Walking Through the Hidden Door of Shanghai Old Town

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180 to 210 minutes
Pick-up offered
Free cancellation
1 - 10
Mobile ticket

Overview

This private 3-hour walking tour is designed for city walkers who are fond of off-the-beaten track routes. Your professional tour guide will lead you through deep alleys of old city neighborhood area, find you ancient carvings hidden behind hanging laundries, learn you the most original history and culture of Shanghai. The area you visit during the tour could be the oldest part of Shanghai, offering glimpse of ancient Chinese buildings that have survived through turbulent times and most likely will no longer exist within the next decade. If you are a history lover or want to know more about the old Shanghai memory, don't miss out this opportunity while you are in town.

Inclusions

  • Hotel pickup
  • Excellent English-speaking guide
  • Private transportation
  • Entrance tickets
  • Entry/Admission - Shanghai Confucian Temple

What to expect

Shanghai is not just about colonial architectures. There are some rarely areas of old city behind the modern skyscrapers. This interesting walking tour will take you to visit the non-tourist sites where you might run into a street that full of "shanghai style pajamas" and an exiting Majiang game. The highlight of tour includes visits to one of the oldest private local houses and following places:
• The historical Fire Tower in old city, built in 1910.
• The Qiao Jia Street that used to be lived with all celebrities in town during Ming and Qing dynasty.
• The Catalpa Garden, built by a Chinese industrialist and artist in the early 20th century, the buildings inside are the combination of Chinese, Gothic, Greek and Japanese architecture, this garden was used to entertain Albert Einstein in 1922.
• The Secluded Library ( not opened to public but to you), it is the garden of a ship owner in past and home of one resident at present, inside the houses are dated back to Qing dynasty more than 300 years ago with fascinating original carvings still on windows, gates, column and ceiling.
• The Nine-Rooms-Buildings, former residence of Xu Guangqi, a remarkable Chinese scholar officials 500 years ago. He is the first translator to introduce Catholic religion, western mathematics and astronomy into China.
• Home quarter lanes, food market and Mahjong room, where you could discover the daily fun of Shanghainese through street cooking, laundry, shopping, preparing fish and crabs at market and real seriousness in Mahjong games.
• The Confucius Temple, built in 1368-1398, dedicated to worship Confucius (BC551-479) who was a great thinker, educator, and founder of the Confucianism in China, is the only ancient architectural complex in Central Shanghai and had been the top learning institution of Shanghai over a long time.Please note: The Confucius Temple is available for morning and afternoon tour. For the evening tour, you will pay a visit to Classical Shanghai House Museum. 

After your tour is finished, your guide will assist you to arrange a taxi or utilize public transportation back to your hotel. Or you can choose to spend more time browsing around in the city.

Meeting point

Traveler pickup is offered

Additional information

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Please wear comfortable shoes
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • A maximum of 10 people per booking
  • Please indicate morning tour or afternoon tour in special requirement area upon booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Exclusions

  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel drop-off

Ticket delivery

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
dye2tri
February 2020

What an amazing gem of a tour! Do not miss out on this opportunity to see some very hidden things that you don’t see every day in China. Our tour guide was amazing and knowledgeable and very friendly. We met some neighbors visited the local market and even tried some food. But the real highlight...

roellab
January 2020

This was the only tour that we prebooked in Shanghai, and I’m glad we did! Our tour guide, Penny was very nice and knowledgeable about the region and history. We spent quite a bit of time with her and a wonderful lady who’s home will be restored. Penny then took us around the neighborhood, to th...

Safari57858589275
January 2020

I opted to do this tour because the typical Shanghai day tours didn't really appeal to me. Kelly was terrific, great local knowledge, flawless English and very patient and generous with her time. Wondering through the tiny alleyways of the old town, I feel I saw and learned things I would never h...

jeremyfromlondon
January 2020

I first visited China in 1993 and since then the changes to the way people live, dress and work have been dramatic. This tour brings these changes to life. Your guide, Penny, is an expert in contemporary Chinese history and walks you through real communities in the old town where you can see with...

DebV20
December 2019

This tour was truly incredible. Penny was so informative and the off the beaten track places she took us to were enlightening. Don’t want to write too much to spoil it for you, just make sure that you put this on your list of things to do. Thanks Penny for such an amazing experience!

AusyTripper
November 2019

Our guide, Kelly, was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, informative and well connected with the local community. Kelly was also considerate and thoughtful in guiding us through the atmospheric Old Town of Shanghai. The laneways decorated with clothing out to dry, the shared living areas and friendly r...

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from US$94.05 / per person