The 10 best Shanghai tours for the truly tour group-phobic

When we think of tour groups in China, flags, matching caps and megaphones may be the first things that spring to mind. Not exactly an inspiring image for anyone looking for a day of exploration and adventure.

But there are some exceptions to that rule -- some great exceptions.

In the last few years, a crop of tour companies has popped up offering a glimpse into particular aspects of Shanghai, from art to history and even shopping. For those not ready to sit back for a show-and-tell, these outfits help people see the city on their own by jogging through it, cycling around it or even embarking on a treasure hunt.

We find the 10 best Shanghai tours the city has to offer.

If you enjoy life in the fast lane ...

Try: Shanghai Sideways

Price: RMB 1,200 (first passenger) and RMB 750 (additional passenger) for a four-hour tour.

There are few more exciting ways to see Shanghai than from the sidecar of a 750cc Changjiang classic motorbike. The guides are both knowledgeable (particularly about the city's historic architecture) and happy to spill some little-known Shanghai secrets.

“We are passionate about the city, we truly love it and want to spread that love,” says Shanghai Sideways' Thomas Chabrières.

Highlight: The trip up to the garden atop the Shanghai Post Office is a lovely stop in the summer, but the real highlight is getting to feel like a rock star as pedestrians stop and stare at you in your cool sidecar.

Shanghai Sideways, +86 138 1761 6975, jonathan@shanghaisideways.com, www.shanghaisideways.com

If you want to check out Shanghai's best art ...

Local art expert Rebecca Catching explains what in the world you're looking at -- and then where to find the art you'll actually like.

Price: RMB 3,280 to RMB 4,000 (groups of one to four people) for a full day.

This customized tour, conducted by local curator and OV Gallery director Rebecca Catching is like having a knowledgeable friend show you the best of Shanghai's art scene, with each tour catering to the interests of the individual customer.

• More on CNNGo: How to buy Chinese art for less

According to Catching, she set up the service because it's virtually impossible for newcomers to navigate Shanghai's best arts spaces without a little helping hand.

“Figuring out which are the reputable spaces and which spaces have something worth seeing takes a lot of time, especially since you may not be familiar with the artists and their work,” she says.

Highlight: Catching often takes clients to little-known and out-of-the-way venues such as Zendai’s DCA in Yangpu and Shanghart Taopu.

Inside Shanghai: Art Consultancy and Tours, rebeccacatching@gmail.com

If you want to keep fit while you see Shanghai ...

All you need to see Shanghai from a new perspective -- sneakers.

Price: RMB 460 for 10-kilometer run for one person; RMB 260 for each additional person

Description: UnTours is somewhere between a running club and a tour. The guides have been running around Shanghai for years (literally and figuratively) and know the best routes to take to show off the city's architecture, history, markets and back alleys.

Get up close and personal with Shanghai from street level.

• More on CNNGo: 5 best Shanghai running routes

Because the tours are private, you can go at your own pace without worrying about being left behind.

Highlight: According to UnTours' Kyle Long, starting early in the morning takes runners to parks “full of exercising octogenarians, as well as the little hidden alleyways in Old Town that are sometimes no wider than two people standing shoulder to shoulder. It's a perfect way to see the contrasts of the city.”

UnTours Shanghai, +86 150 2650 1149, info@untourshanghai.com, www.untoursshanghai.com