Shanghai Private Tour: French Concession or Shikumen Buildings

Choose between two walking tour options: French Concession or Shikumen buildings. Both tours can start either at 9:00 am or 2:00 pm

Option 1: French Concession

Meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel in Shanghai city centre and go by taxi to the French Concession area that dates from 1849 to 1943. Start your tour by visiting the Xuhui Old House Art Center, the best spot to get an overall impression of the old houses in this area. Then continue to visit Wukang Road which was originally built in 1907 and represents the traditionall garden style residential complex in the French Concession. Wukang Road is famous for its elegant and quiet environment and your guide will explain all details regarding the different former residences and buildings. After this 3 hours tour you can stay in the area to enjoy the different boutiques, coffeeshops and restaurants or you may find your own way back to your hotel.

Option 2: Shikumen Buildings

Meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel in Shanghai city centre and go by taxi to see the Shikumen, traditional Shanghainese buildings combining Western and Chinese elements. They appeared first in the 1860s, and at the height of their popularity, there were 9000 shikumen-style buildings in Shanghai. First you will visit the Zhang Yuan Shikumen Houses, widely regarded as Shanghai's largest, best preserved, and most diverse shikumen compound. Then you will see the the Jingan Villa, and example of how after the 1930s, Shikumen-style buildings owners divided the original layouts to rent out some of the rooms and became mansions housing more than one family. After that you will take the subway with your guide to visit the Shikumen Museum in Xintiandi area. After this 3 hours tour, you can stay in the Tianzifang area, a unique alley for shopping and leisure very popular in Shanghai or you may find your own way back to your hotel.