As one of the best-preserved ancient water towns in Shanghai, Zhujiajiao retains its charm in contemporary China, attracting millions of visitors annually to take in its scenic waterways, cultural customs and historical architecture.
Boasting a history of over 1,700 years and a collection of well-preserved historical sites, this ancient water town is one of the most-visited travel destinations in Shanghai. Located in Qingpu District near the city center, it covers an area of about 47 square kilometers. It emerged as a town during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and by the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) had developed thriving textile and rice industries due to the favorable natural environment and efficient waterway network, becoming a major town south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Today, Zhujiajiao has been listed as a National 5A Tourist Attraction. Nearly 1,000 buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties line the waterfront, and 36 ancient bridges maintain their historical charm. Its main attractions include the Kezhi Garden, Hexin Garden, Fangsheng Bridge, Qing Dynasty Post Office, Yuanjin Temple, and City God Temple. There is no admission fee to this ancient town, and its proximity and convenient public transportation to downtown Shanghai make it a popular destination, attracting streams of visitors.
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is presently listed among the “top ten ancient towns and cities popular among inbound tourists.”
Gardens
The Kezhi Garden is a must-visit site in Zhujiajiao. It is a private manor-style garden that began construction in 1912 and took 15 years to complete. “Kezhi” means “Do not forget to do farming and planting after studying.” The owner, Ma Weiqi (1853–1928), was a wealthy local businessman.
The main structure of the Kezhi Garden faces east and occupies about 64,000 square meters, with a built area of approximately 2,000 square meters and over 200 rooms for various uses. The entire garden consists of three sections: residential area, rockery area, and garden area, housing an array of buildings and landscaping features such as pavilions, towers, rockeries, ponds, stone stele corridors, and ancient trees.
Among the most distinctive structures are the library, Moon-Watching Tower, Lion Hall, and Nine-Bend Bridge. This garden not only combines the iconic arts and techniques of traditional south China gardens but also blends Chinese and Western architectural elements.
Adjacent to the Kezhi Garden is the Hexin Garden, named after the Hexin Pavilion in it, which was originally built in the mid-Qing Dynasty. Constructed in 2007, the Hexin Garden covers around 3,000 square meters and features small, delicate pavilions and buildings that capture the essence of south China garden design. The Hexin Garden also functions as a history and culture museum, with all exhibits being authentic items from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Tourists buy local specialties in alleys lined with various stores in Zhujiajiao.
Bridges
Adjacent to the two gardens is another scenic spot, Fangsheng Bridge, a landmark of Zhujiajiao. Measuring 70.8 meters in length, 5.8 meters in width, and 7.4 meters in height, it is known as the longest and largest five-arch stone bridge in Shanghai and an ideal spot to enjoy the landscape of Zhujiajiao.
This ancient bridge was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) by a Buddhist monk who spent over 15 years raising funds for its construction, according to legend. To demonstrate the Buddhist philosophy of compassion, the waters within 500 meters of the bridge became a designated zone for releasing captive aquatic animals (a Buddhist practice called "fangsheng" in Chinese), which gave the bridge its name. On the first and 15th days of each month in the traditional Chinese calendar, monks and other Buddhists released animals near the bridge, while barriers were set to forbid local fishermen from catching fish in this area.
In addition to Fangsheng, Zhujiajiao has two other renowned stone bridges from the Tang Dynasty: Tai’an Bridge and Yongfeng Bridge.
Tai’an Bridge, built in 1584, is 26.2 meters long, 3.2 meters wide, and 4.6 meters high, making it the steepest single-arch stone bridge in the town. It faces the historical Yuanjin Temple, and two flagpole stones, once used for hanging lanterns to guide boats along the Caogang River, still stand at its base.
The Yongfeng Bridge, made of three granite slabs, has a humble design and yet is an important witness to Zhujiajiao's historical events. Notably, to the north of the bridge, two broken stone tablets are embedded in the wall. They were carved from the stone debris of Yongfeng, which was damaged by Japanese invaders’ bombs on November 8, 1937. The inscriptions on these tablets serve as a reminder to visitors of that tragic episode in history.
Visitors enjoy a summer dinner by the riverside in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town in July 2022.
Temples
Yuanjin Temple is a renowned Buddhist shrine originally built during the Yuan Dynasty. Only the main hall has survived to this day, while the other structures were rebuilt in modern times. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Yuanjin Temple was a popular gathering place for scholars and the literati, many of whom left behind artworks. The temple, therefore, housed a large collection of paintings and calligraphy from famous artists of the time, making it well-known for being a huge artwork collection and a variety of cultural events.
The City God Temple of Zhujiajiao is another location to experience local religious culture. Covering an area of 3,450 square meters, the temple boasts 12 attractions. The main structures are well-preserved, and its signature theater stage is best-known for its exquisite caisson ceiling formed by 160 pieces of wooden brackets (an iconic Chinese architectural technique called “dougong” in Chinese).
Post Office, North Street
The Zhujiajiao Post Office is the oldest postal institution in the town and was one of Shanghai's 13 main postal stations. It was set up during the late Qing Dynasty as a private letter agency. In 1896, with the establishment of the national postal service by the Qing court, it became an official postal agency for Zhujiajiao. In 1953, it relocated to a site near the Fangsheng Bridge. The old site is a two-story building with a European-style facade and a dock for postal transportation. Outside, there stands a replica of the Qing Dynasty bronze mailbox, still in use.
The bustling North Street has been the main street of Zhujiajiao for over 400 years. This three-meter-wide street is now lined with a number of two-story buildings built in Ming and Qing style. Their ground floors usually serve as shops, while residents live on the upper floors where people can have conversations and pass items through the windows with neighbors in the next building. The street follows a winding S shape along the riverbank. Historically it was known for numerous stores selling all kinds of products. Today, many of them have been replaced by souvenir shops, yet some century-old brands, such as Handalong, a maker of sauce pickled vegetables, and the No.1 Jiangnan Teahouse, survive.
In Hexin Garden, an exquisitely-crafted window frame complements a stretch of bamboo and a piece of rockery as well as several traditional items, presenting a serene atmosphere.
Handalong, Apo Tea House
Handalong, founded in 1886 by the Wu family, is a century-old shop known for producing soy sauce, pickles, fermented tofu, and vinegars, all produced through time-honored secret recipes and techniques. The two characters for “Sauce Shop” painted on the outer walls are said to have been written when the shop first opened over a century ago. Its rose-flavored fermented tofu and premium soy sauce even won awards at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Today, local residents and visitors from all walks of life come to purchase these popular local specialties.
In the past, the women of Zhujiajiao enjoyed having tea parties in their leisure time. They would bring homemade snacks, sit together doing needlework, chatting, and drinking tea, thereby developing the “Apo Tea” culture. The Apo Tea House was built to honor this tradition. The two-story, quaint Apo Tea House, with water on three sides, appeals to many visitors, including public figures and government officials from around the world.
To enrich the tourist experience, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town has rolled out a range of innovative cultural events including “Han-Style Nights,” “Ultra-Immersive Art Festival” and “Kunqu Opera Flash Event,” which take place at historical sites. These events enable visitors to immerse themselves into the unique ambience of this age-old town.
