Fengjing Ancient Town

Fengjing Ancient Town

Fengjing Ancient Town is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Fengjing Ancient Town in Shanghai is one of China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Towns and also one of the New Eight Scenic Spots of Shanghai. It is located to the southwest. Historically, due to its position at the junction of the Wu and Yue regions, it was known as a renowned town of Wu and Yue. Today, it borders five districts and counties of Shanghai and Zhejiang, serving as Shanghai’s most important “southwestern gateway” to the southwestern provinces. Fengjing is a typical ancient Jiangnan water town. The town is surrounded by a network of waterways, with crisscrossing rivers and canals within the town area and as many as 52 bridges, the oldest of which is the Zhizhi Bridge from the Yuan Dynasty, dating back nearly 700 years. The town covers a large area, with 29 streets and blocks, and 84 lanes and alleys. Four ancient architectural complexes still well preserved today include Heping Street, Shengchan Street, Beida Street, and Youhao Street, covering a total area of 48,750 square meters (excluding other preserved ancient buildings in other blocks), making it one of the larger and better-preserved ancient water towns in the Shanghai area.

Fengjing developed into a market town during the Song Dynasty and was officially established as a town in the Yuan Dynasty. It is a historic town with over 1,500 years of civilization, straddling the boundaries of the Wu and Yue regions. As a typical Jiangnan water town settlement, Fengjing is surrounded by a dense network of waterways, with rivers and canals running throughout the area. It has long been described as having “three steps to two bridges and a glance revealing ten waterways.” The town features numerous small polders shaped like lotus leaves. Lush trees, densely arranged houses, clear rushing streams, and widespread lotus flowers give it an elegant and beautiful appearance, earning it alternative names such as “Qingfeng Jing,” “Fengxi,” and the nickname “Furong Town” (Lotus Town).

Cultural Features

Fengjing has a rich cultural heritage and is the birthplace of the world-renowned Jinshan Farmers’ Paintings. The people of Fengjing love life, and folk arts such as blue calico, furniture carving, kitchen murals, lanterns, paper-cutting, embroidery, and weaving have a long history. The vibrant folk culture gave rise to Jinshan Farmers’ Painting. Led by local farmers from Fengjing, artists of Jinshan created paintings with strong local flavors and unique artistic styles, which have gained widespread influence both in China and abroad. The town is also home to many art galleries and former residences of famous painters. The ancestral home of Cheng Shifa on Heping Street has been restored and opened to the public. The Ding Cong Cartoon Exhibition Hall on Beida Street is housed in a two-story Sino-Western style building, with an ancient ginkgo tree and a cluster of bananas in front. Inside, exhibits include Ding Cong’s life story and over 100 cartoons, whose humorous artistry often captivates visitors. The Jinshan Farmers’ Painting Exhibition Center on Nanda Street in Shengtang Lane is located in the former study hall of Cai Yitai, the top scholar of the Qing Dynasty, exuding refined elegance while displaying paintings rich in rural charm. Farmers’ paintings, along with Ding Cong’s cartoons, Cheng Shifa’s traditional Chinese paintings, and Gu Shuiru’s Go, form the “Three Arts and One Game” that have had significant international impact, all concentrated in Fengjing—a rare regional cultural phenomenon in China.

Ancient Architecture

Opposite the town government along the Xizha River, there is a 600-meter-long complex of ancient mansions with a construction area of 12,000 square meters. West of the ancient theater, at No. 92 Heping Street, lies the former site of the Great Qing Post Office. With its gray walls, black tiles, solid structure, stone pillars framing the doorways, and the prominent characters “Post and Telegraph Office” above the high doorway, this is one of the few remaining former sites of a Great Qing Post Office in Shanghai. Due to its cultural richness and economic prosperity, Fengjing is also a rare ancient town in the Jiangnan region that features complete representations of Taoism, Buddhism, Catholicism, and Christianity. As early as 502 AD, during the first year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, a Taoist temple was built in the southern fence of Fengjing. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Buddhism flourished, with temples scattered throughout the streets, lanes, and neighborhoods, totaling three temple sites in the town. By the late Qing Dynasty, Catholicism and Christianity also began to spread in Fengjing, becoming an indispensable part of its cultural resources. Visiting cultural sites such as Xingjue Chan Temple, Shi Wang Miao, and the Yu Family Ancestral Hall allows visitors to explore traces of Fengjing’s ancient history of being divided between northern and southern rule, with parts belonging to the Wu region and others to the Yue territory.

