A Village Over 1,700 Years Old, an Hour From Shanghai

I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Zhujiajiao (朱家角) is a traditional water town about 46-48km west of downtown Shanghai, founded during the Han dynasty over 1,700 years ago. It's sometimes called "Shanghai's Venice" — a network of canals, 36 old stone bridges, and streets lined with Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. The best nearby day trip if you want to escape the city's pace for a few hours.

Quick Answer

Zhujiajiao is a water town over 1,700 years old, an hour from Shanghai — a network of canals, 36 ancient stone bridges, and Ming and Qing dynasty architecture.

⏳ Over 1,700 years old🌉 36 ancient stone bridges🚗 1 hour from Shanghai

How Do You Get There? (Real Routes and Prices)

Metro (cheapest): Metro Line 17 from Hongqiao Railway Station gets you to Zhujiajiao in about an hour, for ¥10-12.
Taxi/Didi: around ¥200 from downtown Shanghai, roughly an hour (longer during rush hour).
Huzhu Express bus: a budget option, but takes 1-2.5 hours.
Private driver: the most comfortable option with family — drops you right at the village entrance with no hassle, and can continue on to Suzhou or Hangzhou the same day if you want.

How Much Are the Tickets?

Entry to the village itself is completely free. You only need a ticket if you want to enter specific sites inside it — ¥30 for four sites, or ¥60 for eight sites. For a boat ride: a short tour (about 10 minutes) is ¥80 per boat, and a longer tour is ¥150.

💡 Tip from experience: Fangsheng Bridge is the largest five-arch stone bridge in Shanghai, built during the Ming dynasty — the best spot for a photo that sums up the whole village, taken from the top of it.

Zhujiajiao Quick Summary

Distance: ~46-48km west of Shanghai, ~1 hour by car
Village entry: free | specific sites: ¥30-60
Boat ride: ¥80 (short) or ¥150 (long) per boat
Fangsheng Bridge: Shanghai's largest five-arch stone bridge

Planning a Day Trip From Shanghai?

I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Message me on WhatsApp and I'll set up a private-driver day trip to Zhujiajiao, or visit the private driver service page.