Two-Day Zhouzhuang Water Town Tour from Shanghai: Explore China’s "No.1 Water Town" with Guided Visits to Ancient Bridges & Local Gardens

Day 1 Shanghai-Zhouzhuang

At Your Way Holiday, we believe travel should be more than just sightseeing—it should be a journey into history, culture, and local life. This two-day tour to Zhouzhuang Water Town from Shanghai offers exactly that. Known as one of China’s most beautiful water towns, Zhouzhuang is a living museum of stone bridges, ancient mansions, and winding canals. Guided by our professional tour experts, you’ll explore iconic landmarks, taste authentic Jiangnan cuisine, and glide through waterways on a traditional sampan. With seamless transport, flexible pacing, and personalized service, Your Way Holiday makes your Zhouzhuang escape both effortless and unforgettable.

Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning from your hotel in Shanghai. As you leave behind the modern skyscrapers of the city, the drive to Zhouzhuang takes about 1.5 hours, passing through the green countryside of Jiangsu Province. During the ride, your English-speaking guide will introduce the history of Jiangnan’s canal towns, explaining how waterways once connected small villages to thriving trade centers. You’ll also hear stories of Shen Wansan, the legendary Ming dynasty tycoon whose wealth made Zhouzhuang flourish.

Upon arrival, step straight into the living history of Zhouzhuang, often called the Venice of the East. Walking along stone-paved alleys, you’ll cross graceful arched bridges that link quiet neighborhoods together. The town’s whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs cast shimmering reflections in the water, while willow trees sway gently over the canals, completing a poetic Jiangnan scene. Your guide will trace Zhouzhuang’s 900-year history, explaining how it was founded in the Yuan Dynasty and flourished during the Ming and Qing through silk weaving, handicrafts, and waterborne trade. You’ll hear how families once lived intimately with the canals, opening back gates directly to the water to wash clothes, barter goods, or step into a waiting boat—an everyday rhythm shaped by water.

The next stop is the Zhang Residence, an elegant Ming-era mansion built by a prominent family of scholars. With more than 70 rooms, airy corridors, and four courtyards, the complex is a masterpiece of Jiangnan architecture. As you step inside, admire intricately carved beams, decorative lattice windows, and flagstone courtyards worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. Your guide will reveal how the mansion’s layout reflects Confucian values: the front halls were reserved for formal receptions and scholarly pursuits, while inner gardens provided privacy and leisure for the family. Even the positioning of kitchens, servant quarters, and study rooms demonstrates the strict social hierarchy and order of the time.

Continue to the Shen Residence, built during the Qing Dynasty for the legendary Shen Wansan, once regarded as the richest man in southern China. With grand reception halls, lavishly carved rosewood furniture, and a private pier opening directly onto the canal, the residence embodies prosperity and prestige. Your guide will share colorful stories of Shen’s extraordinary wealth: how his generosity financed local temples, how his legendary banquets drew hundreds of guests, and how his fortune once helped fund the rebuilding of Nanjing’s city wall under Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The mansion illustrates both the material wealth and cultural refinement of Zhouzhuang’s elite.

Take a break at a canal-side courtyard restaurant and savor a meal that reflects the essence of Jiangnan cuisine. The signature dish is Wansan Braised Pork Knuckle, slow-cooked until its rich, savory flavors melt into tender meat, a culinary tribute to Shen Wansan himself. Complementing it is freshly caught river fish, steamed with light soy and ginger to preserve its delicate taste. Seasonal vegetables—perhaps bamboo shoots, water spinach, or lotus root—bring freshness and balance. Your guide will explain how Jiangnan cuisine values light seasoning, natural flavors, and seasonal harmony, making dining here not just delicious but deeply cultural.

After lunch, stroll to the most iconic landmark of Zhouzhuang, the Double Bridges. Formed by the adjoining Shide Bridge and Yong’an Bridge, their unique T-shape creates a square of waterways, perfectly framing scenes of passing boats and canal houses. This spot was immortalized in Chen Yifei’s painting Memories of Hometown, later featured by UNESCO and displayed in the United Nations, which brought Zhouzhuang international fame in the 1980s. Standing on the bridge, your guide will explain why this site has become a symbol of Zhouzhuang’s soul—a poetic blend of architecture, water, and cultural memory.

