Kezhi Garden, 课植园, i

Kezhi Garden, 课植园, is a haven of peace and tranquility inside Zhujiajiao Old Town. I visited Zhujiajiao on Qingming Festival, and while most of the old town was packed, there were very few people inside the Kezhi Garden. Perhaps the nondescript entrance or the ¥20 admission kept visitors away, but for me it was a highlight of the whole trip. Built by the Ma family and dating in part to the Ming Dynasty, it includes classical gardens and buildings, a two storey library and a small farm, where the patriarch of the family encouraged his progeny to learn farming as well as scholarly activities so they would better understand the world and be able to enjoy the satisfaction of manual labour. The model farm was planted with bright yellow rapeseed and vegetables when I visited. Don't miss this hidden gem when visiting Zhujiajiao. #leaveyourmark #urbanexplorer #qingmingtravel #lightthecity #shanghai #garden #springflowers #peaceful #rest #historicallandmarks #classical #architecture