Want a day trip from Shanghai? These ancient water towns are a nice choice. Here we introduce the best ten ancient water towns near Shanghai to help you find one you'd like.
Top 10 Ancient Towns Near Shanghai Summary Table
| Ancient Town | Distance | Features | Crowds | Recommended Stay | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanxun | Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1½h Hangzhou 1½h |
Traditional Chinese and Western architecture, full of cultural experiences | Least commercial Quiet |
2 days | 5 |
| Tongli | Shanghai 1½h Suzhou ½h |
Small water town with typical traditional architecture and bridges, local people still living there | Less commercial Quiet |
1 day | 5 |
| Xitang | Shanghai 1½h Suzhou 1h |
Most bridges and lanes; covered waterside walks | Less commercial Quiet |
1 day | 4 |
| Wuzhen | Shanghai 2h Hangzhou 1h |
A restored old town with very good hotels | Commercial Crowded |
2 days | 4 |
| Zhujiajiao | Shanghai 1h | Near to Shanghai, suitable for a half day tour | Very commercial Over-crowded |
3 hours | 3 |
| Qibao | Shanghai ½h | Very small, ancient buildings, no canals | Over-crowded | 3 hours | 3 |
| Luzhi | Shanghai 1½h | Less commercialized, singing boat women | Less commercial Very quiet |
1 day | 3 |
| Zhouzhuang | Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h |
Most popular, water is not clear in the summer time | Very commercial Over-crowded |
1 day | 2 |
| Fengjing | Shanghai 1h | a thriving working town close to Shanghai, quieter than Zhujiajiao | Less commercial |
3 hours | 2 |
| Jinxi | Shanghai 2h Suzhou 1h |
a small town with many museums | Less sophisticated, and quieter | 3 hours | 2 |
The Locations of the 10 Ancient Water Towns
1. Nanxun Ancient Town - a highly recommended water town
Nanxun Water Town- Location: 1½ hours from Hangzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 2 days
- Activities: seeing ancient buildings, boating, walking, photography
- Suitable for: travelers looking for a really classic water town, photographers
- Features: a quiet and rustic town, rich cultural heritage
Nanxun Ancient Town does not enjoy the same level of fame compared to other water towns near Shanghai, like Zhouzhuang and Tongli. It is thanks to this, that Nanxun is the most original and picturesque town, filled with tranquil ambiance.
Nanxun is a mix of canals, bridges, ancient buildings, and narrow lanes. Different from other water towns, the buildings here are a great combination of traditional Chinese and Western architecture.
Walking along the canals of the old town, you will feel like you are walking into the past of China. You will not see enormous crowds of tourists, but, instead, local people washing clothes, sipping tea, or playing cards beside the water.
Take our private Nanxun tour and immerse yourself in Nanxun Water Town, and you'll have the opportunity to see the traditional procedure for making Chinese writing brushes, and to enjoy a wedding performance on the water.
2. Tongli Water Town - a quiet and classic Chinese town
Tongli Water Town is quite similar to Zhouzhuang, but it is quieter- Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: at least a day
- Activities: walking, seeing ancient buildings along canals, and taking photos
- Suitable for: travelers who want something to go with the classical gardens in Suzhou
- Features:similar to Zhouzhuang, but quieter with less travelers
Tongli Water Town is a classic Yangtze River Delta ancient water town. About 30 minutes drive from Suzhou, it is best combined with a Suzhou tour. Almost every residence in Tongli is built by a canal.
It is a 'mini oriental Venice', with a network of 15 footpathed canals dividing the town into 7 islets. More than 40 bridges link the islets together! You can appreciate the canal scenery from all angles. The 33-hectare (82-acre) ancient town is surrounded by five lakes - a water town in the true sense of the word.
- Recommended Tour: 4-Day Shanghai, Suzhou and Tongli Tour
3. Xitang Ancient Town - a living ancient town
Xitang water town- Location: 1½ hours from Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou
- Recommended stay: at least a day
- Suitable for: (Shanghai, Suzhou, or Hangzhou) travelers who like shade covered paths and quiet; photographers
- Features: particularly beautiful night scenery; a great number of bridges, lanes, and covered corridors; a set for Mission Impossible III
Xitang Ancient Town is in the middle of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, and is well-known for its numerous bridges, lanes, and langpeng (廊棚 /lungpnng/ sheltered waterside streets) - Xitang is the only water town with this unique architecture.
Quiet with a less commercial atmosphere, it is a nice place for photographs. Attractions include Xue Family House (the Fastener Museum), the Root Carving Art Gallery, West Garden, fishing on a boat with the locals, and having a meal on a boat at night.
4. Wuzhen Water Town - enjoyable for an overnight stay
Beautiful night scenery of Wuzhen Town- Location: 1 hour from Hangzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: at least two days
- Suitable for: (Hangzhou) travelers who want to stay overnight at an ancient town
- Features: a restored ancient town, like a traditional Chinese painting, a very enjoyable place for overnight stay
Wuzhen Water Town, one of the most famous ancient water towns in China, has a history of more than 1,000 years. Embraced by the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, canals crisscross the two town areas.
Ancient residential houses, workshops and stores stand on the banks of the East Area canals, and attractions include folk performances. The West Area has been restored for antique-style accommodation, but authentic ancient elements are also easily found.
Though some complain about its commercial atmosphere, restored buildings, and the crowds; Wuzhen's charm and elegance are undeniable.
