Zhujiajiao

Last weekend I visited Zhujiajiao, a charming town built along streams and canals, about an hour outside Shanghai. It was officially designated a town under Emperor Wanli (1563-1620) during the Ming Dynasty and was also known as the Pearl Street Pavilion.

Nowadays it is commercial and full of (mainly Chinese) tourists. There are many boutiques selling silk, paintings, ceramics, Mao memorabilia and fresh water pearls (I bought a beautiful pale pink strand). There are also plenty of cafes looking over the water and small shops offering roast pork, bean curd and dim sum. The only disappointment was the rain!