Nanxiang Ancient Town - One of the four historical and cultural towns in Shanghai

Nanxiang, formerly known as Chaxi. In the fourth year of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty (505), the Baihe Nanxiang Temple was built here, and the town was named after the temple. Located in the southern part of the county (now Jiading District, Shanghai), about 12 kilometers from the county seat. In 1991, it was listed as one of the first four historical and cultural towns in Shanghai by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government (i.e., the four ancient towns in Shanghai: Jiading Town, Songjiang Town, Zhujiajiao Town, and Nanxiang Town). Historically, it was known as 'Little Nanxiang competes with Suzhou'. 'Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers in the misty rain.' This is a poem by Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, which refers to the numerous temples of the Southern Dynasties. Due to the prosperity of Buddhism, the emperors of the Southern Dynasties built many temples. Nanxiang Temple was born in this context, and in 505 (the fourth year of Tianjian in the Southern Dynasties), the Baihe Nanxiang Temple was built, and the town was named after the temple. Since then, Nanxiang has become an indelible place on the map and one of the four famous ancient towns in Shanghai. It was once known as 'Little Nanxiang competes with Suzhou'. The 'Nanxiang Twin Towers' probably best reflect the history of the ancient town. The Twin Towers are famous brick towers. Due to long-term exposure to the wind and sun, the gaps between the bricks have become more and more blurred. The edges of the bricks have gradually flattened, and many have fallen off. The Twin Towers present a symmetrical structure, and there is a well in front of each tower. The well has been protected and can only be seen through the glass to see the traces left by people drawing water here in the past. Of course, an ancient town is always full of food, and many local delicacies are gathered here. It is worth mentioning the Nanxiang Xiaolongbao. I went there just for this. Nanxiang Xiaolongbao is a specialty of Nanxiang and has a history of more than 100 years. The Xiaolongbao is really crystal clear, thin-skinned, and full of stuffing. The feeling of hot soup rolling in your mouth when you take a bite is really good.