Stand on Fangsheng Bridge in Zhujiajiao Town and you look down on a canal lined with Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, with boats passing under the arches and handcraft shops opening along the old streets. It is one of the clearest introductions to Qingpu, the part of Shanghai where water towns, gardens and lakeside greenways set the pace.
Qingpu suits travellers who want a day or two outside the dense centre of Shanghai: garden visitors, cyclists, families, and anyone interested in the region's history. This guide covers the sights and experiences in Qingpu that are worth building a trip around, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Qingpu
1. Zhujiajiao Town
Zhujiajiao Town is a well-preserved ancient water town with over 1,700 years of history. It has 36 stone bridges, nine old streets winding along canals, and hundreds of traditional Ming and Qing dynasty buildings lining the water. Its highlights include Fangsheng Bridge, described as Shanghai's largest five-arch stone bridge, Kezhi Garden, a grand manor-style garden, and the Qing Dynasty Post Office.
Allow time for a boat ride, local snacks and the handcraft shops. The town is the natural anchor of a Qingpu visit, so pair it with the lakeside greenway at Dianshan Lake if you have a second day.
2. Dianshan Lake
Dianshan Lake is Shanghai's largest freshwater lake and serves as the source of the Huangpu River. It offers excellent opportunities for cycling along its 50-kilometre lakeside greenway, and for water sports such as kayaking and sailing.
The lake also gives easy access to ancient water towns including Zhujiajiao and Jinxi, as well as the Shanghai Grand View Garden. Combining a stretch of the greenway with one of those stops makes a full day out.
3. Grand View Garden
Grand View Garden is a popular traditional style Chinese garden built in the 1980s. Its design is based on a garden of the same name described in the Dream of the Red Chamber, a famous 18th-century Chinese novel.
It is at 701 Jinshang Rd, reached by taking the Qing Shang Bus from the Oriental Land Metro Station on Line 12. Entry is 08:15-16:45 with no entry after 15:45, and the garden closes 30 minutes earlier between November and March, so plan your arrival with that in mind.
4. Qushui Garden
Qushui Garden was built in 1745 during the Qing Dynasty in Qingpu District, and gets its name from the ancient Chinese tradition of "drinking wine from a winding stream". Originally a temple garden, it was maintained through community donations, with locals each contributing one coin, earning it the nickname "One Coin Garden".
The garden is known for its water features, which cover 15% of the area, with pavilions, bridges and corridors built around pools and streams. It offers seasonal scenery: cherry blossoms in spring, lotus in summer, sweet-scented osmanthus in autumn, and plum blossoms in winter. It is at 14 Gongyuan Rd.
5. Former Residence of Chen Yun
The Former Residence of Chen Yun, also known as the Chen Yun Memorial, is at 3516 Zhufeng Rd in Liantang Town. Chen Yun (1905-1995) was an influential Communist Party leader who was known as one of the Eight Elders in the 1980s and 1990s. Entry is free.
It is open 09:00-16:00 with no entry after 16:30, and closed on Mondays. Reach it by taking the Qing Feng Bus, the Qing Xiao Bus or the Qing Zheng Bus from the bus stop on Zhufeng Road, just south of Zhujiajiao Metro Station on Line 17.
6. Qingpu Museum
Qingpu Museum is at 1000 Huaqing South Rd, about 1.6 km southeast of Qingpu Xincheng Metro Station on Line 17. It is free to enter.
It is open 09:00-16:30 with no entry after 16:00, and closed on Mondays. It works well as a short, low-cost stop on a day when you are already moving through the district by metro.
7. Oriental Land
Oriental Land is at 6888 Huqingping Rd. It is also the metro station from which you catch the Qing Shang Bus to Grand View Garden, so the two can be combined in a single outing.
8. Shanghai Sun Island
Shanghai Sun Island is one of the places named in Qingpu. Treat it as an optional addition to a lake-focused day rather than a fixed stop, and check locally before setting out.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start early in Zhujiajiao Town, before the old streets along the canals fill up. Walk the nine old streets, cross Fangsheng Bridge, and visit Kezhi Garden and the Qing Dynasty Post Office while you are in the town.
Afternoon: Take a boat ride in Zhujiajiao Town and browse the handcraft shops, then have lunch from the local snacks. If time allows, travel to Dianshan Lake for a stretch of the lakeside greenway, or head to Grand View Garden via the Qing Shang Bus from Oriental Land Metro Station.
Evening: Return to Zhujiajiao Town for a slower walk along the water as the day winds down. If you are staying in the district and have energy left, Qushui Garden and Qingpu Museum are both worth slotting into a second day, since both close on Mondays.
Frequently asked questions
When should I avoid visiting the museums and memorials?
The Former Residence of Chen Yun and Qingpu Museum are both closed on Mondays. Plan those visits for another day of the week.
How do I reach Grand View Garden without a car?
Take the Qing Shang Bus from the Oriental Land Metro Station on Line 12. Note that entry closes at 15:45, and the garden closes 30 minutes earlier between November and March.
Is there anything free to do in Qingpu?
Yes. Entry to the Former Residence of Chen Yun is free, and Qingpu Museum is also free.
What can I do around Dianshan Lake?
Cycle along the 50-kilometre lakeside greenway, or try water sports such as kayaking and sailing. The lake also gives easy access to ancient water towns including Zhujiajiao and Jinxi, and to the Shanghai Grand View Garden.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the Monday closures against your dates, and start mapping your route through Zhujiajiao Town and the lake.