Top 8 Shanghai Ancient Towns: Highlights and Travel Tips
While Shanghai is well-known as an ultra-modern city, its cultural and historical roots run deep. Nowhere is this more evident than in Shanghai's old towns, ancient cities that tell the story of the powerful Qing and Ming Dynasties and give visitors a glimpse into how life once was. We can craft a personalized itinerary to help you fully explore these fascinating sites.
Ancient Towns in Shanghai
These ancient towns are conveniently located within Shanghai and easily accessible by public transportation or taxi. Plus, you can easily work them into a larger-day itinerary if you're in a rush.
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Zhujiajiao Water Town
This ancient water town is located in Shanghai's Qingpu District and has been in the city for 1,700 years. It's a uniquely beautiful place, sometimes called "the Venice of Shanghai" or "Pearl Stream" for its tranquil waters and idyllic setting. You'll find flawlessly preserved bridges, gorgeous foliage, and traditional Chinese courtyards dotting this ancient town. North Street and Kezhi Garden are two major draws and elegant examples of local architecture.
Additionally, a night cruise in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is highly popular for seeing epic views of the perfectly preserved district. The best time to visit is during autumn and spring for pleasant, dry weather, and you should plan to spend a few hours to half the day there.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
Visiting the town is free, but tours and packages start from 30 RMB. Many visitors will opt for a combination ticket to see spots like Kezhi Garden and the City God Temple. We can help you choose the package that's right for you. Getting to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is relatively easy. If you're using public transportation, take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao station or the Yangtse River Delta Demonstration Zone Line 6 bus to the Zhujiajiao Water Town station.
Xinchang Ancient Town
In the southern part of the city, you'll find Xinchang Ancient Town, a 1,300-year-old town full of lovely canals, gently arched bridges, and beautiful narrow streets full of preserved architecture. The best way to experience Xinchang Ancient Town is by foot, stopping at spots like the Xinchang Confucius Temple, the Xinchang Ancient Opera Hours, or Shen's Residence, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty and offers visitors a peek at marvelous artwork and architecture.
Xinchang Ancient Town is perfect to visit all year round, and visitors should plan to spend half the day.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
There are no noted costs for walking through Xinchang Ancient Town, although if you're taking a boat ride, you will incur some extra expenses. You'll find this town in the southern part of the city. If you're taking public transportation, take Metro Line 16 to Xinchang Station, then a taxi to the center of the town.
Fengjing Ancient Town
Fengjing Ancient Town
Fengjing Ancient Town is the largest of the ancient towns in Shanghai, so you'll want to spend the better part of the day exploring it. With a full 52 gorgeously preserved bridges and plenty of canals crisscrossing the town, ideal for taking a boat ride, it's a must-visit for anyone interested in Shanghai's old towns.
Fengjing Ancient Town is a fantastic place to get one-of-a-kind art and enjoy fantastic homestyle food. Visiting in the spring or autumn is best as the weather is mild and dry.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
It's free to visit this ancient town, although there are some attractions where you'll need to pay an admission fee. You can buy a combination ticket to see several attractions for 50 RMB.
You can also rent a boat for up to six passengers for 120 RMB per half hour. If you're taking Metro Line 1 or the bus from Xinan Bus Station, you'll find this town at Jinjiang Park Station.
Qibao Ancient Town
The conveniently located Qibao Ancient Town is in Shanghai's Minhang District and dates back at least 1,000 years. You'll find plenty of Song Dynasty-era relics in Qibao Ancient Town, plus artifacts from the later Qing and Ming Dynasties, like the iron Buddha and Gold Script Lotus Sutra. Visit Qibao Temple to see some of these astounding treasures. This town is appropriate to visit all year round but can get busy during school holidays. Plan to spend a few hours to half the day seeing it.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
Qibao Ancient Town is free to visit, but the attractions cost 5 RMB and up. You can purchase a combination ticket to see multiple attractions. It's relatively easy to get to and very centrally located. You can take several buses to Qibao Station or Metro Line 9 to Qibao Station. The ancient town is about a ten-minute walk from the metro.
