Name: Shanghai - An Authentic Watertown
Brand: EastBound and Beyond
Price: 295.0 USD
Availability:  instock

Paddle Through

Authentic Fengjing Watertown

Explore an authentic watertown in Shanghai, still home to locals and brimming with local life. Plus, discover a hidden gem from the Mao era

Private

minimum of 2 and maximum of 5 guests

6-7 hours

including the transit to / from the city center

Private Car and Boat

also includes 1.5 km of walking

Lunch and Snacks Included

Number of adults (Ages 13+): 1 Adult

Number of children (Ages 4-12): 1 Child

Product variants

* For groups of 6 or more, please contact us.

Many travelers have watertown on their bucket list when visiting China, but unfortunately, many of these towns have become overly commercialized and turned into tourist traps. We believe an authentic watertown should still be home to locals, with residents selling home-cooked food and greeting visitors in their native Shanghainese dialect. We discovered a perfect hidden gem for you. Join us on this guided tour to experience the true charm of FengJing Watertown, one of Shanghai's best-kept secrets.

Explore an authentic watertown brimming with local charm

Glide through the scenic waterways on a private boat

Enjoy a delightful local specialty lunch and sample tasty street snacks

Uncover a historical relic and a bunker system from the Mao era

Visit a traditional Chinese mansion once housed a wealthy family

Hear stories of a national champion in the ancient imperial exams

Take home a unique, memorable gift

City Center -> Fengjing Watertown

Private car transfer from your hotel / preferred location to the authentic Watertown of FengJing (~60km from city center; 1-1.5 hours one way). During the journey, our knowledgeable guide will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your travels in China or provide insights into daily life in the country

Watertown Alleys

Take a leisurely stroll along the river and through the narrow alleys of FengJing Watertown, where you can soak in the authentic local atmosphere and sample delicious local snacks

Wang Family Mansion

Visit a traditional Chinese mansion once owned by a wealthy local family, and step back in time to explore its architectural grandeur. Discover how the mansion's design reflects traditional Chinese social value

Ancient Bridges

Stroll across ancient bridges that have stood for centuries, each with its own unique stories to tell. Enjoy a fresh perspective of the town from the bridge with picturesque views of the waterways

Former Site of People's Commune and the Bunker System

Visit a true hidden gem: a remarkably well-preserved site of the People's Commune during Mao's time. Hear fascinating stories about how people lived and worked during those tumultuous years. There is also a secret underground bunker system, now open to the public

Lunch

Savor classic and authentic Shanghai cuisine at a charming riverside restaurant, where dishes are lovingly prepared by local aunties

Private Boat Ride

Embark on a private boat ride with our guide, gliding under ancient bridges and through tranquil water alleys

Former Residence of Zhuangyuan

In ancient China, Zhuangyuan was the top scorer the ancient imperial national examinations. Discover fascinating stories about China's imperial examination system. Learn how this system shaped the values of education in modern China

FengJing Watertown -> City Center

Private car transfer to your hotel / preferred location (~60km from city center; 1-1.5 hours one way)

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What People are Saying

"Our Guests Love It"

If you're looking to escape the crowds and dive into a peaceful, authentic slice of Chinese history, Fengjing is the place to go. This charming watertown exceeded all expectations—quiet, picturesque, and full of cultural soul.

The canals, stone bridges, and traditional houses felt like a step back in time. We saw residents going about their day and tiny family-owned shops selling handmade snacks and crafts. We visited very interesting sites and ate exceptional food.

Our tour guides, Laura and Michael, did a fantastic job from start to finish—picking us up at our hotel in a very comfortable vehicle, engaging with us constantly, making sure that we had everything we needed and sharing fascinating stories and facts about the town's history, Chinese culture, and architecture. They really brought the experience to life and made us feel well taken care of the entire time.

This tour is fantastic and ideal if you want something calm, authentic, and off the beaten path. Fengjing isn't touristy—it's real, beautiful, and unforgettable. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Shanghai who wants to see a different, more traditional side of China!

