Qibao
Introduction
Qibao is a town in Minhang District, Shanghai, with origins reaching back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and the Northern Song Dynasty. Its name comes from the local Qibao Temple.
Today the town draws visitors to the area known as Qibao Old Town, set by the Puhui River. There you'll find traditional Chinese architecture along with a number of attractions, including museums and street food.
Getting there
Getting around by metro is straightforward: Line 5 runs north–south through the western part of the district, meeting Line 1 at its northern terminus, Xinzhuang, which carries you into the downtown core. Line 5 also has a branch to the southwest corner, while the newer Line 12 goes direct to parts of Minhang from downtown. Line 9 crosses the northern end roughly northeast–southwest, with a stop near the water town of Qibao, linking Songjiang in the west to downtown in the east. East of the river, Line 8 serves that side of the district, with the Pujiang line continuing south from its end. For Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station, near the northern tip of the district, use Lines 2, 10 and 17. By car, Humin Lu is the main north–south artery, running parallel to metro lines 1 and 5. North of Xinzhuang it has an elevated road above the ground-level street, each about six lanes; beyond Xinzhuang it drops to ground level and is mostly four-lane. The S4 toll road runs parallel to it a little to the east, and the fastest route from downtown to southern Minhang — the one taxis normally take — is Humin Lu to Xinzhuang, then switch to S4. Xinzhuang itself is one of the city's main road interchanges, also on the A20 ring road, which leads to both Hongqiao Airport to the north and Pudong Airport to the east, and it is where G60, the main highway toward Hangzhou, begins. Bus #816 runs from Hengshan Road in the French Concession along Humin Lu all the way to the river at the district's southern edge.Getting around
Qibao sits on Shanghai's metro network, so you don't need a car. Qibao Station is on Line 9, which runs roughly northeast–southwest across the northern end of Minhang and links Songjiang to the west with downtown Shanghai to the east. Other lines matter depending on where in the district you're headed: Line 5 runs north–south through the area west of the river and connects at its northern terminus, Xinzhuang, to Line 1 for the downtown core; Line 12 runs to parts of Minhang from downtown; Line 8 serves the area east of the river, with the Pujiang line continuing south from its end; and Lines 2, 10 and 17 serve Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station near the district's northern tip. For travel within the district, these lines — especially Line 5 — are heavily used. Buy tickets at station machines or use a rechargeable transit card; the metro is the fastest and most predictable way to cover longer distances.
Buses radiate out from major metro stops such as Xinzhuang, Shanghai South Railway Station and Dongchuan Road, so a common pattern is to take the metro to a hub and switch to a bus for the last leg. Taxis are more or less everywhere, with stands at most metro stops. Qibao Old Town itself is best explored on foot — it's a compact historic area of traditional architecture, museums and street food along the Puhui River. For longer hops, Shanghai runs a city-operated system of free bicycles: some unlock with AliPay and some with WeChat, and scanning the barcode works fine for foreigners. Stands around town each hold a few dozen bikes, and returning one to any stand within four hours costs nothing. If you're driving or taking a taxi from downtown toward southern Minhang, the usual fast route is Humin Lu to Xinzhuang and then onto the S4 toll road.
Where to stay
Hotels cluster in the north of the city, particularly around the French Concession, and the Hongmei Lu area is a popular base: it has a good range of restaurants and hotels, sits near Hongqiao Airport, and is linked by metro line 10 to both the airport and downtown.
- Budget options include Shanghai Fangduo Hotel on Humin Rd and the Shanghai Huaxiang branch of Motel 168 on Huaxiang Rd.
- Mid-range choices include the three-star Wistaria Hotel on Dongchuan Rd and the three-star Jinyan Hotel on Chunshen Rd.
- For a splurge, consider Shanghai Renji Hotel on Kunyang North Rd or Shanghai Dazhong Merrylin Hotel on Wuzhong Rd.
