Zhujiajiao Two-Day Travel Guide

Duration: 2 Days
Time: June

Average Cost: 600 Yuan per person
With Whom: Family
Activities: Cultural, Free Travel, Weekend Getaway
Author visited these places: Zhujiajiao, Oriental Green Boat, People’s Square, Release Bridge, City God Temple, Daqing Post Office, Kezhi Garden, First Line Street
Published on 2020-06-19 16:11
Zhujiajiao is probably one of the most favorite ancient towns for people in Shanghai. It is located within the city, with a long history, and offers plenty to see and eat. There are also established family entertainment venues like the Oriental Green Boat nearby. Compared to Xitang and Wuzhen, although less famous, it is relatively less crowded and quieter. Spending a weekend here, strolling around, and adjusting one’s state is also very good.
Transportation: Self-driving is the most convenient way to get to Zhujiajiao, just follow the navigation. Take A9 from Yan’an Road Elevated to Zhujiajiao exit – or along National Highway 318 – turn onto Xiangningbang Road after arriving at Zhujiajiao to reach the destination. Public transport, the subway cannot directly reach, the best way is to take the coach at the parking lot under Yan’an East Road Elevated at People’s Square.
Arriving in Zhujiajiao was a spontaneous decision. With children in school, opportunities for the family of three to travel together are few, mainly during winter and summer vacations and weekends. This weekend trip was quite lucky, as it coincided with a regatta and night market, making it much livelier than usual.
DAY1: Zhuli Jusha – Ancient Town – Terrace Dinner
Stayed at Zhuli Jusha Hot Spring Hotel, located inside the ancient town, with an excellent geographical location, adjacent to the ancient canal, just a 2-minute walk from the Release Bridge, very convenient. You can stroll around the ancient town whenever you want, and it’s okay to stay out late. The entrance is not very eye-catching, which should be in line with the style of Jusha, and you might miss it if you’re not careful. It has an access control system, enter with a card, very private and safe, the rooms use keys, remember to lock the door.
Upon entering, there is a dry landscape courtyard style, very Japanese, with a small Buddhist niche. The ground is paved with white crushed stones, combined with some neatly stacked stone groups to form a miniature garden landscape. The ‘water’ in dry landscape is usually represented by sand and stones, sometimes with patterns drawn on the surface of the sand to represent the flow of water. And ‘mountains’ are usually represented by rocks. If you change into a bathrobe, you can take a series of beautiful photos pretending to be in Japan, which is also very good. Zhuli Jusha is another work of Jusha. ‘Zhuli’ comes from the ancient name of Zhujiajiao; and ‘Jusha’ comes from the ‘Abhidharma-kosa’ by Vasubandhu, which is a translation from the ancient Indian language ‘kosa’, meaning the container of body and mind. Here you can enjoy the relaxation of both body and mind, allowing one to temporarily leave the mundane world and return to the past.
The lobby features an array of ornamental items and handcrafted pieces, each exquisitely crafted. Some of the objects are for sale, so if you’re interested, you can inquire about their prices. There is a tea house here as well as a space for copying scriptures and writing. Occasionally, events are held here, so you might be fortunate enough to encounter one. The corridors are slightly lower than in other places, which gives a more authentic Japanese ambiance. There is also a small courtyard inside. Our room is on the third floor, named ‘Aoi,’ with other rooms named after different trees such as ‘Tong,’ which easily brings to mind ‘The Tale of Genji.’ Those who appreciate Japanese culture should quickly grasp the subtleties of this setting. The room is designed in a Zen style, with a tea house aesthetic—low-key yet spacious, fully equipped for bathing without the need to bring your own supplies. Remember, this is a nude bathing facility, so there’s no need to bring a swimsuit. The room and the external environment are cohesive, with bamboo screens for partitions, tatami mats, tea for sipping, and snacks for tasting, creating a wonderful experience. Upon entering, my husband began to primp, saying he was rushed when I pulled him out and needed to shave before taking the hot spring bath. Ah, what need is there to shave before a hot spring bath? Nevertheless, I couldn’t stop him. The triple-ring electric razor he used to use was a constant ‘drag’ on every journey. Whether it was searching for it before leaving or often realizing it was forgotten, he would often travel with stubble. This time, I was about to remark that ‘shaving would be futile,’ but he had a trump card—the Gillette travel set. It turns out he bought it at Watsons the day before departure in a rush. There wasn’t time to unpack it, so he just brought it along. Surprisingly, this razor has a quite good look. Don’t think that men don’t need to look good; when it comes to refinement, men have more variety than women. The travel set that won my heart the most is the included razor case, with a black matte texture, about the size of an eyeglass case, which