- Recommended tour: Hangzhou & Its Neighbours - 7-Day Shanghai, Huangshan, Wuzhen and Hangzhou Tour
5. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - the busiest water town
Zhujiajiao Water Town- Location: in Qingpu District, one hour from central Shanghai
- Recommended stay: half a day
- Activities: boating, walking, and photography
- Suitable for: travelers who have limited time
- Features: canals, bridges, and ancient buildings, very busy (especially at weekends) and very commercial
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a nice destination to contrast with high-rise modern Shanghai, only an hour from downtown Shanghai. It's quite large at 1.3 km2 (half a square mile), and well endowed with waterways, 36 ancient bridges, and traditional Chinese-style residences.
Dianshan Lake is a large natural lake popular for boating, only 3 km (2 miles) away. Well-developed for tourism, some of the ancient style and peace are erased by commercialization.
6. Qibao Ancient Town - closest to Shanghai, but smallest
A canal in Qibao - Location: In the suburbs of Shanghai, half an hour from central Shanghai
- Recommended stay: half a day
- Activities: seeing ancient architecture and eating local snacks
- Suitable for: travelers who only have limited time
- Features: very small, only 2 canals, rather like a bazaar, very crowded at weekends
Qibao Ancient Town is a mini ancient town containing two pedestrian streets. There are shops selling various souvenirs along the streets, and various snacks sold on Qibao Old Street. Travelers can learn about the process of brewing Qibao's famous distilled liquor in Qibao Winery.
Thousands of miniature engravings (made by a father and daughter of the Zhou family) are exhibited in Zhou Family Miniature Engravings.
7. Luzhi Ancient Town - virtually undiscovered
Luzhi Ancient Town- Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: at least a day
- Suitable for: (Suzhou) travelers who particularly dislike crowds
- Features: a peaceful water town, canal rides with singing boat women, less-commercialized
Luzhi Ancient Town is much nearer to Suzhou (only about half an hour away) than Shanghai. Surrounded by five lakes, Luzhi is an elegant water town.
There are 41 quaint ancient bridges, built in the Song (960–1279), Yuan (1271–1368), Ming, and Qing dynasties. So Luzhi Ancient Town is known as the "Museum of Chinese bridges".
There are many ancient residences built in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, not reconstructed as in some other ancient towns. It's quite big at 1 km2 (0.4 square miles) or about the size of 100 city blocks.
The old maidenhair trees, with a history of more than one thousand years are another highlight in this ancient town.
8. Zhouzhuang Water Town - most popular and commercial
Zhouzhuang Water Town- Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: at least a day
- Activities: walking, seeing ancient architecture, taking photos, taking a ferry boat
- Suitable for: travelers who want something to go with the classical gardens in Suzhou
- Features: the most popular water town in China, and also the most developed and commercialized; very busy at weekends
The most famous ancient water town in China, it has a profound cultural background and well-preserved ancient residences, and is also famous for its folk art and crafts.
Though many people say the water town is very commercialized, the elegant water views are undisputed. 1,000 households live in old dwellings built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911) and the Republic of China era (1911 – 1949).
Taking a ferry boat around the town is the classic way to take it all in. Photographers prefer the peaceful early mornings, and so stay at least one night.
9. Fengjing Ancient Town - an authentic old town near Shanghai
Fengjing Ancient Town- Location: 60 km (1 hour) southeast of Shanghai
- Recommended stay: half a day
- Suitable for: travelers who have limited time
- Features: close to Shanghai, quieter than Zhujiajiao
With a history of more than 1,500 years, Fengjing Ancient Town is a well-preserved water town with many old bridges, ancient architecture, and rambling streets throughout this old town.
It is still a thriving working town, not just a preserved area for tourists. Some historic houses and sites require a ticket, but walking around is totally free. You can walk or take the boat around the old town in a few hours. A colorful range of dozens of small shops along stone pathways offer a very interesting look into the local market place.
Besides, this ancient town is known for its "peasant art" as Chinese peasant farmers and artists paint pictures and sell them there. The famous cartoonist Ding Cong's Exhibition Hall is worthy of a visit.
10. Jinxi Water Town - very small but nice and quite
- Location: Kunshan Prefecture, 50 km from Suzhou, 100 km from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: half a day
- Suitable for: travelers who want to get away from the usual touristy spots
- Features: a small town with many museums, less sophisticated, and quieter
Jinxi Water TownJinxi Ancient Town is a small town (only one square kilometer in area). Compared with other "ancient towns" in China, Jinxi Ancient Town is genuinely ancient, simpler, and quieter.
Known as the "Hometown of Chinese Folk Museums", it has many museums, such as the first museum of antique tiles and bricks in China, the 'Red Porcelain Products Museum'and the 'Root Carving Museum of China'.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, the town is blessed with many cultural relics, historic sites and countless buildings with unique characteristics. Famous attractions include the Tongshen Royal Court, Lotus Buddhist Temple, and Shuitian Bridge.
Recommended tour:1-day Zhouzhuang and Jinxi Water Town Tour, a group tour from USD 125 P/P.
Traveling with China Highlights
The most beautiful seasons at these towns are spring and autumn, and the morning and the nightfall are the most charming times of the day. This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary and extend or shorten it to suit your schedule.
- 2-Day Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour
- See more ideas of Shanghai tours
- Contact us to tell your requirements and ideas