A day trip to Zhujiajiao (朱家角古镇)
which is also sometimes known as ‘The Venice of Shanghai’ has been on my list
of places to visit during my Shanghai trip.
Our initial plan was to travel to Suzhou for a day's tour, but since we had limited time in Shanghai, we opted for the closest water town, Zhujiajiao for a nature-centric and cultural-rich experience.
We had our brekkie before our sight-seeing...
Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town located an hour's drive from downtown Shanghai, which makes it very easy to visit and is perfect for a half day trip or even a day trip! You can reach Zhujiajiao station from Hongqiao Railway Station, therefore in order to start the day trip via train, you need to get to Hongqiao Railway Station from wherever you are.
Once you arrive at Zhujiajiao Station, you will still need to walk approximately fifteen minutes to the entrance of the ancient water town. Alternatively, you can also take a rickshaw ride. The total journey from point A to B might take up to 1.5 to 2hours to reach.
For us, we took the ultra easy way by calling a Didi to pick us up from our hotel lobby. The distance was around 45-50mins depending on the traffic, and the damage was less than SGD25. The best time to visit Zhujiajiao is in the morning, as traffic is lighter.
The Didi stopped at the Southern Entrance to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, which was where the Tourist Information Office was located.
The best way to explore Zhujiajiao is by foot as nothing beats wandering through the narrow streets and allowing yourself to get lost in the small alleyways as you never know what you might find or what views you could see!
To be honest getting lost in Zhujiajiao is pretty difficult as
there are maps and signs in both English and Mandarin everywhere in the water
town.
Zhujiajiao is one of the best-preserved water towns in the Shanghai. There are many souvenir shops line along the river, as well as street food, therefore you will not go hungry in Zhujiajiao..
The water seemed reasonably clean along the stretches we walked, even though there was a high density of commerce and visitors in the town.
We stopped by 弘德楼· 自家菜园 - simple farmhouse-style eatery for lunch. They are known for their local, authentic Jiangnan cuisine. We enjoyed the casual and cosy atmosphere. Most importantly, the price range was reasonable and down-to-earth.
This eatery provides a relaxing break from the busy and crowded streets of the water town. The food presentation might seem simple, but taste-wise it was pretty good. The service was prompt and friendly.
By using the Dian Ping app to 打卡, we were given 2 complimentary pieces of piping hot Osmanthus Cake after our lunch. This is the place to visit if you are looking for a traditional, non-touristy, and affordable meal.
We continued to explore the town to pick up some local souvenirs...
Baby insisted on visiting the Jiangnan First Teahouse (江南第一茶楼) for some tea before leaving Zhujiajiao. Each person pays about ￥138 and this included the unlimited enormous set of snacks and tea. We got to select our teas - Longjing Tea and White Peony Tea.
We had such a great quality time spent together! I did a stamp rally at the restaurant before leaving the
premises.
Before leaving the old town, I picked up a popular hand cream -
Chun Xian. It is known for their lightweight, and fast-absorbing formula that
provides deep hydration for dry, sensitive skin.
Although everyone knows that China develops very rapidly, authentic ancient towns are still a must see/visit! This place is a great idea to explore while you are in Shanghai. It is remarkably beautiful and definitely worth a visit!!
We took Didi to our next destination for our dinner reservation which was located at the Jing'an District, Shanghai. There was a heavy jam along the way, and we only managed to reach the premise 10mins before our time-slot. We rushed to the restrooms after travelling for more than 1hour from Zhujiajiao. The moment we were out from the restroom, we were invited to take our seat in the banquet hall as the dinner was going to commence. Do take that they will not delay their commencement no matter what, so if you are late you may miss some performances.
Baby is interested in Chinese culture, and we also wondered what a royal-style omakase in China would feel like. Therefore, Baby made an advance dinner reservation at XuYan 叙宴 prior to our trip. Diners can choose to dress up as an imperial noble before heading to the dining hall for the grand banquet with live performances and interactive rituals.
Reservations are mandatory and the seats go like hotcakes. We booked through KLOOK, and they release the slots for reservation for up to 15 days ahead.
The servers addressed us as ‘da ren’ (大人) - a respectful title for superiors, officials, and authority figures. It can translate closely to ‘Your Lordship’, or ‘Excellency’.
Upon seated, there were some pastries on the table for us to eat. They were called (宫廷点心 or Royal Pastries. Among all, we loved the Fortune Koi Carp Glutinous Cake. Apart from the pastries, they also prepared some cold dishes too.
There is a live show ongoing to entertain you throughout your
meal, the food and fruit drink they served were amazing!
I enjoyed the sound and lighting effects. They were top-notch. There were also amazing LED screens playing on the stage and every dish served had an introduction while an animated LED light display were shown on each diner's plate to show what the food looks like before being served.
Dining at XuYan 叙宴 isn't just about food, it's more like a Chinese ancient period experience, as each dish told a story!
XuYan
叙宴 offers a
spectacular immersion experience into ancient Chinese banquet culture,
combining history, artistry, and gastronomy. To my surprise, the food exceeded
my expectations! Each dish was not only delicious but also plated
beautifully.
We just can’t get enough of this Dragon Grouper!
The Chang’an Red Flame Peony Shrimp was delicious.
The seating was divided into three rows at each side. The first row (SVIP seat) was more expensive than the other three and is the hardest to reserve, as it offers the best views and additional dishes. The third row (VIP area) is built on a higher platform, offering a wider and more elevated view, and it is the second most expensive option. The second row (regular seating area) is the least expensive option.
You can even play dress up if you want to. Additional charges are required for the hairstyling and outfit selection, as well as separate payments for optional makeup. At the end of the meal, we can choose to stay longer in the banquet area to take photos with the performers for free! It is definitely worth going at least once!
The dinner ended about 930pm+ and we left the premises around 10pm after taking some photos while waiting for our Didi to arrive.
Before heading to our room, we went to see some great views of the
bund from our hotel premises. The views were splendid!
Back to room, I was greeted by a surprise arrangement from the hotel which was requested by my lovely Baby Hubby. They have prepared a Birthday Cake topped with Macarons and a bottle of Red Wine!
Not to forget a handwritten message and a lovely cupcake from the Room Stylist. Appreciate much ❤️
We were too full from our dinner at XuYan 叙宴, so we kept the cupcake and birthday cake in the refrigerator for our next day indulgence.
We had a long day, and we went straight for our shower and then headed to bed. Do stay tune for the next post of my Shanghai vacation!
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