is very convenient to carry in a bag without taking up space or worrying about damaging the bag. The hygiene aspect is also ensured! It suddenly occurred to me that it matches the Zen style of this trip quite well. My husband said his favorite feature of this razor is the five-blade system, which is very ‘generous’ in material! One shave with this razor can replace several with other razors, leaving no trace of stubble. Moreover, the small ball beneath the razor head can move in all directions, even my husband’s square face can be managed without missing any corner. It’s very smooth and convenient to use, saving a lot of time in the morning, making it very suitable for travel or business trips. It also comes with a two-in-one shaving foam and facial cleanser, which can be used as both a shaving foam and a facial cleanser to remove oiliness, which is also very convenient. Especially as the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching and the weather is getting hot, the face tends to get oily.
It can deeply clean the skin while shaving, alleviating oiliness issues. My husband mentioned that his colleague has been using it consistently and now his face remains refreshing throughout the day! In terms of cleaning, it is more convenient than the three-ring electric razor; a simple rinse under water removes the residual beard from the blade. Once he finishes tidying up, we can head to the hot spring together. Please note, the hot spring has specific time slots, which differ on weekends and weekdays, with sessions in the morning, afternoon, and evening. There are separate sections for men and women. Zhuli Jusha has introduced the Japanese bathing culture, allowing one to enjoy the beauty of the courtyard while soaking. There are changing rooms, bathing areas, and a dry sauna. After thoroughly rinsing the body, soaking in the hot spring provides an authentic experience, which my daughter thoroughly enjoyed, claiming it was so comfortable she didn’t want to leave. She carefully read the hot spring guidelines. After soaking, you can go out and explore. Adjacent to the Fangsheng Bridge, there are sightseeing boats and a rowing club, with a plethora of food options. Even without crossing the Fangsheng Bridge, there’s plenty to enjoy. The main attractions in Zhujiajiao include the City God Temple, the Qing Dynasty Post Office, Yuanjin Zen Temple, Kezhi Garden, and Yixian Street. Currently, Yuanjin Zen Temple and the City God Temple are under renovation and not open to the public, but the rest remain accessible for those interested in visiting. Every time we visit a water town, we take a boat, but this time, we opted to stroll along the riverbank, as we wanted to take photos. With the children, we took numerous pictures, and Zhujiajiao, like other water towns, has many branching paths, which can lead to unexpected discoveries. There’s an abundance of food here, with no shortage of dining options, especially the famous local grandmother’s zongzi (rice dumplings), which are a must-try when visiting. With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, all the zongzi shops are bustling, and their zongzi are made fresh with visible ingredients—plenty of meat and generous size. There’s also a local specialty called ‘Xun La Si’, which originates from Qingpu and is rarely seen elsewhere, so it’s worth trying if you come here. It’s a delicacy known only to the locals. In the evening, I recommend visiting Fangsheng Bridge for a panoramic view, as the sunset is truly stunning. We have a reservation for a rooftop dinner at Xuan He Li Boutique Hotel, and even with the children, we need a touch of romance. The rooftop is a small garden with seasonal hydrangeas in full bloom. It’s the highest vantage point in the ancient town. With a bottle of sparkling wine and a candlelight dinner, I am very satisfied with the arrangements. After dinner, you can explore the night market, which has just opened, offering distinctive rice wine beverages, almost non-alcoholic, and even better when chilled, along with various local specialties and handmade crafts. The night view is also very beautiful. Rest well at night. DAY2 Hotel- Ancient Town The next morning, the hotel’s breakfast is on the second floor, with each room having a guide and a sign indicating the separate, set-menu offerings.
Salmon and Kanto stew are both my favorites. Surprisingly, there were more people on Sunday than Saturday, so we decided to head in the direction of Yuanjin Zen Temple. Indeed, the crowd was reduced by more than half. Experience tells us that when traveling, occasionally following the mainstream path also offers a unique experience. Look here, this is the tranquility that a water town should have. There are also many riverside shops with a variety of food options, which is quite normal considering Shanghai’s prices. Securing a good spot, one can sit and enjoy the afternoon. The styles of Hanfu rental here are not very appealing; those who like to wear them are advised to bring their own for photo opportunities. I truly envy the residents of the ancient town. The two-day journey has come to a swift end. Let’s plan another trip for the Dragon Boat Festival.

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