Welcome to Old Town
The original city core and the sole part of Shànghǎi to pre-date the 1850s, the Old Town (南市) is a favourite with visitors hoping to glimpse ‘traditional’ China. Many of the older buildings have been replaced with modern apartment blocks, but there are still more temples here than in the rest of the city combined, and pockets are impregnated with atmosphere and shabby charm.
Top experiences in Old Town
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Old Town activities
Half-Day Morning Bike Tour of Shanghai Old Town
A freshly grounded coffee and a western pastry is the least your stomach will need before starting a journey in the most incredible spots of Shanghai!In just half a day on our vintage bicycles, you will discover the hidden gems of the city! Through narrow lanes in the peaceful Former French Concession, you get to discover beautiful villas from the 1920's and join the locals in their morning routine at Fuxing park. After tasting a delicious local breakfast and finding your inner peace in a Buddhist Temple, we ride through a very lively traditional open-air wet market. Your ride does not just stop there, we also take you to the most authentic portion of the Old Town, far from the crowds, to discover enchanting places and atmospheres, where you feel that times has stopped long ago. All in one and All inclusive, if you really want to immerse yourself and discover the diversity of this local culture, just hop on our vintage bicycles and follow us! USEFUL INFORMATION- English-speaking (for other languages, please contact us)- About 7 km ride, easy ride for all- From 8:45am to 1pm.- Up to 8 participants.- Departure and arrival at the Hyatt Andaz Hotel in Xintiandi district, Puxi side, Shanghai.- Minimum height is 1.50m. Kid bikes are available for Private Tours- Prices are all inclusive (warm drink and a pastry at the Andaz Hotel, snack food, temple entrance fee, a bottle of water, a foreign experienced guide, a helmet and single-gear vintage bike rental).- Optional premium insurance available.
Shanghai Old Town Private Walking Tour Including Yuyuan Garden
Step into the pages of history and discover the stories of Old Shanghai! Meet your private guide at a central location for your 2-hour walking tour of the old walled city called Nan Shi, or Old Town. At its center are the Yuyuan Garden, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). Follow your guide through the exquisite imperial gardens — renowned for the classical landscape architecture — before walking to Chenghuangmiao, translated as Temple of the Town God. Here, you’ll learn about local tradition and the different gods of Chinese Taoist beliefs. Dating back to 1403, the temple's main courtyard is still active with worshippers and a central shrine offers solace from the bustle of the city.Finally, wander through Old Town’s lilong neighborhoods, where Western-style row houses and old Chinese courtyard homes line the narrow alleyways. These lanes, where laundry hangs from bamboo poles and neighbors share gossip, are rapidly disappearing along with an essential piece of Shanghai’s history. You’ll get a sense of traditional Chinese architecture and lifestyle as you meander past and view the first grand family's compound.At the end of your tour, learn about different types of local dumplings, with the opportunity to purchase some for a taste of delicious Chinese food.
Private Shanghai at Night Walking Tour with Shanghai Tower
Meet your guide 18.30 at the 1st Floor of Grand Hyatt Hotel at Jinmao Tower, an icon of new skyline Shanghai, to start your Shanghai evening tour.Walk to the tallest Shanghai Tower and take the world’s fastest elevator to the top of Shanghai observation deck to enjoy the splendid mega Shanghai city both at the sunset and evening time. Admire the spectacular skyline of Pudong Lujiazui, with stunning buildings like The Pearl and Shanghai World Financial Tower, as well as the old and new buildings illuminated at night.Next, you will take the walk along the Binjing Dadao and enjoy the short ferry ride to the Bund side, as you walk by gems of colonial-era architecture, your guide will explain Shanghai's colonial modern and old history while capturing classic photos or simply soak up the view as you look across one of the world's great and splendid city at night. However, it’s subject to favorable weather conditions to visit Shanghai Tower, such as a bad raining day, you will be given the option of an alternative night activities instead, such as take a Huangpu River cruise ride or visit Old town bazaar when it's lit up with glittering lights at night. If you book the dinner option you will also enjoy the delightful dinner, savor some local best dumplings, noodles as well as other authentical cuisine based on your own preferences. After a lovely evening, your guide will assist you to the Metro station or help you catch a taxi back to your hotel.
