Zhujiajiao Itinerary: Day Trip to One of The Most Enchanting Water Towns

Are you planning your stay in Shanghai and considering a day trip to the nearby Zhujiajiao Water Town? Great idea! This Zhujiajiao itinerary will help you plan your escape perfectly.

Let’s be honest: after three or four days of the nonstop energy of downtown Shanghai, you might need a one-day break! I understand, and Zhujiajiao is the perfect way to step into a different and calmer vibe without moving miles away.

In this blog post, I will provide helpful travel tips for organizing your Zhujiajiao tour and the best things to do to fully enjoy the atmosphere of this enchanting small corner of Shanghai.

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Is Zhujiajiao Worth Visiting?

While I wouldn’t specifically plan a visit to Zhujiajiao if you’re far away, stopping by for a day or even half a day is worth it if you’re in Shanghai.

I visited Zhujiajiao for a day trip in the summer of 2024. It was so refreshing to leave the city behind for a day and experience a different scenery and energy.

Having already been to Suzhou, I knew what to expect. However, if you’re a first-timer and have never been to a Chinese water town, you must see this one.

As you’ll discover, China isn’t just about super-high-tech and hyper-modern metropolises; it’s also about smaller towns where life moves at a slower pace, centered around simpler jobs and lifestyles (and where toilets respect the low standards typical of Asia, lol).

Zhujiajiao has certainly become a tourist attraction in the past decade, with its charming boutiques selling artisanal products and cozy coffee shops. Visitors are drawn to the stone bridges crossing the tranquil canals and the picturesque alleyways surrounding some historical sites from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Yet, you’ll also find shops displaying insects outside and traditional street food vendors offering products you might never have considered trying.

Despite the tourist crowds that can detract from the experience (the alleyways are narrow), Zhujiajiao retains its old-town charm. The residents often observe visitors with curiosity and warm smiles as they sit outside their tiny homes with open doors and windows.

How to Get to Zhujiajiao from Shanghai

Zhujiajiao is located in the Qingpu district of Shanghai, about 46 km west of downtown. To arrive from the city, you have two options:

Subway

The most common choice, and the one I chose, is to take the subway to Zhujiajiao. Depending on your location in Shanghai, you’ll need to get to the Hongqiao subway station, and from there, you can take line 17 to Zhujiajiao. The ticket price is ¥10-12.

The Water Town is within walking distance of the subway station. Depending on your starting point, the subway ride will take around one hour.

Taxi

Assuming there’s no traffic, you can take a taxi for a faster option. The taxi ride from downtown Shanghai takes about 30 minutes. You can use your Alipay app to call a Didi and pay upfront to avoid any price surprises, or you can hail a taxi in the morning. Expect to pay around ¥200 for the taxi ride.

Best Time To Visit Zhujiajiao

As with many locations in China, the spring and autumn are usually the best times to visit Zhujiajiao.

The weather is comfortably warm, freeing you from being cooped up indoors, and because these periods are considered shoulder seasons (excluding the first week of October, which is the Golden Week and best avoided).

During these times, there are fewer holidays, and locals don’t travel as much as they do in the summer, making your visit much more peaceful. For an even better experience, plan to visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.

Where & What to Eat in Zhujiajiao

Zhujiajiao is renowned for its enchanting architecture, canals, and rich culinary traditions.

As you wander its alleyways, you’ll see many street food stalls offering Zongzi (rice-stuffed dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves that I don’t love) and other snacks.

With its abundant waterways and proximity to Lake Tai, Zhujiajiao is the perfect place to try fresh seafood and rice-based dishes.

Some typical dishes of Zhujiajiao include lotus roots cooked in a sweet sauce, the rice cake Nian Gao, and Zongzi and Xiaolong Bao.

For an authentic and savory Chinese meal, consider having lunch at one of the many restaurants on Beidajie. I can’t recall the exact one I visited, but it was in Beidajie, which had a terrace overlooking the canal and was surrounded by several similar restaurants.

Tickets Options

As another indication of how accustomed Zhujiajiao is to tourism, the local government has established combo tickets for tourists to visit the main sights. While you can access some areas of the water town for free, the main attractions require an entry ticket. In terms of tickets, you have two options:

1. 8 Attractions Ticket (¥60): This includes access to Kezhi Garden, Shanghai Quanhua Art Gallery, Yuanjin Buddhist Temple, City God Temple, Qing Post Office, Humanistic Museum, Zhaxidawa Experience Museum of Tibetan Culture, Shanghai Handicraft Exhibition Hall, and Shanghai Helong Art Museum.
2. 4-Attractions Ticket (¥30): This option covers Kezhi Garden, the Great Qing Post Office, Zhaxidawa Experience Museum of Tibetan Culture, and the Humanistic Museum.

