Xinchang: The last ancient watertown around Shanghai

（People's Daily Online）  14:46, March 28, 2013  

Edited and translated by Ye Xin, People's Daily Online

Known as the last ancient watertown around Shanghai, Xinchang attracts people by its original life style and architecture. More than 55 percent of the architecture from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and the era of the Republic of China (1912-1949) have been preserved, making Xinchang the only comparatively complete historical town in Pudong, Shanghai.

The Xinchang ancient town is in Naihui district of Shanghai, between the heart of the city and the airport. It is 36 kilometers from the People’s Square and 25 kilometers from the Pudong International Airport.

If you have ever watched the Chinese film “Lust, Caution” staring by Tony Leung and Tang Wei, you must remember the beautiful Chinese ancient town scenes shot near Shanghai. That is Xinchang ancient watertown.

Rivers run through the town, and there are finely carved stone-arch bridges and houses built near streams, as well as a highly-built stone revetment, saddle-shaped water bridge and monumental "stalagmite lane" archway built back in 1986.

These unique characters clearly display the style and features of the ancient town, which is most famous for its "13 monumental archways and nine dragons (stone bridges)". Xinchang town is noted for being "small, but as beautiful as Suzhou city."

If you wander in Xinchang watertown for a day, you will have a lot to see: the small temples with big Buddha statues, the ancient musical instrument museum, the oil-painting studio and the ordinary residents’ house.

In December 2008, the town was named "Famous Historic Culture Town of China" by the State Construction Administration and State Cultural Relic Bureau.

Recommended Items:
Ceremonial arch, ancient gingko, 10 Bamboo Root Scenic Spots, First Tea House.

Tips:
Address: No.374, Xinchang street, Xinchang town, Nanhui district

Tel: 86 21-58170652

Transportation: Hu'nan line, Tangnan line, Longpinglu line, line 628, Longda line, Tangsi line

Ticket Price: 53 yuan/person (united ticket)

Website: www.1086xinchang.cn