Zhang Naiqing, an expert in literature and history in Minhang District. He has been studying local history and culture for many years, and is the author of more than 10 volumes of "Shanghai Minhang Literature and History Series (10 volumes in the first series, 11 volumes in the second series)", "4 volumes of the Minhang Humanities Series" and "Shanghai Minhang Intangible Cultural Heritage Series". Shi Hai hook Shen, "Today's Minhang" and Zhang Naiqing teacher jointly launched "Naiqing Narrative History", let us feel the charm of Jiangnan humanities in a period of Minhang history
Maqiao Old Town, Minhang District, is located at the confluence of the old Yutang River and the Beishagang River, and was founded in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. The poem "Maqiao Xiao City" of the Qing people: "On the first day of Yutang, they went to the city a lot. The price of things is scarce, and the crowd is shoulder to shoulder. The remote wind is thrifty, and the hustle and bustle passes after the rain. The stone bridge comes and goes, and the load goes into Acura. "Listen to the rooster's crowing at dawn, and go to the small market with a cloth. The market is from the east to the west, and the babbling bridge is under the water. The bearers fought for their way back, and the village was full of smoke. ”
Nowadays, most of the old town of Maqiao has undergone great changes, and there is only one "Old East Street" that still retains its original appearance. Across the big stone bridge of Beisha Port, although there is no longer a thriving commercial market here, the historical buildings have not changed their style, but they lack fireworks, and the ancient trees, temples, churches and other customs are still there, which is extremely rare. It is worth paying attention to todayThe 180-meter-long "Old East Street" is home to a series of historical stories.
The status quo of Old East Street
Ancient hermitage ginkgo
Wanshou Nunnery, No. 29 Lao Dong Street, formerly known as "Wantong Nunnery", known as "Dong Nunnery", was built in the Yuan Dynasty, which is the source of the history of Maqiao Old Town. It was renovated in August of the 28th year of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1689). During the Jiaqing period, it was renamed "Wanshou Zen Temple". There are three didi in the front, middle and back in the nunnery, each di has three rooms, and there is a hall in the middle for Guanyin Bodhisattva. There is an ancient ginkgo tree, with lush branches and leaves, and the age of the tree is more than 300 years. It is now a cultural relics protection point in Minhang District.
During the Xianfeng military disaster, most of the Wanshou Monastery was destroyed. In the twelfth year of Tongzhi, Niu Han, Xi Yuan and others raised funds to rebuild the main hall, and repaired six rooms up and down the upper and lower floors. In the fourth year of Guangxu, Niu Shixuan and Xi Yuan continued to raise and build additional mountain gates, and a wing room, there is a stele.
Now there is "Wantong Nunnery Recruitment Tablet", the tablet stands at the root of the east wall of Wanshou Temple, and the bluestone semicircular amount "Recruitment Field Tablet". In the thirty-third year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1694), it was established by the abbot monk Mingxing. 
The ginkgo tree is more than 300 years old
Catholic Church
In the seventh year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1857), a Catholic church was built at the entrance of Maqiao East Street (now No. 25 East Street). In the first year of Guangxu (1875), the church was fully completed and named "The Church of the Immaculate Conception". In the 31st year of Guangxu (1905), seven bungalows and huts were expanded. **Originally known as the public hall, it has 11 junctions in Maqiao, Beiqiao, Zhuanqiao and Tangwan areas. In 1918, a two-storey building with three upper and three lower floors was built as a priest's building, and the old and new buildings were enclosed in a courtyard. In 2000, Maqiao Catholic Church was announced as a cultural relics protection unit in Minhang District. 
Maqiao Catholic Church
Hui Gang people
In recent years, the residents of the old town have found a remnant stone of the late Qing Dynasty "Dashiqiao Donation Monument" by the Dashiqiao River in the Shagang River, and also found a "Sanhuaitang" boundary stone. "Sanhuai Hall", that is, the hall name of the world-famous "Sanhuai Wang". The boundary stone confirms that Maqiao Old Street also has the descendants of "Sanhuai Hall", who belong to the Hui Gang family from Xiuning, Anhui Province.
The original appearance of the old store
The original Lujiahe stone bridge (bridge deck stone survived) in the east of the old street, which is the place where the history of the market town began. To the west, along the old Yutang River to the east wall of the gate of Maqiao Catholic Church, there is a single Shangtang Street, and from the west wall of Maqiao Catholic Church to the west is a double-sided street. Along the street, there were lime shops, shaving shops, fruit shops, teahouses, hotels, and goods stores. There are oil mills, zongzi shops, snack bars, shop shops, southern goods shops, teahouses, hotels, meat villages, tofu shops, sock shops, etc. in Xiatang.
In 1920, Hu, Lin, Sun and Zhu jointly demolished the Shangtang house and built a two-story building with seven upper and seven lower, which was called "four surnames and seven buildings". In the second year, Sun Shunde's grandfather and grandmother opened Sun's Xinxing Teahouse (originally the Sanlaotai Teahouse, opened in the 32nd year of Guangxu), "The teahouse has storytelling all year round, and you can stay for a day for 5 cents." ”
In 1932, the "Niu Wan Xinnan Store" with two bays and two floors along the street was opened. The old house is well preserved, and the handwriting of the shop sign inscribed by Niu Yongjian can still be seen.
In the south of the old stone bridge along the street, at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, Xieji Zhuangjia Oil Mill used diesel engines to generate electricity, becoming the earliest block in the town to use electricity. 
Old Street Teahouse
The former site of the school
In 1931, a boys' school was established in Maqiao Catholic Church, named Ta Yi Primary School. The following year, a girls' school was set up called Dade Primary School. In 1952, Tayi Primary School was merged into Maqiao Primary School, which has since been renamedShanghai County Maqiao Central Primary School
In the autumn of 1953, the private Qiang Shu Junior High School was relocated from the former site of Wu Hui College to the former Ta Yi Primary School. By 1954, the school had expanded to 8 classes with more than 400 students. In July 1956, it was changed to a county middle school and renamed Shanghai County Maqiao Junior High School, with a total of 9 classes and more than 100 students in single accommodation. 
The gate of Maqiao Junior High School
Maqiao Old East Street in the 80s of the 20th century
*: Minhang today.