Zhujiajiao Ancient Town stands out among the many ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River

Among the many ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, I have visited many over the years, such as: 'Wuzhen, Tangqi, Xitang, Fengjing, Jinxi, Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Lili, Pingwang, Luzhi, Qiandeng...' These towns all share the characteristic of being situated by the river, with cobblestone pavements, lined with shops, numerous businesses, and unique local snacks with distinctive flavors. Visiting Zhujiajiao Ancient Town has fulfilled a regret in my life. I had been to Shanghai on business trips several times before, and the local hosts were always enthusiastic about arranging a trip to Zhujiajiao for me, but for various reasons, it never happened. This time, taking advantage of the warm spring and gentle breeze, I traveled to Zhujiajiao to broaden my horizons. Taking the high-speed train from Hangzhou to Songjiang South Station, then transferring to a bus directly to Zhujiajiao, was very convenient. Zhujiajiao belongs to Qingpu District of Shanghai. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was known as 'Zhujiacun' and became a major marketplace due to its convenient water transportation and booming commerce, hence it was renamed 'Zhu Street Pavilion', also known as 'Jiaoli', and later evolved into 'Zhujiajiao'. The Town God's Temple on the ancient street has a long history, and along the street, there are attractions such as Yuanjin Zen Temple, Taian Bridge, Cimen Street, and Zhuxi Garden. We walked slowly among the crowds, savoring and appreciating the unique charm. By lunchtime, almost every restaurant was packed, with diners seated everywhere you looked - in the main halls, at the street corners, on the balconies. Small dishes were laid out on tables for family gatherings and friends' meetups, which was incredibly pleasant. This is the life of Shanghainese, content and harmonious. Traveling to an ancient town is about taking it slow and easy, to enjoy the tranquil times and to feel the full charm of the small bridges, flowing water, and the homes of the locals.