Food & drink
Hongmei Lu is the heart of the city's eating and drinking scene, popular with both tourists and expats. Take line 10 to Longxi Road stop, turn right as you exit the station and right again onto Hongmei Lu; walk a block past Yan'an elevated road and you are surrounded by restaurants, many with international menus. Another block down on the left is a pedestrians-only side street with at least a dozen restaurants and bars, including an Iranian place and an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet. Alternatively, the #757 bus from Lianhua Lu metro station runs along Hongmei Lu. Opposite the main gate of Jiaotong University is an entire street of restaurants catering to students, so most are moderately priced; two barbeque places there do all-you-can-eat meals that are excellent value if you are fairly hungry. On the Jiaotong U campus itself are five clusters of restaurants, each with a very cheap cafeteria-style place and several other options - Canteen number 5 has a popular Korean place, several Chinese places, and a pseudo-Italian spot with reasonable pizza and good rice-and-stirfry or noodle-and-topping plates. Across from Dongchuan Lu station on Line 5 is a street with a dozen restaurants, where the Sichuan place recognisable by the large red chilis on its sign is quite good and moderately priced. For specific spots, try Yingshanhong on Lianhua South Rd or Laziyu on Xinli Rd for budget Hunan and Sichuan cooking, or Mamamiya on Hongsong Rd and Amazing Grace on Hongzhong Rd for mid-range meals. When you want a drink, The Monk on Jinfeng Rd, German Corner No. 38 on Hongquan Rd and Sparks on Hongmei Xiuxian Pedestrian St are the places to head for.What to see and do
Qibao is a small water town crossed by two canals, where traditional houses, shops and restaurants cluster along the water. It makes a good daytrip from central Shanghai, and although it can be touristy, prices are comparatively cheap. In the east of town you'll find Qibao temple and pagoda, and at the centre is the Qibao distillery. A quiet boat ride around one of the canals is a relaxing way to see the town, and you can watch embroidery being made at Mrs. Xie Ju Fang's shop on Fuqiang Road. For indoor sightseeing, the Minhang Museum on Xinzhen Road holds three permanent exhibitions covering the history of Shanghai County, the Maqiao Culture with its unearthed artifacts, and a collection of Chinese folk musical instruments. The Shanghai Aerospace Enthusiast's Center, in the Caohejing High-Tech Area, is a small museum with Chinese military planes, Mao Tze Tung's personal plane and a complete DC-8 you can walk through, along with model airplanes and simulators; unless you're an enthusiast you may find it underwhelming. The Shanghai Metro Museum on Wuzhong Lu presents the history and technology of the city's urban transit system, with many exhibits aimed at children, though some of the best entertainments are often out of service and only about half the exhibits have English translation. Near the southern edge of Minhang on Dongchuan Road, you can visit the large Minhang campus of Shanghai Jiaotong University, riding the free bus that circles it, then walk across the street to East China Normal University.Three days in Qibao
Day one: Arrive in Qibao and get your bearings in Qibao Old Town, the historic core of Minhang District on the edge of Shanghai. The town's story reaches back to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and the Northern Song Dynasty, and Qibao Temple gives you a sense of that long history. Walk along the Puhui River, which runs through the old town, and take in the canals and lanes at an easy pace.
Day two: Use Qibao as your base for a day in Shanghai. Getting there is straightforward: Line 9 stops at Qibao Station, and the line also links Xinzhuang, Minhang, Songjiang, and East Pujiang. By road, Humin Lu runs north toward the city, and the French Concession around Hengshan Road makes a good focus for an afternoon of wandering. If you are heading onward, Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station are both within reach, and Pudong Airport serves the far side of the city.
Day three: Look beyond Qibao before you leave. Buses and other services connect to Shanghai South Railway Station, and Dongchuan Road is another local point on the network. For longer trips, Hangzhou is a common destination from Shanghai. Buy what you need for the journey, then make your way back through Minhang District at a relaxed pace.