If you have half a day to spare while in Shanghai, take a day trip out to Zhujiajiao in the Qingpu district. This ancient water town is only an hour away from the city.
For more than 1700 years, this town, fed by the Dianshan Lake, is made up of water canals. Boats and canoes are the main form of transportation. It’s just like Venice but in China.

As you paddle around the city, you will notice the ancient buildings lining the riverbanks. The village prospers through rice shops, banks, and spice stores. I stopped by one of the many seafood restaurants and tried their specialty: sea snail.

Any one know how to eat these? Hint: you don’t suck them out.

Clothing and souvenir shops line their main street, North Street.

You will see many bridge crossings connecting the town but the most famous bridge is the Fangsheng Bridge. Built in 1571, this bridge is the longest, largest and tallest stone bridge in Shanghai.

After wandering around the town, I ended the trip at Yuanjin Buddhist Temple.

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