Pearl Pagoda Pagoda

(Zhēnzhū Ta; 9am-5.30pm) In the north of Tóngli is the Pearl Pagoda, originally the home of a Ming-dynasty official, containing a large residential compound, an ancestral hall, a garden and even an opera stage.

Gēnglè Táng Historic Building

( 9am-5.30pm) There are three old residences that you’ll pass at some point during your wander, the best of which is this vast Ming-dynasty country estate with 41 rooms and courtyards in the west of town.

Sleeping in Tóngli

Guesthouses (kèzhàn) are in abundance.

» Zhèngfú Caotáng ( 6332 0576; www.zfct.net; 138-58 Mingqing Jie; 138-58 d from ¥480-1180, ste ¥1380; ) Try Zhèngfú Caotáng, a beautifully restored courtyard hotel. All 14 rooms are splendidly arrayed with traditional antique-style furniture and underfloor heating.

» Tóngli International Youth Hostel ( 6333 9311; 210 Zhuhang Jie; 210 dm ¥45, r ¥120-150; ) In two locations. The main one is off Zhongchuan Beilu, with rooms decorated with traditional furniture, and the wooden pillars and stone courtyard ooze atmosphere. The other location beside Taiping Bridge has compact dorms, and shared-bathroom doubles.

Zhūjiājiao

Explore

Thirty kilometres west of Shànghai, the pleasant canal town of Zhūjiājiao is easy as a day trip from Shànghai. Even though the settlement is far older, the town prospered during the Ming dynasty, when a commercial centre developed on its network of waterways. What survives today is a charming tableau of Ming- and Qing-dynasty alleys, bridges and old town (guzhèn) architecture.

The riverside settlement is small enough to wander completely in three hours. You’ll be tripping over souvenir shops and their vocal vendors, and you can buy anything from a pair of children’s tiger shoes to ‘antique’ Chinese eyeglasses. Admission to town, including entry to four/nine of the main sights, is ¥30/90.

The Best…

» Sight Fángshēng Bridge (Click here)

» Place to Sleep Uma Hostel (Click here)

» Tourist Office Xinfeng Lu, Zhūjiājiao (http://en.zhujiajiao.com; English guide half-/whole day ¥120/200; 8am-4.30pm)

Top Tip

Visit Zhūjiājiao during the week, as weekends and holidays see the canal town’s narrow streets packed with sightseers.

Getting There & Away

Bus The best way to reach Zhūjiājiao from Shànghai is from Pu’an Rd Bus Station (Pu’ān Lù Qìchē Zhàn; Dashijie), just south of People’s Square, where Hùzhū Gāosù Kuàixiàn buses (¥12, one hour, every 20 minutes from 6am to 10pm, less frequently in low season) run direct to the town. Nine daily buses (¥15.50, one hour, 8.25am to 4.15pm) run between Tóngli bus station and Zhūjiājiao; they drop you on the main road, a 10-minute walk from the old town (guzhèn).

Need to Know

» Area Code 021

» Location 30km west of Shànghai

Sights

Fángshēng Bridge Bridge

(Fángshēng Qiáo) Of Zhūjiājiao’s quaint band of ancient bridges, the stand­out must be the graceful, 72m-long, five-arched Fángshēng Bridge, first built in 1571 with proceeds from a monk’s 15 years of alms-gathering.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14