[2025 Shanghai Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuanjin Buddhist Temple (Updated Jul)

🎥 Zhujiajiao Ancient Town -- It was first built in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and became an important commercial hub in the south of the Yangtze River during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It retains a large number of Ming and Qing architecture and traditional features. Its core area is surrounded by the ancient Grand Canal, Dianshan Lake and other water systems, forming a unique Jiangnan water town pattern.. It has the typical Jiangnan water town landscape of "small bridges, flowing water, and ancient alleys", such as the Fangsheng Bridge (the largest five-arch stone arch ancient bridge in East China), the Qing Post Office, Yuanjin Zen Temple, City God Temple, Hexin Garden, Kezhi Garden and other historical buildings. In 1991, it was named one of the "Four Famous Cultural Towns" by Shanghai. In 2017, it was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list, covering intangible cultural heritage such as traditional crafts and folk customs. Tickets: Free for the ancient town, some attractions charge extra -- You can buy some tourist attraction packages online for 75RMB -- Cruise 200RMB/boat (there are also different prices, more expensive...) There are Line A and Line B, and there are 3 boarding points (select when buying tickets) Opening hours: Open all day -- Ticket purchase time: 8:30～16:30 Recommended play time -- Half a day ~ 1 day Our tour route: Eating outside the scenic area - Ginkgo Square/Cimen Street - Chenghuang Temple Bridge - Former Site of Qing Dynasty Post Office - Chenghuang Temple - Yuanjin Zen Temple - Tai'an Bridge - Jiangnan No. 1 Teahouse - Beida Street - Fangsheng Bridge - Nai Xue's Tea/Luckin Coffee - Fangsheng Bridge - Zhushi Market - Grandma's Teahouse - Yong'an Bridge - Simin Mansion Sales Center - Xijing Street Caohe Beach/No. 121 Xijing Street - Hexin Garden - Kezhi Garden - Quanhua Watercolor Art Museum/Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Gate 1 - Jingxu Garden - McDonald's - Handalong Soy Sauce Garden - Tongtianhe National Medicine Store (under construction) ps: 1) The last two places can also be visited after visiting the Qing Dynasty Post Office Site. We chose to check in on the way back because we wanted to return to the original bus stop.. 2) If you don’t buy tickets to additional attractions, you can also visit them at will. I made this guide purely because I didn't want to repeat myself, so I optimized some of the plans.. However, it is not possible to not walk at all. In some places, you can only go back and forth to cross the bridge. However, since the scenery along the way in the ancient town is very soft and pleasant, it feels very romantic to walk there a few times~ Parts I don't understand: 1) The old site of the Qing Dynasty Post Office has now become a place to sell cultural and creative products. Bulk stamps, said to be used for ordinary letters and postcards, but 80 cents stamps are sold for 5 RMB.. I only realized after I paid that the stamp was only worth 80 cents. I felt cheated. 2) "Orange is hot" opposite Jiangnan No. 1 Tea House is a store that sells dried fruits.. They said they wanted half a pound of different types of dried fruits, but they ended up grabbing a lot of each type, and when they weighed it, they didn't tell me that it was over the amount.. Before my mom could hear clearly, the money was deducted from Alipay.. But luckily, I came later. I found something wrong and told him.. The clerk reluctantly took out some and refunded the corresponding amount.. But, this back and forth... the impression is bad... I feel like I want to become a 5A scenic spot as soon as possible. We need to stop businesses from doing this, which makes consumers feel like they are being "cheated". As for the hygiene and service of the scenic spot, I think it is quite good. Worth a visit~ ---- For detailed information about the scenic spot, please refer to the WeChat public account "Happy Tour Zhujiajiao"~

#favouriteitinerary Yuanjin Zen Temple offers a serene and meditative space, perfect for unwinding and clearing the mind. This peaceful sanctuary, with its traditional architecture and calming atmosphere, invites visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. The gentle sound of wind chimes and the soothing scent of incense enhance the tranquil experience. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Yuanjin Zen Temple is an ideal place for reflection and finding inner peace. The serene surroundings and meditative environment provide a much-needed respite from the chaos of modern life. Whether you're walking through the lush gardens or participating in a meditation session, the temple offers a unique opportunity to connect with your inner self and achieve a sense of clarity and calm.

📍Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Shanghai 🚇: Zhujiajiao Station, Metro Line 17 🎫: The ancient town is open all day for free, but some attractions in the town charge admission (Kezhi Garden, Hexin Garden, Helong Art Museum). Tickets for paid attractions can be purchased on the "Le You Zhujiajiao" WeChat account or on site. [Attraction Introduction] Kezhi Garden: A private garden villa that combines the essence of Jiangnan gardens with Western elements. Hexin Garden: Smaller than Kezhi Garden, but the pavilions and towers in the garden are exquisite and elegant, with a view at every step. Fangsheng Bridge: The largest and longest five-hole stone arch bridge in Shanghai, known as the "First Bridge in Shanghai". Helong Art Museum: The exhibition area covers a total of 800 square meters and is said to be the art museum with the largest collection of works by Haipai masters in Shanghai. Yuanjin Zen Temple: The temple offers a wide view of the boats coming and going. It's very pleasant to have a cup of tea at the teahouse on the opposite bank. City God Temple: Don't miss the theater, the big abacus, and the ginkgo tree. Qing Dynasty Post Office: The former site of a Qing Dynasty post office, with some small items such as notebooks, refrigerator magnets, and bookmarks.

