Zhujiajiao Water Town: Canals, Bridges and a Garden

Zhujiajiao is Shanghai's canal town, on the western edge of Qingpu District by Dianshan Lake. Nine old streets follow the water, thousands of Ming and Qing houses stand along the canals, and 36 old stone bridges are still in their original state.^[1] It suits a half-day outside the city: walk beside the water, cross a few bridges and pick one or two sights rather than trying to see everything.

Choose a canalside walk

Fangsheng Bridge, the largest five-arch stone bridge in East China, is the town's landmark; Tai'an Bridge and Ping'an Bridge are among the other old crossings.^[1] Beida Street is the old commercial spine, only 2 to 4 metres wide, with eaves that almost touch overhead and leave a thin strip of sky. Walk it, then slip into a quieter side lane and come back to the riverfront for tea houses and snacks. The town is lit every evening from 19:00 to 22:00, and the stretch from the visitor center to Xijing Street gets an ambient light show.^[2]

Add a garden or historic stop

Kezhi Garden, built in 1912, is the largest manor-style garden in the ancient town, a blend of Chinese and Western garden architecture with pavilions, halls and covered walkways.^[1] The Daqing Post Office is the only surviving site of a Qing-dynasty post office in East China. Hexin Garden shows an art collector's mix of old buildings, gardens and antiques, and the Helong Art Museum has works by Shanghai-school masters such as Zhang Daqian and imperial lacquerware from the Qianlong era.^[2] Pick one interior visit if you want a closer look; otherwise keep to the canals.

Entry and tickets

The town itself is free to enter and open all day. Three sights charge admission: Kezhi Garden 20 yuan, Hexin Garden 30 yuan and the Helong Art Museum 20 yuan, or 60 yuan for a combined ticket to all three.^[2] Paid sights are open daily from 08:30 to 17:00. Book online by 08:00 on the day, then collect the paper ticket at the visitor center at 555 Kezhiyuan Road between 08:30 and 15:00. The sights lie far apart, so collect it before 15:00 and visit afterwards. The ticket is valid on that day only, for one entry. Children up to 1.3 m tall or aged 6 and under enter free, and visitors aged 7 to 18, students and over-60s pay half price on the combined ticket.^[3]

Getting there from Shanghai

Take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao station; trains from Hongqiao Railway Station run about every 10 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00. From exit 1, the 1510 shuttle bus (1 yuan) takes you to the visitor center, and a scenic-area boat (40 yuan) runs from the metro dock to Fangsheng Bridge.^[2][4]

Take a boat on the canals

Hand-rowed boats take up to six people and charge per boat. A one-way trip from the Kezhi Garden pier past Fangsheng Bridge to Beida Street costs 200 yuan and takes about 15 minutes; the longer route to the City God Temple costs 300 yuan and takes about 20 minutes. Returning to your starting pier adds 100 yuan. Boats sell tickets from 08:30 to 17:00 at piers at Kezhi Garden, the City God Temple and 228 Beida Street.^[4]

Make a simple visit plan

For a mostly outdoor visit, start at Fangsheng Bridge and follow the riverside lanes to Beida Street. For a garden-focused visit, add Kezhi Garden. If you like local history, add the Daqing Post Office. The China travel guide has more ideas for planning a wider Shanghai itinerary.