Y, October 2014
Great experience!!!
Review by: Michael F, October 2014
A few things were unsatisfactory and made the tour not unjoyable._br/_
The pickup was at 12.30 and so we had very bad traffic in both directions. The tour leader told us that they pickup at 8.30am to beat the traffic._br/_
We were told that there was no time for even a small lunch as we had to leave early to visit the Pearl and silk shops on the way back It seemed to us that these stops were included to try and get us to spend money at the shops. We were very hungry and couldn't have lunch._br/_
When we said that we didn't want to shop the guide said that her boss would be angry that we didn't shop and we had to write a note explaining that it was our decision not to shop ._br/_
All together we didn't enjoy the tour
Review by: John S, September 2014
While the tour of the village was good the overall tour did not include everything that was advertised in the brochure. We did not tour a silk factory. All we did was cruise up the canal, briefly see the town, and then drive back to Shanghai. Very disappointing.
Review by: Dennis L, April 2014
This was worth seeing and walking around to explore but the price of approximately $100 AUD per person for half a day was well over priced. I also found out later that the price did not include tips to the tour guide and driver, so you actually have to spend a little more. As stated earlier, it is worth seeing but definitely over priced.
Review by: Rob, April 2014
Good tour as the water village was worth seeing and how the people were living there today. Good to go somewhere where you weren't being hassled too often to buy something.
Review by: David F, March 2014
We did not actually do this half day tour. When we rang to confirm the pick up time we were offered instead a full day tour to Suzhou and Zhouzhuang water town with lunch included. We had a fantastic day. Our guide Frank was absolutely excellent. The driver was very competent especially in the early evening traffic jams in Shanghai as we returned.
Review by: Bernard M, October 2013
Personal guide Chris was great and really new his stuff. A bit of a drive out of town but the village and gardens are fantastic. The pearl factory visit was a bit of a letdown and probably unnecessary for a part of this tour. Well worth a look.
Review by: Patricia M, September 2013
A good tour, but a bored tour guide. The water village was worth visiting for sure, but the guide's lack of interest and enthusiasm were a downer. We were given extras such as trips to a silk factory and a jade store, but always with pressure to buy. The guide also sold us tix to the acrobatics show in Shanghai, but admitted she got a cut._br/_
A guide who was as interested in helping us enjoy our trip as she was in making money would have been great.
Review by: Maciej S, July 2013
Very interesting trip and perfect organized.
Review by: norman s, July 2013
The village was very interesting, as there was only 2 of us the tour guide was not very informative a little bit lazy but approachable
Review by: Amy G, July 2013
A once-in-a-lifetime experience we will never forget. With our wonderful guide, Lee, we were able to take a trip back in time and experience ancient China in all its wonders. If you do nothing else when you are in Shanghai, take this tour.
Review by: Harold R, June 2013
Michael was a wonderful tour guide. Was offered a full day tour with no extra cost but was unable to fit in. Highly recommend this tour as its quite different from the city of Shanghai
Review by: Eben F, November 2012
The local tour operator upgraded us to a full day tour that included some other sights. The water village is very unique and reminded us of being in Venice, except that it is in China. Great boat tour and walking tour of the local village.
Review by: Bob, September 2012
Beautiful area, water village so interesting and boat trip a real pleasure.
Review by: DAVID S, March 2011
VILLAGE, TEMPLE AND GARDENS WERE BEAUTIFUL BUT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO A SILK FACTORY AND WE DID NOT GO. HAS THIS BEEN DROPPED OR WAS I MISTAKEN?
Review by: Michael H, March 2011
This is a gorgeous canal village on the edge of Shanghai. It was interesting walking around seeing life in a small town, the food shops, temples etc. We were there in February and there were only a few tourists. It was also interesting to see how enormous Shanghai is. Highly recommended.
Review by: Raelene D, December 2010
Got to see a little bit of the countryside. We had a great day with a great guide.
Review by: Raelene D, November 2010
Got to see a little bit of the countryside. We had a great day with a great guide.
Review by: Molly L, August 2010
Our guide was fabulous, and it was great to get out of Shanghai since it's such a big new city that doesn't really feel like "China" to me. I did this tour because I wanted to see some authenticity, but it still seemed a bit touristy seeing how you have to pay to get into the water village. It was still pretty though and we enjoyed it despite the terrible heat. Worth a visit if you are there, but you will be in the car for a little while to get there and back in the traffic...which seems to never end in Shanghai.
Review by: Anonymous, August 2010
Heaven on Earth Huangzhou Review! I found the tour company very easy to contact and they upgraded me to the Heaven on Earth Tour because I was travelling out of season perhaps I only had a short time in Shanghai and wanted to see outside the city too. This trip was well organised and showed me all I needed to tell me I want to explore China more.
The pagoda was interesting but not mind-blowing the green tea valley and demonstration was insightful, and the boat cruise scenic and peaceful. Overall, this was a worthy day trip out of the city so long as you don't mind travelling in a minivan for several hours to get there!
Review by: Gemma P, August 2010
Heaven on Earth Huangzhou Review! I found the tour company very easy to contact and they upgraded me to the Heaven on Earth Tour because I was travelling out of season perhaps I only had a short time in Shanghai and wanted to see outside the city too. This trip was well organised and showed me all I needed to tell me I want to explore China more.
The pagoda was interesting but not mind-blowing the green tea valley and demonstration was insightful, and the boat cruise scenic and peaceful. Overall, this was a worthy day trip out of the city so long as you don't mind travelling in a minivan for several hours to get there!
Review by: HELEN M, July 2010
The boat trip was not very interesting. We did not see any of the famous bridges. The village that we walked through was deserted.
Review by: Molly L, July 2010
Our guide was fabulous, and it was great to get out of Shanghai since it's such a big new city that doesn't really feel like "China" to me. I did this tour because I wanted to see some authenticity, but it still seemed a bit touristy seeing how you have to pay to get into the water village. It was still pretty though and we enjoyed it despite the terrible heat. Worth a visit if you are there, but you will be in the car for a little while to get there and back in the traffic...which seems to never end in Shanghai.
Review by: Ann B, December 2008
Very interesting if want to see a historical site as most of them are gone in this rapidly expanding and modernising city. Guide was very good - the driver also deserves praise for his handling of the chaotic traffic.
Review by: Shirley T, December 2008
Our guide and driver were excellent. They arrived on time. Our young guide was very informative and considerate. The places we visited were interesting and everything mentioned in the brochure was covered.
Review by: Anonymous, Australia, November 2008
Very interesting if want to see a historical site as most of them are gone in this rapidly expanding and modernising city. Guide was very good - the driver also deserves praise for his handling of the chaotic traffic.
Review by: shirley t, Australia, November 2008
Our guide and driver were excellent. They arrived on time. Our young guide was very informative and considerate. The places we visited were interesting and everything mentioned in the brochure was covered.
Review by: Shirley T, November 2008
Our guide and driver were excellent. They arrived on time. Our young guide was very informative and considerate. The places we visited were interesting and everything mentioned in the brochure was covered.
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