One tower, one warehouse and one bridge in Songjiang - a day trip to Songjiang from Shanghai.

One Pagoda: Square Pagoda (Square Pagoda Garden) Songjiang, Shanghai was established as Huating County in the tenth year of the Tianbao Period of the Tang Dynasty, and it has been 1,273 years. The place where the square tower was located was the bustling center of Huating County during the Tang and Song dynasties. However, after many vicissitudes of life, only a solitary tower and two stone pillar bases remain of the Xingshengjiao Temple where the square tower was once located. The Square Pagoda was first built in the Later Han Dynasty of the Five Dynasties. It was originally named Xingshengjiao Temple Pagoda. It was called the Square Pagoda because of its square shape. There is a screen wall in front of the tower, which was built in the Ming Dynasty. In the middle of the screen wall is carved a giant beast, the legendary "Gan". The Zhaobi was originally the screen wall of the City God Temple in Songjiang Prefecture. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese army bombed and the temple was destroyed, but the wall remained. It is the oldest and best-preserved large-scale brick carving artwork in the country. There is a Tianhou Temple to the north of the tower. Its predecessor was the Shunji Temple located in the Shiliupu area of ​​Xiaodongmen in the old city of Shanghai. After its destruction, it was rebuilt at the bridgehead of Henan South Road, Suzhou River, renamed Tianhou Temple, and finally moved here. It is also the only remaining Tianhou Temple in Shanghai. On the right side of the Tianhou Temple there is a trench built of granite. Being in it gives you the feeling of standing in a deep valley, especially in the mottled light and shadow, as if you have transformed into a battle-hardened general, defending a city. (Figure 1-7) Transportation and tips: Take the "Songjiang No. 26" bus from the entrance of Zuibaichi, get off at Fangtayuan Station, and walk back about 15 meters. Songjiang Museum is adjacent to Fangtayuan. Fangta Garden is actually more like a park, a bit like the Small Wild Goose Pagoda attraction in Xi'an. It covers a large area, but there is not much to see. Ticket price: 12 yuan/person. First Granary: Yunjian Granary Songjiang was called Yunjian in ancient times, and Yunjian Granary was originally a grain warehouse and factory built from the 1950s to the 1990s. It has now been transformed into a commercial complex integrating art galleries, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, sports, retail and other business formats. However, to be honest, apart from the graffiti on the eight silos, there are not many eye-catching creative ideas. If you want to check in, it feels a bit useless. (Figure 8-10) Transportation and tips: Bus Songjiang No. 2/33, Songhui East Road Songjin Highway Station. Or you can take a 10-minute ride on a shared bicycle from the east gate of Fangta Garden. First bridge: Dacang Bridge Zhongshan West Road in Songjiang is a planned Cangcheng historical and cultural area, and was also the largest grain storage site and starting point for grain transport in Songjiang Prefecture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. At one end of Zhongshan West Road is "Cangcheng Zhang's Rice Shop", and at the other end is Dacang Bridge. The entire Zhongshan West Road is being demolished and rebuilt. The only things left and still in business are the old houses and specialty shops that will become part of the historical and cultural area. Okura Bridge is the most worthwhile place to visit among them. Dacang Bridge was first built in the Ming Dynasty and was originally named Yongfeng Bridge. It was named because the south of the bridge was the ancient Songjiang Prefecture's grain transport warehouse city. It is a large stone bridge with five arches. One end of the bridge is connected to the old city, and the other end has a "Guanding Zen Temple" and Meng Jiang Pavilion. Guanding Temple was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1644-171 AD) and was originally a Guandi Temple, which was meant to protect the people and the home. Later it was renamed Guanding Zen Temple, meaning to pray for smooth water transport. It is said that Meng Jiang Pavilion by the river was the place where Meng Jiangnu rested when she passed through Songjiang on her way to find her husband after traveling thousands of miles. Go all the way along the alley next to Daigo Tea House, and then at a crossroads you will see a dilapidated but very photogenic door with a small wooden sign on it that reads "The coffee shop you have been looking for." I walked in with some hesitation, and saw a deserted yard with a few tables and chairs and an inconspicuous door. When you lift the door curtain, you will be greeted by a different kind of charm. It is really a unique coffee shop. How should I put it? The counter has the feel of a Japanese nightclub, and the interior decoration is a bit artistic and modern. A little casual, and a little fresh. Going out of the other door is the riverside. The old houses on both sides of the river exude a hint of ancient beauty, full of the unique charm of small bridges, flowing water and houses in the south of the Yangtze River. Coming out of the coffee shop, I walked up the stairs again. Crossing each step on the bridge was like wading in the 500-year river of time in Cangcheng. Looking at the scenery on both sides of the bridge, I couldn’t tell whether it was the river water under the bridge or the time under my feet that was flowing. (Picture 11 Zhongshan West Road, pictures 12-15, 19 Dacang Bridge, picture 16 Meng Jiang Pavilion, picture 17 Daigo Tea House Alley, picture 18 Coffee Shop) Transportation and tips: Bus Songjiang 4/5, Dacang Bridge Station. Or you can take a shared bicycle from Xilin Temple, which is about 15 minutes away. For shared bicycles, you can start from Zhang's Rice Shop, stop and take photos along the way, and finally park the bike at the bus stop. According to the coffee shop owner, squirrels can occasionally be seen in the yard. The lady boss is very welcoming. If you need, you can get a free glass of lemonade, ice water or boiled water. The coffee beans in the store are well selected, and the iced American coffee is delicious. The prices at the noodle shops near Okura Bridge are still affordable. The old shop on Zhongshan West Road is free to visit, and there are several good photo spots.