Shanghai Qibao ancient town 七宝古镇

Our early morning target was to go for a park but upon arrival seems like the park was quite torn down. Thus, we decided to change to Qibao Ancient town instead.

Qibao 七宝古镇 is a small town about two square kilometers in size which is crossed by two canals. Around the canals, a large number of traditional houses, shops and restaurants are found. The official website for this town is at http://www.goqibao.com/

Our driver dropped us at one end of the town so that we could walk towards the other end where he parked the car. This way it would save us effort of not having to walk back to the place where we started.

Huge billboard sign of this town where we were dropped off

Captured the map of this town

There was a large billboard advertising this ancient town near where our driver dropped us off. We could even find a wooden water wheel that is turned by the water jet shot from a stone fish's mouth.

Stone tablet with the town's name carved on it. It was amazing that there were so many people and tourist even on a week day, Monday today.

The town was built in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126) and grew into a prosperous business center during Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911).

Qibao is the Chinese for 'seven treasures' and there are two popular theories about its derivation. The more reliable one says that the name originates from the Qibao Temple, famed for its good reputation. It was this that contributed to the growth of business and culture of the previously unknown town.

The other theory seems more popular among the local people who tell folk tales about seven treasures. These were an iron Buddha made in Ming Dynasty, a bronze bell also dating from the Ming Dynasty but said to have mysteriously appeared from nowhere, a Gold Script Lotus Sutra written by an imperial concubine of the 10th century, a one-thousand-year-old Chinese catalpa tree, a jade axe, a gold cockerel and a pair of jade chopsticks. Actually of these seven treasures, the existence of only first four can be verified while only the Scripture and the bell have survived to this day.

Initially we tried to find the memorial hall of the artist Zhang Chongren 张充仁纪念馆. However we found it as shown in photo below, it was very small building that needs RMB5 for entry.

We wandered around the old town, walking on its narrow street. Certain section of the streets were packed with visitors.

Came across a restaurant with quite some history. Amazed to see so many people eating at this place. This place reminds me of the tourist infested Yu Garden.

After walking for quite a distance, we came to one of the entrance to this ancient town. Here, there was a small pagoda building and also a rock formation with a pavilion for viewing on top.

One our way back to the car park where our driver was waiting, we passed through a busy portion of the street that was filled with hawkers on both sides of the street.

Overall quite a fascinating town worth the visit. We did not have the time to visit the Qibao temple though. We could see it from a far since it is walking distance from the car park.