Sōngjiāng (松江区 Sōngjiāng Qū) is a district of Shanghai, southwest of downtown and west of Minhang.
Songjiang is divided in two by the Huhang expressway. The northern part is the new town, Songjiang Xincheng. It is easily accessible, being at the end of metro line [9]. The southern part near the river is the old town, where all the historic sights are.
Songjiang is a rapidly developing area with a mixture of old houses in the western parts of the town and growing areas of new houses and large shopping streets further East.
The city is located around 30km to the south-west of central Shanghai and is connected to downtown areas by buses and metro.
Take line [9] to the end.
The Jinshan Railway has several stops in Songjiang, but express trains bypass some of them.
You can use metro line [1] to Xinzhuang station, then change to line [5] until Jianchuan Lu. From that station, use the Songmin bus line (松闵线) which stops at the Songjiang Fangta pagoda and also in the city center and costs only ¥3.
Get there by using sightseeing bus 1a from the east Shanghai stadium bus station, which leaves every 30 minutes between 7:30am and 5:30pm (¥10).
From Shanghai city it's around ¥70. If you want to save a bit, use line [1] to Xinzhuang station, then line [5] until Beiqiao station and take a taxi from there (around ¥40).
There are almost 30 trains per day linking Songjiang with Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai South stations (services to/from Shanghai Hongqiao depart/arrive at Songjiang South while services to/from Shanghai South depart/arrive at Songjiang). Songjiang station is about 4km west of Fangta pagoda while Songjiang South is another 2km south of that.
The Songmin bus line runs west-east through the whole city and connects the sights, most importantly the area around the Xilin pagoda and the Fangta pagoda.
Taxis are readily available and come at the same prices as in Shanghai city, ¥8 or ¥10 per km.
Also, be aware that the travel distance from Jiangchuan station to FangTi Yuan is over 1 hour bus journey, so plan your time accordingly. The park is also very small and takes around 20 minutes to walk around
Xilin pagoda (西林塔 Xīlíntǎ), Xita Lane, Zhongshan Middle Rd (松江区中山西路). A 46.5-m-high pagoda with temple located in the western part of Songjiang near the intersection of Zhongshanzhong Lu and Xilin Bei Lu (中山中路, 西林北路). The original pagoda dates back to 1440 and is within a Buddhist temple, which has been renovated. The pond is crowded with fish and visitors can touch them. Temple area and garden: free (it might be 6¥ on certain days); Pagoda: not accessible for climbing
Cheng Shifa Art Museum.
Songjiang Mosque (真教寺 Zhēnjiāosì; 松江清真寺; Sōngjiāng Gīngzhēnsì), No. 75, Gangbeng Alley (松江区缸甏巷21号; Sōngjiāngqū Gāngbàngxiàng) (walk north of Zuibaichi Park Station of Shanghai Metro), 31.007944°, 121.222583°, +86 21 5782 3684. The oldest Islamic building in Shanghai, dating back to the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1341) merges Chinese with Arabic architecture. A large scale repair 1985 restored much of the original beauty and in modern times 300 Muslims worship here. ¥6
Fangta pagoda (方塔园 Fāngtǎyuán), 235 Zhongshan East Rd, 31.00655°, 121.24166°. Square pagoda in the south-east of Songjiang. From the Xilin pagoda central city area to the Fangta pagoda its a 30 minute walk to the east on Zhongshan Lu. The garden is newly renovated and includes a large peaceful area and some 600 year old trees. A few "attractions", such electric boats, auto scooter for kids and the like at the outer places of the park disturb the peaceful overall impression. Still, the park and pagoda is highly recommended and a peaceful refreshment from crowded Shanghai city. garden: ¥12; extra charge at pagoda
Li Pagoda.
Huzhu Pagoda (Leaning Pagoda), 31.0762°, 121.1458°.
Zuibai Pond Garden (Zuibaichi), Renmin South Rd ([9] Zuibaichi Park station), 31.0024°, 121.229°. 8AM-5PM. It’s one of the five classical parks in Shanghai, also a national scenic spot ranked AAA. The park is famous for the peony in spring, lotus in summer, chrysanthemum in autumn and plum flower in winter. There is a central pond, lots of pavilions, terraces, path leading to the loneliness maze and maintained precious treasure relics such as the Square Hall, the Boat-like Hut, Reading Hall, the Straw-hut over the Pool of Qing Dynasty, Baocheng Pavilion, the Plum Blossom Hall and Zhao Mengfu’s handwriting of Yuan Dynasty. It includes a modern museum dedicated to paintings. 12¥
Thames Town (泰晤士小镇; Tàiwùshì xiǎo zhèn), 31.036°, 121.19°. 9AM-10PM. A very convincing English-style village, complete with pubs, cobbled lanes and a church. Only residents are missing, and empty stores and streets make the place looks like a film set even though it is very popular with newly-weds taking photos of themselves in front of the massive church. Definitely worth a visit for its eerie, unlikely atmosphere.
{{listing | type=see | name=Sheshan | alt=佘山 | url= | email= | address= | lat=31.09679 | long=121.19181 | directions=[9] Sheshan station | phone= | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Sheshan Hill | image=Stairs She Shan Basilica 20050410.jpg | wikidata=Q7495625 | content=Two hills with large (and crowded) paths and stairs. At the top of the biggest hill sit a large catholic basilica built in 1935 and an observatory. }}
{{see | name=Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park | alt=广富林文化遗址公园 | url=https://www.gflpark.com/ | email= | address=Lane 3260, Guangfulin Road (广富林路3260弄) | lat= | long= | directions=take a metro train to Songjiang University Town Station on Line [9], then take bus 15, 24 or 98 and get off at the East China University of Political Science and Law | phone=+86 21 57800000 | tollfree= | hours=General opening hours are 09:00-17:00; the museums and temples shut at 16:30 | price=¥30 (archaeological museum); ¥5 (ancient pottery museum); ¥5 (art museum); ¥30 (Guangfulin Culture Exhibition Hall); ¥70 (all-in-one ticket) | wikipedia=Guangfulin | wikidata=Q18226437 | lastedit=2022-01-25 | content=A park centered around the Guangfulin archaeological site, where many ancient artefacts have been unearthed. It includes several museums and temples. }}
This area has its own "university town" metro station on line [9] and a number of universities:
Several of these also have other campuses elsewhere.
Primary administrative division