The 9 Best Shanghai Garden Tours

1.Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 460 reviews · 5 hours · from $139Our pick

See Zhujiajiao’s Ming and Qing buildings, stone lanes, canal markets, Kezhi Garden, and old waterways on a five-hour private tour. English-speaking guides such as Michael, Cassie, Robert, Lea, and Sunny add cultural detail, help with local food, and adjust the pace for your group.

“Very comfortable transportation from and to hotel. Our guide Robert was very attentive, gave many valuable information not only on the tour itself, but as well about Chinese history, traditions and living.”

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2.Best of Shanghai Day Tour, including Jade Buddha Temple & Bund & Yuyuan Garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 338 reviews · from $79

Spend about eight hours touring Shanghai with an English-speaking guide such as Tom, Elena, or Michael. Visit the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Old Street, the former French Concession, and Xintiandi. Hotel pickup, lunch, transport, and listed admission fees are included.

“Very poor service from the tour operator , Shanghai is very hot during the summer and doing the tour with a vehicle with bad Air Conditioner was unacceptable it seemed that the guide was in a hurry not giving us enough time to enjoy the tour , with other companies that offer the same service i think is time to change , this was the second time in less than 10 days that Viator did wrong and we didn't get the value for what we paid for.”

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3.Yu Garden Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 260 reviews · 4 hours · from $16Best value

Visit Yu Garden independently with a digital admission ticket, then explore its Jiangnan-style rockeries, ponds, pavilions, furniture, calligraphy, and cultural displays. Choose a morning or afternoon entry window, carry your passport, and confirm your QR code before arriving.

“Great communication, digital QR ticket sent via whatsapp. Easy to use, no problems. Beautiful gardens”

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4.Yu Garden, Old Street, Bund & Zhujiajiao Water Town Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 244 reviews · 8 hours · from $60

Start at Yu Garden and Chenghuang Miao, then ride by coach to Zhujiajiao for Kezhi Garden, canals and a Shanghai-style meal. Guides such as Audrey, Cindy and Irwin add clear history and practical help. Finish at the Bund, with free time for skyline views.

“Audrey was great, very friendly and ready to help until the last minute. Her English was excellent, better than what I expected honestly. The highlight of the trip was without any doubt the water town. It's a shame that Shanghai has so much traffic during working days. We could probably have spent less time in the tea / coffee houses and souvenir shops and use that time walking in the bund at sunset.”

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5.Shanghai Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden, Bazaar, Bund

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · from $229

Spend a full day with a private English-speaking guide, chauffeur, and air-conditioned minivan. Visit Zhujiajiao by boat, walk through Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar, then see the Bund. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, bottled water, umbrellas, and drop-off are included.

“The Bund is very very beautifull place! Shure! We recommend!!!!”

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6.Private Yu Garden, The Bund, French Concession, Pudong Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $120

Spend about four hours with a private guide such as Tom, Vicky, Alice, or Jaime, visiting Yu Garden, Old Town, the Bund, the French Concession, and Pudong. A tea-house stop, private vehicle, and hotel or cruise-port transfers make this a practical first look at Shanghai.

“Vicky has been a fantastic guide, knowledgeable and accommodating. The Yu Garden, it’s market and the tea ceremony are a must do in Shanghai!”

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7.Suzhou Day Tour from Shanghai to Classical Garden, Tongli Water Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $279

Leave Shanghai at 7:30 am for Suzhou’s UNESCO-listed Master of Nets Garden, historic Shantang Street, and Tongli Water Town. Your private air-conditioned minivan, English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and Tongli boat ticket are included. Expect a long but rewarding day with plenty of walking.

“We had a great experience and so much fun. The driver and Juliet, our guide were great the whole trip. Juliet was kind, helpful and answered all of our questions. thnak you so much for both”

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8.4-Hour Shanghai Best Garden and Temple Tour with Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 4 hours · from $99

Spend four hours with a private English-speaking guide at Jade Buddha Temple, Old Town Bazaar, and 500-year-old Yu Garden. You’ll see jade statues, Qing-era lanes, dragon walls, rockeries, and sample several Chinese teas. Guides include Ruby, Sunny, Mabel, and Sammi.

“A guia foi maravilhosa!!! Sabia bem da história por cada ponto turistico, era super solicita e até me ajudou quando perdi o celular no didi! Super recomendo o tour para conhecer mais da história local”

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9.2 Day Private Shanghai Skyline to Watertown & Suzhou Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 days · from $359

See Shanghai’s Bund, Yu Garden, and City God Temple, then take the train to Suzhou for three famous gardens and Tiger Hill Pagoda. A private guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and transportation are included. Amy has received special praise for her warm, clear guiding.

“What a great planned trip! My family had so much fun! We were doing a layover in Shanghai and wanted to explore china. We spent one day in Shanghai and was able to add another day to Suzhou! Which was so wonderful! Suzhou was amazing and is definitely worth a visit! This company is very detail oriented and the tour guides are all so wonderful and they are speak English as almost their first language! They were able to explain the culture and history from a local yet foreigner perspective I really appreciated that and I learned a lot from the trip! Thank you china elite experience next time when…”

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