Shendang: Hidden Town & Coast Private Day Trip

Slow right down in Shendang, a peaceful little Jiangnan town in Haiyan that inspired the celebrated novelist Yu Hua, on a private day trip from Shanghai. Your English-speaking guide and private car collect you from your hotel and drive you south along the coast of northern Zhejiang.

Shendang is a place to wander without rush. You will explore the historic Shendang Brewery and soy-sauce works (jiangyuan), where traditional fermentation has carried on for generations, and breathe in the rich aromas of an old Chinese craft. Nearby, the Shendang Granary has been reborn as a stylish granary bookstore, a lovely spot to pause among books and timber beams.

This is a town of literature and quiet beauty. As Yu Hua, who grew up here, famously said, "As long as I am writing, I am going home." Walking these streets, you sense the everyday rhythms that shaped his fictional world, and the calm that draws visitors seeking the same sense of homecoming.

Lunch is a tasting of authentic Haiyan flavours; a classic local pairing is a plate of stir-fried pork liver with a small cup of yellow rice wine, and your guide will guide you to the best family-run spots.

In the afternoon you stroll a stretch of the Haiyan coastal walkway, where rows of wind turbines stand against the sea, an easy, breezy, photogenic landscape of windmills and water that makes a perfect gentle finale.

There is no hiking on this tour, only relaxed strolling, good food and quiet scenery. Afterwards your private car returns you comfortably to your Shanghai hotel.

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.