Conclude your day with a traditional wooden sampan ride through Zhouzhuang’s winding canals. As the boat glides beneath centuries-old stone bridges and past weathered whitewashed homes, you’ll see a side of the town hidden from the streets. Often, the boatwoman rows while singing folk ballads in the local Wu dialect, adding melody to the tranquil scenery. Along the way, your guide will point out charming details of daily life—an old woman rinsing vegetables at the canal’s edge, a fisherman preparing his nets, or shopkeepers receiving goods unloaded directly from boats. The cruise offers not just a scenic view, but an intimate encounter with Zhouzhuang’s living traditions.

As dusk falls, lanterns glow softly over the waterways, casting shimmering reflections on the canals. Join your guide for a gentle stroll through the night streets, where small markets sell handmade crafts such as embroidered purses, paper-cut art, and painted fans. Sample local street snacks—perhaps sticky rice dumplings or soy-braised tofu—before retiring to your boutique guesthouse by the canal. The wooden interiors, creaking floors, and riverside balconies allow you to experience Zhouzhuang’s charm just as locals have for centuries.

Day 2 Zhouzhuang-Shanghai

Start your day at the Chengxu Taoist Temple, originally built in the Song Dynasty and expanded during the Yuan and Ming periods. This complex includes the Main Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and several serene courtyards filled with incense smoke. Your guide will explain Taoist teachings that emphasize balance between humans and nature, which deeply influenced local festivals and folk traditions. The delicate wood carvings and stone statues show the skill of ancient artisans, while the peaceful setting offers a quiet spiritual moment.

Next, explore Zhouzhuang’s hidden artisan workshops. Watch weavers at their looms creating delicate silk patterns, craftsmen carving intricate designs into wood, and women cutting red paper into symbolic patterns of fish, flowers, and animals. These crafts were once vital trades for Zhouzhuang’s economy. Under the guidance of a local artisan, you may try a hands-on activity, such as making a small paper-cut or weaving a silk knot to take home as a souvenir. Your guide will translate and explain the cultural meanings behind the designs—such as fish representing abundance and lotus flowers symbolizing purity.

For your second day’s meal, sit down at a traditional canal-side restaurant that highlights the delicate flavors of Jiangnan cuisine. The star dish is steamed mandarin fish, celebrated for its tender flesh and elegant presentation. Lightly seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, and scallions, the fish embodies the Jiangnan principle of allowing natural flavors to shine rather than overpowering them. Alongside, enjoy seasonal greens, bamboo shoots, and lotus root, ingredients sourced from the fertile land and waterways around Zhouzhuang. Each dish emphasizes freshness, balance, and harmony, values deeply rooted in Jiangnan’s culinary philosophy. As you dine, your guide will share how these cooking traditions reflect the region’s refined lifestyle—where food is not only nourishment but also a reflection of culture, health, and the changing seasons.

After lunch, make your way to the Quanfutang Pagoda, an elegant tower rising above the rooftops of Zhouzhuang. Built centuries ago, the pagoda has long served as both a religious landmark and a vantage point for travelers. As you climb its wooden steps, each level reveals glimpses of tiled houses, arching bridges, and willow-lined canals. From the top, a panoramic view stretches across Zhouzhuang: ribbons of waterways glimmering in the sunlight, fields and villages unfolding into the distance, and the ancient town nestled like a pearl within the water landscape. Your guide will explain how this tower has been a cultural beacon, symbolizing prosperity and spiritual harmony, and how its vantage point once helped residents monitor the flow of trade and water traffic between towns. Standing here, you gain not only a breathtaking view but also a deeper appreciation for Zhouzhuang’s place in Jiangnan’s cultural tapestry.

Before departing, take a final, leisurely stroll through the canals. Pass under graceful stone bridges, pause to admire the reflections of whitewashed houses in the still water, and listen to the quiet rhythm of the town. This farewell walk allows you to slow down and absorb the essence of Zhouzhuang one last time. Stop with your guide at a riverside teahouse, where you can sip a delicate cup of Jiangnan-style green tea. The gentle fragrance of the tea pairs perfectly with the calm waterside view, offering a moment of reflection on the history, beauty, and timeless charm of this ancient water town. It is a peaceful conclusion to your journey—one that leaves you carrying home not just memories, but the spirit of Jiangnan itself.

In the afternoon, your driver will escort you back to Shanghai. Depending on your schedule, you will be dropped directly at Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao International Airport for your flight. Your guide will assist with luggage and ensure a smooth farewell.

Price Per Person in US Dollars