Simple and Honest Folk Customs

The people of Fengjing are known for their simple and honest folk customs, valuing farming and scholarship, and emphasizing education and officialdom. The town has produced three top imperial examinees (zhuangyuan), 56 jinshi (advanced scholars), 125 juren (presented scholars), and 235 notable cultural figures (including 100 county magistrates, three ministers of the Six Ministries, and two prime ministers). Since the Tang Dynasty, 639 historically recorded notable individuals have emerged. Historical figures include Lu Zhi, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty; Chen Shunyu, a Tuntian Yuanwailang (official in charge of land reclamation) of the Song Dynasty, and Xu Kechang, a zhuangyuan; Chen Yicheng, an imperial physician who accompanied Zheng He on his voyages during the Ming Dynasty; Cai Yitai, a zhuangyuan of the Qing Dynasty, and Xie Yong, who served as an Academician of the Grand Secretariat and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; as well as the folk poet Shen Rongcheng. In modern times, notable figures include Zhu Xuefan, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress; Gu Shuiru, a national Go master; Ding Cong, a famous cartoonist; Cheng Shifa, a master of traditional Chinese painting; and revolutionary predecessors such as Yuan Shizhao and Lu Longfei. They have left behind precious historical relics and legendary tales in Fengjing.

Historical Relics and Legendary Tales

Fengjing developed into a market town during the Song Dynasty and was officially established as a town in the Yuan Dynasty. It is a historic town with over 1,500 years of civilization, straddling the boundaries of the Wu and Yue regions. As a typical Jiangnan water town settlement, Fengjing is surrounded by a dense network of waterways, with rivers and canals running throughout the area. It has long been described as having “three steps to two bridges and a glance revealing ten waterways.” The town features numerous small polders shaped like lotus leaves. Lush trees, densely arranged houses, clear rushing streams, and widespread lotus flowers give it an elegant and beautiful appearance, earning it alternative names such as “Qingfeng Jing,” “Fengxi,” and the nickname “Furong Town” (Lotus Town). In September 2005, it was included in the second batch of China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Towns.

Passing through the three-bay, four-pillar “Fengjing” stone archway and following the town river and its branching streams that encircle the old town area, you’ll enter the “Dongzha” stone gate. Walking along one old street after another paved with blue bricks and stone slabs along the river, crossing bridge after bridge, a series of ancient architectural complexes unfolds along the five-li-long riverside street. Every morning, teahouses by the river and bridge emit the fragrance of tea. Fishing boats from surrounding villages pass through waterside buildings, stone docks, and gather in front of the long riverside corridor sheds to form a fish market. The ripples on the river surface are reminiscent of the folk rhyme: “In January, it’s snails; in February, clams; in March, when peach blossoms bloom, the soft-shell turtles grow fat...”

Passing through the stone archway and entering Shengchan Street, a long row of winding black corridor sheds lines the river, topped with black tiles and paved with black bricks. Bright red lanterns hang high under the eaves, creating a truly secluded ancient alley. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, rice shops stood side by side along this street, with every household having a covered corridor in front of their doors. Most of these have deteriorated in modern times, and the current corridor sheds have been rebuilt. Usually, young people go to work, while elderly women use the riverbank as their workspace, gutting fish, washing rice, vegetables, and doing laundry under the corridor. Although the old houses on the street have modest facades, the narrow and long alleys reveal deep courtyards. The riverside streets of Fengjing are designed with houses on one side facing the river and houses on the other side backed by the river. Across the river are the riverside old houses of Heping Street. At the east end stands an ancient theater stage with upturned eaves and painted beams, marking the early stages of Chinese drama, which formally took shape during the Song and Jin Dynasties. The theater stage is an outdoor performance venue. In the mid-Tang Dynasty, such performance spaces were generally called “xichang” (theater grounds), and Tang poetry also records terms such as “yepeng” (music shed), “getai” (song stage), “wutai” (stage), and “loutai” (open stage). In the Song Dynasty, they evolved into “goulan” (covered walkways) and “yaopeng” (invited sheds), with the goulan stages now having fixed roofs. By the Yuan Dynasty, Chinese opera reached its peak, and the term “xitai” (theater stage) was officially established. The ancient theater stage in Fengjing is built in the square of the Town God’s Temple, facing the street on one side and the river on the other. During performances, audiences arriving by boat could watch from their vessels. During the Qing Dynasty, temple fairs began at both the northern and southern Town God’s Temples. According to the “Supplementary Chronicles of Fengjing,” “On those days, men and women from all households would go to watch, and within a hundred li, people would flock by boat, crowding the river until it became impassable.” The event was extraordinarily bustling. Merchants, Peking opera troupes, and circus groups would gather in Fengjing, making the ancient theater stage lively both on and off stage. The current theater stage is a reconstruction, measuring 64 meters in width, 44 meters in depth, with a 28-square-meter stage area, featuring a hip-and-gable roof with upturned eaves, exuding a strong sense of antiquity. Opposite the stage, a row of riverside old houses houses the Chen She Teahouse. Visitors can choose window-side seats to rest, enjoy tea, listen to the performances, and take in the scenery, all while feeling completely at ease. Legend has it that the beautified railings of the corridor sheds even allowed viewers across the river to enjoy the shows.

