Zhujiajiao Ancient Town hosts exhibition until 26 October

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town and its Those Years in Zhujiajiao photography exhibition are part of Shanghai's current autumn cultural programme, with the exhibition open from 27 September to 26 October 2026. The show is at Helong Art Museum on North Street, while the wider Qingpu Cultural and Tourism Festival continues through 28 October.

Photography exhibition remains open until 26 October

The exhibition opened on 27 September at Helong Art Museum, located at 222 North Street in the ancient town. It is open to the public until 26 October, giving visitors a cultural venue to add to a visit during the final week of October.

The exhibition brings together 250 photographs selected from 2,500 records made by 72 people involved in the town's development. The material records construction sites, relocation sites and cultural activities, linking personal memories with the changing appearance of the historic settlement. The event was presented together with the release of a new oral history book.

The exhibition follows three stages described in the accompanying reporting: planning, action and harvest. Its central method is to place earlier photographs beside views of the same locations today, allowing the town's renewal to be read through buildings, public spaces and cultural projects.

The opening programme also included discussion of colour planning, commercial development, cultural exchange and the relocation of Zhujiajiao Middle School. The exhibition therefore connects the visitor experience with the history of how the settlement has been protected and adapted.

Report on the exhibition records the 27 September opening and the 26 October closing date. The report was published by Shanghai Observer through Tencent News.

Qingpu festival brings live culture to the water town

The exhibition coincides with the 2026 Qingpu Cultural and Tourism Festival, which began on 28 September and runs until 28 October. The district-wide programme covers ancient towns, lakeside areas, rural villages and shopping districts, with around 100 special events planned across Qingpu.

At the ancient town, the Artistic Charm of Jiangnan immersive cultural season brings Kunqu opera and hanfu experiences into an open-air setting. The programme places traditional opera and clothing within the waterways and streets, making the festival's heritage theme part of the setting rather than a separate indoor presentation.

The relationship between the two programmes is especially clear in October: the exhibition documents how the town changed, while the festival presents living cultural practices in its current streets and public spaces. Both are tied to the same historic settlement and to Qingpu's effort to connect heritage with contemporary visitor activity.

The Shanghai municipal government describes the festival as a regional programme for exploring Qingpu's water towns and autumn scenery. Its official account also identifies the Artistic Charm of Jiangnan season at the ancient town and records its Kunqu and hanfu content.

Festival programme for Qingpu gives the period through 28 October and names the ancient-town cultural season.

Visiting Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Those Years in Zhujiajiao photography exhibition runs from 27 September to 26 October 2026 at Helong Art Museum, 222 North Street.
• The Qingpu Cultural and Tourism Festival runs through 28 October 2026, with Kunqu opera and hanfu experiences at the ancient town.
• The exhibition focuses on 250 photographs selected from 2,500 records made by 72 builders and other participants in the town's development.
• Shanghai is in China, where Mandarin is the official language and the renminbi is the national currency.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

When does the photography exhibition take place at Zhujiajiao Ancient Town?

Those Years in Zhujiajiao is open from 27 September to 26 October 2026 at Helong Art Museum on North Street.

What is shown in the photography exhibition?

The exhibition presents 250 photographs selected from 2,500 records made by 72 builders and other participants in the town's development.

Where is Zhujiajiao Ancient Town and how do you get there?

It is in Qingpu district of Shanghai, China. The exhibition venue is Helong Art Museum at 222 North Street within the ancient town.