Zhujiajiao Water Town & Shanghai Food Tour with Bill - We booked our tour for 8:30am to visit Zhujiajiao Water Town, an ancient village built partly on water, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. The drive from our hotel took about one hour, and from the moment we met our tour guide Bill, we knew we were in good hands. Bill spoke very fluent English and was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging throughout the day. At Zhujiajiao, Bill walked us through the town’s rich history, explaining its heritage, architecture, and daily life. One of the absolute highlights was the boat cruise through the canals—peaceful, scenic, and a beautiful way to experience the town from the water. For lunch, Bill took us to a local spot serving dumpling soup, and honestly, it was the best dumplings we’ve ever had. The soup was inside the dumpling itself, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour—simple, authentic, and unforgettable. After lunch, we wandered through the village market where we saw some truly unique local delicacies, including smoked frog, which is considered a specialty of the area. We also saw insects being dried and sold, something you don’t see every day (unfortunately, we didn’t manage to take photos). Once our village stroll ended, our DiDi arrived and dropped us off at People’s Square. This place was massive—easily four times the size of Chadstone—with stunning lights and a multi-level shopping complex. We explored for a couple of hours before meeting Bill again for the evening food tour. The food tour group included some fellow Melbournians: two sisters from Bentleigh and a guy from Carlton named Alex, which made the experience even more fun and social. Evening Food Tour Highlights: 1. First stop: A dumpling restaurant where dumplings were rolled and steamed fresh on the spot—absolutely delicious. 2. Second stop: A small local restaurant serving egg-free fried rice and fried dumplings, both packed with flavour. 3. Third stop: A noodle place featuring noodles with spices, pork, pork liver, pork intestine (revealed only after tasting!), pickles, tofu, and vegetables—an adventurous and authentic experience. 4. Final stop (dessert): Sticky blood rice pudding, a hot sweet rice drink, and another hot rice-based dessert mixed with tamarind—comforting, warming, and the perfect end to the night. 🌟 Final Thoughts This tour was the perfect combination of history, culture, local life, and incredible food. Bill was an outstanding guide who went above and beyond to make the day seamless and memorable. If you’re visiting Shanghai and want an authentic, well-paced, and deeply enjoyable experience, this tour—especially with Bill—is an absolute must-do.

Perfect Half-Day Tour with an Exceptional Guide - I had a wonderful 6-hour day trip with Bill, truly the ideal length for a half-day adventure. He arrived right on time, and from that moment the experience flowed effortlessly. Bill highlighted fantastic points of interest along the way, always offering to take photos and making sure my food, sightseeing, and tour preferences were taken into account. His attention to detail and warm personality made the day feel both personalized and easy. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to see the sights with comfort, convenience, and a great guide! Great for a solo traveler!

Amazing experience and great guide - Went with my 22 yo daughter. Easy communication, pick up and a must do whilst in Shanghai. Bill’s knowledge and interest first rate.

Rumi - Our guide Bill was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English. We had a great tour. I recommend this tour.

Had an amazing experience... - Had an amazing experience with Bill. He's so friendly and easy to get along with. Showed us all around water town. Thanks for an amazing time Bill.

Amazing experience, Bill... - Amazing experience, Bill was very knowledgeable and was welcoming. Would do again, best part was waking through the garden!

Old and New Shanghai - Comprehensive trip to the beautiful canal-filled ‘original’ Shanghai. Bill is a very friendly, incredibly knowledgeable guide. It was great to be able to ask questions about both old and new China, and lunch was best dumplings ever!

The authentic face of Shanghai - We had a wonderful tour with Bill and enjoyed it thoroughly. He is an outstanding guide; knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely caring. From the very beginning, Bill made everything effortless, organizing the tour and arranging transportation with perfect efficiency. Everything ran smoothly, just like clockwork. Our visit to Zhujiajiao was a highlight and truly unforgettable. As Bill said, “This town is the authentic face of Shanghai,” and we couldn’t agree more. We highly recommend both the tour and Bill as a guide!

Must see - Really amazing place. Must see. Bill is very good and professional guide. We spent a lovely afternoon in a really nice place

A Must Go Tour - Bill was an excellent tour guide.Very friendly and knowledgeable.We had a most enjoyable time.Would reccomend this tour to everyone.