Zhujiajiao Ancient Town — Small bridges, flowing water, Grandma's zongzi, and sculling boats. I found the Jiangnan water town of my dreams in Shanghai.
Tucked away in the western suburbs of Shanghai, a bustling international metropolis, hides a thousand-year-old town hailed as the "Venice of Shanghai" — Zhujiajiao. You won't find the overwhelming crowds of the Bund here, only winding waterways, mottled stone bridges, waterside old dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the mouth-watering aromas of Grandma's zongzi and tied pork lingering in the air. Stepping into Zhujiajiao is like walking into an ink wash painting, where time naturally slows down.
🌿 About the Destination: A Millennial Water Town of 9 Streets and 36 Bridges
Located in Shanghai's Qingpu District, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is about a 1.5-hour drive from downtown. Its origins date back to the Song and Yuan dynasties, officially becoming a township during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of over a thousand years. Covering roughly 1.5 square kilometers, the town is woven together by 9 long streets, thousands of Ming and Qing buildings, and 36 ancient bridges, making it one of the best-preserved Jiangnan water towns in Shanghai.
The town is best known for its "One Bridge, One Street, One Temple, One Shrine, One Hall, One Manor, Two Gardens, Three Bays, and Twenty-six Alleys." Every corner whispers tales of the water town's prosperous past and tranquil daily life. Famous author Sanmao once lingered here, and the town inspired the iconic water town paintings by artist Chen Yifei. The charm of Zhujiajiao is something you can only truly grasp by experiencing it firsthand.
🚆 Transportation Guide: Super Convenient Subway Access from Downtown
Getting to Zhujiajiao from central Shanghai is a breeze with a direct ride on Metro Line 17:
🚇 By Metro:
· Take Shanghai Metro Line 17 and get off at "Zhujiajiao Station."
· Leave via Exit 1 and walk for about 10-15 minutes to reach the ancient town's entrance.
· Travel time: Approximately 40 minutes from Hongqiao Railway Station.
🚌 By Bus:
· Hu-Zhu High-Speed Express: Direct from People's Square, takes about 1.5 hours.
· Accessible via multiple bus lines such as the Qingjin Line and Qingshang Line.
🚗 By Car:
· About a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Shanghai. There are multiple parking lots around the ancient town.
🎫 Tickets:
· Admission to the ancient town is completely free, and you can wander in and out at your leisure.
· Combo Ticket: Around 60 RMB, granting access to ticketed attractions like Kezhi Garden, the Great Qing Post Office, and Yuanjin Buddhist Temple.
🏮 Top Must-Visit Spots
🌉 Fangsheng Bridge — The No. 1 Bridge in Shanghai
The landmark of Zhujiajiao, built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. It is the longest, largest, and highest five-arch stone bridge still standing in Shanghai, stretching 70.8 meters long and 7.4 meters high. Standing at the peak of the bridge gives you a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the white-walled, dark-tiled houses and boats gliding on the water—the absolute best vantage point for panoramic photos of Zhujiajiao.
🏡 Kezhi Garden — An Elegant and Stately Private Garden
Also known as the "Ma Family Garden," this is the largest private garden in Zhujiajiao. Built in 1912, it spans 96 mu (approx. 6.4 hectares). The name "Kezhi" means "don't forget to farm while studying," and the garden beautifully blends traditional Jiangnan garden layouts with Western architectural styles. The "Yinggui Hall," "Daoxiang Village," and "Gengdu Hall" inside are all worth a careful look.
📮 Great Qing Post Office — A Century-Old Postal Living Fossil
Established in the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1903), this is the only well-preserved Qing Dynasty post office relic in East China. You can buy a postcard here, stamp it with the retro Great Qing Post Office postmark, and mail it to a friend far away or to yourself—talk about a great sense of ritual!
⛩️ Yuanjin Buddhist Temple — A Riverside Millennial Temple
Built during the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1341), the temple is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin and is one of the most heavily frequented temples in the ancient town. Climbing up the "Qinghua Pavilion" rewards you with a panoramic view of the town. In the early morning, it's shrouded in mist, exuding a profound Zen vibe.
🎭 Hexin Garden — A Classical Jiangnan Garden
A petite and exquisite Jiangnan garden. With its pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing water, it radiates classical charm everywhere you look. It's the perfect spot to sit quietly, admire the scenery, and soak in the slow-paced life of the water town.
