Qibao Ancient Town, a lesser-known destination in Shanghai, is a half-hour subway ride away to the water town

If you come to Qibao and only visit Qibao Old Street, you may be disappointed. In fact, Qibao Ancient Town is not just the bustling Qibao Old Street, there are also many small alleys where locals live, full of real life. Here, waterways crisscross, ancient bridges are densely covered, and a group of temples with a long history are hidden inside. It's only a half-hour subway ride from the city, making it a particularly worthwhile water town to visit. Strolling around here, you can feel the strong old times of the Shanghai suburbs. The history of Qibao: Qibao Town is named after a temple, and it has a history of a thousand years. There are not a few ancient towns in Shanghai that are named after temples, such as Nanxiang, Longhua, Fahua, Zhenru, etc. There is also a saying that goes, 'Ten years in Shanghai, look at Pudong, a hundred years in Shanghai, look at the Bund, a thousand years in Shanghai, look at Qibao'. The 'Seven Treasures' are: Flying Buddha, Cuan Bell, Golden Lotus Sutra, Divine Tree, Golden Rooster, Jade Axe, Jade Chopsticks. ✔️Qibao Old Street The busiest street in Qibao Ancient Town, but this street is not much different from most ancient town commercial streets, with food everywhere. Even on weekdays, there are many people. The dumplings and mutton here are worth a try, and you can also taste the rare Shanghai snack, smoked silk (smoked toad). ✔️Qibao Catholic Church A Roman-style building with a history of 150 years, located in a small alley in a residential area in the southern part of the ancient town. It's quite hidden, and compared to the bustling Qibao Old Street, it's particularly quiet. When I went, it was not open, so I could only look at the exterior, but you can try your luck. ✔️Nan Qibao Temple A small temple that started in the Western Jin Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,700 years. The temple is not large, but the incense is constant. There is a huge ginkgo tree planted in the courtyard, which can be seen from a distance and is particularly spectacular. In late autumn, it is full of ginkgo fruits, and you can often see monks in the temple picking them up with a bamboo basket. The sound of ginkgo leaves rustling in the wind, falling all over the ground in golden beauty, makes people reluctant to leave. ✔️Qibao Jiao Temple The Qibao Tower, which can be seen from a distance in Qibao Ancient Town, is located here. This is a large-scale temple group, including Qibao Tower, Daxiong Treasure Hall, Four-faced Guanyin, etc. There are many people coming to burn incense. Practical tips: Transportation: 500 meters walk from Qibao subway station on Line 9 Cost: Free Qibao Ancient Town Nan Qibao Temple Qibao Jiao Temple Qibao Old Street Qibao Catholic Church