Trip Overview
When: May 2021 (Labor Day holiday, peak travel season)
Duration: 1 day
Travelers: Friends
Budget: ~60 RMB (~$8.50 USD)
Transportation: Local transport from Shanghai
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Jinze Ancient Town (金泽古镇) is located in Qingpu District, about 60km from Shanghai proper. Take Metro Line 17 to Dongming Highway Station, then transfer to bus or taxi. Allow 1.5-2 hours from downtown Shanghai.
Money Matters: Most small vendors accept WeChat Pay (微信支付) or Alipay (支付宝). Carry 100-200 RMB cash just in case, especially for temple donations.
Language: English is rarely spoken here. Key phrase to learn: "Qiao zai nali?" (桥在哪里? - Where is the bridge?)
Timing Tip: Visit during the 3rd lunar month's temple fair (late April to early May) for a unique cultural experience—but expect crowds.
Day 1: Discovering Jinze Ancient Town
After exploring the northern district of Jinze Ancient Town (金泽古镇), I head to the southern area by midday. Walking into Jinze Old Street, I'm struck by its untouched authenticity—only a handful of small restaurants, virtually no shops. Unlike other ancient water towns around Shanghai, there's no commercial clamor here, no cosmetic tourist veneer. It feels forgotten by time itself.
Meanwhile, Shanghai's major tourist spots during Labor Day are packed with traffic and crowds. But Jinze? This ancient town sleeps like an elderly person—peaceful, unhurried.
Here in the southern district, the river has tourist boats—a sign that visitors are more concentrated here than in the north.
Jinze (金泽) still preserves the most authentic ancient water town charm: rivers, ancient bridges, temples... Every visitor feels like they've stepped into an ink-wash painting.
Known as "Jiangnan's First Bridge Town" and the "Ancient Bridge Museum," Jinze's bridge density, variety, and age are unmatched by any other water town. Famous calligrapher and seal-carver Qianjuntao once wrote "Jinze's Ancient Bridges Rank First Under Heaven" (金泽古桥甲天下).
This river is the town's essence, running through the entire area. You can take a boat along the waterway, feeling the traditional and elegant atmosphere between every brick and tile of this water town.
Jinze's bridges are extraordinary—not just numerous, but mostly historic famous bridges. The town still preserves seven ancient bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Puji Bridge (普济桥), built in the 3rd year of the Song Dynasty's Xianchun period (1267), is Shanghai's oldest stone arch bridge. This bridge and Wan'an Bridge in the northern district share similar structure, form, and stone usage, crossing the same river—hence they're called "sister bridges."
Drum sounds reach my ears. Looking around, I see a group of women in red opera costumes, carrying flags and beating gongs and drums, walking toward me.
Inquiring, I learn that today happens to be the 28th day of the 3rd lunar month—Jinze's signature folk temple fair. This is a group heading to burn incense.
The chaohuang (朝皇) ceremony begins on the 26th day of the 3rd lunar month. This ceremony exists only in Jinze throughout the entire Jiangnan region. According to folk legend, it was specially approved by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Temple statues are carried out for a procession, and worshippers kneel on the ground.
According to historical records, Jinze originally had "six temples, one pagoda, thirteen lanes, and forty-two rainbow bridges," with "every bridge having a temple, every temple having a bridge." Each bridge is unique and connected to temples, monasteries, and nunneries. However, most were lost through dynastic changes. Though the former splendorihao Chan is gone, Y Temple (颐浩禅寺) standing at the ancient town's entrance and the seven surviving ancient bridges give us a glimpse of its past glory.
After worshipping at one bridge, the group moves on to the next stop.
White walls, black tiles, and wooden lattice windows stand by the water. Black-awning boats glide gently on the river. The tranquility and peace are truly enviable.
Here you won't find various specialty souvenir shops or commercialism. It's the original Jiangnan water town. Your heart can truly calm down—you can发呆 (daydream), think about things, let your mind wander.
Within the tall walls is the old sewing machine factory site, now preserved as an immovable cultural relic.
It's different from Zhujiajiao's commercialization and not as noisy as Qibao. It's an ancient town that remains simple in the middle of the city. The commercial atmosphere is surprisingly light—everything is how a regular water town home should look.
Groups of incense-burning pilgrims beat drums and gongs along the shore, breaking the ancient town's usual tranquility.
Yingxiang Bridge (迎祥桥): A rare Yuan Dynasty bridge in Jiangnan, appearing from afar like a "rainbow lying on waves." The bridge body is extremely thin—rare nationwide. Even more unique: no railings on the bridge deck. It's said that Mongolian cavalry in the Yuan Dynasty often rode swiftly across the bridge, hence the brick pavement without steps or railings.
Best of all, admission is FREE here! And fewer people know about it, so weekday visitors are rare—it's wonderfully peaceful. Bringing the whole family for a stroll is absolutely a great choice.
Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥): Built in the Ming Dynasty, the entire bridge is constructed using mixed Qingstone and granite, fully utilizing granite's load-bearing characteristics with Qingstone as decorative accents.
No bustle, only simplicity—a place to relax body and mind. Got the urge to visit yet?