Stepping over the zodiac stone and heading east along the corridor, at the bridgehead of Chenghuang Temple, there is a striking Western-style red facade. This is the former site of the East District Firefighting Association, the only relatively intact modern firefighting institution in the Shanghai area. Moored in the river in front of the building is a red fireboat, the last remaining waterborne fireboat in Shanghai. On Heping Street, the former Housing Management Office compound is being reconstructed into the “Three Hundred Garden.” With a stone gate and a three-courtyard layout, it is a collective name for three museums that collect and exhibit a hundred types of folk items. Currently, the Bai Lan Pavilion (Hundred Basket Pavilion) has been completed and officially opened to the public. Located in the middle building of the row, the Bai Lan Pavilion features a courtyard in front, where a giant imitation ancient ingot-shaped blue object is placed at the center on one side, becoming the symbol of the pavilion. The museum collects various baskets used by Jiangnan rural families, featuring a hundred baskets of different shapes and uses, comprehensively reflecting the close relationship between baskets and the lives of people throughout history. These include cradles for babies, book baskets for students, gift baskets for display, daily-use baskets for meals and vegetables, incense baskets for ancestor worship, birthday baskets, sewing baskets for women, steaming baskets, and tobacco baskets, among many others. Bai Juyi’s poem, “At dawn I carry a bamboo basket, my servant boy brings vegetables,” vividly depicts how baskets have become integrated into the lives of Jiangnan families. The folk rhyme that reflects the Fengjing scene, “Many rivers, many bridges, many alleys, and lots of blue turbans,” also highlights the significant role baskets play in the livelihood of Jiangnan people. On Heping Street, there is also a site preserving historical traces from the latter half of the 19th century, definitely worth a visit.

Address: No. 28, Lane 8588, Tingfeng Highway, Fengjing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 day

Phone: 021-57355555

Official Website: http://www.shfj.cn/html/

Opening Hours:

8:00–17:00 (May–September), 8:00–16:30 (October–April)

Transportation

1. Shuttle buses from the Tourist Distribution Center at Wuli Stadium and Hongkou Football Stadium run directly to the scenic area daily.

2. Take Metro Line 1 to Jinjiang Amusement Park Station, then transfer to the Southwest Bus Station and take the Fengmei Line (¥12, ~50 minutes), Jin Feng Line, Zhu Feng Line, Qing Feng Line, Songxin Feng Line, Song Feng Special Line, Xin Feng Special Line, Fengqi Special Line, Shi Feng Special Line, Jiashan–Fengjing Special Line, Fengjing Line 1, Fengjing Line 2, Fengjing Line 3, or Fengjing Line 6 to Fengjing Archway Station. Walk north along Fengli Road to reach the destination.

3. Near Lotus Road Station on Metro Line 1, you can take the Lian Feng Line. Though the bus route lists only six stops, the actual journey is quite roundabout with many unscheduled stops, taking about 1.5 hours and costing ¥10.

4. By bus: To reach Fengjing Archway, take “Fengjing Line 1” or “Fengjing–Xinbang” (¥2) and get off at the Zhonghong Village intersection.

5. Self-driving: Take the A8 section of the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, exit at the Fengjing toll station, and follow the signs for 2 minutes to arrive. Park in the parking lot at the entrance of the ancient town.

Admission Ticket

Joint ticket: 50 RMB (includes admission to 10 attractions). Free entry for seniors over 70, retired cadres, and active-duty military personnel. Children under 1.2 meters receive a 50% discount. “Fengjing Painting Hunt” ticket: 80 RMB. China Peasant Painting Village ticket: 30 RMB.

Fengjing Town: Located in Jinshan District, Shanghai, Fengjing Town is the southwestern gateway to the international metropolis of Shanghai. It sits at the junction of five districts (counties) and ten towns (townships) in Shanghai and Zhejiang, making it the first stop for travelers from southern Chinese provinces and cities entering Shanghai. The town has a registered population of 63,000, nearly 40,000 migrant residents, and a town-center population of 30,000. The total area of the town is 91.66 square kilometers, with the town center covering 7.31 square kilometers. It governs 23 administrative villages and 6 residential communities.

Fengjing has a long history. As early as 2,000 years ago, people were already living here; a market had formed more than 1,500 years ago. In the 12th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty... More detailed information about Fengjing Town++