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Free Walking Tour Shanghai

Experience, explore, embrace Shanghai with the best local storytellers from FREE TOURS CHINA!

Free Shanghai Walking Tour

Founded in 2017 by a group of passionate travelers in Shanghai, Free Tours China proudly became the first and only free tour company in mainland China. Our mission is simple yet meaningful: to connect China - a country deeply intertwined with the global economy but often misunderstood culturally, linguistically, and historically - with visitors worldwide.

As local storytellers, we go beyond standard sightseeing and dry Wikipedia facts. Our tours immerse you in the authentic Chinese experience: the way we live, grow and adapt to the rapid changes around us, and the unique moments that truly make China, China.

With a population of 25 million, Shanghai is a vibrant metropolis overflowing with stories and sights. To help you capture its essence, we’ve curated two exceptional free walking tours:

Shanghai City Free Walking Tour: Explore all the must-see landmarks in downtown Shanghai, from iconic buildings and popular photo spots to a bustling local food street where you can sample authentic local food. This tour spans three historic areas, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the city’s rich cultural and historical legacy. More Info & Book Online:

Shanghai City Free Walking Tour

French Concession Free Walking Tour: Stroll through Shanghai’s most charming and beloved neighborhood. This tour takes you to stylish local hotspots and hidden gems while offering insights into the daily lives of local residents and the urban challenges they face.
More Info & Book Online:

French Concession Free Walking Tour

Over the past seven years, we’ve welcomed more than 28,000 curious travelers from around the globe. During our tours, we always ask visitors a question: What’s your first impression of Shanghai?

The answers vary: “clean,” “safe,” “green,” “incredible skyscrapers,” “fantastic metro system,” “amazing food,” “friendly locals who speak zero English...”But the response we hear most often is: “The China we see is so different from what we expected!”

That answer fills us with pride and fuels our passion for sharing the stories of our home city. We can’t wait to welcome you on this journey, so you can discover your own answers and fall in love with Shanghai as much as we have!

Pictures from our walks

Local Food Street
Local Food Street

Local Food Street with Shanghai Free Walking Tour

Local Food Street with Shanghai Free Walking Tour

Shanghai Skyline group photo
Shanghai Skyline group photo

Shanghai Skyline group photo

Shanghai Skyline group photo

Yuyuan Garden Talk
Yuyuan Garden Talk

Garden Walk Shanghai

Garden Walk Shanghai

Winter Group Photo
Winter Group Photo

Group photo Shanghai

Group photo Shanghai

Tianzifang Walk
Tianzifang Walk

Group in cozy neighborhood Shanghai

Group in cozy neighborhood Shanghai

People\'s Park Talk with tour guide
People\'s Park Talk with tour guide

People\'s Park Talk with tour guide

People\'s Park Talk with tour guide

Contact Guide
+8613621640860
+8613621640860

What visitors think about Free Shanghai Walking Tour?

Andy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Dinna’s walking tours around central Shanghai and the French Concession were both fantastic. She is so knowledgeable about the city and enthusiastic to tell you all she knows about Shanghai and life in China. She has great energy and has organized this walking tour in a great manner, made sure that everyone was comfortable. These are probably the best walking tours we have experienced across the world. Highly recommend joining Dinna or one of her colleagues in these Shanghai free walking tours!
Olga
Rating: 5 out of 5
I recently joined a free walking tour in Shanghai, and I can confidently give it a 5 out of 5 rating. Despite being the longest tour I've experienced, the time flew by as I immersed myself in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. The balance between exploration and information was perfect. Overall, this tour provided a fantastic way to connect with Shanghai and discover its rich culture. I left feeling inspired and eager to explore more. If you’re in Shanghai, this tour is a must-do!
Angel
Rating: 5 out of 5
So… how to put it! If you go to Shanghai, this is definitely a must. Aubrey is an amazing tour guide that makes you feel the history and the evolution of the city while you wander around the different places of it. As she is very dynamic, the 3-4 hours invested in each tour move super quickly and you get to learn a lot from Shanghai. I did both tours and I fully recommend doing both, in no particular order. If you want to dig a bit more on her tours before doing them, I would go to the official site (freetourschina) and get that slight piece of info that can be a good intro to the tours.
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Frequently asked questions about the tour

What do we visit on the Shanghai City Free Walking Tour?

On this tour, we’ll cover 87.3% (•̀ᴗ• ) of the must-see attractions in Shanghai! Highlights include: ·Shanghai People’s Square (featuring the Grand Theatre, City Hall, Shanghai Race Club, and more) ·People’s Park (with the fascinating Shanghai Marriage Market on weekends) ·The Former Red-Light District (don’t worry, it’s just “former”! 😉) ·Nanjing Dong Road Shopping Street (the busiest shopping area in downtown) ·Local Food Street (perfect for delicious and affordable snacks) ·The Bund (capture your iconic Shanghai photo memory!) ·Yuyuan Garden Bazaar (the historic "Chinatown" of China) And much more!

What is the French Concession? Is it worth visiting?

The Former French Concession, as noted in Wikipedia, was a foreign concession in Shanghai from 1849 to 1943. For much of the 20th century, it served as the city’s premier residential and commercial district. Despite modern redevelopment, the area has retained its unique charm, blending European elegance with local Chinese flair. One of the highlights of the French Concession is its century-old alleyway houses, where local residents live amidst the challenges of urbanization, preserving the spirit of old Shanghai. On our tour, we’ll also explore these neighborhoods to delve into the authentic daily life of the locals. So yes, it’s absolutely worth visiting - our visitors consistently call it an unforgettable hidden gem in Shanghai!

Can I just show up without pre-booking?

We maintain a regular tour schedule (details on our website), but we kindly ask all visitors to pre-book online in advance. This allows us to notify you of any changes and allocate guides accordingly. Pre-booking is quick, easy, and completely free - it only takes 3 minutes!

What if I can’t meet the group on time? Can I join later?

We understand navigating such a massive city can be tricky (especially with Google Maps not working in China). Don’t worry! Our tours usually start with a 15-20 minute opening speech at the meeting point. If you’re up to 20 minutes late, you can still catch up there. However, if you’re more than 30 minutes late, it may be difficult to join (and WhatsApp location sharing isn’t accurate in China either). So we recommend arriving 5-10 minutes early to ensure a smooth start.

Is 4 hours too long for a walking tour? Will I manage?

We get it - 4 hours might sound like a lot, but trust us, the time will fly by in a blink! Shanghai’s downtown is huge, so some walking is required, but with years of experience curating tours, we ensure all our tours are well-paced, with plenty of breaks for engaging stories, snacks, food, and restroom stops. We’ve had visitors of all ages - from 3 months old to 78 years young - complete the tour with ease. So relax, stay calm, and enjoy the experience!

How much should I tip the guide?

Our tours follow the global "free tour" concept: you’re free to join, and the guides work entirely for tips. We recommend tipping 20~30 euros per person to reflect the length and quality of the experience (our tours are twice as long and far more comprehensive than most free tours). Compared to other overpriced paid tours in Shanghai, we’re confident that joining us will be one of the best decisions of your trip!

Do you offer tours in other languages besides English?

All our public free walking tours are in English, but we also offer private tours in Mandarin and Spanish! 我们可以提供中文私人定制团。Podemos hacer tours privados en español. Feel free to contact us for more details!

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