Review: Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour With a German Guide
So, I took a day trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town, just outside Shanghai, and you know what, it’s almost something I think everyone visiting Shanghai should do. Very touristy maybe, that’s for certain, still I found that there’s a reason this old town gets so many visitors. A lot of companies offer tours there, it’s almost a thing. Anyway, the one I picked was a ‘Private Tourzhujiajiao Water Town By German Speaking Guide’, it’s a bit of a mouthful, but just so you know, it delivered on what it said. That said, I will go over it all so that anyone thinking about this kind of day out knows just what they’re in for.
Setting off to Zhujiajiao
Alright, so the trip starts just right there in Shanghai. I mean they came and picked me up from my hotel, which in my view is always nice, as a matter of fact it saves time and brain power, like your usual group tours which make you find them. As I was saying, it’s about an hour’s drive outside the city, just far enough, is that you kind of leave the mega-city behind and get a glimpse of a very, very different side of China. Typically, Zhujiajiao is one of those classic ancient water towns, you know, just crisscrossed with canals, little stone bridges, and old buildings right on the water. It’s almost picture-postcard material everywhere. That is why the Chinese government recognises the area to be in a position where the preservation efforts are stepped up just that little bit.
The German Speaking Guide
Now, the part that I was kind of curious about was the German-speaking guide bit, like your usual package tours that go through language barrier and communication errors. I had this guide named Stefan and alright, he was great. He spoke perfect German, like he was a local. As a matter of fact, it gave me a chance to actually ask a lot more questions, especially, you know, when the answers are long ones about the backstory of Zhujiajiao and Chinese culture. That is how this tour really, actually shined in this instance.
Exploring the Ancient Town
Anyway, so, Stefan walked me right through all the old streets, is that it allowed him to give me what things are all about and tell me some nice, quite exciting tales and local legends. We, typically wandered down North Street, it’s almost like the main drag there, is that it had just that perfect vibe. As a matter of fact, with those old shops selling all kinds of local treats, crafts, and touristy bits. You may want to try some local snacks too. By the way, I sampled some of those rice dumplings and weirdly, this bean curd thing; actually, I liked them all, a bit!
Highlights and Hidden Gems
By the way, one cool part, it tends to be when Stefan actually took me away, you know, from the real, really touristy spots. Like, he showed me some back alleys and quiet courtyards you often, clearly would just walk right past. Actually, he pointed out little things too, like your architectural features, and well, just told stories about the people that had lived in this area. Anyway, we went to see the old Qing Dynasty Post Office; by the way that really, seriously took you back in time. So too the Yuanjin Bridge which is actually the oldest and largest bridge in the area. I will admit to actually taking a load of pictures.
A Boat Ride Through the Canals
In fact, what is it almost that trip to a water town could go by without you having a little boat ride? That, naturally, was actually a very relaxing experience too. Arguably it meant to just gently glide along those canals, so, and just to get a different kind of angle of everything. I did this so, by the way, near the end of the day and the light was almost dreamy. Definitely, it was very peaceful and the kind of thing that means you grab that memory.
Things to consider.
- Language Barrier: That’s because it could become so apparent if the guide is not well-versed in the agreed language. If you don’t have at least a moderately trained guide it will fail, clearly.
- Crowd Avoidance: As I was saying, visiting in the off-season or early in the morning would really tend to make the town have far less people to get through and so on.
- Wear comfy shoes: That is because there is rather a lot of walking on uneven, historical and classic cobblestone paths. You should make comfort that main concern!
Overall Thoughts
Basically, if you’re very into old cultures, so, history, is that something I do recommend, actually, that is, anyway. All that’s left to do now, really, is just decide whether it’s just that right thing for you or not.
FAQ About the Tour
Is the Zhujiajiao Water Town tour suitable for children?
At the end of the day, like I would say, generally the area is almost accessible to children, actually still the crowded areas may make it something rather difficult if one goes to fully access what the area has in its entirety.
How can I book a Private Tour of Zhujiajiao Water Town with a German Speaking Guide?
Honest, this is something you might be inclined to check on websites, at the end of the day that specialize, definitely, in that service and local tourism, to be fair.
What other activities can one get involved with there?
I do think people could visit some local little eateries, still explore a little museum or classic exhibitions and visit ancient religious architecture and buildings.
When should I go there?
I would typically lean towards springtime and the autumn, is that they are widely considered to have more friendly temperatures for this kind of thing. Either way, just be prepared and bring water!
Can those with accessibility concerns move without problem?
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For example, mobility could very well be impacted by this particular locale. However, some other aspects may be fine, just not the location itself, seriously speaking.