Remember that all the sights close early at 4:30 pm, and the boat ride stops selling tickets at 4 pm, so make sure you arrive on time.

It might be a good idea to plan activities that don’t imply a closing time for later in the afternoon, such as a street food and shopping tour.

Best Sights to Visit in Zhujiajiao

1. Kezhi Garden

Kezhi Garden is, without a doubt, my favorite sight in Zhujiajiao. If you appreciate the beauty and tranquility of classical-style gardens, you’ll love it too! It’s located on the northern side of the old district on Xijin Street and is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. You can plan to visit its five acres in around one hour.

If you’ve been to Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai or the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, you may notice that some features are downsized yet quite similar.

The garden’s creator, Ma Wenqin, drew inspiration from his travels around Shanghai and its surroundings to build this charming manor in traditional Chinese style, enveloped by the garden. You’ll see a more miniature replica of the nine-zigzag bridge from Yuyuan Garden and the inverted lion pavilion inspired by the Lion Grove Garden.

Built in 1912, the garden took 15 years to complete, showcasing a rare blend of Chinese and European architecture. It’s not as common to meet Western influences in China.

The name “Kezhi” literally translates to “don’t forget to learn and farming,” which perfectly represents the garden’s design, which includes a small farm where vegetables are grown.

It is one of the few sights in China with English signs explaining the history and purpose of every area around the garden. These signs make your visit much more entertaining as you wander around, imagining the life of the old residents among those four walls and trees. 

1. Fangsheng Bridge

In Zhujiajiao, you’ll find many bridges crossing canals, but Fangsheng Bridge stands out as the only one with five arches. This makes it a popular spot for tourists to snap pictures of the boats that slowly pass underneath. The bridge connects Beida Street and Xijing Street. 

While many smaller and less renowned bridges offer more picturesque photo opportunities, crossing Fangsheng Bridge at least once is a must in Zhujiajiao. 

One interesting fact about this landmark is that it was built by a Buddhist monk in the 16th century. Initially, it was used to release fish and tortoises back into their natural habitat. Even today, fishing is prohibited on the Caogang River. 

Locals still gather at the beginning and middle of the lunar month to release fish, a practice that gave the bridge its name, literally meaning “Releasing Life.”

3. Yuanjin Buddhist Temple

​​Yuanjin Temple is the only Buddhist worship site in Zhujiajiao. The highlight of the internal main hall is the golden statue of Guanyin, which is why the temple is also called the Goddes Temple.

In addition, you have to go up to the Qinghe Pavillion to enjoy the view of Zhujiajiao’s canals from the top. This is one of the tallest buildings visible from many parts of the city.

4. Tongtianhe Pharmacy

If you’re intrigued by Chinese medicine, this is a site you have to see. I’m fascinated by the Asian approach to medicine and the idea of observing nature to find patterns for inner healing. Exploring the pharmacy was a real treat for me.

Locals have described this place for centuries as “healing pains and saving lives.” As I wandered around, I wondered what mysterious ingredients and herbs lay inside the Qinghua vases and jars scattered around—the typical Chinese blue and white porcelain.

Visiting the Tongtianhe Pharmacy feels like stepping back in time. Its grand and mysterious wooden furniture hides countless drawers, each potentially holding a remedy or secret.

5. Qing Post-Office

While exploring the stone-paved alleyways, you might miss—or hopefully not—a brick structure at the very end of Xinhu Road. Its design feels entirely out of place among the more traditional Chinese-style buildings.

This is an ancient Chinese post office dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It was established in the 19th century by Emperor Tongzhi and serves as a miniature museum of what was once the Chinese postal system from a time when technology was nowhere to be found.

Inside, you’ll find a collection of historical relics telling how mail was handled and the measures taken to protect shipments and ensure everything was delivered safely.

The building is a charming piece of history, with its original wood floors and structure offering a tangible connection to the past. It’s easy to overlook if you don’t know about it, but this gem is well worth a visit for anyone interested in history and architecture.

