Explore Shanghai with a Local Companion Custom Day Tours

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8 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English and 2 more

This is not a tour. This is Shanghai, unlocked.

We offer private, full-day companion experiences with an English-fluent local and a private car with driver (8 hours). No fixed itineraries, no buses, no tourist traps — just a friend who knows the city inside out.

How it works: Before landing, you get our Pre-Arrival Video Guide. On the day, your companion picks you up. Chase the best soup dumplings? Done. Explore hidden lane houses? We know three. Skip the museum for a rooftop at sunset?
That's the point.

Your pace, your interests, our local know-how. Tell us what you love and we build the day around it.

Why us: Private car + driver included. English-fluent companion — translator, navigator, food expert. Flexible itinerary that bends around you. Pre-arrival setup help. No forced shopping, no hidden costs.

You experience Shanghai. You don't manage it. Book now.

What's Included

WiFi on board
Public transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
Fuel surcharge
Parking Fees
Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver — 8 hours (5-seat or 7-seat depending on group size)
Your meals, snacks, and drinks during the day
Attraction admission fees (paid on site as you go, typically ¥30–200 per person)
Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

We offer complimentary pickup from any hotel or residence within Shanghai's Inner Ring Road. For locations outside this area, a small surcharge may apply — please contact us before booking. Your companion and private car will arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled start time. We'll send you the driver's contact and license plate number one night before via email or Wechat.

OR
Meeting point

If you do not need hotel pickup, we'll meet at People's Square area, easy to find, central location.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 8 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

    Step into 400-year-old Shanghai at Yu Garden — classical Ming Dynasty pavilions, rockeries, koi ponds, and the zigzag Bridge of Nine Turnings right outside. Your companion explains the symbolism behind every detail: why doors are round, why rocks look twisted, what the carved dragons mean. Then slip into the adjoining Old City Bazaar for the famous soup dumplings and a glimpse of old Shanghai before the skyscrapers. This is a classic stop — but if temples or gardens aren't your thing, we'll swap it for something that is.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 2
    The Bund

    Walk along Shanghai's iconic waterfront with your local companion. See the contrast between colonial-era buildings on one side and Pudong's futuristic skyline on the other. Your companion will share stories you won't find in guidebooks — from hidden rooftop bars to the best spot for that classic photo. Want to skip the crowds? We'll take you through a back route only locals know. This is an example stop — every itinerary is customized. Prefer a different neighborhood? Just let us know.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Former French Concession

    Stroll through the tree-lined streets of Shanghai's former French Concession with your companion. Discover hidden lane houses, tucked-away coffee shops, and historic mansions that most visitors miss. Stop for coffee or a local snack along the way — your companion handles translation and ordering. This is a sample neighborhood; your actual route is built around your interests. More into food? We'll swap in a local market. Architecture? We'll spend more time here.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Shanghai

    Your Day, Your Way. The stops above are just examples. After booking, we'll ask what you actually care about — food, photography, history, shopping, hidden gems — and build your itinerary around that. You can swap in any neighborhood, market, or experience in Shanghai. Your companion adapts the day to your pace and interests, even on the fly. Nothing is fixed.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Supplied by Shanghai Unlocked
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Tags

Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Audio Guides
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Public Transportation Tours
Car Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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