Want a water town trip from Shanghai? These towns are a nice choice. Here we introduce the best five ancient water towns near Shanghai to help you find one you'd like.
How to choose a water town:
There are over ten water towns around Shanghai, with similar scenery and experiences, so it's recommended to visit one enough.
Here are the top 5 water towns we've selected from many:
Nanxun: Highly recommended. Beautiful scenery, less commercialized, with distinctive architecture perfect for photography.
Wuzhen: Secondary choices. More commercialized and popular, attracting more tourists; and rich activities ideal for families.
Tongli: Small, delicate, and quiet and It doesn't take much walking.
Zhujiajiao: Ideal for a short trip, with convenient day trips from Shanghai.
Jinze: A Perfect choice if you seek an uncommercial vibe.
When to visit: Spring, summer, and autumn are all good to see the water town's scenery. But it is suggested to avoid peak times (May 1-5, Oct. 1-7, July-August) if you want a quieter travel experience.
1. Nanxun Ancient Town
Nanxun Ancient Town- Location: 1½ hours from Hangzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 1 or 2 days
- Suitable for: travelers looking for a really classic water town (less commercialized); photographers
- Crowdedness: fewer tourists than in Wuzhen
It is the most recommended water town. Instead of large tourist crowds, you'll see locals washing clothes, sipping tea, or playing cards by the water.
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.
You would also have the opportunity to see a wedding performance on the water.
The town's pathways are relatively wheelchair-friendly, but accessing some attractions can be challenging due to steps.
You could allocate one day for Nanxun to cover its main attractions. It's closer to Hangzhou, making it convenient to include in a Shanghai-Hangzhou itinerary, which typically takes around 4-5 days.
The night scenery in Nanxun is beautiful, especially with lanterns lighting up the riverside streets. You could also enjoy a nighttime boat ride. If your schedule allows, consider staying overnight.
See our 4-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanxun Water Town Culture Tour
2. Wuzhen Water Town
Wuzhen- Location: 1 hour from Hangzhou, 2 hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 2 days
- Suitable for: families enjoying a lively vibe; wheelchair visitors
- Crowdedness: most crowded
Wuzhen is a well-developed ancient town. Although it is quite commercialized, it offers a rich variety of activities, different types of shops, and well-established facilities, making it ideal for family trips.
For elderly visitors who cannot walk too much, it's recommended to use the electric carts available in the town. Xizha would be relatively wheelchair-friendly, although there are still some flagstone roads. Pushing a wheelchair could be a little challenging.
The main attractions in Wuzhen include Xizha, Dongzha, and Wucun:
- Xizha (West Area): You would find most of the popular check-in spots there and a variety of activities. If time is limited, it's advisable to focus on Xizha.
- Dongzha (East Area): It preserves the lifestyle of the original residents and is less commercialized. You could see some traditional workshops and former residences of famous people.
- Wucun Village: It is perfect for families with children. You could experience farming activities, play with animals, swim, etc.
The night scenery in Wuzhen is a highlight, so we recommend staying overnight there. Before 6 a.m., there are few people. It is ideal for photography.
See our recommended tour: 8-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou Family Tour
3. Tongli Water Town
Tongli Water Town- Location: close to Suzhou, 1½ hours from Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 2 hours
- Suitable for: travelers who want something to go with the classical gardens in Suzhou
- Crowdedness: fewer tourists than in Wuzhen and Nanxun
Tongli Water Town is small and delicate. It is easy to explore on foot without much exertion. You could take a 20-minute boat ride for sightseeing. It's especially suitable for senior visitors who cannot walk too much. Additionally, there aren't many tourists, so it's relatively quiet.
It is about a 30-minute drive from Suzhou. It is best combined with a Suzhou tour. Almost every residence in Tongli is built by a canal.
- Recommended Tour: 4-Day Shanghai, Suzhou, and Tongli Tour
4. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Our guests in Zhujiajiao- Location: in Qingpu District, 1 hour from central Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 2-3 hours
- Suitable for: travelers who have limited time
- Crowdedness: fewer tourists than Wuzhen, Nanxun, and Tongli
Zhujiajiao Water Town is a nice destination to contrast with high-rise modern Shanghai, only an hour from downtown Shanghai. It's well endowed with waterways, 36 ancient bridges, and traditional Chinese-style residences.
It is recommended for a morning visit. Because you would enjoy a less crowded town. Kezhiyuan, a private garden, is a highlight, You could see what the gardens of a mansion from the Republic of China era look like.
Check out the 2-Day Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour.
5. Jinze Ancient Town
Jinze Ancient Town- Location: in Qingpu District, 1 hour from central Shanghai
- Recommended stay: 1 hour
- Suitable for: visitors seeking for not touristy water towns
- Crowdedness: generally not crowded (even during holidays)
It is a lesser-known water town near Shanghai. If you prefer an undisturbed town away from the bustling tourist spots, consider visiting Jinze Ancient Town.
It has almost no tourists. You could enjoy a 20-minute hand-rowed boat ride and even try rowing yourself. The owner would eagerly teach you how to row it.
Jinze is close to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, just a 35-minute drive away. You could visit both in one trip.