The multi-arched Fangsheng Bridge lit at dusk over the wide canal, with lantern-hung riverside houses on the right

Heritage · Qingpu District, Shanghai

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Shanghai's canal-side ancient town of stone bridges, famed for Fangsheng Bridge (朱家角)

Ambient sound · similar settingBoat coming alongside a wharf with passengers

Photo: Hailey Tong (@haileytong) / Unsplash

Discover Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao is the easiest of the Yangtze delta water towns to reach from central Shanghai, yet it still feels a world away from the skyscrapers. Whitewashed houses with dark tiled roofs line the Caogang River and its side canals, wooden boats glide beneath arched bridges, and narrow lanes are packed with snack stalls and small shops.

The town's showpiece is Fangsheng Bridge, a five-arched stone bridge often called the first bridge of Shanghai, which looks especially fine at sunset. Beyond it you can explore old temples, a Qing-dynasty post office that still sends letters, the Kezhi Garden and traditional teahouses where Suzhou-style storytelling is performed.

Don’t miss

01Fangsheng Bridge, a five-arched stone bridge of 1571, about 72 m long
02North Street and its century-old shops along the canal
03Kezhi Garden, which hosts Kunqu opera performances in the evening
04The Qing-dynasty Zhujiajiao Post Office of 1903, where you can still post letters
05Yuanjin Buddhist Temple and Cimen Temple, both dating to the Yuan dynasty

History & culture

The story of Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao began as a small village market and grew into a busy commercial town; its history reaches back before the Song dynasty, and the town is often said to have been established about 1,700 years ago. It flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties on the trade in cotton cloth and rice, and in the late Qing and Republican periods it developed small industries such as rice milling, oil processing and an electric lamp factory.

Fangsheng Bridge was funded by Xingchao, a monk of the local Cimen Temple, and built in 1571, then rebuilt in 1812. Its name refers to the Buddhist practice of releasing living creatures, and monks once released fish into the water from the bridge. The Yuanjin Buddhist Temple and Cimen Temple date back to the Yuan dynasty.

Zhujiajiao was named one of Shanghai's four famous historical and cultural towns in 1991 and designated a historical and cultural block of Shanghai in 2005. Fangsheng Bridge has been a municipal-level protected cultural relic since 1987.

Local life & traditions

Zhujiajiao is still a living town, with residents running shops, teahouses and guesthouses in the old buildings and using the canals as their ancestors did. Many Shanghainese come here at weekends for a break from the city, and seasonal events such as the autumn art exhibition bring traditional music, guqin and pipa performances to its old buildings. Local food stalls specialise in Jiangnan snacks, though visitors who eat halal should check ingredients carefully, as pork is common.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Take a boat ride along the canals, then cross Fangsheng Bridge and wander the lanes of North Street and Dongjing Street, sampling snacks as you go. Stop in at the old post office to send a postcard, and listen to Suzhou pingtan storytelling at a traditional teahouse.

Stay into the evening to see the bridge and riverside houses lit up, and catch a Kunqu performance at Kezhi Garden if one is scheduled. Bed-and-breakfasts in the old town allow an overnight stay, so you can explore before the day visitors arrive.

When to go

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer mild weather for strolling. Summer is hot and humid with frequent showers, especially in the June plum-rain season. Winter is cold but quiet. Weekends and public holidays are very busy with day trippers from Shanghai, so a weekday visit, ideally in the late afternoon and evening, gives the most atmospheric experience.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Fangsheng Bridge: Five-arched stone bridge built in 1571; 72 m long, 7.4 m high and 5 m wide; municipal-level protected relic since 1987 Source: zhujiajiao.com ↗
Service hours (as published): The official scenic-area site lists service time as 8:30-17:00 Source: zhujiajiao.com ↗
Heritage status: Designated a historical and cultural block of Shanghai in 2005 Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn ↗
Getting there: Shanghai Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station, then a short taxi ride Source: highspeed.mtr.com.hk ↗
Visitor services: Tourist Service Center at No. 555 Kezhiyuan Road; customer service tel. 021-59240077 Source: zhujiajiao.com ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Visit on a weekday; weekends bring large crowds of day trippers from Shanghai.
Walking the old town is free, but some sights and boat rides charge separately.
Agree boat prices before boarding.
Come in the late afternoon to see Fangsheng Bridge at sunset and the canals lit up after dark.
Halal food is limited in the town; Muslim travellers may want to eat before or after in central Shanghai.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Zhujiajiao Water Town: food, markets & places to stay

North Street, Dongjing Street and the canal-side lanes are lined with snack stalls, teahouses and small restaurants, and B&Bs in restored houses offer overnight stays. The Jiangnan No. 1 Tea House on North Street hosts pingtan performances and afternoon tea boat trips. The town is about 40 km from central Shanghai and is easily combined with a day on the Bund or at Yu Garden.