Zhujiajiao - the Venice of China

About an hour and a half out of Shanghai depending on which bus you take is the Zhujiajiao which is an ancient water town dating back 1700 years. The town has been referred to the "Venice of China" with 36 bridges crossings the river and various canals that weave throughout the town.
Many of the older buildings date back to the Ming dynasty.
 Today the town contains a large number of art galleries and handcraft shops as well as many restaurants catering towards the tourists. Wandering down the many cobbled paths it is easy to catch a glimpse of everyday life in Zhujiajiao away from the tourists with locals chatting to neighbours while going about their daily business.
 Throughout the town the pungent smell of the stinking tofu can be smelt which is tofu that has been fermented in a brine that contains fish and then deep fried. The smell is like rotten garbage and I preferred to try one on the many stalls selling red pork belly, pork hock as well as the pig's trotters.
 A canal ride on one of the many "gondoliers' was a great way to explore the charm of Zhujiajiao.

View from one on the bridges

The canal

Boats ready to take you up the canal

One of the 36 bridges

Tea House

Tree lined canal

Tree lined canal

One of the 36 bridges

Local Dog

Rooftops

Pork hocks and belly