• Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - Opting for a private driver with a personal vehicle can be ideal if you value time efficiency, privacy, comfort, and flexibility in scheduling and making stops as needed (2 hours). Alternatively, using public transportation offers the adventure of experiencing daily commuting and navigating public systems with fixed routes and schedules (3 hours).

A local private tour guide can greatly enhance your travel experience by providing a deeper understanding of the local culture and fostering a more authentic connection with the community. They offer in-depth knowledge of the area, revealing hidden gems, shortcuts, and local attractions that might not be easily found in guidebooks (5.5/6.5/7.5 hours).

• Fangsheng Bridge - Sail into the picturesque scenery of Watertown. The homes and lives along the banks, accompanied by a gentle breeze, guide you through one bridge after another. The authentic and intimate details of the aged surroundings add layers to the narrative of the past, inviting you to immerse yourself in the beauty that makes you an integral part of this unfolding living picture in Watertown, leaving behind all hurries or worries.

• Zhujiajiao Glutinous Rice Dumpling King - Eating is one of the sensory experiences that puts Watertown on travelers’ itineraries. The air is filled with the aroma of the region’s cuisine, encouraging you to sample the flavors of the snack, Zongzi, a type of rice dumpling that has a special day in history celebrating it as a perennial favorite. Between snacks, keep your eyes and ears open to appreciate this photogenic place known for its period slate or bluestone laneways, lined with two-story wooden buildings packed with restaurants or traditional handicrafts, etc. Walking over the bridges adds a touch of beauty and history.

• Hexinyuan - Spend your leisure time at the Garden of Inseparable Hearts and gain an understanding and appreciation of the lives and traditions of a wealthy family among pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and foliage. The garden, noted for its harmonious design and rich cultural heritage, features elaborately carved tiled roofs and tiny but expansive grounds. Resembling a living museum, it showcases a large collection of precious artifacts, where stories of the past unfold with every jade carving, bronze ware, double-sided silk embroidery, hardwood furniture, and more from the Ming and Qing periods.

• Zhujiajiao Chenghuangmiao Temple - Chenghuang Temple is dedicated to the local city god or deity believed to protect the residents and ensure the well-being of the community. It is represented by esteemed officials and heroes who have made significant contributions to the local population. Worshipped as the guardian deity of cities in both Chinese folk beliefs and Taoism, each Chenghuang Temple is associated with the city or region it serves, and the specific deity worshipped may vary from one place to another. Typically, people visit Chenghuang Temples to pray for blessings, seek protection, and participate in traditional ceremonies and festivals. Let’s take a closer look and find out more.

• 朱家角桥梓湾点心店 - The stall at the traditional market offers a variety of fresh produce. Join in the fun and get a good deal on fresher ingredients. Later, wrap the fillings and shape the dumplings at Watertown Aunt’s home. This hands-on meal allows you to experience the etiquette, customs, and culinary heart of the well-known cuisine, enjoy the delicious results of your efforts, paired with local rice wine and liquor, and discover the origin of dishes or the cultural influences that have shaped them. How delicious indeed the homemade dumpling (if option selected).

• Entry tickets to Kezhi Garden/Hexin Garden, Taoism Temple/Buddhism Temple (your choice)
• Round-trip metro tickets (Option)
• Hands-on dumpling meal with local drinks (Option)
• Sips and Bites, one bottled water per person
• Private tour guide service
• Boat ride
• The car package comes with free hotel pick-up and drop-off (Option)

• Tips for your tour guides and drivers are appreciated
• Personal expenses

A picturesque boat journey transports you from the present day to 1,700 years in the past. As you travel, take in the stunning views of verdant landscapes, rice fields, and quaint rural areas.

Picturesque gardens, temples, shops, and restaurants that line the waterways and bridges invite you to enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace. The plentiful water resources also sustain traditional crafts, such as embroidery, pottery, wood carving, and jewelry featuring freshwater pearls. Locals harvest fresh ingredients from both water and land, encouraging you to indulge in delightful Bites & Sips.

You can choose to participate in a hands-on dumpling-making session, offering an enjoyable way to delve into the cultural importance and culinary pleasures of this renowned dish.

Relish a stress-free experience with the assistance of your knowledgeable tour guide and convenient transportation options.

• Please note that if you choose the subway, a single journey from downtown Shanghai to Watertown Zhujiajiao is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Please advise if there are any specific dietary restrictions, accessibility considerations, or assistance needed at the time of booking.
• Before setting off this itinerary, it is advisable not to eat excessively.
• Our guide reserves the right to alter the content of tours due to poor weather or location inaccessibility.
• Under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Wanderlust Shanghai reserves the right to refuse entry to individuals or remove them from tours if they are intoxicated, aggressive, or offensive.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.