so get ready for a whirlwind tour of this amazing country. beijing, hong kong, xian, and the country s showpiece shanghai. this is the fishing village of zhujaojiao, and it s a great place to come. it s about an hour from shanghai, and if you want to see china, this is the place to come. they call it the venice of the east because of all these little canals. you get on a sampan, you cruise through the village. i tell you, the best way to see it is from the water. the fishing village of zhujaojiao is literally living chinese history. this is one of the most interesting day trips you can experience. make sure to have extra film or memory cards. this peaceful little village in picture-perfect. the most photogenic part of the excursion of zhujaojiao is on a sampan, cruising the canals the area is so famous for. no motors here. these cruise the old-fashioned way.
these canals are amazing. they re all manmade, and they go from here, 1,100 miles, all the way to beijing. i mean, you can take the sampan to beijing. but you know what? i think i ll fly. an 1,100-mile trip on a sampan. hmm. now, how long do you think that would take? zhujaojiao is over 400 years old. and its proximity to shanghai has kept it an important local trading village here in eastern china. before the roads took over, these picturesque canals were humming with all the goods being shipped in and out. but the charm of this peaceful little village extends further than the waterways. so plan to do a little exploring on foot. one thing you re gonna find when you come to the village is that you will be doing a lot of walking a lot of cobblestones, uneven paths, some stairs. so make sure you don t wear those 3-inch heels. leave the manolos in the closet and take a walk on the slow side.
are cranked out for the tourists, a lot of what you ll find will be handmade. and because the culture here has lasted for centuries, you really do see that history and tradition reflected in the variety of goods for sale. china s claim to fame is its silk. once worn only by chinese royalty, coveted by the rest of the world, this beautiful fabric comes from tiny little silkworms. once a well-protected secret here in china, i got a chance to see how these ordinary little worms make one of the strongest fibers in the world. i go this way? okay. open wider. okay. wider? yes. who knew i had a talent for silk stretching? visiting the village of zhujaojiao gives you an incredible opportunity to see some of the people live here in china. to be a part of their village and their culture, even for a short time it s an opportunity you don t want to miss.
exploring the streets of zhujaojiao is like stepping back in time. check out the architecture. this classic five-arch bridge spans the river. several buildings are topped with those recognizable chinese-style roofs, and what village here would be complete without hanging chinese lanterns? now, this is china. after checking out the sights, you ll also find some very unique souvenirs in the alley shops. now, here s a find the little book of mao. [chuckles] unusual, huh? what i love is in here you ll find all these little antique stores mixed in with the tourist shops, and you can find some special things. look over there. colorful. we have coins. another antique store. hi, guys. hi, guys. now, this is more typical of what you ll find in the alleys here. souvenirs. jewelry. fake pearls. silks. and don t forget to bargain and bargain hard, at least half the asking price. ooh, i see something. while most of the souvenirs