Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: I got off at the wrong bus stop

When I first started working in Shanghai, I was extremely unfamiliar with the vast land, and I also took a heavy precaution. Being alone, I don't have the courage to travel around the unknown.

I set off to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town because of subway advertisements.

But the work relationship requires negotiating business everywhere in Shanghai, and gradually I have entered the travel mentality of the unknown - curiosity . One time I was riding the subway, except for the audiobook in my earphones, I happened to have nothing to do with my eyes, so I stared at the commercial TV by the door. TV broadcasts usually promote the policies and beauty of the motherland, interspersed with a few light clips. On the subway with a lot of people, I stared at the advertisement without thinking, and at a certain moment, the beautiful scenery of the trip began to be broadcast on the TV. He said that this place is simple and has an antique atmosphere. It is very close to the city. Jiangnan Water Town - Zhujiajiao Scenic Spot in Qingpu District , that is a leisurely place that I have never seen when I have been working in Shanghai for a period of time. Planning to go on the next vacation. Jiangnan water town, what does it look like?

Ready to go, but I didn't do my homework

The night before I was going to travel, I seriously checked the route to Zhujiajiao Scenic Area. Other information will be explored later.

At that time, there was no direct subway to Zhujiajiao Scenic Area (it opened in 2019!) , so I took the subway twice and then transferred to the bus (in mainland terms) . When I got off the bus at the right point, I just said, "I want to go to Zhujiajiao Scenic Area, where do I get off?" "Just get off at Zhujiajiao."

The display of the arrival location on the bus is not very bright. Fortunately, the person accompanying the bus will intimately "loudly remind" the name of the arrival station before the bus arrives. This kind of service is only available on the bus that greatly crosses the suburban urban area. OH, before the arrival reminder, the attendants occasionally sat in their seats and hummed a tune or chatted with the master (bus driver) between the front and rear of the car. I suspect they have a steely dantian with a strong voice and a voice that can travel far. I can't do this. In short, when I went to the suburbs for the first time, I saw the scenery of the bus, which was very fresh.

Although the driver said to get off at Zhujiajiao. But which one was wrong, I actually recorded it as the drop-off point I found the day before, so I got off the car early. After getting off the station and looking around, there is no liveliness and vitality of the scenic area. It looks like an ordinary residence with scattered shops. Fortunately, I have a smartphone and the Internet on hand. Open the Gaode map, follow the route and walk between the alleys at will. Today is a holiday, time can be splurged, which is good.

Small bridges, running water, and trespassing

The dead white alleys bring dust, Oh, it's really wind and dust. Without too much decoration, the streetscape looks comfortable and comfortable. Occasionally at a fork in the road, you will see long, thin wooden road signs nailed to the wall to guide you in your direction. I walked to the river without knowing it, and the map indicated the bridge to where I was going. On the bridge made of stone, there were dried vegetables from nearby people who were drying them. I couldn't see what it was. The sun near noon is very vicious, but the sun is full of energy at this time. The dried vegetables, small bridges, small rivers, and ancient houses in front of you are dazzling in the sun, but they are indistinguishable from the world. This kind of picture is very interesting, I stop and take pictures. Bathed in the sun, about 1 minute of warm sunlight becomes hurtful. But it doesn't matter. I usually sit in the office with air-conditioning at work. This sunshine reminds me of what life is like.

There are many small alleys here, occasionally deviating from the navigation route and going deep into the alleys on their own. There are many items stacked on both sides of the alley, such as historical bicycles, used pickle buckets, and earth-colored pottery, which should be wine jugs. things". Going inside, there was an old grandmother who was washing vegetables outdoors with her head bowed. Soon, I found out that this was a private residence. Fortunately, my grandmother didn’t find an outsider intruding on the door, so she quickly retreated to the main route.

I feel that there are no tourists passing by Zhujiajiao in this area, and the map shows that I am in the super periphery of the scenic area. At least I stayed there for a long time, and there were no tourists. Having just entered the house privately, I checked my direction outside the alley. There is an old man standing at the entrance of an ancient house next to a small bridge not far away, holding a fan like a bamboo fan to cool down, watching the movement of an outsider like me (hope he doesn't think I want to steal vegetables) , shy me, confirm After the direction, I took two or three more photos and continued to move forward.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, where "living" and "business" are mixed

Although it is an unfamiliar Gaode map, the precise navigation is even more powerful than google map. Along the way, you stop and visit several scenic spots that require tickets. The closer you get to the center of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, there are obviously crowds of people. The ancient houses on the side have changed a little. The houses are unified but have different decorations. Although it is not an exaggeration, You can distinguish the difference between "living" and "business" from the ancient house where you just got off the bus.

Get off at the wrong station, make the ancient town more flavorful

After the trip, share the beauty of Zhujiajiao Scenic Spot with other friends. It is rare to have a leisurely slow pace in an international city. But friends don't think so. He said that it is a real scenic spot, with a strong commercial atmosphere, well-known catering brands, and modern designed buildings. The rectified streets are no different from other ancient towns.

Later, I wondered why the two had very different feelings about it. I think one of the reasons is important, and that is

I got off at the wrong bus stop. The scenery that catches your eye is the real simplicity and life style of the Jiangnan water town.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

• Location: Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
• Open: Open all day
• Official website: http://www.zhujiajiao.com
• Introduction: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Scenic Spot is located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. As one of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River, Zhujiajiao Town was listed as one of the four famous historical and cultural towns in Shanghai in 1991. The ancient town is simple and elegant. A Caogang River divides the town into two parts, north and south. The residential buildings are built along the water. The buildings in Ming and Qing Dynasties are of one style, and the ancient style still exists. It is called "Venice of Shanghai". In recent years, Zhujiajiao Town has become more and more artistic. Coffee shops, bars, book bars, postcard shops and other small shops symbolizing the culture of the ancient town have sprung up one after another, gathering many musicians, travelers and young artists.