After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your private tour guide and start your Zhouzhuang Water Town tour from Shanghai. Around 2 hour's private drive will take you away from the city to the scenic Zhouzhuang. The tour guide will give you a brief introduction of the town on the way while you are enjoying the peaceful suburb scenery.

After 900 years of vicissitudes, Zhouzhuang Water Town still reserves its original looking. There you can appreciate more than 100 classical courtyards. Take a canal ride for stunning views and have a special experience for photo shots when you put on Chinese traditional costumes.

► Tips on Where and What to Eat (at your own expense):

For lunch, you will love the Pan-Fried Pork Buns offered as the star dish by the time-horned restaurant Xinzhenyuan, just as Suzhou locals do. There is a branch in Zhouzhuang. With a classical Chinese garden-style décor, the dining environment is elegant, and you can sit by the window eating while taking in the picturesque water town scenery. Pan-Fried Pork Buns here are made fresh to order, with distinctively crispy bottom skin that provides a crunchy bite into juicy fillings. The menu also includes a uniquely sauced noodles dish, which we also recommend you to try. After your meal, perhaps take a leisurely stroll through the ancient town's streets.

Average cost per person: CNY 40 / USD 5

Address: No.8 Building, Zhongshi Street, Zhouzhuang Ancient Town

If you feel like discovering as many local snacks as possible, go explore Zhenfeng Street, which is brimmed with workshops of various kinds of food. The most famous are Wansan Pork Hock, Dried Bean Curd, Green Glutinous Rice Ball, Pickled Rape Stems, Wansan Cake, etc. Need a caffeine boost? Hit up a café or tea house before continuing your afternoon trip.

When you finish this one-day Shanghai side trip to Zhouzhuang, your private guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in downtown Shanghai.