Songjiang old Town (松江古镇), which developed a ten-mile-long street during the Yuan Dynasty, was historically known as Huating and also referred to as Yunqian, Rongcheng, and Guishui. Before the opening of Shanghai’s port, Songjiang was the political, economic, and cultural center of the Shanghai region, once renowned for its “Suzhou and Songjiang taxes cover half the world.”
The old town still houses numerous historical relics and ancient buildings, including the Tang Dynasty’s Dharani Pillar, the Song Dynasty’s Fangta (Square Tower), the Yuan Dynasty’s Mosque, Ming Dynasty’s screen walls, and Qing Dynasty gardens. The area features a harmonious blend of brick towers, stone bridges, gardens, and temples, where natural beauty and cultural landmarks intertwine, creating a distinct characteristic of Songjiang’s old town tourism resources.
Travel Information about Songjiang Old Town
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets: Fangta Garden ¥12, Zuibaichi ¥12, Mosque ¥6.
Opening Hours: Zuibaichi 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Fangta Garden May to September 5:30 AM – 5:30 PM, October to April 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Getting to the Scenic Area
Location: Old Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Songjiang New City, then transfer to a bus to reach various attractions in the old town.
Attraction Ratings
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Cultural: ★★★★
- Excitement: ★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Features: ★★★
Highlights of Songjiang Old Town
Fangta Park
Fangta Park is located in the eastern part of Songjiang Old Town. The park’s original site was once the bustling commercial center of Shanghai (Huating County) during the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the famous Xing Sheng Jiao Temple Tower was constructed here. By the Ming Dynasty, large temples such as the Chenghuang Temple and the Guandi Temple were also built in the area.
The park features a rugged yet rich natural landscape, with carved ponds, layered hills, winding lakes, extensive bamboo forests, and towering ancient trees. The expansive and flat lawn, covering over 10,000 square meters, beautifully complements the ancient architectural relics, creating a harmonious and picturesque scene.
Zuibai Pond
Zuibai Pond is one of Shanghai’s five renowned Jiangnan ancient gardens. It was established in the seventh year of the Shunzhi era (1650) by Gu Dashen, an official in the Ministry of Works. Gu Dashen, known for his painting and poetry, named the garden “Zuibai” (Intoxicated by White) in admiration of the joy found in the works of Bai Juyi.
The pond covers an area of over 600 square meters and features a unique layout with piles of irregular stones. The garden is centered around the pond, with three sides of the pond bordered by curved corridors and pavilions, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery in both sunny and rainy weather. Notable features within the garden include the Old Tree Pavilion, the Grass Hall on the Pond, and the Mandarin Duck Pavilion, along with inscriptions and stone carvings from the Song and Ming Dynasties. On the southern wall of the pond’s corridor, there is a stone carving of the “Yunjian Bangyan Tu” (Portraits of Worthies in Yunjian), which intricately depicts portraits of over a hundred distinguished figures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the Songjiang Prefecture.
The Mosque
The Mosque was originally established during the Yuan Dynasty, in the Zhizheng era (1341-1368), and was initially named the Zhenjiao Temple. It has undergone several renovations and expansions during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Today, the mosque exhibits a blend of architectural styles from both the Yuan Dynasty and later Ming and Qing periods.
The main entrance of the mosque faces north, and both the inner and outer sides of the main gate are adorned with screens, in keeping with traditional Chinese classical architecture. The mosque complex includes an ancient stone tablet garden, a prayer hall, the Bangke Gate Tower, and a lecture hall.
Xilin Zen Temple
Xilin Zen Temple was originally established during the South Song Dynasty’s Xianchun era and was initially known as Yunqian Reception Hall. With a history of over 700 years, the temple was rebuilt in the 20th year of the Hongwu era (1387) during the Ming Dynasty. It was renamed Xilin Zen Temple and a pagoda, commonly known as Xilin Pagoda, was constructed. The pagoda was also named in honor of the founder of the Yunqian Reception Hall, the renowned monk Yuan Ying, thus also being called Yuan Ying Pagoda.
The pagoda stands 46.5 meters tall and consists of seven tiers. It is renowned for its majestic and imposing appearance. During the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yingzong personally granted a plaque inscribed with “Daming Xilin Zen Temple,” and at that time, the temple housed over 600 monks.
Tang Dynasty Dharani Pillar
The Tang Dynasty Dharani Pillar, located within the grounds of Songjiang Zhongshan Primary School, is also known as the Songjiang Tang Dynasty Dharani Sutra Stone Pillar. Built in the 13th year of the Dazhong era (859 AD) during the Tang Dynasty, it is the oldest existing ground-level structure in Shanghai and one of the larger surviving Tang Dynasty pillars in China.
During the mid-Tang period, Songjiang was a water town in Jiangnan with low-lying terrain. According to local legend, there was a “sea eye” in the area where water often erupted. To prevent floods, local officials erected the pillar as a preventive measure. However, the primary reason for its construction was the flourishing of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty. Devout Buddhists in Songjiang built the pillar to help guide the souls of deceased relatives to the afterlife. The pillar is inscribed with the “Sutra of the Buddha’s Top Dharma Dharani,” which explains the origins of the pillar and mentions that creating multiple pillars could ward off disasters and absolve sins.
Yunjian First Bridge
Yunjian First Bridge is located west of Songjiang City and is also known as Kua-tang Bridge because it spans the Pu-tang River. Historical records indicate that the bridge was originally built during the Song Dynasty as a wooden bridge and was renowned for its size, hence the name “Yunjian First Bridge.”
During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, the local governor renovated it into a stone bridge. The bridge features three arched spans made of blue stone, standing approximately 10 meters high and extending about 50 meters in length. It is currently listed as one of the twelve scenic spots of Songjiang.
Visitor Guide for Songjiang Old Town
Transportation to Scenic Spots
To reach Fangta Garden from Songjiang New City, take bus 22. After arriving at Fangta Garden, you can take a taxi to Zui Bai Chi (Drunken White Pool). From Zui Bai Chi, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the Old Street.
Accommodation Options
Staying in Songjiang is quite convenient, with options in both the ancient town and the new district. Recommended accommodations include:
- GreenTree Inn (Address: No. 423, Sizhuan Road, Songjiang District)
- Shanghai Liston Hotel (Address: No. 610, Lane 900, Sanxin North Road, Songjiang District)
- Shanghai Pingzhuang Atour Hotel (Address: No. 1007, Xinsong Road, Songjiang District)
- Songjiang Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel (Address: No. 1799, Renmin North Road, Songjiang District)
Dining Options
Songjiang offers a variety of local dining options. Recommended restaurants include:
- Lao Fei Cat 佬肥猫 (Address: No. 1292, Xin Songjiang Road)
- Bamboo Chopsticks Songjiang Taste 竹筷子松江味 (Address: No. 1234, Xin Songjiang Road, Songjiang District)
- Nongjia Cai Lao Da 农家菜老大 (Address: No. 6351, Hushong Road)
Local specialties such as Anlu Hanlin Chicken, Wuliu Fish, and Agate White Jade can be enjoyed at food streets like Miao Qian Street, Yue Miao Street, and Songdong Road.
Additionally, the east gate of Fangta Garden features a restaurant called Fangta River Fresh Restaurant, which offers economical and delicious Songjiang-style river fresh dishes.