🏛️ Wang Chang Memorial Hall — The Legendary Life of a Qing Dynasty Scholar
The former residence of Wang Chang, a renowned Qing Dynasty scholar and top scorer in the imperial examination (Zhuangyuan). The museum showcases his manuscripts, calligraphy works, and life stories—perfect for history buffs.
🌿 City God Temple — A Thriving Center of Faith
Originally built in the Ming Dynasty, the temple honors the City God of Qingpu. It features exquisite architectural carvings and is bustling with worshipers. It's a great place to experience the faith and daily life of the locals.
🏮 North Street — The Down-to-Earth Vibe of a Ming-Qing Old Street
The busiest commercial street in the ancient town, stretching for nearly a kilometer. Lined with remarkably preserved Ming and Qing buildings, it is packed with shops selling local specialties, handicrafts, and delicious street food. Here, you can stock up on authentic Zhujiajiao souvenirs like Grandma's zongzi, tied pork, and pickled veggies.
🍽️ Must-Eat Foods in Zhujiajiao
Food Recommended Spots Highlights
Grandma's Zongzi (Apo Zong) Along North Street Wrapped and boiled fresh. The sticky rice is soft and chewy, and the meat filling is packed solid. The absolute classic Zhujiajiao snack.
Tied Pork (Zha Rou) North Street, near Fangsheng Bridge Pork belly tightly wrapped in lotus leaves and braised in soy sauce. Savory, fatty, but not greasy.
Pickled Vegetables Pickle Shops Pickled radishes, cucumbers, cowpeas, etc. The perfect balance of salty and sweet—ideal with congee.
Steamed White Fish Riverside Restaurants Wild-caught from Dianshan Lake. The meat is incredibly tender; steaming it brings out the best of its natural flavor.
Fried Radish Pastry (Youdunzi) Street Stalls A deep-fried snack filled with shredded radish. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.
Sweet Sticky Rice Lotus Root Dessert Shops Lotus roots stuffed with sticky rice and drenched in osmanthus syrup. Sweet, fragrant, and chewy.
Smoked Green Beans Specialty Shops A smoky snack that pairs perfectly with a drink.
📸 Photo Spots & Insta-worthy Guide
Photo Spot Recommended Angle Best Time
Fangsheng Bridge Looking down the riverbanks from the top of the bridge Early morning or dusk
North Street Riverside Corridor Portraits under the corridor with the river in the background Morning for soft lighting
Great Qing Post Office Entrance Posing with the vintage mailbox Anytime
Waterside Pavilion at Kezhi Garden With pavilions and towers in the background Afternoon
On a Sculling Boat Sitting at the bow with old houses on both sides as the backdrop All day
Night Illumination Reflections in the water after the town lights up After sunset
🛶 Experiences
🚣 Take a Sculling Boat Ride Through the Water Town
This is the most quintessential way to experience Zhujiajiao! The boatman rows the scull, slowly navigating through the water alleys, while the white-walled, dark-tiled houses, weeping willows, and stone bridges drift past your eyes. A dusk boat ride is highly recommended—the sunset glistening on the water is picturesque.
· Price: Approx. 150-200 RMB/boat (fits 4-6 people)
· Route: From Fangsheng Bridge to the water alleys of North Street, takes about 20-30 minutes
☕ Zone Out at a Riverside Teahouse
Find a riverside teahouse, order a pot of Longjing or Biluochun tea, pair it with some snacks, and watch the small boats drift back and forth on the waterway while soaking up the slow rhythm of the water town. We recommend the "No. 1 Jiangnan Teahouse" for its unbeatable location—it offers the absolute best view of Fangsheng Bridge.
🌙 Night Tour of the Ancient Town
As night falls, the ancient town lights up with red lanterns, and the waterways reflect the shimmering lights—a stark contrast to the daytime bustle. With fewer tourists around, you can truly feel the serenity and romance of the water town.
📍 Practical Info at a Glance
Category Information
Address Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
Transportation Exit 1, Zhujiajiao Station, Metro Line 17, then a 10-15 min walk
Hours The ancient town is open 24/7; ticketed attractions generally run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tickets Ancient town is free; combo ticket for attractions is approx. 60 RMB
Suggested Time Half-day (just wandering) to a full day (including surroundings)
Best Season Spring and Autumn for pleasant weather; Summer for lotus viewing; Winter for quietness and fewer crowds