So much of my trip to Shanghai was about seeing my old favorites from the time I studied abroad. It was great to reminisce, but I was also determined to see at least one new area before heading back home to Hong Kong.
Shanghai is famous for its nearby river towns, and although they are now extremely touristy, the picturesque settings are perfect for a quick day trip.
After researching a few, I decided on Qibao - one of the closest to Shanghai and easily accessible via Metro on Line 9. From there, the tourist district is well marked. On the way to the scenic riverfront area, there are lots of small shops that never seem to sell anything worth buying. Mostly just souvenirs and other useless gift items.
The town dates all the way back to the year 960, but it was hard to imagine what life would have been like for residents back then. These days, I could tell that the residents often live in their small shops (I could see several with mattresses propped up against the walls). On the side streets, there were groups of young children playing together. Although this district has become a modern tourist trap, there are still glimpses of the basic and difficult life that most locals must endure to make a living.
The riverfront area was very charming. It doesn't appear to be used for much anymore (besides touristy boat rides). There were several tea houses and restaurants to visit for a peaceful view of the river to pass the day.
When I was walking along the river, I could see a tall pagoda off in the distance and I decided to walk there and see what it was all about. Inside, I found that it was extremely well restored, with a giant buddha in each level and excellent views of the surrounding town.
Finally, no trip to China would be complete without exploring the street food culture. Qibao lives up to expectations, with countless vendors selling various meats on sticks and other unusual specialties. I was also intrigued by several cotton candy artists that carefully created floral-looking masterpieces with the sugar. Although I didn't buy any food, it is always fun to see the types of things that locals will eat.
Qibao doesn't require too much of a time commitment, but it offers a welcomed respite from the busy streets of urban Shanghai. It is still quite crowded, but I enjoyed wandering aimlessly through the streets and discovering more of the culture that makes China so unique.
Shanghai is famous for its nearby river towns, and although they are now extremely touristy, the picturesque settings are perfect for a quick day trip.
After researching a few, I decided on Qibao - one of the closest to Shanghai and easily accessible via Metro on Line 9. From there, the tourist district is well marked. On the way to the scenic riverfront area, there are lots of small shops that never seem to sell anything worth buying. Mostly just souvenirs and other useless gift items.
The town dates all the way back to the year 960, but it was hard to imagine what life would have been like for residents back then. These days, I could tell that the residents often live in their small shops (I could see several with mattresses propped up against the walls). On the side streets, there were groups of young children playing together. Although this district has become a modern tourist trap, there are still glimpses of the basic and difficult life that most locals must endure to make a living.
The riverfront area was very charming. It doesn't appear to be used for much anymore (besides touristy boat rides). There were several tea houses and restaurants to visit for a peaceful view of the river to pass the day.
When I was walking along the river, I could see a tall pagoda off in the distance and I decided to walk there and see what it was all about. Inside, I found that it was extremely well restored, with a giant buddha in each level and excellent views of the surrounding town.
Finally, no trip to China would be complete without exploring the street food culture. Qibao lives up to expectations, with countless vendors selling various meats on sticks and other unusual specialties. I was also intrigued by several cotton candy artists that carefully created floral-looking masterpieces with the sugar. Although I didn't buy any food, it is always fun to see the types of things that locals will eat.
Qibao doesn't require too much of a time commitment, but it offers a welcomed respite from the busy streets of urban Shanghai. It is still quite crowded, but I enjoyed wandering aimlessly through the streets and discovering more of the culture that makes China so unique.
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