Xinchang Ancient Town

You don't need to leave Shanghai to experience the true Jiangnan. Step into this thousand-year-old treasure, a little-known ancient town, with small bridges over flowing water, white walls and black tiles, ancient streets and old shops. The residents here are simple and harmonious. The ancient town was also the filming location for many famous movies and TV dramas, where every casual snapshot captures the ink-wash essence of Jiangnan. Location: 128 Haiquan Street, Pudong New District, Xinchang Ancient Town Transportation: Take the subway Line 16 to Xinchang Station, then take a taxi or bike for 3 kilometers to reach the entrance. Admission: Free

【About Xinchang Ancient Town】 The first time I visited Xinchang, I didn't expect to find such a large-scale ancient town in Pudong, which was somewhat unexpected. Some ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River were born out of rice transportation, such as Jinze in Qingpu, Shanghai, and Cangcheng in Songjiang. Others were born out of brick-making, like Ganyao Town in Jiashan County. The formation of Xinchang Ancient Town is somewhat different; it originated from salt production. During the Song Dynasty, the Nanhui Xia Sha salt fields moved south to form new salt fields, hence the name 'Xinchang', which means 'new field'. Since the Song Dynasty, this place has gradually become a residence for salt workers, a production site, and a trading spot for goods. – Having visited many ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, one might feel that they all look the same. I recall a saying by a mogul that resonates with me, 'Today's ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River are all too similar, generally sharing the same commercialized appearance. However, the centuries of accumulation have given each old street its own soul. Beneath the seemingly identical facades lie vastly different experiences and personalities. What is truly lacking might be the patience and time to appreciate them in detail.' – 【Highlights of Xinchang Ancient Town】 The main street of the ancient town runs north to south in a narrow and long shape, about 2 kilometers long, with the ground entirely paved with bluestone slabs, and mostly shops on both sides. The 'Three Generations, Two Ranks' archway in the middle of the old street marks the boundary; to the north, the commercial area is denser, with various small shops closely packed together. To the south, the commercial area is relatively sparse, with the southernmost end being the Nanshan Ancient Temple, which houses two 700-year-old ginkgo trees. – In addition, there are many ancient residential buildings in the town, with more than 20 three-section courtyards and 68 Yi gates, worth exploring. A few notable large houses include: ① Xi's Hall A sizable Qing Dynasty old house with a blend of Chinese and Western styles, it was the residence of the owner of the 'Xi Changsheng' pharmacy during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Address: Lane 122, Hongdong Street ② Zheng's Mansion Upon entering, one is amazed by the grandeur of the large mansion, which is four stories high. It is the tallest and largest building among all the ancient buildings in Xinchang Town. Currently renovated, the first floor is a legal exhibition park, which can be visited for free. Address: No. 199, Xinchang Street ③ Zhang's Mansion Zhang's Mansion was originally built in the mid-Qing Dynasty and was the ancestral home of Zhang Xinchang, a wealthy man in Xinchang. It is still inhabited by Zhang's descendants. Address: No. 303, Xinchang Street – Address: No. 128, Haiquan Street, Xinchang Town, Pudong New District Ticket: Free admission to the ancient town. Exhibition hall 18 yuan/person Transportation: Drive to Xinchang Ancient Town parking lot. Metro Line 16 Xinchang Station, 2.3 kilometers away from the ancient town

