Qibao: the water town inside Shanghai

Qibao is an old town inside Shanghai’s western suburbs, about 40 minutes from the centre. It is smaller and rougher-edged than Zhujiajiao, which is part of the charm.

It is best understood as a street food destination with water-town scenery attached. The lanes are full of small makers cooking in front of you, and that is genuinely the reason to come.

Getting there

Metro line 9 to Qibao station. The old town is a short walk through the modern district — follow the crowds or the signs.

It is far closer to central Shanghai than Zhujiajiao, and considerably closer to Hongqiao.

What to do with two hours

Walk the main canal lane end to end slowly, eating as you go. Visit the small museums if it rains — there is a braille museum and a shadow puppet collection, both odd and both interesting.

Cross the stone bridges, watch boats on the canal, and finish with the small temple at the northern end.

Eating here

This is the actual attraction: skewers, sticky rice parcels, tofu, candied fruit, hand-made pastries, and things being grilled on sticks throughout.

It is cheap and varied. Go hungry and do not eat beforehand.

Honest downsides

It can be extremely crowded on weekend afternoons, and parts of it are more commercial than atmospheric.

It does not compare to Suzhou for beauty. Come for food and for a cheap, easy half-day — not for postcard water-town scenery.