City God Temple Taoist Temple

(Chénghuáng Miào; Caohe Jie; admission ¥10; 7.30am-4pm) Moved here in 1769 from its original location in Xuějiābāng, this temple stands on the west side of the recently built City God Temple bridge.

Yuánjīn Buddhist Temple Buddhist Temple

(Yuánjīn Chánsì; Caohe Jie; admission ¥5; 8am-4pm) This Buddhist temple not far from the distinctive Tài’ān Bridge (Tài’ān Qiáo) is most notable for its Qīnghuá Pavilion (Qīnghuá Gé), a towering hall visible from many parts of town.

Zhūjiājiao Catholic Church of Ascension Church

(Zhūjiājiao Yēsū Shēng­tiāntáng; 27 Caohe Jie, No 317 Alley; 27 317) Built in 1863, this brick church stands alongside a lovingly cultivated courtyard decorated with a statue of Joseph holding a baby Jesus.

Tours

At various points, including Fángshēng Bridge, you can hop aboard six-person row boats (per boat 15/30min ¥60/120) for waterborne tours of the town.

Eating & Drinking

Food sellers line Bei Dajie, flogging everything from pigs’ trotters to plump coconuts, above which flail plastic bags of fans to fend off flies. Plentiful cafes have squeezed in along Caohe Jie, Xihu Jie and Donghu Jie, and even a creperie has set up shop near Yongquan Bridge.

Sleeping in Zhūjiājiao

» Uma Hostel ( 189 1808 2961; [e-mail]; 103 Xijing Jie; 103 dm/d ¥80/240; ) Try the delightful Uma Hostel, by Kèzhí Garden (Kèzhí Yuán), with its high ceilings, wooden furniture and bohemian feel. There’s wi-fi and breakfast, but not many rooms, so book. Otherwise, look out for signs reading &#x2018 ‘ (kèfáng; guestrooms).

Zhōuzhuāng

Explore

Propelled to national fame by Chen Yifei’s idyllic old paintings, Zhōu­zhuāng is Jiāngsū’s best-known water town. Sixty kilometres from Shànghai, the picturesque canal town is regularly inundated with visitors, but there’s no denying the appeal of its waterside views, quaint bridges and ancient households.

If you can steal a lead on the crowds, it’s possible to eke out classical red-lantern vignettes of water-town China and some enthralling courtyard architecture. Admission to Zhōuzhuāng is ¥100 (including 16 sights), but there is free access after 8pm.

The Best…

» Sight Shen’s House (Click here)

» Place to Drink Zhōuzhuāng International Youth Hostel bar (Click here)

Top Tip

It’s straightforward to tie Zhūjiājiao, Zhōuzhuāng, Tóngli and Sūzhōu together by bus, without having to return to Shànghai.

Getting There & Away

Bus Buses (¥140 return, including admission, 90 minutes, from 7am) depart for Zhōuzhuāng regularly from the Shànghai Sightseeing Bus Centre. From the drop-off at the bus station, turn left and walk for 15 minutes over Zhōuzhuāng Bridge (Zhōuzhuāng Dàqiáo) to the old town and the ticket office by the gate. A taxi will cost around ¥10; pedicabs charge roughly the same. The last bus back to Shànghai is at 5pm. Buses also run from Shànghai long-distance bus station (¥25, six per day) and Shànghai south long-distance bus station (¥25, two per day). Buses (¥20, 90 minutes, 6.55am to 5.20pm) leave for Zhōuzhuāng every half-hour from the north long-distance bus station in Sūzhōu. Hourly buses (¥10, 50 minutes, 6.30am to 4.30pm) run to Zhōuzhuāng from Zhūjiājiao’s small bus stand opposite the bus station on Xiangningbang Lu. Frequent buses (¥6, 30 minutes) shuttle between Zhōuzhuāng and Tóngli. Boats (single/return ¥180/250, 20 minutes) also run along the waterways to Tóngli from Zhōuzhuāng.

Need to Know

» Area Code 0512

» Location 60km west of Shànghai

» Tourist Office Zhōuzhuāng Visitor Centre (Zhōuzhuāng Yóukè Zhōngxīn; 5721 1655; Quanfu Lu, near memorial archway)

Sights

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14