Experience Ancient Shanghai Day Tour of Jade Buddha Temple and Shanghai Old Town
After meeting your guide in your hotel lobby, you will start your exciting full-day tour.First we will bring you to the Jade Buddha Temple, which was founded in 1882 under the reign of Emperor Guangxu during the Qing Dynasty with two jade Buddha statues that were imported into Shanghai from Burma by sea. Now there is also a marble reclining Buddha statue donated from Singapore. The temple is peaceful, and is a center of meditation. After visiting the Jade Temple, we will visit the Shanghai Confucian Temple, which is also known as Shanghai Wen Miao. This temple doesn’t only honor one of ancient China’s most important thinkers, but is also a refuge from the buzzing Old Town. There is a market located right outside the temple if you want to purchase some souvenirs to take home. After having a traditional Chinese cuisine lunch, you will enjoy a tea ceremony at the oldest tea house in Shanghai. If you think tea tasting is easy, just watch the intricate processes involved in making the tea – a process that differs for each type of tea. The last stop of this tour is the Yuyuan Garden, the city’s most famous example of the traditional gardens as historically kept by wealthy families in the Ming & Qing Dynasties. After exploring the Yuyuan Garden, spend time wandering through the markets and bazaars of Shanghai’s Old Town. This is the perfect opportunity to get souvenir shopping done while soaking up the atmosphere of old Shanghai. After this activity, the tour ends and we will bring you back to your hotel.
Shanghai Night Tour by Bike
What a better way to experience the “City That Never Sleeps” than hopping on one of our vintage Forever bicycles and explore a whole New World after dark. Follow our foreign expert Tour Leader on a multi-theme bike ride from the narrow streets of the Old Town all the way to the dazzling lights of the Bund. Like a local, you cycle around the famous landmark Yu Garden, learn about Ghost Wedding rituals, visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy and get to learn more about the "Paris of the East". On the way, you also tickle your tastebuds with some delicious street food in order to immerse yourself deeper into local life. One evening with us and you can explore the many faces of Shanghai that make this city so unique. USEFUL INFORMATION - English-speaking (for other languages, please contact us) - About 9 km ride. - From 18:15pm to 21:30pm - Up to 8 participants - Departure and arrival at the Hyatt Andaz Hotel in Xintiandi district, Puxi side, Shanghai. - Minimum height is 1.50m. - Prices are all inclusive (Snack food, a bottle of water, a foreign experienced guide, a helmet and bike rental with all lights) - Optional premium insurance available
Peking Duck Dining Experience with Shanghai City Private Night Tour
Meet your friendly personal guide at your central Shanghai hotel at 6:30pm, and travel by private, comfortable vehicle to the Peking Duck restaurant to enjoy a famous, Beijing-style roast duck feast. Take your seat and place the crispy, sliced duck meat, scallion, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce on the top of the Chinese pancake. Then, roll up the pancake and enjoy! Your dinner includes a soda, beer, or tea, with additional drinks available at your own expense. After your delightful dinner, follow your guide on a walk around the Old Town area of the Yu Garden Bazaar. Take in the local markets and buildings bathed in twinkling gold lights, and cross the lucky ‘Nine Zigzag' bridge, as your guide shares insight into local culture and history. If time allows, sample some tea at the Huxingting Tea House, and then continue to The Bund area. Stroll along the riverside to enjoy the stunning views of the historical and modern buildings along the east and west banks of the Huangpu River, all fully illuminated. Admire The Bund’s colonial-era buildings as well as the Jinmao Tower, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and the other skyscrapers of the Pudong Lujiazui Financial area. Afterward, transfer back to your hotel where your memorable Shanghai night tour concludes.