Songjiang Town　松江镇

As a local saying goes, "Lots of bridges in Qingpu, and lots of pagodas in Songjiang." At present, there are thirteen historic pagodas in Shanghai, among which five are in Songjiang. Songjiang is an old historical town; as the origin of Shanghai, it has many cultural relics and ancient scenic spots of historical and artistic values and serve as rich historical resources of ancient politics, economy, and culture.

The tall exquisite pagoda standing on East Zhongshan Road is the Square Pagoda, landmark of the old town. Standing at the center of the whole garden, the pagoda was built during the Yuanyou Period (1086-94) of the North Song Dynasty. The nine-story pagoda, 42.5 m in height, has a square body; therefore, it is named Square Pagoda. In brick and wood structure, it is solid and sturdy, and leans southeastward. Shanghai is a city receiving a lot of southeast direction wind; therefore, the pagoda is designed this way to resist the force of the wind. The interior of the pagoda was mainly made up of nanmu and cedar wood, and more than 60% of the pagoda is still in original material. And the two paintings of the sitting Buddha from the Song Dynasty are rare curios in the world. With ornamental objects made of iron externally, the pagoda looks grand and superb.

In addition, the Square Pagoda Park has some remains of the Ming Dynasty such as the Beauty Hill and the Five-old-man Hill; the Hall of the Tang Dynasty, a pseudo-ancient architecture; the Imperial Harem Palace of the Qing Dynasty, a square floored with granite slabs, as well as precious trees like old cypress, old pine, and old gingko. Elegant, solemn and harmonious, the whole garden embodies the ancient gardening style of China.

What's worth mentioning is the well-known screen wall of the Ming Dynasty, built in the 3rd year (1370) of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty. The wall is structured with square bricks, 6.1 m wide and 4.75 m high in the middle. On the approximately 30-m² surface of the wall, it was carved with images of deer, monkey, flower, and phoenix, as if they were telling a variety of mythological stories and charming legends.

Inside the Zhongshan Primary School of Songjiang Town, there stands the Stone Sutra Tower (dhvaja) from the Tang Dynasty, the Tuoluoni Sutra Tower, built in the 13th year (859) of the Dazhong Period of the Tang Dynasty. With a history of over 1,140 years, it is the oldest Buddhist architecture in Shanghai.

After restoration, the sutra tower, 9.3 m in height, is of 21 levels and in an octagonal shape. It is carved with a complete sutra as well as the images and patterns of Bodhisattvas, the heavenly king, dragons and lions, clouds and peonies, etc. , all of which are vivid and lifelike.

On West Zhongshan Road, there is the Xilin Pagoda, which is referred to as the Crown of Songjiang. Originally it was named Chong' en Pagoda, built in the Xianchun Period (1265-74) of the South Song Dynasty. And it was reconstructed in the 20th year of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty and renamed Yuanying Pagoda. And because of its location in the Xilin Temple, it is habitually called Xilin Pagoda. Externally, it resembles Longhua Pagoda, seven-storied, eight-faceted, and brick-and-wood structured. With a height of 46.7 m, higher than the Square Pagoda, it is the highest old pagoda in Songjiang.

The Songjiang Mosque, at No.21, Gangpang Lane, Songjiang Town, is the oldest Islamic Mosque in Shanghai. It was built in the Zhizheng Period (1341-68) of the Yuan Dynasty, and later renovated and expanded several times in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Therefore, the mosque embodies both the architectural style of the Yuan Dynasty and the architectural features of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is an Arabic Islamic Mosque with Chinese and foreign architectural elements.

In Songjiang Town there is also a well-known Zuibaichi Park, which is introduced in another part of this book.

All in all, since Songjiang is the origin of Shanghai, a tourist cannot really understand the metropolis without enjoying a tour in the old town. One will have a wonderful time in Songjiang.

Address: Songjiang Town