Zhu Jia Jiao

Located in a suburb of Shanghai city, ZhuJjia Jiao (朱家角) is an ancient water tow, known as Shanghai's venice. Bridges in the town are distinctive and old, built during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The old town is thoroughly connected by 36 delicate spans in different shapes and styles, from wooden to stone to marble.

There are some water towns in Jiang-su and Zhe-jiang areas. Shanghai also has one, Zhu-jia-jiao. There is a direct bus service between Zhu-jia-jiao and the People's Square, shanghai city centre. Bus fare is RMB 9 (USD 1.20), the journey takes one and a half hours (can be longer if the traffic is bad). But I have the privilege of having James who drove me there.



We had our lunch at a 农家乐， beside the gigantic 淀天湖. James ordering the food.








Fresh Fishes on Sale











Postbox in Qing Dynasty


We decided to take a break and have a coffee in a traditional cafe (Cappuccino for me, Latte for James)


Having coffee, with a good view of the famous Fang Sheng Qiao (放生桥), which is the largest, longest and tallest bridge in Zhu Jia Jiao. If you like, you may buy fishes near to the bridge and set them free under the bridge, which was believed to bring you furtune and wealth! Well, to me, by letting the fishes into the muddy dirty water, it seemed that we were killing the fishes, rather than setting them free!

Look at the crowd on top of the bridge! I don't think I wish to squeeze my way through the bridge to the other bank.




I managed to find this website in the internet, which contains very nice pictures of Zhu Jia Jiao, please do NOT compare those pictures with mine, it is a hell lot of difference (between a Professional and an Amateur). Click here for 72 images of Zhu Jia Jiao.
The author wrote this:
Zhu-jia-jiao is just a day tour for many. But I would recommend to spent a night there, especially if your purpose is to take good photos. Light condition is at its best late in the afternoon and early in the morning. With most of tourists gone and locals re-surface on the streets, it becomes a photography heaven.

If I have the chance again, may like to stay a night at Zhu Jia Jiao.