Discover the Best of Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China: A Visitors Guide

Situated on the outskirts of Shanghai is the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao. The combination of beautiful historic architecture and scenic rivers has earned Zhujiajiao the nickname “Venice of Shanghai.” This ancient town has a history of over 1,700 years, and although most of the town has been rebuilt, it still retains its historic charm to this day.

This is a river view from a traditional Chinese boat in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China — Traditional Chinese boat in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China

Visitors love its peacefulness and the aura of ancient China, where small rivers rest under willow trees and traditional boats ride past old houses and ancient bridges. Zhujiajiao Town is home to several attractions, including distinctive bridges like Fangsheng Bridge and serene gardens such as Kezhi Garden. In this post, we'll explore its history and unique attractions. Let's check out Zhujiajiao Water Town.

Exploring Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao features unique old bridges, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with Chinese-style courtyards attached. Visitors can stroll along the preserved ancient street, North Street, and appreciate the beautiful historic buildings. There are some very unique landmarks and sights along the way that I highly recommend visiting; we'll explore some of them now.

Bei Dajie (North Street)

Bei Dajie (North Street) is one of the most popular shopping streets in Zhujiajiao water town. As one of the best-preserved ancient streets, it runs along the river, so you can walk along the charming lanes with old shops, tea houses, and local restaurants.

Shopping street in Zhujiajiao water town in Shanghai — *Gaid Kornsilapa/shutterstock.com*

This ancient street offers a mix of history and culture, where you can find shops selling traditional Chinese handicrafts, souvenirs, and local snacks. The architecture of North Street is from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with beautiful wooden facades and intricate windows. Whether you are looking for souvenirs or just want to experience the cultural heritage, walking along North Street is a must for anyone visiting Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.

Kezhi Garden

Located in the heart of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Kezhi Garden is a a large manorial garden with beautiful and quiet surroundings. This peaceful haven will leave you mesmerized by its combination of natural scenery and history.

Encompassing an area of 17997 square meters, this beautiful garden belonged to Ma Wenqing. She constructed it in 1912, and the project took 15 years to finish, costing over 300,000 taels of silver. This was quite an impressive accomplishment at the time of building, and the beautiful grounds of Kezhi Garden display the luxury aspect of this old manor house perfectly.

This is Kezhi Garden, a traditional Chinese garden in Zhujiajiao water town in Shanghai, China — *Gennady Stetsenko/shutterstock.com*

The large memorial garden is a quiet retreat from the bustling city of Shanghai, with its greenery, pavilions, and rockeries. The meaning behind Kezhi Garden is to remember studying and farming at the same time. This is reflected in the garden's landscape, with the "Library" representing studying and the "Rice Terraces" embodying the farming aspect. It's a uniquely themed garden, and once you explore its grounds, these intricate details will become clear.

View of Kezhi Garden, a famous historic garden located in Zhujiajiao water town in Shanghai — *Iwtt93, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons*

Kezhi Garden is not just a great visual experience but also gives you a feeling of traveling through time. It shows us the balance of nature and architecture in these ancient Chinese gardens, and it's a great place to unwind and immerse yourself in the cultural heritage of Zhujiajiao Water Town.

Fangsheng Bridge

Fangsheng Bridge is one of the main landmarks in Zhujiajiao Water Town. This beautiful piece of ancient Chinese architecture was built in the 17th century during the Ming Dynasty. The bridge is 70 m long and curves over the Caogang River, offering beautiful scenic views of the old town.

Famous for its stone carvings and historical meaning, Fangsheng Bridge is a symbol of the town’s cultural heritage. Visitors can walk across the bridge and enjoy the peaceful scenery and imagine life in the ancient water town hundreds of years ago. As the longest and highest bridge in Zhujiajiao, it’s a must-see for both local and foreign visitors who are exploring the scenic spots of this lovely old town.

Sunset view of Zhujiajiao water town in Shanghai, China — *Sunset view of Zhujiajiao River in Shanghai*

The bridge is especially beautiful at sunset as the river views are incredible. The photo above was captured at sunset, and the light gave the town a unique atmosphere like that of a classical Chinese painting. Overall, the Fangsheng Bridge has great views of the Caogang River and the riverside architecture, and visitors can watch the traditional boats go by while standing on a fascinating historic bridge.

