Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Visit two picturesque Chinese towns, Suzhou and Zhouzhuang on a day trip from Shanghai. You'll see how daily life has remained unchanged over the centuries in these unique old towns. Visit the Suzhou's magnificent gardens, feast on a Chinese lunch and travel through Zhouzhuang's waterways on a Chinese-style gondola.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a Shared Tour - 3 people are needed as a minimum to proceed with the tour.
What To Expect
Master-of-Nets Garden
Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze basin, founded in about 600 B.C. With its interconnected waterways and beautiful environment, the city is often referred as “The Venice of the East”. The gardens embody the harmonious principles of Chinese garden construction, which dictate that gardens should attempt to create a microcosm of the universe in a confined space. Net Master Garden is the best and most celebrated as a model Ming Dynasty Garden in all of Suzhou.
The Grand Canal starts in Beijing, pass by Suzhou, and ends in Hangzhou. It is over 1,000 kilometers from the North China to South China, which is known as a miracle in the world.
Options
Suzhou and Zhouzhuang Water Village Day Trip from Shanghai
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Boat tour in the water village
English-speaking tour guide
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
Admission tickets
Hotel pickup and drop off in the city center
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
433 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excursion not recommended
Sara P,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00I don't recommend this tour for its value and the time available to actually visit the sites. Although Tom is an excellent, well-informed guide with perfect English, the excursion felt like a race against time. We were always rushing, catching glimpses of things and barely having a second to take a photo. It wasn't pleasant at all. The lunch was very basic and subpar: a plate of rice, inedible cabbage, very sweet fried chicken, and an omelette... no drinks. The hour wasted at the silk museum was pointless and only used to get people to buy some products so the tour company could get a commission. The only pleasant moment was the free time we were given in Zhouzhuang.
Fantastic tour
Andrew W,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Was great tour with comfortable vehicle and great guide. Our guide Tony was very knowledgeable and attentive. We enjoyed his company.
The water town and the master garden visi
Suleyma M,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The experience was very incredible, Tom the guide was very knowledge and very professional. The timing was perfect. He give time free to enjoy the water towm. He accompanied to the ride boat on the water town. I highly recommended
Excellent day with Tom...
john v,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent day with Tom who was very Knowledgeable and helpful. Driver was professional and courteous.
Our guide Thom was right...
Gary B,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Thom was right on time meeting us at the hotel and we had a lengthy drive to Suzhou, but everything went smooth. We spent time in Suzhou and the Net Master Garden and our guide Thom explained the history in great details as we toured the gardens. It is a unique kind of garden involving several buildings that the owners lived in and mostly rocks. After the gardens we went to one of the earliest silk companies in Suzhou and learned the history of silk and its importance to ancient China. The next stop was at the Zhouzhuang which is an ancient Chinese City that is built around a series of canals and waterways. We took a “gondola” ride through the city. It was an interesting place but quite crowded but enjoyable none the less. Thom did a good job guiding us through the 2 sites.
Great day 🙂
Susanne A,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00You need a guide in these areas to enjoy the experience. The day was care free whilst seeing and understanding local culture and tourist spots.
Great day tour
Peter G,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00An excellent tour covering two very different experiences outside Shanghai. Mr. Tom was an excellent tour guide and thoroughly briefed on each site. Only downside was the van was too small for 5 adults on tour. Highly recommended tour.
Bus tour of Shanghai and Zhujiajao
Zoltán F,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I chose a group tour instead of a private one, because it is perhaps a little more informal, the contact with the guide is not as direct and constant. I got exactly what I expected, the guide took care of us, but we also had a little freedom to ourselves. The program is spectacular, interesting, I can only recommend it.
Too many activities
Tania M,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00Good pick up, the garden was beautiful. The stop at the gran canal was a nonsense. We didn’t visit the silk museum, but yes a silk fabric. The lunch was low quality. The Watertown was beautiful. No free time to explore the village. Places are special, but the service was low quality.
Tom was friendly,...
Michael S,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Tom was friendly, informative and helpful and the whole trip was very efficiently organised. We had a super day, thanks
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Operated by Hantang International Travel Service