#Yuanjin Zen Temple + Zenggao + Dasong Cuibing @ Zhujiajiao ShangHai Walking along the road in the evening, we almost reached Yuanjin Zen Temple. When I was walking back, I saw the words "Zeng Gao" written on the cloth flag, which attracted me. I still vaguely remember the male lead of the TV series The Flowers of War Peter Ho's role is to play Sun Li's husband. When I go out to inspect the shops and come home, I always buy some zong gao for Sun Li to eat. I didn't know what zonggao was before, let alone having eaten it. I bought some to try on my trip to Shanghai. I bought one when I passed by the hotel the day before yesterday and it was delicious. Not too sweet, the sweetness is acceptable, I will come again today. The store also sells Song Dynasty pancakes, which I also bought and ate. There is a sesame aroma and a light sweetness in the mouth. Paired with hot American coffee, If it is served with milk tea, then you need to add less sugar. ##Have you ever tried "Song Dynasty Pancake"?

I've been to Zhujiajiao many times, but I've never been to Yuanjin Zen Temple. This weekend, I took my parents to Zhujiajiao again. We had lunch at a restaurant by the river. I looked up and saw a temple on the west side of Taian Bridge on the opposite bank. I asked the restaurant owner and found out that it was Niangniang Temple (the local name for Yuanjin Zen Temple). We went to visit it after lunch. Yuanjin Zen Temple is located at No. 193, Caohe Street. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty and originally enshrined the statue of the Holy Mother of Chenzhou, so it is commonly known as Niangniang Temple. Yuanjin Zen Temple was rebuilt during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and it was gradually expanded during the Shunzhi and Kangxi periods of the Qing Dynasty, and its scale became larger and larger. Now this temple has Maitreya Hall, Three Saints Hall, Yuantong Bao Hall, Qinghua Pavilion and other halls. The structure is small, there are not many Buddha statues enshrined, but it is well-known. What sets Yuanjin Zen Temple apart is that, starting from the third abbot, Yushi, several abbots were monks who were good at poetry and painting, and often interacted with literati and ink guests, and recited gatherings in the temple. There are still relics such as the "Yongyue Well" and Qinghua Pavilion with the stone inscription "Yongyue" handwritten by Zhao Mengfu in the temple.

#chinatrip Zhujiajiao Water Town, often referred to as the “Venice of the East,” is a picturesque ancient town located just outside of Shanghai. With its quaint canals, stone bridges, traditional houses, and narrow lanes, Zhujiajiao offers a delightful escape into the past. A boat ride along the waterways is a serene experience, allowing visitors to soak in the charming scenery and the town’s unique architectural style. The town is also home to several historical sites, such as the Fangsheng Bridge, Kezhi Garden, and the Yuanjin Buddhist Temple. For those looking to experience a slice of traditional Chinese life and culture, Zhujiajiao Water Town is a perfect day trip destination that captures the essence of old-world China.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is located in Qingpu District, Shanghai, adjacent to Dianshan Lake. It is a historic water town. You can come to watch a sunset in the summer evening, and then take a boat ride in the breeze at night to see the bright lights on both sides of the bank. There are many snack shops along the coast, and it is very comfortable to stroll with friends and family. 🚗Transportation: Parking lot 20 yuan/day. Subway: Exit 1 of Line 17, about 20min walk. You can take a boat directly to Fangsheng Bridge at the subway station. ⏰Recommended play time 3～4h. 🎫Tickets: Free, you can make a reservation at 'Le You Zhujiajiao' or scan the code on site. Some attractions charge separately, 20 yuan each, you can buy a joint ticket. Snack shops are open until 8/9 o'clock. ✅Fangsheng Bridge It is the largest five-hole stone bridge in the Jiangnan area. You can stand on the top of the bridge to watch the passing boats. There are many teahouses on both sides for rest. 📷This place has a wide view and is an excellent spot for photography enthusiasts. ✅Yuanjin Zen Temple 20 yuan Another view, close to the pier, you can also watch the sunset of the ancient town here, it's very photogenic. ✅Dongjing Pavilion Bridge There are relatively fewer tourists here, it's quieter, and there are several teahouses and cafes. ✅North Street Similar to a snack street, lacks characteristics, there are many teahouses and restaurants, you can sit by the river window to watch the boats come and go. ✅Kezhi Garden 20 yuan The garden is named 'Kezhi', which means 'don't forget to farm while studying', so there is a book city in the garden, and a rice fragrance village is opened to match the garden name. Worth a visit. 📝Tips： ▪️The ancient town is heavily commercialized, just enjoy the scenery, there are more people on weekends, try to avoid peak travel. You can come over around three or four in the afternoon, watch the sunset and night view. ▪️There are many alleys in the ancient town that can lead to the river, don't miss the unique view. ▪️The ancient town is very close to Dianshan Lake, you can arrange to play together.

I originally came to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town for a visit, and happened to see a temple, so I went in for a look. Yuanjin Zen Temple is not big, but it has a different feeling in the camera. As winter approaches, the leaves turn slightly yellow. I took some photos of the small scenes in the courtyard. While strolling around, I was also infected by the tranquility of the Buddhist place. Calm your mind and feel the tranquility of the courtyard. 8. Zen Temple Ticket: 10 yuan Location of the scenic spot: On the Zhujiajiao Fangsheng Bridge, you can see the location of the temple and just walk towards it.