9/08/2016
Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
9/08/2016Zhujiajiao (朱家角) is a well-preserved ancient water town located in the suburbs of Shanghai. It's known as the "Venice of Shangha...
I initially planned on visiting Zhujiajiao for half a day as part of my four days trip to Shanghai. Due to commuting delays and other errands throughout the day, I, unfortunately, only got there at around 5pm by bus. Walking from the bus stop (see bottom of post for transit info), you will first see a huge Zhujiajiao name sign in its central square. Behind it is a giant maneki-neko (fortune cat).
I was a bit surprised at first because I honestly didn't expect to see such a commercialized area. It has popular restaurant chains and shops. (The bottled water here are so much cheaper than in the city!) But my initial thought was, "Wasn't this suppose to be an ancient water town?! Where's the water? Where's the ancient part?" It turned out these commercial complexes were built back in 2012 around the Old Town. This square marks its entrance.
On the way to Old Town.
The Old Town consists of a north and south section, with Caogang River in the middle. Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥) is the bridge that connects the north and south.
Zhujiajiao is famous for having bridges built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Old Town is connected by 36 bridges of different shapes and styles throughout. The most famous one is the Fangsheng Bridge.
Zhujiajiao is famous for having bridges built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Old Town is connected by 36 bridges of different shapes and styles throughout. The most famous one is the Fangsheng Bridge.
I wondered if the Starbucks would have any Zhujiajiao specialty drinks.
This is the back view of the Baoguo Temple. It is a Buddhist temple that houses three treasures: a white jade figure of Shakyamuni, a white jade figure of the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyi), and an almost 1000-years old ginkgo biloba.
By the time I crossed the bridge, all the temples and gardens were closed for the day. Most local shops were closing for dinner. Only some restaurants were still open. As a result, I decided to just explore the north side rather than walking around the whole Old Town.
Although I didn't experience the "tourist attractions", I was satisfied with being around the locals and witnessing them going about their daily lives. It was just how I imagined a water town to be like. There were barely any tourists during the time I was there. It was a very tranquil place.
This is the entrance to Kezhi Garden, one of Zhujiajiao's well-known attraction. It opens 8:30AM-4:30PM. The Kezhi Garden is known to be the largest manorial garden. It was built in 1912 and it took 15 years to complete. The architecture inside is a combination of Chinese traditional and Western style, which is rare to find in China (at least it's what the internet said when I researched). 
This is the north gate of Zhujiajiao (and looks like the main entrance). If you are driving, you are likely to enter the Old Town from this gate. There is a parking lot on this side. 
Zhujiajiao Town Qingpu District Shanghai
★★★★
$$
A well-preserved gem that offers a local experience and gives a glimpse into Chinese history. Not to mention the local specialty foods here are delicious. It's a great half-day trip for tourists and Shanghainese locals alike. Don't make the same mistake as I did and come in the morning or afternoon to experience all this town has to offer. You can find the attractions link here and link here (chinese). I believe there are admission fees and there are tours that covers all the attractions at a discounted price.
As for getting there, I took the Huzhu Express Line (沪朱高速快线). It's an express bus that departs from Pu’an Road East Yan’an Road (普安路延安东路) and arrives at the Zhujiajiao Bus Station. The bus frequency is every 30 min; the ride is about 1 hour; and the cost is 12 RMB (you can pay by metro card). If you cab from Shanghai, it will cost around 150-200 RMB. You can find other transit methods link here.
