Ordinary Place – Zhujiajiao

Published on August 11, 2001, at 11:22 AM. Duration: 1 Day. Author visited the following places: Zhu[...]

Published on August 11, 2001, at 11:22 AM. Duration: 1 Day. Author visited the following places: Zhujiajiao, Fangsheng Bridge.

Zhujiajiao in Shanghai can only be considered half a water town, not originally a place worth visiting. After reading some travelogues, I decided to verify it myself. When I arrived at Sheshan waiting for the bus, the sun was scorching. Suddenly, a motorcyclist came running and shouted at me: ‘No buses to Zhujiajiao, take my ride…’ I couldn’t help but smile slightly, who is he trying to fool? Before traveling, I always inquire about the route. Soon enough, the Qingzhu line arrived. Forty-five minutes later, I was standing on the streets of Zhujiajiao with few tourists. The facades faintly reminded me of the Xitang and Tongli I had visited before. The area was under construction, making the roads somewhat difficult to navigate. However, as a child, I loved walking on rugged muddy paths or sand dunes, seemingly laying a solid foundation for my adult travels. Upon entering, I found the scale of the water town to be smaller, the river channels narrower, and the number and scale of bridges also smaller. Some old houses were being repainted, making them look half-new and half-old. Setting aside these feelings of disappointment, I thought it best not to compare with other places and soon discovered some local spots worth visiting. The City God Temple was conducting a religious ceremony, with a group of Taoist priests reciting scriptures, surrounded by kneeling elders and a few children, but no young people.After the chanting, the priests began to play musical instruments and sing. The sound echoed in the small courtyard, surprisingly creating an ethereal atmosphere. I recalled a morning when I was in poor health and sat alone in front of a temple on Mount Tai. My gloomy mood was lifted as I listened to the chanting from the temple, gradually feeling detached from worldly concerns.

Inside the small temple, there was a shop where I bought a folk toy called ‘Jian Gu Tou’. This toy is essentially a type of top that is whipped with a rope, but I had rarely seen such toys in my childhood. I chatted with the shop assistant for a few words, and she surprisingly thought Guanyin was a Taoist deity. However, she told me that the reason for the grand celebration was because today was Guanyin’s birthday. Taoism celebrating a Buddhist holiday is also a Chinese characteristic.

Fangsheng Bridge is the most worthwhile place to visit in Zhujiajiao. The bridge is quite high, and standing in the middle, one can see the panoramic view of the water town. Many locals hold bowls of small fish at the bridgehead, soliciting customers with ‘One yuan to buy fish for release’. Zhuangzi and Hui Shi once debated whether fish are happy, but I know for sure that those fish caught for release are definitely not happy.

Sitting in Yiheng Hotel, I savored the local specialties: braised pork and smoked radish, accompanied by barley tea, and the afternoon passed easily. When leaving Zhujiajiao, the streets were filled with the fragrance of zongzi and braised pork, and I couldn’t resist bringing some back.Contemplating, perhaps it is so ordinary, but the sense of homely comfort is incomparable. To countless famous attractions that often require an entrance fee, this sense of comfort stands out in stark contrast.