Temple & Water Town: Discover Shanghai’s Spiritual and Traditional Side

Yu Garden, City God Temple & Old Shanghai — Discover the Roots of Shanghai
Begin your journey in the heart of old Shanghai, where the city's story began.
Explore the area around Yu Garden, one of Shanghai’s most famous classical Chinese gardens, built during the Ming Dynasty. With its elegant pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and traditional design, the garden offers a glimpse into the lifestyle and aesthetics of ancient China.
Nearby, walk through the City God Temple and Old Town area, once the commercial and cultural center of traditional Shanghai. Behind the busy streets and local shops, you can discover the old neighborhoods where generations of Shanghai residents lived, worked, and traded.
Your local host will share stories about how Shanghai developed from a small riverside settlement into one of China's most important cities.
Xintiandi — Experience Shanghai’s Shikumen Culture
Continue to Xintiandi, a unique neighborhood where Shanghai’s past and present meet.
Here you will discover the famous Shikumen (stone-gate) houses, a distinctive architectural style that combines Chinese and Western influences. These historic lane houses once represented the everyday life of Shanghai families in the early 20th century.
Today, the restored buildings have become a vibrant area of cafés, restaurants, and cultural spaces while preserving the charm of old Shanghai.
Walking through the narrow lanes, you can understand how Shanghai keeps its history alive while embracing modern life.
The Bund — Understand Shanghai’s International Story
Finish your journey at the iconic Bund, Shanghai’s most famous waterfront landmark.
Standing along the Huangpu River, you can admire the historic buildings that once represented international banks, trading companies, and foreign institutions during Shanghai’s rise as a global port city.
Across the river, the modern skyline of Lujiazui shows another chapter of Shanghai’s story.
Here, your local host will share the stories behind the buildings and explain how Shanghai transformed from a regional trading port into a world-class international city.

Lujiazui & Shanghai Tower — Discover the Future of Shanghai
Start your journey in Lujiazui, Shanghai’s iconic financial district and a symbol of the city’s rapid transformation.
Standing across the Huangpu River from the historic Bund, Lujiazui showcases Shanghai’s modern identity with its impressive skyline, including Shanghai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world.
From here, you can see how a former riverside area developed into one of Asia’s most important financial centers and understand why Shanghai is often described as a city where the past and future exist side by side.
Yu Garden & Old Town — Step Back into Traditional Shanghai
After experiencing the modern skyline, continue to the heart of old Shanghai.
Explore Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with elegant pavilions, ponds, and traditional architecture from the Ming Dynasty.
Walk through the surrounding Old Town and City God Temple area, where narrow streets, local shops, and traditional neighborhoods reveal a different side of Shanghai — the city before skyscrapers transformed the skyline.
The Bund — Where Shanghai’s Past Meets Its Future
Finish your journey at the Bund, Shanghai’s most famous waterfront landmark.
Standing along the Huangpu River, you can admire the contrast between the historic European-style buildings on one side and the modern Lujiazui skyline on the other.
Here, your local host will share the stories behind Shanghai’s rise as an international trading and financial center, and explain how the city connects its history with its future.

Jade Buddha Temple — A Peaceful Buddhist Sanctuary in the City
Start your day at Jade Buddha Temple, one of Shanghai’s most famous Buddhist temples.
Located in the heart of the city, the temple offers a peaceful contrast to Shanghai’s busy streets. Explore the traditional halls, learn about Buddhist culture, and admire the famous jade Buddha statues that give the temple its name.
Your local host will share the history of the temple and explain the role of Buddhism in Chinese culture and daily life.
Zhujiajiao Water Town — Experience the Charm of Ancient Jiangnan
Continue to Zhujiajiao, a historic water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, known for its canals, stone bridges, old streets, and traditional houses.
Walk along the ancient lanes, cross the famous Fangsheng Bridge, visit historic sites such as Kezhi Garden and the Qing Dynasty Post Office, and experience the slower rhythm of Jiangnan life.
Unlike the modern skyline of central Shanghai, Zhujiajiao reveals another side of the region — a world shaped by waterways, traditional architecture, and local communities.
A Different Side of Shanghai
This route is ideal for travelers who want to experience more than Shanghai’s skyscrapers and famous landmarks.
From a peaceful Buddhist temple to a centuries-old water town, discover the traditions, beliefs, and everyday life that continue to shape Shanghai today.

Yu Garden & Old Town — Explore the Heart of Traditional Shanghai
Begin your walk in Shanghai’s old city, where narrow lanes, traditional buildings, and local streets reveal the roots of Shanghai life.
Explore the area around Yu Garden and the Old Town, once the center of commerce and daily life for local residents. Beyond the famous garden, the surrounding streets offer a glimpse into traditional neighborhoods, local markets, and the rhythm of everyday Shanghai.
Your local host will share stories about how people lived, traded, and built communities in old Shanghai.
Wukang Road City Walk — Discover Shanghai’s Historic Neighborhoods
Continue to Wukang Road, one of Shanghai’s most charming streets in the former French Concession.
Walk beneath the plane trees and discover historic villas, old residential buildings, and stories behind the people who once lived here.
Unlike a traditional sightseeing route, this city walk focuses on the details that make Shanghai unique — architecture, neighborhoods, and the connection between the past and present.
The Bund — End with Shanghai’s Most Iconic View
Finish your walk at the Bund, where Shanghai’s history and modern identity come together.
Admire the historic waterfront buildings and the skyline across the Huangpu River. Your local host will explain the stories behind the architecture and how Shanghai became an international city.

Every traveler experiences Shanghai differently. Some visitors are interested in history and architecture, while others prefer local food, hidden neighborhoods, shopping, photography, or family-friendly activities.
With a private local host, your itinerary can be adjusted based on your interests, travel pace, and preferred style of exploring.
You may combine famous landmarks with local experiences, such as:
– Historic buildings and Shanghai stories
– Local neighborhoods and hidden streets
– Food experiences and markets
– Family-friendly attractions
– Photography spots
– Traditional culture and water towns
Tell us what you would like to experience, and SHOST will help create a personalized Shanghai itinerary.