Zhujiajiao (The Pearl Stream) is a beautiful water town on the banks of the Yangtze an hour outside of Shanghai. The 47 square kilometer town is almost 1700 years old. Its beauty lies in its lovely streams, which reflect the traditional houses built on their banks. Large and small gondola-like boats in typical Chinese style ply the waters all around the city, taking tourists and locals alike to where they need to go.

The town is known for its 36 original bridges, which connect it to Shanghai. Made of stone, wood and marble these bridges are mostly works of the Ming and Qing eras. They’ve been preserved and maintained in keeping with their original architecture. The largest is called Fangsheng, the Setting Fish Free Bridge. Fangsheng is not just the largest bridge in Zhujiajiao but all of Shanghai. The bridge was built of stone in 1571 and maintains its strength even today. It’s decorated with four stone guard lions and a relief of eight stone dragons gathered around a pearl. The Lang Bridge (Veranda Bridge) is the only wooden bridge in Zhujiajiao, and perhaps the second most popular one.

Zhujiajiao has its share of gardens and scenic sights along with its bridges. The Moon View Pavilion, the tallest structure in Shanghai, stands in the Ke Zhi Yuan Garden. The garden is divided into three main parts: the hall area, the hill area and the garden area. There are also plenty of traditional shops along Zhujiajiao’s alleys, as well as plenty of cheap, authentic local food.

Technorati Tags: Fangsheng Major Attraction Ming Dynasty Park Pearl Stream Qing Dynasty Shanghai Tourist Attraction Yangtze Zhujiajiao