Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town


Zhujiajiao is an ancient town located at the bank of the Dianshan Lake in Qingpu District. The town, with a history of over 1,000 years, is the most well reserved ancient town in Shanghai and has been known as “Venice of Shanghai” for its simple but attractive appearance typical of towns in the south part of China. In 1991, it was designated by the State Council as the “Well-Known Chinese Cultural Town”. The ancient town is simple and tranquil, refined and elegant. Walking along the zigzag flagging or wondering among the narrow streets and lanes flanked with shops and stores, tourists feel as if they were in a simple but fresh wash painting: small bridges above giggling water, residence of the Ming and Qing styles, small dark-awning boats lying at anchor, sweeping willows swaying along riverbanks, and stone bridge spanning the Dianpu River like a beautiful rainbow. Inside the town are rivers and bridges, giving tourists a sense of the ancient time. The Fangsheng Bridge, constructed in the reign of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, is the biggest joint five-arch stone bridge in Shanghai. It is 70.8 meters in length and 5.8 meters in width. Exquisite in structure and beautiful in shape, it is the first of the ten scenic spots of Zhujiajiao.

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