Brief information on Thames Town  

Away from the hustle bustle of the city there exists a town called Thames Town in Shanghai. Though it is popular among locals, outsiders are yet to know about this beautiful river-side township built along the Yangtze River. As its name suggests, Thames Town is a small reproduction of England with English style buildings, coffee shops, houses, cobble-stone pavements and church, etc.… and can accommodate 10,000 people. Thames Town that is situated 25 miles away from the Shanghai city, is a part of Shanghai’s One City, Nine Towns programs approved by Shanghai Planning Commission. Other eight towns are also themed such as American, Chinese, Dutch, German, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, and an ecological town called Lingang. These towns are developed by the government in order to provide a better living condition for the people away from city suffocation.

To reach Thames Town, you can get on metro line 9 and get down at Songjiang University Town and take a taxi. As you get down the taxi you can see a guard dressed in London style uniform at the entrance, but you cannot expect a ceremonious change-of-guard. There is Liston Hotel, a four-star hotel with the statue of Princess Diana in front. It faces the river and is a grand place for an overnight stay. Thames Town has villas, apartments, museums, town square, studios and parks. Though many of the shops remain closed, a restaurant near the dock and a snack bar in the town square stay open. The main attraction is a man-made river where ferry service is available. The bubble shaped restaurant made of glass built overlooking the river is a fantastic place to dine.  Outside on the dock, tables and benches are set where you can have a chit-chat or munch on something while enjoying river breeze.

Here streets are named after Oxford University, Queen Victoria, and statues of Princess Diana, Winston Churchill can also be seen. Songjiang Urban Planning Museum in the Municipal Square is open for tourists and offers an idea about the Thames Town and its facilities. Walking down the narrow alleys, cobble-stoned pavements and European style buildings certainly brings back memories at least for some tourists. If not for few tourists or a few couples taking photos, Thames Town looks like a ghost town with few shops open and no one around. Thames Town is an excellent place for family outing or for a romantic date. It is also a perfect place to rest and relax. Lying on back on the grass listening to waves on the river as they caresses the shore you will know what exactly peace of mind is. The quaintness of the Thames Town offers a picturesque backdrop for many weddings and you can see many couple making use of this European style architecture and fancy getting married in London.

You can spend a whole day walking around the township, sipping coffee, relaxing on the grass or flying kites in the park. But, if you are in a hurry and just want a quick look at Thames Town you can also take a London style red tram car for a ride for just 10RMB. If you want to experience a piece of London here in Shanghai, Thames Town with all its European charm fills you with the best.

Location: Songjiang New Town