Jinze is a town in Qingpu district, 20 kilometers southwest of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, that attracts numerous tourists to experience its traditional water town charms.

As one of the lesser-known of the water towns, it offers the ancient town experience, while largely lacking the souvenir shops and huge crowds that plague some of the more famous water towns.

The late Chinese calligrapher and seal cutter Qian Juntao (1907-1998) once inscribed "Jinze guqiao jia tianxia," which literally means the ancient bridges in Jinze are the best in the world.

Jinze town

Rainbows over the water

The town's history stretches back to before the Song Dynasty (960-1279). By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) the town had 42 bridges, which contemporaries described as being "perched like rainbows on its waters." Seven of these still remain.

Puji Bridge, which was built with purple stones, is 26.7 meters long, only 2.75 meters wide and, with its easy gradient, typical of the bridges built in the Song Dynasty.

Puji Bridge built in the Song Dynsty

Yingxiang Bridge is of a design untypical for south of Yangtze River during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). It lacks guardrails and steps, making it more convenient for cavalrymen to pass over it.

Ruyi Bridge, built in the Qing Dynasty, boasts fine artistry with auspicious carvings on its deck. It is also one of the best preserved ancient bridges in the town.

Fangsheng Bridge, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is beside a monastery and once served as a site for Buddhist disciples to set fish free into the waters.

Puqing Bridge, built in 1999, is a reproduction of a famous wooden bridge from the well-known Song Dynasty painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. The construction, which features interlocking wooden poles to form its arch and elegant body lines, was profiled in a PBS film, China Bridge, in 2000.

The bridges can also be appreciated from the water, with boat hires available for 10 yuan ($1.61).

Ancient buildings

Just as old as these bridges are the ancient buildings scattered through the town. There was once a saying that beside each bridge in Jinze dwelled a temple. Nowadays, though the preponderance of Buddhist and Taoist temples is no longer as high as in ancient times, those that remain still hold great significance.

Yihao Chansi or Yihao Buddhist Temple is the largest among the remaining temples. Built during the Song Dynasty, the temple was once able to house some 1,000 monks with more than 20 halls. The existing temple was restored in 1992 and has five halls for believers to worship Buddhas and the goddess of mercy.

Yihao Buddhist Temple is the largest temple in Jinze. Photos: Sun Shuangjie/GT

Beside a tall and stately gingko tree in the yard of the temple is the Buduanyun Shi, which translates as 'a stone with carvings of endless clouds.' The 40-meter-long relic from the Yuan Dynasty bears cloud reliefs by well-known painter Zhao Mengfu.

The ancient residential buildings in Jinze remain relatively undiscovered by tourists, as most are not open to the public. However, their interiors can sometimes be glimpsed through narrowly-opened doors, revealing dilapidated windows and grass-infested empty yards.

On the 28th day of the third month, and on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar, the town, which is usually permeated in an atmosphere of simplicity and serenity, enters into lively festivity as it holds its biannual temple fairs.

During the fairs, Chinese opera singers, dragon dancers and folk artists gather to perform traditional shows. For locals, it is a time to get together with family, particularly younger members who have left home to work downtown.

Crafts workshop

Edith Cheung, an award-winning film costume director from Hong Kong, is one of the people who has been enchanted by the tranquil beauty of Jinze, to the point where she decided to stay and work in the town, opening a textile workshop and gallery, Jinze Arts Center.

A visitor tries out a weaving machine in Jinze Arts Center. Photo: Courtesy of Jinze Arts Center

Located among traditional residential houses along the water on Xiatang Street, the center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving traditional Chinese craftsmanship. The center has some 5,000 items from different parts of China, and showcases a rich collection of items in its gallery.

The center holds regular open-day activities and weeklong workshops for people interested in textile crafts. Participants can learn how to weave fabrics from skilled craftsmen.

The center also offers accommodation and catering for artists, art students, and amateur enthusiasts looking to draw inspirations from the ancient town. People can apply for residency by visiting jinze.org.

How to get to Jinze

Take Huzhu Bus Line at Chengdu Road North Dagu Road Station to Zhujiajiao, and transfer to Qingjin Bus Line to the last stop.