Private Tour of Yu Gardens and Shanghai Old City

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken in an air-conditioned car or mini coach (depending on the number of passengers) for a classic sightseeing tour of Shanghai. An English-speaking tour guide will accompany you on this tour.

The highlights of your tour are:

• Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden): The Yu Gardens or the Garden of Peace and Comfort are in the Old City. It is a reconstructed classical Chinese garden that was originally built during the Ming Dynasty. There are over 40 buildings, ancient trees, ponds, bridges and sculptures. Built beside the Temple of the City God and covering only fives acres, its 30 pavilions are linked by corridors, artificial hills, bridges over lotus pools, groves of bamboo and walls occupied by stone dragons. As one walks through the garden, the view changes with every step.

• Old City: The Old City is located to the west of the Bund and Huangpu River and south of Nanjing Road. It offers a stark contrast to the bustling city of Shanghai. Narrow streets and alleys, traditional Chinese stores, restaurants selling delicious dumplings can be seen here. Prior to 1911, Shanghai, Old Town, was a walled city made up mainly of fishermen, but the walls of the city were torn down to allow freerer movement and easier trade. The centre then, as now, was the Yu Garden and the Huxingting Tea House. Both are not to be missed.

• Xin Tian Di, Shikumen: Stroll along this fashionable pedestrian street in Shanghai, lined with Shikumen and modern architecture. This street embodies a totally different world of international galleries, bars and cafes, boutiques and theme restaurants. When you walk into Xin Tian Di, you will get the taste of both, Shanghai in the 1920s and the sonic modern lifestyle of urbanites of the 21st century.

Stop for lunch at one of the delightful local restaurants.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel in Shanghai.