Xinchang, historically prosperous due to salt, is now one of the few ancient towns in Shanghai, quietly nestled in its own corner. A single Xinchang Street runs through the entire ancient town, but it is divided into North Street and South Street by a horizontal road. The commercial activities are mainly concentrated in the north, where most tourists gather, while the southern part is more original. At the end of South Street, there is a Nanshan Temple said to be 600 years old, but judging by the building itself, it must have been newly constructed in recent years. Besides the central old street, the more interesting part of the ancient town is the leisure street along the river. The further you go, the fewer tourists there are, and it is very peaceful. The most famous building in the ancient town is the No.1 Teahouse. Many films and TV dramas have been shot here, among which 'Lust, Caution' is the most well-known. The scene between Tony Leung and Tang Wei was filmed on the second floor of this riverside teahouse. Now, you can also sit in the seats where the two stars once sat, lean against the window, order a pot of clear tea, and leisurely watch the comings and goings on the bridge below. If you encounter a rainy day, the atmosphere is even more enchanting. Chicken broth tofu, yellow croaker wontons, and peach blossom pastries are specialties of the teahouse. A bowl of chicken broth tofu is substantial, but the taste is not particularly outstanding; what you pay for here is the environment. It is worth mentioning that the postal code of Xinchang ancient town is 201314, which has a beautiful implication. You can buy a postcard on the first floor and send it to your loved one; the mailbox is just 50 meters outside the door. For those who like coffee, there is a good place called One Foot Garden, located on the edge of the ancient town. The interior mostly uses original wood-colored tables, chairs, and cabinets, with warm light from small lamps, and large green plants everywhere, creating a cozy atmosphere. Perhaps to meet the needs of customers who hold events, in addition to private rooms, there is even a separate projection room. If you prefer outdoor seating, you can also sit in the courtyard's atrium. Around mealtime, there are many restaurants in the ancient town, most of which offer similar farmhouse dishes. Soup pork skin, white-cut chicken, steamed three delicacies, goose liver, and so on, are almost standard in every restaurant, but there are slight differences in taste due to the different chefs' techniques. Shiwu Xuan is a good choice, especially their pork skin, which is very delicious. Before leaving the ancient town, you can also buy some local specialties, such as grass head cakes, large meat zongzi, shumai, and salted meat, which are quite popular with tourists. Compared to these, it feels more genuine to buy fresh vegetables like fava beans sold by farmers along the street. Transportation: Line 16 has already opened Xinchang Station, but it is still about 3 kilometers away from the ancient town. Tickets: There is no admission fee for the ancient town, but some memorial halls in the town require tickets.

Some places can't say exactly where they are good, but they are unforgettable. For me, Shanghai is such a place - it is both the first stop of my trip and the city I have visited the most. It has both the prosperity of modern cities and the beauty of Jiangnan water towns. High-rise buildings and alleyways shine each other, elegant and lazy coexist. Various seemingly contradictory but harmoniously coexisting elements are breathtaking, and inclusiveness and diversity are the most fascinating places in Magic City. 🌟Classic check-in route ➡️City God Temple-Yuyuan Garden-Bund-Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street The must-check route for the first time to Shanghai. The "old Shanghai" and the "new era" coexist. Religious buildings, Jiangnan gardens, skyscrapers, snack commercial streets, this route includes them all. If you have time, you can also visit the nearby Shanghai Museum, but the museum has many people during the holidays and needs to be booked in advance. 🌟City walk route ➡️Wukang Road/Yuyuan Road/Hengshan Road/Sweet Love Road/Duolun Road If you don't want to go to the crowded check-in spots, just find a road to see the plane trees and old houses, and you can occasionally find some special small shops or cafes. 🌟Jiangnan ancient town route ➡️Xinchang Ancient Town/Nanxiang Ancient Town/Fengjing Ancient Town/Zhujiajiao Ancient Town You don't need to go to Suzhou and Hangzhou, there are small bridges and flowing water in Shanghai. If you go to Xinchang Ancient Town, remember to bring a postcard, the postal code there is 201314. 🌟Second element route ➡️EVA Unit 0/Gundam Statue/Baolian ZX/Meiluo City Known as China's Akihabara, the city with the highest concentration of the second element in China, arranging a whole day of the second element journey is also a good choice. 🌟Fairy tale route ➡️Disneyland Disney must arrange a whole day, stay near the park one day in advance, or near the subway station near the park, start early the next day, and prepare to welcome a day of many people and happiness. 🚌Transportation Buses and subways are very convenient, Alipay, Cloud Flash Pay and WeChat can all open electronic bus cards, or directly download a metropolis app. 🏠Accommodation It is recommended to stay near People's Square and Nanjing Road, which is convenient for travel and dining, and you can go to the Bund to blow the wind at night. 🍜Food Fried dumplings and small steamed buns are local snacks, and crayfish are also very good. Some special themed restaurants need to be booked, so you can do some homework in advance.