Qibao Ancient Town

A Peaceful Escape to Qibao Ancient Town ​If you are looking for a break from the busy skyscrapers of Shanghai, Qibao Ancient Town is a hidden gem that feels worlds apart. Unlike some of the more famous (and overcrowded) water towns, Qibao offers a lovely, authentic "old town" atmosphere with significantly fewer tourists, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed afternoon. ​Getting There One of the best parts about Qibao is how accessible it is. You don't need to book a long bus tour; you can simply take the Metro Line 9 to Qibao Station. From there, it is just a short, pleasant walk to the entrance of the ancient town. ​The Atmosphere As you walk through the main gates, you are greeted by traditional architecture that transports you back in time. The town is incredibly picturesque, featuring iconic Chinese pagodas and historic buildings. One of the highlights is standing on the stone bridges to look out over the canal—the view of the tea houses with red lanterns hanging over the water is beautiful. It is a very photogenic spot, especially on a sunny day. ​Food and Culture For food lovers, the Old Street is a must-visit. It is packed with street food stalls offering local snacks. You can wander through the narrow alleys, trying everything from sticky rice cakes to fresh snacks, all while soaking in the lively but manageable crowd. There are also cultural spots to explore, such as the Zhang Chongren Memorial Hall, which adds a nice touch of history to your visit.

Nice to see lots of beautiful wood craft, a lot of them are hand made, lots of food stand, I had an old ladies deep fried shredded mooli cake. It was a bit greasy but tasty.

Qibao Old Street delivers a lively, compact experience of a traditional Jiangnan water town (south of the Yangtze River) without requiring a long journey from central Shanghai. The old town is visually charming, featuring classic … More

29 November 2025 Worth a visit.No tourist traps like Nanjing road. Less foreigners and lots of eating options. Crowded on weekends ,mostly Chinese.

Definitely worth a visit. We were there in late August and it was really quiet so we had everything for ourselves. The people are nice and are ready to help you find your way. The architecture is really interesting and all the shops sell, sometimes touristy, nice pieces of souvenirs or other nice things. Only a 23 minute ride with Line 9 to Qibao station.

Qibao Ancient Town is an interesting place with old Chinese architecture and culture. There are lots of shops for souvenirs, traditional food, candy, clothes. As always this kind of places are for tourists and charge you more for the products. It is crowded but it is normal for this kind of place. Highly Suggested!

Clean, so tidy up, fresh, traditional and authentic. Beauty park to visit. A lot of their local tourism from other cities. Many stores with a budget. You can buy a Chinese souvenir also for food rich of choice.

Really disappointing. Overcrowded, extremely small and not well maintained. Compared to every other place in China this is just a smelly no.