Hotels near Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao is a canal town of around 1,700 years standing, with 36 stone bridges and a grid of waterways lined by Ming and Qing dynasty houses. The five-arch Fangsheng Bridge from 1571 is the largest and the most photographed. Unlike the better-known canal towns further out in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Zhujiajiao sits inside the Shanghai municipality and connects directly to the metro.

The old town is compact enough to walk in two hours. Wooden boats work the main canal for around CNY 60 to 150 depending on the route, and the Kezhi Garden and the Qing dynasty post office are the two paid sites worth the entry. Beyond the central lanes, ordinary residential canals carry on with washing hung over the water.

Pro Tip: Take the first Line 17 train and arrive before 9am, ahead of the coach tours from central Shanghai. Cross to the north bank within ten minutes of arriving - the southern lanes hold the souvenir stalls, the northern ones hold the residents.