Shanghai Attractions Zhujiajiao Canal Town
Shanghai Attractions,Shanghai Popular Tourists Attractions Information
Situated on the bank of the Dianshan Lake on the western outskirts of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao, a canal town (an enchanting place that is often compared to Venice, Italy), is about 50 kilometres away from the city center.
The Zhujiajiao Canal Town features beautiful waterways, arched stone bridges, ancient streets paved with stone, and more than 10, 000 houses dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Visitors can take a walk to explore the town or board canvas-canopied boats for the canal-side Granny Tea House for a short tea break. It is the most famous teahouse in the community. The five-arch Fangsheng Bridge, built in 1571 in the Ming Dynasty, is still standing there. Inscriptions on the weather-beaten steles by the side of the river tell people to do good things and accumulate merits for the after life. There are, altogether, 36 bridges in the town and each has a name and, possibly, a story, which will speak itself when the tourist sits on the bridge, staring at the mosses growing out of the gaps in the stones or the river on which boats pass by.
Like many other waterside towns in this region, Zhujiajiao Canal Town has several private gardens that used to be owned by officials or landlords but have now opened to the public. Another attraction is Kezhi Garden on Great North Street. It is one of the largest manor-style private gardens in the vast southern China region. While strolling in the picturesque garden of this mansion, visitors can enjoy a presentation of Suzhou Pingtan, a traditional genre of artistic show, with a pair of performers singing in Suzhou dialect and playing ancient Chinese string instruments.