Marco

USA

An amazing tour with the best guides. Laura and Michael from Eastbound and Beyond made us feel like kings in this private tour from Shanghai. Showing us the authentic watertown with authentic regional cuisine. The car was ample and comfortable and the tour, wonderful. The knowledge of Laura and Michael explaining the history and anecdotes made this tour unforgettable.

Daniel

Spain

I had a wonderful day today! I especially loved paddling through the water town—it felt absolutely perfect with the music, creating an amazing vibe. There are jokes and fun people, this is the tour to go on. I will definitely recommend Eastbound and Beyond to my friends!

Wendy

USA

My favorite part is to see the architectures of the old buildings, especially when we took the boat down the river and see everything from a different perspective. I will definitely recommend Eastbound and Beyond to my friends because it is just a totally different experience. The group is very small and intimate, not a big tour group. So you feel more included and you learn more, experience more things you see and visit.

Markus

South Africa

My favorite part of the trip is the boat cruising. You can see the whole trip from a different perspective. Also I like the music playing, along with the background, you could see the whole view. It is beautiful. I will definitely recommend Eastbound and Beyond to my friends and I actually already recommended to some friends and they also want to participate in the tour. Some of them even live in Shanghai for years and there are still lots of hidden gems out there that they do not know. So they would love to explore.

Coco

China

Know before you book

Group Size
(1) Private group for 2-5 guests (including adults and children ages 3 and above)
(2) For groups exceeding 5 people, please contact us

What is the child pricing policy?
(1) Child pricing applies to children ages between 4-12
(2) Children ages 3 and under are free

Hotel / Preferred Location Pickup and Drop-off
(1) Free pickup and drop-off are included for hotels or preferred locations within the city center, defined as a 6 km radius from People's Park
(2) The city center includes the following areas: The Bund, Nanjing Road, West Nanjing Road, People's Square, Lujiazui, Jing'an Temple, Zhongshan Park, Yu Garden, the Former French Concession, Xujiahui, and other central areas
(3) If you're unsure whether your location qualifies for free pickup and drop-off, please contact us

Know before you go

How long is this tour
(1) The tour typically lasts 6-7 hours, including 4 hours in the town and transit to/from hotels / preferred locations
(2) One-way transit time is approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on traffic

How long is the walk
(1) Be prepared for approximately 1.5 kilometers of outdoor walking
(2) Comfortable shoes are recommended, and an umbrella is suggested if rain is expected

What's included?

(1)English-speaking tour guide
(2)Private car for hotel / preferred location pick-up and drop-off
(3)Local specialty lunch and snacks
(4)Private boat ride
(5)Admission to the former site of People's Commune
(6)A special gift :)

Dietary Requests?

(1)Please communicate all dietary requirements at the time of booking
(2)Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate gluten-free guests due to the common use of soy sauce in local cuisine
(3)We are unable to accommodate severe allergies, as cross-contamination (e.g., with nuts) is a possibility and we cannot guarantee allergen-free conditions
(4)Please contact us if you have any additional questions on this topic

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy
(1) 100% refund is provided for cancellations made at least 24 hours prior to the tour start time. Please note that all website payments are processed through PayPal or PayPal-authorized credit card services, and a 4.4% transaction fee will be applied to your payment. This fee is non-refundable as we are unable to recover such processing costs from PayPal or PayPal-authorized credit card in the event of a cancellation. For example, if you paid $100 using PayPal or PayPal-authorized credit card and cancel your tour at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time, you will receive a refund of $95.60, with a $4.40 processing fee deducted.

(2) No refund for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour start time or in case of a no-show

What happens if it rains, or the weather is unfavorable?
(1) Tours operate in all weather conditions, so we recommend bringing an umbrella if needed
(2) In rare cases of extreme weather (e.g., hurricanes, rainstorm or extreme heat), the tour will be canceled at least one day in advance, and a full refund will be provided