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Shanghai · Mysteries & legends

Gods, Pirates and Spirits of the Old City

Before the banks of the Bund, Shanghai was a round town ringed by walls against pirates. Inside them survive temples, alleys and legends that Shanghainese still tell. This route, best at dusk when the lanterns come on, always separates what the records say from what belongs to tradition, and it ends beside the classic restaurants of the Old City.

  • 5 stops
  • 1.8 km
  • 1 h 40 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Huxinting Teahouse on the pond, beside the zigzag bridge

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Dajing Pavilion and the Last City WallThe only surviving stretch of the wall built in 1553 against pirates, watched over from above by the god of war.
  2. 2 Fangbang Road, the Old StreetA canal buried in 1913 and a secret society that held the city for eighteen months.
  3. 3 The City God TempleThe temple of Shanghai's three guardians, one of them a scholar who refused to serve the emperor while he lived.
  4. 4 Huxinting Teahouse and the Zigzag BridgeShanghai's oldest teahouse, in the middle of a pond, and a nine-turn bridge against evil spirits.
  5. 5 Chenxiangge, the Agarwood PavilionA small Buddhist temple born of a statue of Guanyin rescued, so the story goes, from a sunken boat.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Gods, Pirates and Spirits of the Old City

Legends with an address

The god who refused to serve the emperor, the statue pulled from a shipwreck and the zigzag bridge against evil spirits.

Record and tradition

Each stop separates what is proven from what is told, so you can enjoy the mystery without mistaking it for history.

The city before the concessions

The 1553 wall, the Small Swords Society and the oldest teahouse in Shanghai.

Keep exploring

More routes in Shanghai

Back to Shanghai
HistoryFrom the Racecourse to the Bund: Shanghai of the Concessions MixedFrench Concession Highlights: Plane Trees, Villas and Lanes

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Shanghai?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Shanghai in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Shanghai in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Shanghai in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary