Private tour in Shanghai SCARLETT M

Let's ride scooters through UNESCO ancient Hongcun villages and real countryside.

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Hours icon 10 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 10 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

SCARLETT M.

5.0

Guide rating

5

Reviews

Tours delivered

9 hrs

Avg. response time

Want to explore Shanghai like a friend, not a tourist? Visit highlights that suit you. Taste various food throughout the day. Enjoy real moments instead of a cliché A-to-B tour. An experienced, licenced guide and fun traveller with a Master's in Psychotherapy from Sydney is what you need. I'm new to this platform, but "old" as a private guide. Since 2016, I've received hundreds of heartfelt reviews across multiple platforms. I design your day the way I'd want my own holiday: authentic, flexible, stress-free, transparent, no regrets. My journey as a "guide" started 14 years ago, when I first showed foreign friends around China for months. Since then, discovering my own country and sharing its culture has become a huge part of who I am. I've pushed a wheelchair for days and still remember her smile with freedom. I've climbed three mountains in a week with a nature lover who wanted to watch every sunrise from the top. I've taken the CEO of a Fortune 500 company to a tiny family-owned restaurant he enjoyed it more than fancy dinner he'd eaten. I've been a big "sister" to little young guests at a ceramics shop, getting dirty together. At university, I was the only one among over 200 students who chose to study Tourism Management (yeah, it surprised me too!). After graduation, I worked at a travel agency for a year — factory-line tours, commission shops, the usual. It taught me exactly what I didn't want to become. So I left and built my own way of guiding, showing clients China through my own eyes. Before COVID, over 70% of my clients came from referrals, even though I never actively marketed myself — and yes, all heartfelt five-star reviews. During COVID, I also did procurement work for former guests' businesses, and enjoyed it. If your needs are business-related, I'm happy to help there too. At the same time, I took a leap and studied a Master of Psychotherapy in Sydney. Over three years, I dove into psychology and the spiritual world as a beginner, lived with a retired Australian couple, experienced multicultural environments, and worked as a children's therapist at a primary school. That experience taught me to be calmer, more present, and more attentive — so when I'm with guests, I'm listening, not running a script. Afterward, I came back to China to do what I'm truly passionate about: being a full-time private guide. What I learned became a way of being — helping guests feel at ease, adjusting the experience to their interests and personality, and sharing stories as friends, not as a distrust business relationship. In my personal life, I'm endlessly curious — about food and craftsmanship, architecture and design, antiques and fashion, old films and philosophy. A little bit about everything, you could say. :) Want to see what that looks like? Check out the photos for real moments with past guests. Feel free to reach out anytime about anything related to Shanghai or China. I'm happy to share :). Warm regards, Scarlett Education: Bachelor of Tourism Management, Anqing, China (2012–2015) Master of Psychotherapy, Sydney, Australia (2022–2025) Certifications: China National Tour Guide License Working With Children Check Driving License Trained Person-Centred Therapist (Sydney) First Aid Certificate Creative Play Therapy with Children

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message SCARLETT M.

Overview of your Shanghai tour

Most first-time travelers to China don't know about Yellow Mountain and Hongcun — just 2.5 hours from Shanghai. I like showing guests different sides of China, so they make the most of their time here. Yellow Mountain is famous, but many skip Hongcun — and I love it even more. It's more than an ancient village: walk through traditional architecture, taste local food in a historic building, sip tea in a real family home, and scooter around nearby lakes and countryside. Fun, free, and different. Many travelers go to Yangshuo for this kind of experience — but you can find it in Hongcun, in one day from Shanghai. Ideally, stay one night to also climb the mountain. This trip takes flexibility and local know-how — an experienced guide helps you get the most from your day. I'm Scarlett — hundreds of heartfelt reviews since 2016, and a Master's in Psychotherapy from Sydney. Good guiding means sharing knowledge and passion while keeping things smooth and fun.

Your Shanghai tour itinerary

Have your passport ready to book train tickets in advance Pick you up at your hotel Taxi to Hongqiao Train Station 2.5 hours on the train, comfortably DIDI (China's version of Uber), 40 minutes to the foot of Hongcun Visit the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon film village — this village has almost 1,000 years of history, and it remains largely as it used to be. It was also designed by a woman. Have lunch in a historical building overlooking the village Take a scooter to explore other non-touristy villages, fields, and lakes Drive back to the train station Take the train back to Shanghai

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Public Transportation / Category: Train

Bullet train, taxi, scooter

What's included
Private Guide
What's not included
Tickets
Private Transportation
Private Transportation With Driver
Public Transportation
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Shanghai, China

I will be waiting at the agreed-upon meeting point in Shanghai, holding a sign with your name on it.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Architecture
Nature Wildlife And Safaris
Food And Drink
Off The Beaten Path
Tour reference number
1822461
Languages
English
Mandarin
Activity level
Moderate

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Shanghai best suited for?

This private tour is perfect for travellers who want to explore the lesser-known sides of China, such as the UNESCO Hongcun villages and the countryside, all in one day. It's ideal for those who enjoy a mix of history, culture, and adventure, and want to connect with a local guide for deeper insights.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Shanghai be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 10 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 10 hours
Public transportation
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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