Fangsheng Bridge ("Bridge of Life Liberation") is more than just a crossing over the Dianpu River—it connects two authentic neighborhoods of Zhujiajiao. On both banks, wooden stilt houses from the Qing Dynasty (18th–19th century) still stand. These structures are the last remnants of an era when the entire town was built over water, with life revolving around the river.
Architecture of the Stilt Houses
Construction Features
• Stilts: Oak pillars driven into the riverbed (some still original)
• Ground floor: Open space for boats and net storage (~2.5 m high)
• Second floor: Living quarters with sliding paper windows and gallery balconies
• Roofs: Black tiles adorned with qianniu figurines (mythical fire guardians)
North Bank: "The Fishermen’s Quarter"
12 houses (1780–1850), home to eel-fishing families
Distinctive features:
• Hooks for drying nets on the facades
• Stone troughs for cleaning the catch
• Legend: House No. 3 once housed an icon of the "River Goddess," protector of fishermen (until the 1950s)
South Bank: "The Merchant District"
8 houses (1802–1890) with shopfronts on the ground floor
Historical trade goods:
• Salt (until the 1860s)
• Live carp for Buddhist release rituals
• Indigo dye for textiles
• Notable detail: House No. 5 preserves an 1889 sign with the characters "River’s Blessing"
Stories of the Residents
1. Fishing Dynasties
The northern houses were home to three generations of the Zhu family. Their descendants recall:
• 1937: Hiding boats under the bridge during Japanese bombings
• 1960s: Catching giant catfish (up to 1.5 m!) before the river shallowed
2. Merchants and Artisans
The southern buildings belonged to:
• The Li family (tea merchants), whose heir opened the town’s first photo studio in 1912
• Master Wang, a craftsman who made bamboo rice sieves (his tools are displayed in House No. 7)
Key Historical Events
• 1824: A flood submerged ground floors—water level marks remain on House No. 2
• 1925: A tax protest drew 300 fishing boats to gather near the bridge
• 2003: Restoration uncovered a hoard of Qianlong-era coins under House No. 4
Preservation rule: The houses’ 10-degree tilt (a design against river currents) cannot be altered during repairs
Why This Place Is Unique
• This is Shanghai’s only surviving stilt-house neighborhood where:
• You can still hear the wooden floors creak as they did 200 years ago
• Rope grooves on the pillars testify to centuries of moored boats
• Retired fishermen drink tea on balconies at dawn, keeping traditions alive
Tip: Visit at 5 AM to witness the quarter’s quiet magic, or at dusk when light from paper windows casts "shadow characters" on the water. These aren’t props—they’re the last witnesses to Zhujiajiao’s past as a living water town, not just a tourist site.
