Zhujiajiao

13th October
This morning we got on the number 4 tourist bus to Zhujiajiao. Zhujiajiao is an ancient fishing town outside shanghai. It was really pretty, although a bit touristy. There were loads of really nice old buildings and there was so much to see. First we went to see the display of shanghai handicraft which was really interesting and we met a lady who was telling us about all the paintings. When she found out that I lived in Shanghai she told me that I mist join her club, im not entirly sure what her club is, something to do with foreign people meeting up and learning about chinese culture, i think. Anyway I thought it might be fun so I gave her my email address. Next we went to the Hall of Paddy and Rice custom which showed the history and culture of rice growing in zhujiajiao. We had a walk along some of the narrow streets by the river which led to the Yuan Jin Buddhist Temple. It was a really big temple and we saw all the monks wandering around, and just after we arrived they started chanting and praying which was really interesting to watch.
We saw the Fengsheng Bridge which is the most famous thing in Zhujiajiao. It was built during the Ming Dynasty in 1571 by a buddhist monk who said that the bridge could only be used for freeing fish and turtles and he forbid people from fishing there.
We then went to the Kezhi Gardens, the Great Qing Post office (which is the only historical post office site in east china) and the Silk Road Museum.
We went into the City God Temple and some one called us into the temple to pray, so we did. And then he told us to write our names on this big thing that would bring good luck, so we did. And then he made us pay 100yuan each for it!
It was a really nice day though, and a really interesting place.