Qing Dynasty Post Office

The Qing Dynasty Post Office in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a real treat for history buffs. This ancient post office was built during the Qing Dynasty and is one of the last of its kind. Inside you can see exhibits of old letters written on bamboo, antique postcards, and various postal items to show how people communicated in the past.

It’s a great piece of the town’s cultural heritage, and you can step back in time and see how ancient Chinese letters were written. The Qing Dynasty Post Office is a must-visit for history lovers and curious travelers.

Activities and Experiences

Take a Boat Trip

Taking a traditional boat ride along the river is one of the best ways to enjoy the scenic views. You can find boats docked along the riverside waiting to take passengers through the canals of the ancient water town. The boat trip experience here is unmatched, especially as the boats are traditional Chinese boats and the waterways are very peaceful. This makes the trip a great experience as you can enjoy the architecture and nature of Zhujiajiao without an overcrowded river.

Boat passing under a bridge along the river in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China — View of boats along the river in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai

If you are travelling alone, it may be a bit expensive to get a boat trip, although you can ask to join others and offer to share the cost of the trip with them. This is a great way of minimizing the expense of the boat trip while still getting to experience it.

Visit Local Shops

Visiting the local shops and boutiques in ancient towns is always a great idea if you want to buy Chinese gifts or souvenirs. In Zhujiajiao this is no different; the town is well equipped with a variety of souvenir shops, with stores selling all types of Chinese handicrafts.

Street with vendors and local shops in Zhujiajiao water town, Shanghai — *Street in Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai*

The souvenir shops in Zhujiajiao are great, and the prices are reasonable too. So if you want to take home a memory of the ancient water town, then this is a great way to do it while supporting the local businesses.

Try New Food

Old towns like Zhujiajiao often have many snack shops and small vendors selling street food. Trying local Chinese delicacies at the snack shops and cafes in the village is a great way to discover new foods you might not see in Shanghai city center. Some of these vendors offer unique Chinese foods and snacks, and while you may not want to try all, you might discover something new by trying a few of these local vendors foods.

Restaurants along the riverside in the famous Zhujiajiao water town in Shanghai, China — *Riverside view of restaurants in Zhujiajiao Water town in Shanghai*

There are also many traditional Chinese restaurants located along the riverside. These are great for larger meals like dinner, especially if you would like to have dinner while enjoying the riverside views. The riverside lights up at nighttime with these restaurants serving dinner to hungry tourists, and it's a nice experience for anyone looking to get some Chinese food on their travels to Zhujiajiao.

Walk the Streets of Zhujiajiao

Have a wander around Zhujiajiao Town and explore its picturesque features, including distinctive bridges and gardens, along with the ancient streets and traditional-style buildings of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. The Zhujiajiao Water Town is actually quite large, and the best way of exploring the area is by wandering around its beautiful winding alleys and taking in the atmosphere. This way you'll get to see the architecture, shops, houses, and whatever else is going on in this small part of old Shanghai.

An old street in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai — An old street in Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai

It may seem obvious to have a good walk around, but most visitors stay on North Street, as this is the main shopping area. Try to explore, as this will give you a better idea of how this beautiful ancient water town once looked.

Getting to Zhujiajiao

Zhujiajiao is fairly easy to reach, it's not far from the city center, and the journey takes around an hour total by metro and walking. Walk north for around fifteen minutes to reach the town after getting off Shanghai Metro Line 17 at Zhujiajiao Station.

Alternatively, buses are also available from different areas in Shanghai, but you will need to check bus schedules for this. Visitors can also take a taxi or private car from Shanghai South Railway Station or other areas in the city.

Planning Your Trip

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a popular tourist destination, with various tours and experiences available. Visitors can take a day trip from Shanghai or stay overnight in the town. I personally took a day trip and found that a day was long enough to explore the town well.

Leaving in the morning from central Shanghai and returning at night meant there was more than enough time for me to see all the sights. However, if you would like to wake up in the morning in the ancient water town, then staying the night is a great option as it gives you even more time to enjoy the beautiful town. It has a great atmosphere, and staying the night allows you to experience the town at different times of day.

Hotels are reasonably priced, but Zhujiajiao can get busy during the summertime, so you might want to book in advance if you're visiting in the peak season.

Final Thoughts

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience ancient China. With its well-preserved ancient streets, historic landmarks, and traditional culture, Zhujiajiao is a unique and unforgettable travel experience. Zhujiajiao Water Town makes a perfect day trip from Shanghai, as it welcomes both local and foreign visitors to experience its history, culture, and nature.