Qibao Old Town

Qibao Old Town (七宝古镇, Qībǎo Gǔzhèn) is a short old street along the Puhui River in Minhang District, reached directly by Metro Line 9. It is small and compact: about 550 metres from north to south and 200 metres across. Be clear about what it is. The street was rebuilt and opened in 2000 in Ming and Qing style, so the interest lies in the layout, the small museums and the town’s own stories rather than in untouched old buildings.

Qibao itself is older than the street. English and Chinese Wikipedia both trace the town’s formation to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, with a recognisable town by the Northern Song. It takes its name from Qibao Temple (七宝教寺, Qībǎo Jiàosì). Chinese Wikipedia says the temple received a name plaque from the Song emperor Zhenzong in 1008. It was destroyed in 1862 during fighting between the Taiping army and Qing and foreign-led forces, then rebuilt from 2000 and consecrated in January 2003. It now has a seven-storey pagoda.

A commercial street runs across the river: North Street on the north bank, South Street on the south. Three arched stone footbridges cross the Puhui River, which are, from west to east, Kangle Bridge, Puhui River Bridge and Anping Bridge. Tea houses line the water, boats leave from a wharf, and the shops mostly sell souvenirs and street food. The whole area is pedestrianised.

The small sights are the reason to go inside the lanes. English Wikipedia lists a Bell Tower, a cotton textile workshop, a shadowgraph museum, an old trades house, Zhou’s Miniature Museum, a pawn shop, a calligraphy arts room and a Cricket House, many on a combined ticket. Crickets matter here: Chinese Wikipedia says Qibao crickets have a reputation for fighting spirit. Another local story is that of Zhang Chongren (张充仁), the painter and sculptor who lived in Qibao and was a friend of the Belgian cartoonist Hergé. He is the model for the character Chang in the Tintin books, and his former home is a memorial hall.

Practical notes: take Line 9 to Qibao station; English Wikipedia names Exit 2 as the most convenient. Opening hours and combined-ticket prices were not found on an official page, so check on arrival. Chinese Wikipedia lists Qibao Temple among the sights inside the scenic area.