Sanlintang

Sanlintang

Pudong’s Sanlin Town is said to have a history of over a thousand years. Although only about 500 meters of historical relics remain today, every step is picturesque.

In addition to the famous “Three Wonders,” “Three Treasures,” and “Three Specialties,” Sanlin hosts the Shanghai Folklore Festival every April, featuring dragon and lion dances, dragon boat races, lantern displays... making it especially lively.

When talking about the origin of Pudong, people often think of Sanlintang. Located in the southwest corner of Pudong, Sanlintang was one of the earliest areas to emerge from the sea. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (year 917), when the seawall was built, Sanlintang was already within its bounds. In the third year of Emperor Shenzong’s Xining reign during the Song Dynasty, Jia Dan wrote “Seven Matters Concerning the Benefits and Drawbacks of Farmland Management,” in which “Sanlin Pu” appears twice. At that time, Sanlin was part of the land of Wu and Yue, under the jurisdiction of Suzhou Prefecture, with the county seat in Songjiang. Historical research shows that the Lin families within the county seat of Songjiang, those south of Songjiang, and those north of Songjiang were all prominent clans, collectively known as the “Three Lins of Songjiang.” The river excavated by their clan members was called “Sanlin Pu.” Sanlin Pu originated during the Five Dynasties period and is among the earliest land to emerge in Pudong.

Why is it called Sanlintang?

The current Sanlintang is where the old street is located, situated between Shangnan Road and Jiyang Road, and Sulin Road and Sulin Port, covering an area of 0.85 square kilometers and stretching 2.1 kilometers in length.

During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, a man from Zhangzhou, Fujian named Lin Legeng failed the imperial examinations five times in his hometown. With rumors swirling among the locals, he decided to travel. He traveled up the Min River, reached Zhejiang, and explored mountains and rivers along the way. When he arrived at the Huangpu River near Hu Du, he saw the misty waters blending with the sky and sails dotting the horizon—strikingly similar to his hometown. So he settled down by a tributary, having his eldest son live in the East Village, his second son in the West Village, and himself in the Middle Village. These three villages were called the “Three Lin Villages,” and the river at their entrance was named “Sanlin Tang (Pond),” which is how Sanlintang got its name.

Location: Sanlintang, Pudong New Area, Shanghai (50 meters north of Sanlin Xincun)

Transportation: Exit 4 of Sanlin Station on Metro Line 11