Life at the Water Villages on 1 Day Tour of Rural China from Shanghai

Zhujiajiao water village

Highlights

Visit Zhujiajiao, Zhouzhuang, Tongli water villages

Explore Chinese Buddhist Temple

Drive along the Dianshan Lake

See the music instruments Guqin and Guzheng

Have tea and dumplings with locals

Interact with the farmers

Shanghai

rural, educational, cultural

Group Tour

Medium

Mandarin

Description

Take this tour to visit the Zhujiajiao, Zhouzhuang, and Tongli water villages: ancient villages that have been untouched by commerce even today. Explore an 800-year-old Chinese Buddhist temple, drive along the Dianshan Lake, interact with farmers, and have tea with the locals. This journey takes you away from the beaten path as you explore the less-explored rural China and delve into the rustic beauty of the Chinese countryside.

Itinerary

Tour of Rural China

This tour begins at 08:30 AM and runs till 6:00 PM
- Visit an old water village Zhouzhuang, which is over 1000 years old, 66 km away from bustling Shanghai. There is an 800-year-old authentic Chinese Buddhist temple here that you could visit.
- Visit a local farmer and get some fresh vegetables from their farmland (you wouldn't have to pay the farmers as they are glad to make friends from across the world; I give them a gift every year for their niceness).
- Drive about 30 minutes along the pretty Dianshan Lake to Zhujiaojiao ancient town to have lunch. Zhujiajiao is one of the 8 famous 1000-year-old water villages (other 7 are Zhouzhuang, Xitang, Tongli, Wuzheng, Luzi, Nanxun, Mudu). Many interesting stores like ancient furniture, bamboo store, porcelain, fish spa, and all kind of shops make walking here a joyful experience.
- Have lunch in a traditional tea house, where the lunch is cooked by the tea house owner and your tour guide. In the tea house, we'll show you the ancient music instruments Guqin and Guzheng. Also, learn how to make dumplings from the tea house owner. After a calming repast, return to Shanghai.