SHANGHAI GRAND CITY TOUR – 21K

This 21k route gives you a perfect mix of history, culture, modern Shanghai, and scenic views- ideal for foreign visitors who want to see the city’s highlights together with a bit of local taste while staying active.

We’ll start at the Wukang Building, a stunning piece of Art Deco architecture that stands as a testament to Shanghai’s rich colonial past. Known as the “Parisian Building,” it’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Built in the 1920s, this grand building has witnessed many changes over the years and remains a beloved symbol of the area’s history and elegance.

Then a short jog leads to Xiangyang Park, while it might not be as vast as some of Shanghai’s famous parks, Xiangyang Park holds a unique and special place in the city’s heart. Once a recreational space for the foreign community, its charm lies in its history, its quintessential “Shanghai” atmosphere, and its role as a microcosm of local life. It’s a living portrait of local Shanghai life.

We’ll also experience a masterclass in historical preservation at Xintiandi. This stylish pedestrian district is built from the restored shikumen (“stone gate”) houses, a unique architectural hybrid of Eastern and Western styles that flourished in late 19th and early 20th-century Shanghai. By transforming these old residential lane houses into a vibrant hub of restaurants and shops, Xintiandi doesn’t just showcase history—it actively revitalizes it, demonstrating how the city’s heritage is being repurposed for modern life.

For a glimpse into older, indigenous Shanghai, our tours navigate the restored traditional architecture of Yuyuan Garden & the Old City. Yuyuan is a classical Chinese landscape masterpiece that created in the 16^th century during the Ming Dynasty. The surrounding old city streets, now buzz with market energy, offering a stark and fascinating contrast to the other districts of the city.

We will pass by The Bund (外滩), a breathtaking stretch of grand neoclassical and art deco buildings. This is not just a pretty skyline; it was bunch of powerful historical buildings once housed numerous banks and trading houses from the west, turning Shanghai into the “Paris of the East” and a hub of international trade.  Cross the river, the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui—with the famous landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Jin Mao Tower—creates the city’s most famous contrast of old and new.

From the Bund, we’ll continue our run southward along the scenic waterfront. It is a long and nice riverside promenade along the Huangpu River. It used to be an industrial dock/wharf area but has been transformed into a public open space with green zones, art and cultural venues, and walking/running paths. The area is very scenic: river views, skyline, old cranes, repurposed industrial relics, art installations, museums (Long Museum, Yuz Museum) nearby.

Lastly, we will turn back toward the heart of the city, we’ll make our way back through the elegant French Concession. The route will retrace leafy boulevards, lined with plane trees and stately villas, before concluding back at the iconic Wukang Building.

PICK-UP SERVICE
Pick-up service from your hotel/apartment or another meeting point is possible and will be checked by the tour provider individually. If your hotel/apartment should be too far away from the city centre or not close to the tour route, then we will meet you at our standard meeting point.

MEETING DETAILS
The tour provider will get in contact with you to provide you with more detailed information after the tour was booked. Please, bring along your mobile phone in case we need to contact each other.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

• Private guide/tour
• Individual pace
• Digital photos
• Tour route
• Pick-up service
• Water