Elizabeth goes to Qibao Dec 1, 2010

Qibao (qi-seven bao-treasures) is a water town neighbourhood in Shanghai accessible by the subway, which I think is pretty cool. You may notice that it has features similar to Zhujiajiao, a larger water town visited earlier. 

Here is some information on Qibao, shamelessly cut and pasted from another website:

Located in the center of Minhang District of Shanghai, only 18 kilometers (11.18 miles) from the downtown area, Qibao Ancient Town can satisfy your curiosity about ancient water townships without the bother of either long distance or the rush of crowds.

As the only ancient town forming part of greater Shanghai, with a history spanning over one thousand years, Qibao is more than just a living fossil of ancient Chinese conurbation and urban planning. The town was built in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1126) and grew into a prosperous business center 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. Actually of these seven treasures, the existence of only first four can be verified while only the Scripture and the bell have survived to this day.

Whoah! Maybe a little too much info. Oh, well. Too late now and at least you're well-informed, as am I. 

Jane and I took the subway, an experience in itself. I love being the only Westerners on the entire train. It makes me feel so exotic. We then walked to the main square of Qibao. 

This was it. Very quaint.

The decorated archway

The "hilltop" pagoda
I especially appreciate the realistic backdrop.

Another angle

Yet another..

Jane trying her luck at the piggy bank toss. Almost got it in!

Yours truly with the bell in the creatively named Bell Tower.

According to legend, after the local temple was built, it rained heavily and an object was seen floating in the nearby Xiang'hua River. When the rain stopped, the villagers discovered that the object was this bell. Can you imagine? A floating metal bell. They placed it in the tower and revered it ever since.

Me trying out the bell

Yes, it does have quite the clang, especially when you turn on the microphone. Hey! Don't put it there if you don't want people to use it.

After being escorted from leaving the Bell Tower, Jane and I decided to throw ourselves into the throngs of shopping Chinese tourists.

View of Beida Street from the Bell Tower

Street level, in the thick of things

Looking back up Beida Street towards the main square and the pagoda near the Bell Tower

Glazed fruit

I'll save the traumatizing foodstuffs for later.

The round fruits are like small, pulpy apples with fine seeds.

We pressed on until we came to the Cotton Textile Mill. Qibao's former claim to fame was its once "glorious cotton spinning and weaving industry", to quote the sign at the building. The villagers of Qibao also grew, harvested and dyed the cotton. In this building, we also saw a typical wedding chamber. I have no idea how cotton is linked to a wedding chamber, but it was interesting to see. 

The sign, if you can make out the writing (click to enlarge) didn't do much to enlighten. 

Anyway, here are the photos of said wedding hall and chamber:

The now-recognizable chamber pot occupying a special place of honour, it seems. 

You will be thrilled to know that I will not bore you with tons of photos showing mannequins involved in all the steps of cotton production.  This one I do have to show you though as it startled me when I was rounding a corner. 

This "fellow" was demonstrating cloth stamping, a process used to make the material "solid, flat and glossy" after it was dyed. Never seen that before. 

Onwards and upwards! Next, Qibao's main bridge, called the Puhui River Bridge.

Seen at an angle...

At the top looking down...

Admiring another smaller bridge in the distance

Really small bridge in front of a teahouse

Cute

The next attraction on our list was the Shadowgraph Museum. We were equally perplexed by the name. 

This is what greeted us when we walked in...

Yes! A shadow play! Here's Wikipedia to explain more:

Shadow play (Chinese: 皮影戏, pí yĭng xì) or shadow puppetry is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment using opaque, often articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images. It is popular in various cultures. At present, more than 20 countries are known to have shadow show troupes.

Upstairs, there were cases full of puppets and the musical instruments played during a performance. 

A look at some of the puppets, originally made of leather, now they use paper.

Closer still...

There were lots of artifacts in this museum, but we were more interested in the show. Jane helpfully explained the plot to me. It was a Buddhist story about some gods protecting a prince. 

A sneak peek backstage

The performers hanging up their puppets after the show.

Another shot showing a musician's drum. It was crowded back there! There were two puppeteers and three musicians, if I remember correctly. A captivating show and it made me wish that I knew Mandarin, as all the Chinese people were having a good ol' chuckle. 

Back on the street, we headed over to the last museum, the Museum of Miniatures, but not before we were exposed to some Qibao delicacies.

I think this is why I don't see many small birds in the streets of Shanghai.

Eggs wrapped in something. Really. That much I understood. 

I need some sort of reverse Wikipedia where I can say, "Hey! What is this?!?" and send them my photos when I get home. I can ask the locals in Mandarin when I'm out, but the problem is, I don't know enough of the language to understand the answer. So much to learn...

This we figured out all on our own...feet of fowl!

Onto something sweet, literally

Cotton (how appropriate for Qibao!) candy shaped like flowers

O.K. Enough food trauma, here's the Museum of Miniatures.

This was just one display case jam packed with these incredibly intricate miniatures.

My camera and photography skills really do not do justice to these beautiful, detailed pieces.

Slightly larger miniatures (new oxymoron!)

Definitely a labour of love to make these items. 

By now Jane and I were all done out. Time to go back to our respective dwellings while we were still having fun. We didn't have a chance to see the Qibao Temple, but that will still be there for a future visit.