Step away from the towering skyscrapers, busy streets of vehicles and thousands that crowd the streets, the brilliant flashing lights and the constant hum of the big cities to a tranquil antiquity of flowing waterways crisscrossing under beautiful bridges of stone and wood. Located in the suburbs of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is the best preserved of the four ancient towns in the area. Dating back to more than 1700 years to the Yuan dynasty when trade flourished in the area and continued on to the Ming and Qing dynasties, the town is a living legend to experience.
Spanning an area of 47 square kilometers, the town glistens in the morning light like a pearl among the purple mountains, as the morning rays dance on the shimmering waters, soothed by the morning mist earning the name of the Pearl Stream. Conveniently located at the intersection of a few local rivers, the town has been a flourishing trade port of silks and spices. Take a ride on a boat and explore the many streams and small rivers and shop at these ancient stores, a few steps above the water. One has not seen Zhujiajiao if one has not seen the bridges. Adorned with 8 shapes of coiling dragons is the Fangsheng Bridge, the largest, longest and tallest stone bridge in Zhujiajiao which is among 35 other stone bridges that tower over the little boats as you pass under. Lang Bridge is the only wooden bridge of the town and all 37 have been built in varying styles and designs thoroughly connecting the town from end to end.
The fan shaped town is dotted with beautiful houses of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture with balconies and courtyards, adorned with beautiful sculptures of ancient times. Architecture is the only art that can be experienced from within and the houses of Zhujiajiao are proof of it. Be transported to a time of kings and legends as you walk through the corridors of these simple, yet elegantly designed houses and experience the lives of the local people as they go about their daily routine.
One cannot essentially name the better, Greater China hotels by sheer size and ambiance, but must include the services the hotels in China have to offer to capture the true essence of a hotel service. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels China captures the traditional and cultural aspect of China and encompasses it in their agenda in line with modern luxuries to make your stay, a memorable experience.