Overview
Relaxed private day from Shanghai to Yixing, China's pottery capital. Browse the purple-clay old street and a revived ceramic factory arts district, with English guide, car and lunch.
Itinerary
Shanghai: Yixing Pottery & Old Ceramic Factory Day Trip
Dive into China's living pottery heritage on this easy private day trip from Shanghai to Yixing, famed for centuries as the country's 'Pottery Capital'. Your English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned car collect you from your hotel for a comfortable journey to this creative, craft-rich town.
Begin on Shushan Ancient South Street, the historic heart of Yixing's ceramics trade. Browse the purple-clay (Zisha) old street, where workshops and shops display the prized teapots and ceramic art that have made Yixing legendary. Your guide explains the time-honored craft and helps you choose an authentic piece to take home.
Next, explore the Tao-Er Factory creative district, a former ceramics plant reborn as a stylish arts and culture hub. Here, weathered industrial buildings meet contemporary design, with galleries, studios, boutiques and cafes. Enjoy a relaxed chill walk, sip a coffee and admire the playful contrast of old and new.
A design highlight is a building by celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose work elegantly blends modern lines with the area's craft traditions, a treat for architecture and photography lovers.
Savor a relaxed local lunch featuring Yixing specialties, then continue browsing the lanes at your own pace. The entire day is leisurely, with light flat walking and no hiking. Fully private and pet friendly, this tour is perfect for travelers who love handicrafts, design and authentic small-town China. Afterward, your driver returns you comfortably to Shanghai.
Relaxed private day from Shanghai to Yixing, China's pottery capital. Browse the purple-clay old street and a revived ceramic factory arts district, with English guide, car and lunch.
What's Included
✓ Included
✕ Not included
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
The part around Yixing Pottery & Old Ceramic Factory Day was unhurried, which mattered more to me than squeezing in one more stop. Shanghai was a good counterpoint.
What helped was simple: there was no theatrical “VIP” treatment, just useful organisation and a guide who noticed when we needed a pause. That suited us. I would rather keep the pause at Yixing Pottery & Old Ceramic Factory Day than add another stop.
Looking back, the schedule is fairly full. I would have liked another twenty minutes at Yixing Pottery & Old Ceramic Factory Day, but I would not drop any of the main stops.
Looking back, I had a long list of things I thought I needed to see. After Shanghai, I was happier slowing down and noticing fewer things properly. The time around Yixing Pottery & Old Ceramic Factory Day was not the part I would cut.
In short, a full 12 hours, in the good sense. Wear comfortable shoes and leave the evening loose.