Free tour

SMALL GROUP - Shanghai Old Town Free Tour: Yuyuan Old Street & City God Temple

4.92

Excellent(51)

Shanghai

Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Languages: English and Spanish

Guru: Jie | Summerhaha

PRO

Verified quality

Registered on 14 October 2024

Hi travelers, welcome to Shanghai! We are Jie and Summerhaha. Your local guides to this amazing city. Jie — solo traveler, gamer, animal lover, and language enthusiast (Mandarin, English, Spanish, and French). Founder of Me Mola Free Walking Tour → memolatour.com I am also a foodie and know the local neighborhoods very well. I will definitely recommend many places for you to try the best local food and snacks and gain an authentic local experience. Can't wait to guide you! Summerhaha — born in a small Chinese town,traveled to 30 provinces and 20+ countries. Xi’an for 6 years, Beijing for 4, and never thought I’d fall in love with Shanghai—but 8 years on, I’m still hooked on this crazy, charming city. Into sports, dancing, reading, karaoke, and spicy food. Once a data analyst and marketer, I now prefer face-to-face chats. I’m a part-time barista and dog walker. Hope I can show you the real Shanghai—what locals do, eat, love, and worry about. Nothing’s off limits.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Join us on this free walking tour through historic Shanghai, where you’ll uncover the city’s rich history, culture, and heritage. Shanghai wasn’t always the bustling metropolis it is today!

At the scheduled time, we’ll meet at Exit 1 of Metro Yuyuan Garden Station to begin our journey into old Shanghai. Let the adventure begin!

✨Tour Highlights

Yuyuan Bazaar
Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop
City God Temple (entrance fee: 10 RMB / 1.4 USD, payable by Alipay or cash)
Nine Zig-Zag Bridge
Mid-Lake Tea House
Ancient City Park (tour ends here)

Good to Know
Our tours are always kept to small groups to create a friendly, conversational atmosphere where travelers can meet each other and interact with local people. For this reason, we don’t accept large group bookings of more than 6 people.

Our guides are passionate about sharing Shanghai and making your experience unforgettable. This is their full-time work, and tips are greatly appreciated. Considering the cost of living in Shanghai, the suggested tip is around 100–300 RMB per person.

Tour Details:

Our first stop takes us to the ancient town, once enclosed by protective walls. As we explore, you’ll see how daily life has transformed over the centuries and uncover hidden stories within this historic area.

Ever wondered which Chinese zodiac animal represents your birth year? You’ll learn its significance, how it shapes personality traits, and the traditions associated with it in Chinese culture.

Next, we’ll step into a century-old traditional medicine shop, where you’ll discover the role of herbs and natural remedies in Chinese healing practices—and even get a chance to taste some herbal.

We’ll then visit the City God Temple a revered site where locals gather to pray for good health and prosperity, especially during the Lunar New Year.

Our exploration of historic Shanghai continues at Yuyuan Garden, where we’ll cross the iconic Nine-turn Bridge, also called the Zig-Zag Bridge. We’ll also browse through a bustling market filled with local products.

Finally, after about 2 hours and 15 minutes, we’ll wrap up the tour at Gucheng Park, a peaceful space designed to preserve the remnants of Shanghai’s ancient city walls.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

China, Shang Hai Shi, Huang Pu Qu, 四牌楼河南南路邮政编码: 200002

We will meet you at Yuyuan Garden metro station exit 1, China, Shanghai, Huangpu, 四牌楼邮政编码: 200010 By metro, you can arrive at Yuyuan Garden metro station exit 1, line 10/line 14 If you go by taxi, ask the driver to go to Yuyuan Garden metro station exit 1, 豫园地铁(1号出口) 上海市黄浦区 Find a red umbrella! Address in Mandarin: 豫园(1号出口) 上海市黄浦区

Outside visit

Yuyuan Old Street

We will wander along Yuyuan Old Street, admire the architecture, and hear the fascinating history of Shanghai’s ancient city.

Outside visit

Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop

We will visit a traditional Chinese medicine store with over 100 years of history. Here, you'll learn about herbs and natural remedies used in Chinese culture

Entry not included

Shanghai City God Temple

It is one of the most important temples in Shanghai, where the locals pray for health and prosperity every new lunar year. The entrance ticket is 10 RMB (approximately $1.4 USD) per person.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €15 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).