Water city Zhujiajiao
The water city of Zhujiajiao was once an independent city, but with the growth of Shanghai it has become a suburb. This is one of the most ancient cities in China, built on water. Historians say that the first settlements in these places existed 5 thousand years ago. Today it is a corner of peace and tranquility next to the noisy and bustling city. Life in “Chinese Venice” goes on as usual, almost the same as 1700 years ago.
Description of the water city Zhujiajiao
This is one of the four cities in China that have been well preserved to this day. Both the houses of the local population and city attractions are perfectly preserved; the bridges attract special attention. There are 36 bridges in the city, all of them are built from different materials. Instead of roads, there are small rivers and canals in this place; boats move smoothly along them.
The main and longest bridge in the town is considered to be the Liberation Bridge or Fangsheng Bridge. It got its name from the tradition of local residents releasing fish, crayfish, river birds and other “unfree” people from this bridge. The bridge is ancient, it was built at the end of the 16th century, paved with tiles and decorated with statues of stone lions. Lions in China are considered sacred animals. The oldest wooden bridge in the water city of Zhujiajiao is called Lan Bridge, which means "gazebo bridge", it actually looks like an elegant wooden gazebo with a carved roof. This bridge is the only wooden crossing in the city; all the others are made of stone or metal.
Features of the water city of Zhujiajiao
In addition to bridges, the city is famous for its picturesque gardens. These are cozy spaces with an abundance of greenery. Every garden must have gazebos for holding various ceremonies and just benches where you can contemplate all the beauty around you. The most famous garden in the city, Ma's Family Garden, bears the name of its owner. A great place for relaxing walks. There is a traditional Chinese pond with huge carp, gazebos and pavilions, stone sculptures.
There are museums in the city on the water of Zhujiajiao; in order to visit them, it is proposed to purchase a single ticket. In museums you can get acquainted with the life and crafts of the old city. On several narrow streets there is a market where they offer a wide variety of goods and numerous souvenirs that can be purchased in memory of the trip. When visiting the water city of Zhujiajiao, it is worth special mentioning the local food. For those who have never encountered Asian cuisine, it may seem too exotic. Not everyone has the courage to try it; in this case, cafes and restaurants serving traditional European food are open in the city.
