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Step back in time to the Ming and Qing dynasties

Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, our small group from Silversea Cruises went on a 7-hour excursion to the water town of Zhujiajiao.

 

Leaving behind the traffic, we head for the countryside

Rice fields and small agricultural outposts flanked the highway offering a nice contrast to the chrome, glass, and concrete of the city.  The water town is one of four ancient towns in Shanghai, which is a little confusing because it takes 1.5 hours to get there from the ship. Nonetheless, with a history of more than 1,700 years and covering an area of 18 square miles, Zhujiajiao is a large city offering a link to the past.

From the Ming dynasty

The oldest bridge is Fangsheng Bridge, which has five arches and dates back to the Ming dynasty. There are 35 other bridges that link the narrow streets together.

From the Qing dynasty

From the Qing dynasty, our group visited the Daqing Youju (post office). A scribe was on hand to assist with helping write letters for those that are not able to write their own.

Is there a doctor in the house?

The Tongtianhe Traditional Chinese Pharmacy has been providing Chinese medicine to the local population since the late Qing dynasty. It was interesting to see an authentic apothecary. We were schooled in the principles of Chinese medicine and learned about the roles of traditional Chinese ethics and medical culture.