Shanghai.com.sg
Plan
All itineraries

Shanghai + a Water Town in 2 Days

The canal towns ringing Shanghai are close enough that you don't need to move hotels. Day one stays in the city — the Bund, Yu Garden, dumplings, an evening in Xintiandi. Day two is a one-hour drive to a thousand-year-old water town, back in time for dinner in Shanghai.

Length
2 days
Cities
Shanghai
Best for
Visitors on a tight schedule who still want to see old Jiangnan.
Getting between cities
About 1 hour by car, or 1.5 hours by bus. No hotel change needed.

Before you set the days

Walking and access

Water-town lanes use uneven stone and bridges, and boat landings involve steps. Tell the driver before departure if the route needs fewer bridges or no boat transfer.

Rain

Covered lanes and old houses still work in light rain, but boats can pause when weather or water conditions change. Keep an indoor house ready rather than waiting at the landing.

Closures

Museums, gardens and old houses inside each town keep their own hours even when the public streets remain accessible. Check the specific interiors chosen for the day.

If the plan changes

Choose Tongli or Jinxi before departure and use that town's own plan. Their tickets, museums and operating rules are different, so one cannot be swapped for the other at the gate.

Day 1 — Shanghai at Its Own Pace

  1. 09:30

    Shanghai Museum

    Bronze, jade and calligraphy in the drum-shaped building on People's Square — a late-ish start, since there's no train to catch tomorrow

    Instead of this

    • People's Park — Central park with lotus pond and the famous marriage market
    • The Bund Promenade — Iconic waterfront walk with stunning Pudong skyline views
  2. 11:30

    Yu Garden & Bazaar

    Classical garden and market streets — worth seeing before the water town, because tomorrow shows you what the same idea looks like outside a city

    Instead of this

    • Jade Buddha Temple — One of Shanghai's most active Buddhist temples, featuring exquisite jade statues
    • M50 Art District — Converted textile factories housing contemporary galleries
  3. 13:00

    Nanxiang Steamed Buns

    Famous xiaolongbao at the original 1900s shop, right in the bazaar

    Instead of this

    • Huxinting Teahouse — Iconic zigzag-bridge teahouse in the heart of Old City
    • Yang's Fried Dumplings — Crispy-bottomed shengjianbao — Shanghai's other dumpling star
  4. 15:00

    Shanghai Tower & Lujiazui

    Cross to Pudong for the observation deck at 561m — the sharpest possible contrast with tomorrow's stone bridges

    Instead of this

    • Oriental Pearl Tower — Iconic TV tower with a glass-bottomed sightseeing floor
    • Power Station of Art — Contemporary art museum in a converted power station
  5. 18:00

    Xintiandi Evening

    A long dinner in the restored Shikumen lane houses — nothing to be up early for beyond a comfortable drive

    Instead of this

    • Huangpu River Cruise — Cruise the river to see the contrasting neon skylines
    • Lujiazui Night Lights — Watch the Pudong towers light up from a riverside terrace

Day 2 — 🚗 Water Town Day Trip

  1. 08:30

    Drive to Water Town

    1 hr scenic drive through Jiangsu countryside

  2. 10:00

    Ancient Canal Town

    1,000-year-old water town with stone bridges, courtyards, and winding canals

    Instead of this

    • Zhouzhuang Water Town — The most famous canal town — double bridges and crab feasts
    • Xitang Water Town — Covered corridors, lantern-lit canals, and riverside bars at night
  3. 12:30

    Canal-side Lunch

    Fresh river fish, braised pork knuckle, and tofu at a waterfront restaurant

    Instead of this

    • Local Noodle Shop — Hand-pulled noodles in a centuries-old shopfront by the canal
    • Waterside Teahouse — Sip local green tea while watching boats glide past
  4. 15:00

    Gondola Ride & Return

    Boat through the old town canals, then drive back to Shanghai

    Instead of this

    • Canal Walk & Shopping — Wander the back alleys for handmade crafts and local snacks
    • Photography & Return — Golden-hour photos of the bridges and lanterns, then drive back

Other itineraries