"Qibao" Shanghai Things to Do Tip by Willettsworld

Located in the centre of Minhang District of Shanghai, only 18 kilometres (11.18 miles) from the downtown area, Qibao Ancient Town has a history spanning over 1,000 years. The town was built in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126) and grew into a prosperous business centre during Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). Qibao is the Chinese for 'seven treasures' and there are two popular theories about its derivation. The more reliable one says that the name originates from the Qibao Temple, famed for its good reputation. It was this that contributed to the growth of business and culture of the previously unknown town. The other theory seems more popular among the local people who tell folk tales about seven treasures. These were an iron Buddha made in Ming Dynasty, a bronze bell also dating from the Ming Dynasty but said to have mysteriously appeared from nowhere, a Gold Script Lotus Sutra written by an imperial concubine of the 10th century, a one-thousand-year-old Chinese catalpa tree, a jade axe, a gold cockerel and a pair of jade chopsticks.

Even though Qibao is quite nice to spend an afternoon at, for me it just seemed too tacky, touristy and didn't have a heart or any depth. It's now easy to get to by taking the metro on the newly opened line 9 but I had to take a taxi there and a bus back.