This isn't Kurashiki, Japan, it's Zhujiajiao, Shanghai.

Zhujiajiao is a place that Shanghai locals are very familiar with. It's a popular destination for school trips and company team-building events. I visited Zhujiajiao on a weekday, thinking there would be fewer people (I was wrong, there were still a lot of people). Here are some of my personal impressions of the place: 1️⃣ It's becoming more international There are noticeably more foreign tour groups, and some non-English-speaking foreigners even hire private tour guides. (I hope more visa-free opportunities will be available to other countries, so people from all over the world can experience the beauty of Jiangnan water towns and the vastness of China.) The shopkeepers have also started speaking English. As you walk along the commercial street, you'll hear them speaking Shanghainese, Mandarin, and English to attract customers. 2️⃣ The scenic area is cleaner The visitor center, parking lot, and restrooms in the scenic area are all cleaner and better marked than before. The routes are also more organized, and most (foreign) tourists have a map of Zhujiajiao in hand. 3️⃣ The scenic area has more to offer In addition to the water town, boat rides, specialty snack shops, and specialty stores, there are now many unique coffee shops and designer homestays, allowing visitors to enjoy the different beauty of Zhujiajiao during the day and at night. Enough chit-chat, let's get to the good stuff. 🔍 How to get there If you're driving, search for "Zhujiajiao North Gate Parking Lot" on your map app. If you're taking the subway, take Line 11 to "Zhujiajiao Station" and walk 2 km (about 20 minutes) after getting off. 🧳 Best time to visit Zhujiajiao is best visited in the fall when the temperature and sunlight are just right. Although it's fall, it's best to bring a hat and sunglasses to avoid direct sunlight. If you're short on time, you can spend half a day there. If you want to fully experience the water town, you can stay overnight. 🎫 Free admission 🅿️ CNY 20 per car 🚶 Things to do Mainly to see the Jiangnan water town; dress up in traditional Chinese clothing and take photos by the river; visit the Buddhist temple to see the Buddha statues and make a wish; the City God Temple is also free to visit; boat rides are CNY 200 per boat, clearly priced. 🥢 What to eat Don't miss the famous meat zongzi and zha rou; sugarcane juice and flower fruit tea are good drink options; there are also many unique coffee shops: the best thing is to drink coffee while petting cats. There's an old lady selling maltose, be sure to check it out. 🏨 Where to stay There are several homestays in the scenic area, with prices starting at CNY 200. You can search for them on the platform. I haven't stayed there, so I'm not sure about the environment. I may have forgotten to write something, so feel free to add anything if you're familiar with Qingpu!