Nanxiang Ancient Town
Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, aka Soup Dumplings
You will find Nanxiang Ancient Town in Shanghai's Jiading District. Dating back 1,500 years, it was a haven for ancient trade and boasts some fascinating structures like the Nanxiang Twin Pagodas and Guyi Garden, which is an excellent example of classical garden planning and a joy to walk through while the flowers are in bloom, which is why visiting between March and November is ideal.
Nanxiang Ancient Town is also a fantastic place to get a bite to eat or find that special souvenir. Plan to spend a few hours to half the day visiting this town.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
There are no noted costs for Nanxiang Ancient Town, although individual attractions might have associated costs. It's easy to get to if you take Metro Line 11 to Nanxiang station or bus 62 or 898 to Nanxiang Gu Zhen station.
Ancient Towns Near Shanghai
If you're willing to travel a bit outside Shanghai's boundaries, these ancient towns will certainly satisfy you. We can put together a personalized itinerary that allows ample time to explore Shanghai's old towns within the city limits and a bit further out.
Tongli Water Town
Tongli Water Town
Tongli Water Town is over 1,000 years old and has fascinating artifacts like ancient stone bridges and relics from the Ming, Song, Qing, and Yuan Dynasties. Some of the most important structures of note are the Pearl Tower, a mansion dedicated to the ill-fated love between Chen Cuie and Fang Qing; Gengle Hall, a Ming Dynasty treasure with spectacular pieces of art and a lovely garden; and Tongli's Three Bridges, which represent different Chinese characters.
Take a rickshaw or boat tour or marvel at the night view in this charming town. Visiting any time of the year is exceptional, but spring and autumn are especially lovely. Plan to spend the whole day there, including transportation.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
Visitors can purchase a combination ticket for 100 RMB, which grants you entry to the town and several key attractions. It takes between two and two-and-a-half hours to reach Tongli Water Town from Shanghai. You can take a high-speed train from Shanghai to Suzhou, then a metro ride to Tongli Station. Alternately, we can arrange private transportation from Shanghai to Tongli for you.
Wuzhen Water Town
Take a boat on the canal at Wuzhen
Known as the "Venice of the East," Wuzhen Water Town is a picturesque ancient village that you'll want to dedicate a full day to exploring. It's a beautiful example of Qing Dynasty architecture and dates back just 1,300 years.
You'll find bridges, quaint alleyways full of interesting architecture, and several museums that will give you a better understanding of Chinese history and culture. The Folk Customs Museum has an excellent display of what day-to-day life looked like, and the Indigo Fabric Workshop walks visitors through making indigo cloth. There are also several places to get souvenirs, including Wuzhen Market on Water.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
The entrance fee for Wuxhen Water Town ranges from 110 to 190 RMB, and we recommend that visitors purchase a combined ticket and plan to spend the night, as this ancient town is truly spectacular after sunset. Plus, since it's divided into the East Gate (Dongzha) and West Gate (Xizha) areas, you'll have plenty to see over two days. Finding public transportation between Shanghai and Wuzhen can be inconvenient, so we can help provide private transportation. The journey is two hours.
Zhouzhuang Water Town
Quanfu Temple at Zhouzhuang Water Town
Widely regarded as the "Number One Water Town in China," this stunning place dates back a full 1,000 years and is full of fantastic Qing, Yuan, and Ming relics, like preserved stone bridges, 800 residences, and essential structures like the Former Residence of Chen Yifei, where you can admire Chinese gardening practices and aesthetics, and Zhang's House, a powerful example of Qing style.
Plan to spend the day exploring, or even consider spending the night in one of Zhouzhuang's charming bed and breakfasts. The best time of the year to visit is spring.
How to Get There and Ticket Information
It costs 100 RMB to visit Zhouzhuang, and the ticket includes some attraction fees, like museums or famous residences. Boat tours start at 80 RMB per person. You can take either a car or bus to Zhouzhuang from Shanghai or a high-speed train to Suzhou or Kunshan, then transfer to Zhouzhuang.
Marvel at Shanghai's Old Towns
If you want to fully appreciate Shanghai's cultural and historical legacy, visiting the old towns in and around the city is an excellent way to do so. At China Odyssey Tours, we can create a detailed and personalized itinerary to help you make the most of your vacation. Feel free to email us at trip@odynovotours.com to get started today.
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