Day Tour
5 to 8 hours
Zhujiajiao Water Town
Canals and stone bridges inside the Shanghai municipality.
From US$300per private group of up to 2, estimate
Shanghai · Canals & stone bridges
Zhujiajiao Water Town
朱家角 · Zhūjiājiǎo
Canal and houses in Zhujiajiao, Shanghai · Photo: Lloyd Tudor, CC BY-SA 4.0
Why go“Zhujiajiao preserves the tranquil soul of Jiangnan waterway civilization: thirty-six arched stone bridges uniting thousand-year-old living lanes.”
National Tourism Administration, National Heritage & Tourism Bureau. Historic Canal Towns of the Yangtze Delta (UNESCO Tentative List 5346)
Zhujiajiao lets you see a canal town without leaving Shanghai. Wikipedia says it was established about 1,700 years ago, with archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years.
It is a water-town day trip that stays inside the municipality. We suggest an early start so you walk the bridges before the main crowds.
Highlights
- 一Fangsheng Bridge
- 二Canal boats
- 三Kezhi Garden
- 四Yuanjin Buddhist Temple
Top experiences
3 things to see and do in Zhujiajiao Water Town
Lloyd Tudor, CC BY-SA 4.0 The canals and stone bridges 石桥
The town has 36 stone bridges. Fangsheng Bridge, also called the Free Life Bridge, is the one most often named.
Lloyd Tudor, CC BY-SA 4.0 Canal boats 游船
Wooden boats line the main canal. A short boat ride shows the town’s waterfront houses from below.
Woong Deewaa, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kezhi Garden and Yuanjin Temple 课植园 · 圆津禅院
Wikipedia lists Kezhi Garden and Yuanjin Buddhist Temple among the town’s sites, along with a Qing dynasty post office.
Getting there
- Zhujiajiao is in Qingpu District on the outskirts of Shanghai. Wikipedia lists Shanghai Metro Line 17 with a Zhujiajiao station. A private car lets you skip the metro and set your own start time. The distance by road is not stated in the source, so we give you the drive time when we plan the day.
Key facts
- District
- Qingpu, Shanghai
- Established
- About 1,700 years ago (Wikipedia)
- Area
- 136.85 km²
- Population
- 95,536 (2017)
- Stone bridges
- 36
- Metro
- Line 17, Zhujiajiao station
Private tours
Journeys including Zhujiajiao Water Town
Multi-Day Journey
3 days, 2 nights
3-Day Shanghai Journey
The city in three days, with a water town on the last.
From US$740per private group of up to 2, estimate
Day Tour
About 9 hours
Zhujiajiao + Bund
Stone bridges in the morning, the river skyline at dusk.
From US$560per private group of up to 2, estimate
Multi-Day Journey
4 days, 3 nights
4-Day Water Towns
Shanghai, then three canal-and-garden places west of it.
From US$1,270per private group of up to 2, estimate
Multi-Day Journey
7 days, 6 nights
7-Day Yangtze Delta
A week across the delta at a walking pace.
From US$2,010per private group of up to 2, estimate
Plan
A private trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town
Tell us your dates and pace. We will suggest how long to stay, where to sleep and when to arrive to avoid the crowds.
Zhujiajiao Water Town: frequently asked questions
Is Zhujiajiao inside Shanghai?
Yes. Wikipedia places it in Qingpu District, on the outskirts of Shanghai.
How many bridges does Zhujiajiao have?
Wikipedia counts 36 stone bridges, among them Fangsheng Bridge.
Can you reach Zhujiajiao by metro?
Wikipedia lists Shanghai Metro Line 17 with a Zhujiajiao station.
Practical guides
Travel guides for Zhujiajiao Water Town
- Zhujiajiao water town: what it is and how to visit from ShanghaiFacts about Zhujiajiao, the Shanghai water town with 36 stone bridges, and how to plan a private visit.
- Shanghai in 3 days: a route that does not rushA three-day Shanghai route covering the Shanghai Museum East, Yu Garden, the Bund, the French Concession and Zhujiajiao, with the facts behind each stop.
Keep exploring
More of Shanghai and the delta