Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
Cotton Textile Mill
Cotton was Qibao's main industry during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This recreated
mill, housed in a former residence, takes you through the entire production process and
has displays of old tools, photos and clothing.
Shadow Puppet Museum
This museum provides a brief history of local shadow puppetry, one of China's oldest and
most enduring forms of folk art. At its most sophisticated, a travelling troupe would have
consisted of five people (the puppeteer, three musicians and a singer). Try to check out the
two-hour
performances
(
1pm Wed & Sat)
.
Old Trades House
The Old Trades House is a waxworks museum that introduces the traditional trades prac-
ticed in a small Chinese town, from bamboo weaving and fortune-telling to scale making
and carpentry.
Zhou's Miniature Carving Gallery
Perhaps the most unusual sight in Qibao is this two-storey gallery, which showcases the
miniature carvings of a father and daughter. The highlights are the extraordinarily detailed
reproductions of different characters' rooms from the 18th-century classic
Hong Lou
Meng
(Dream of Red Mansions).
Other Sights
At No 9 Nan Dajie is a traditional teahouse with
storytelling performances
(admission incl
pot of tea ¥2; 12.30-2.30pm)
, the only one of its kind in Shanghai. Half-hour
boat rides
(per
person ¥10; 8.30am-5pm)
slowly ferry passengers along the canal. Also worth ferreting out is
the
Catholic Church
( 1866), off Qibao Nanjie, south of the canal.
Minhang district