What To Do in Zhujiajiao

1. Take a Hand Boat Ride

One of the best ways to explore Zhujiajiao, or any water town, is by riding a hand-boat on the canals. Exploring water towns on a boat is like walking through a garden in full bloom—it’s the way they were meant to be enjoyed. So yes, wandering through the stone-paved alleyways is a beautiful experience, but winding through its canals is something else entirely!

This allows you to observe the daily life of locals as it unfolds from their tiny open windows and discover hidden corners only accessible by water. It’s a unique way to explore, revealing details you might otherwise miss.

In Zhujiajiao, you can catch a handboat from various locations, including the Kezhi Garden, the City God Temple, and Beidajie. No matter where you start, you’ll pass by some of the most interesting sights, including the iconic Fangsheng Bridge. 

The price ranges from ¥200 to ¥300, depending on the boat, which can accommodate up to six passengers. Typically, the boat ride doesn’t include a return trip, but it can take you back to the pickup point for an additional half of the original price.

2. Discover Zhujiajiao’s Pearl

Choosing an oyster, having a pearl taken, and witnessing the artisan creating jewelry pieces right before you is likely the most local experience here in Zhujiajiao (the river here is also named the Pearl’s Stream). I don’t think I’ve ever seen it anywhere else in China. 

Even though the origin of the pearl itself is not as clear as the merchants make it seem (they, of course, tell you it’s authentic, but who knows), the experience is definitely one of a kind. 

You can have a bracelet or an earring made from pearls, and they do it right in front of you so you can see the process, from taking the pearl out of the oyster to wearing the (hopefully) authentic jewelry— a unique souvenir from your trip. 

3. Shopping in Beidajie, North Street

Whether you’re a shopping enthusiast or not, when in China, you’ll often find something quirky to bring home, perhaps more often than you’d expect. Beidajie is the main shopping street in Zhujiajiao, an old-style, stone-paved narrow street lined with low white houses.

It’s right alongside the Caogang River at its southern end. If you’re searching for it, it’s the road in front of the Fangsheng Bridge, across from Xijin Street.

Numerous street food stalls here offer fruit juices, teas, and less-inviting snacks, including insects. Amidst this “food haven,” you’ll find local artisanal shops featuring wooden and bamboo hand-made items.

However, before making a purchase, take a moment to look around. You’ll notice that many of these items are identical across different shops, which might make you question their authenticity. Ensure the pieces you want to buy are unique and genuinely hand-made, and don’t hesitate to bargain!

4. Street Food Tour

I know what you’re thinking. “…didn’t you just speak about insects and not-so-enticing snacks?” Yes, but Zhujiajiao is also well known for its culinary heritage as an ancient town where traditional culinary practices are much more alive than in big cities, where restaurant chains and fast foods have replaced long-standing eateries.

The zongzi is the most popular delicacy here. I tried it for the first time during the Dragon Boat Festival when I lived in Xi’an.

These sticky rice dumplings are stuffed with pork or other fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. The taste is quite good, though the consistency of the sticky rice can be a bit off-putting for some. However, I suggest you try it and stop by one of the stalls to watch a local expertly wrap the rice in bamboo leaves.

Being close to Shanghai, Zhujiajiao also offers traditional and delicious meat dumplings, xiaolongbao, and something I don’t recommend: stinky tofu.

If you’re wondering what this is, it’s fermented tofu with a pungent smell. If you catch a whiff of something unpleasant while exploring street food, it’s probably that…or Durian.

Zhujiajiao Itinerary

The Kezhi Garden is the perfect way to start your Zhujiajiao tour. It opens at 8:30, and the earlier you go, the more peaceful your visit will be. Take your time to explore, and then head to the Yuanjin Temple right after, as it’s on the same riverside.

Around 11:30, go to Fangsheng Bridge, where you can capture some photos before enjoying lunch at one of the many restaurants on Beidajie.

After lunch, explore the Tong Tianhe Pharmacy and Qing Post Office, both located on this side of the river. Once you’ve finished your visits, it’s time for a boat ride through the canals, so be sure to schedule it before 4 pm.

Finally, wrap up your day with a shopping and street food tour, and enjoy some more wandering around the canals before heading back to the subway station to take Line 17 back to Shanghai.

Hopefully, this made the perfect escape from the bustle of downtown Shanghai, and you feel much more refreshed to continue your adventure to other destinations in China!

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