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.

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