This ancient town in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area is truly perfect for a family trip!

As the weather gets hotter and summer vacation arrives, family trips begin! This is a rare time for the whole family to go out together, inheriting traditional cultural essence while integrating modern consumer characteristics, becoming a typical example of the changes in New Year customs under the background of social and economic development and technological progress! According to data, the number of family trips has increased by 19% year-on-year, outbound trips have grown by 28%, and trips involving three generations account for over 30%. Moreover, family trips are also a way to strengthen family bonds! So the question is, where to go during free time? I recommend an ancient town in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area, full of vibrant local life, truly suitable for family trips. If you like, come and visit! The town to talk about is Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, with a history tracing back to the Three Kingdoms period. By the Song and Yuan dynasties, the town had already formed a market. It reached its peak in the late Qing and early Republic periods, featuring highlights such as Beidajie (North Street), Kezhiyuan Garden, and the Qing Dynasty Post Office! Over time, with environmental improvements and various facility upgrades, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town was approved as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. In September 2024, it was selected as one of the "Top Ten Ancient Towns Loved by Inbound Tourists," truly a treasure area! Especially at nightfall, the lights of the water towns in Jiangnan light up one after another, presenting a stunning, picturesque night scene! First-time visitors can follow this route: Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourist Area - Southwest Ground Parking Lot — Quanhua Watercolor Art Museum — Kezhiyuan Garden — Hexinyuan Garden — Zhonglong Bridge — Yong’an Bridge — Fangsheng Bridge — Fangsheng Pavilion — Beidajie [Shanghai’s first Ming and Qing dynasty street, a street full of snacks] — Taian Bridge — Yuanjin Zen Temple — Gong Family Residence — City God Temple — Wang Chang Memorial Hall — Zhujiajiao Qing Dynasty Post Office — Yongfeng Bridge — Guanyin Pavilion — Zhongguanyin Bridge — Shanghai Handicraft Zhujiajiao Exhibition Hall — Zhaxi Dawa Tibetan Culture Experience Hall — Shanghai Helong Art Museum (Zhujiajiao Exhibition Area) — Fangsheng Bridge — Kezhiyuan Garden — Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourist Area - Southwest Ground Parking Lot. This trip takes about 6 hours, plus lunch and dinner. Enjoying the night view, it fits perfectly into one day, with highlights including: Kezhiyuan Garden, initially built over 15 years by merchant Ma Wenqing, features attractions like the "Library Tower" and "Daoxiang Village," echoing the garden’s name. It not only gathers the essence of Jiangnan gardens but also blends Chinese architectural art with Western architectural culture, becoming a manor-style private garden combining East and West. It’s perfect for photoshoots in qipao or hanfu! Hexinyuan Garden, a private garden museum combining Jiangnan garden art and historical collections, integrates Ming and Qing architectural aesthetics, modern collection culture, and traditional gentry life narratives, uniquely witnessing the cultural accumulation of the ancient town. Yuanjin Zen Temple, built during the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizheng period (1341), is a famous ancient temple in the town. It houses a statue of the Chen Zhou Holy Mother, also known as "Niangniang Temple." The structure is compact, with few but exquisitely carved and radiant Buddha statues, solemn and dignified, suitable for prayer and sightseeing. Qing Dynasty Post Office is a place easy to miss. Built in the 29th year of the Guangxu reign, it was one of Shanghai’s thirteen main post stations at the time and the only preserved Qing Dynasty post office site in East China. Outside stands a bronze dragon mailbox modeled after the Qing Dynasty, a unique symbol of Zhujiajiao. Shanghai Handicraft Zhujiajiao Exhibition Hall regularly showcases works by masters. Zhaxi Dawa Tibetan Culture Experience Hall makes you feel like you are in Tibet. The two-story experience hall displays Tibetan cultural features such as prayer wheels, yaks, and thangka paintings, and has a second-floor area modeled after Tibetan homes, immersing visitors in Tibetan living environments. Note that, like Nanxun Ancient Town, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is free to visit, but some attractions charge admission. There is an optional combo ticket for 60 yuan (including Kezhiyuan Garden, Hexinyuan Garden, and Shanghai Helong Art Museum (Zhujiajiao Exhibition Area)), which can also be purchased separately. After the tour, many will discover the extraordinary charm and heritage of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. The town preserves many Ming and Qing buildings and traditional street layouts. The water town scenery is uniquely enchanting. On Beidajie: long streets lined with shops and abundant food, featuring specialties like braised pork, zongzi, shaomai, sock-bottom crisp, and gorgon fruit cake, leaving a lasting impression. Traditional handicraft shops also offer a strong sense of local life and unique regional culture. At night, the scenery is even more spectacular, with bright lights transforming the town into a soft, flowing scene. There are fewer tourists than during the day, and the bustle quiets down a bit. Shops line both sides of the city river neatly, with red lanterns hanging under the eaves, reflecting on the water, lighting up the water town with warmth and gentleness. For family trips here, enjoy food and fun during the day, and at night savor the lively atmosphere, chatting with locals about all kinds of topics. A vivid and carefree Jiangnan life scene unfolds slowly in the night! For those with refined tastes, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, you can listen to professional Pingtan performers deliver wonderful shows. The soft Wu dialect singing, accompanied by the tinkling pipa and melodious sanxian, flows like a clear spring in your heart! Transportation: By car: Navigate to "Shanghai Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourist Area - Southwest Ground Parking Lot," close to the entrance with plenty of parking spaces. By public transport: Take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station Exit 1, then take a boat ride (40 yuan) or transfer to Zhujiajiao Bus Route 1 or 2 to "Zhuhu Road Kezhiyuan Road Station," or walk 20 minutes. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Practical Information: Free admission, optional combo ticket 60 yuan, open all day, located at No. 555 Kezhiyuan Road, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai. Self-driving is recommended. So, what do you think? Are you interested in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town? Feel free to leave comments and discuss!