Other
Qingxi Ancient Town
Chinese name
青溪古镇
Qingxi Ancient Town sits out here in southern Shanghai’s Fengxian District, tucked away as a hidden gem that has not become overly touristy.
With its stone bridges, narrow waterways, and quiet lanes, this ancient watertown still retains the authentic feeling of the old watertowns across the Jiangnan region.
The roots of this settlement stretch back more than fourteen hundred years. It began forming as a village during the Sui and Tang dynasties and grew into an established market town by the Song Dynasty. The name Qingxi, meaning Green Creek, came from the clear stream that runs through the settlement, where lush reeds grew along the banks.
As trade flourished along the canal network, Qingxi prospered through the Ming and Qing dynasties. Much of the historic fabric you see lining the waterway today dates from those periods, featuring classic whitewashed walls, black roof tiles, and carved stone bridges that have connected local families across the water for centuries.