With Huangpu River to the north and Hangzhou Bay to the south, Fengxian District has always been blessed with abundant water resources.
The district is also known as a "place of bridges" - 111 ancient bridges including 12 arch bridges showcase the knowledge and skill of generations past.
Tongjin Bridge in Xintang Village, Xinsi Town, is regarded as one of the oldest bridges remaining in the city.
Built in 1216 during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the bridge is difficult to find as it hides deep inside a vast area of farmland.
It is said that there was once a temple, reputedly built during the Song Dynasty, devoted to the fire god near the bridge.
Nowadays people can only find a tall ginkgo tree standing at the former site of the temple.
With a history of more than 400 years, the tree is symbolic as the village's protector. Locals say that the tree will help make your wishes come true as long as you bear a pious heart.
Other bridges in the district also carry interesting stories.
Take Gao Bridge in Gaoqiao Village, Fengcheng Town, as an example. Built in 1408 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is regarded as the third-oldest bridge in the district.
It is said that the bridge acquired its name, which means "tall bridge," in memory of a local farmer.
Once a farmer from Niu Zhiyong Village was critical of heavy taxation policies and offended the bureaucracy.
Officials sent a group of soldiers to arrest him. When the soldiers approached the bridge, a farmer suddenly appeared. He warned that the bridge they were about to cross was so tall that if a person fell off it, it would take 15 days to drop into the water.
The soldiers were frightened and refused to cross the bridge.
Villagers later found out it was Niu himself who stopped the soldiers.
To memorialize his wisdom and courage, the bridge was renamed as was the village. Ever since the community has been known as Gaoqiao Village or "Tall Bridge Village."
Located to the southeast of Nanqiao Town, the Tuinie Bridge origin is said to be related to a true story.
Near the end of the Ming Dynasty, a scholar called Qi Piaojia from Zhejiang Province was on a journey to Beijing to take imperial examinations.
On his way he met another examinee surnamed Liu from Fujian Province. The two decided to travel to Beijing together.
However, when they arrived at Fengxian, Liu became ill and soon died. After Qi helped arrange the funeral affairs, he could have taken Liu's money.
But Qi thought it was an evil thing to take a dead friend's money. So he donated the rest of Liu's money to build a bridge for the people. It was called "Tuinie," which translates as "return evil."
Since then the story has been passed down by the town's people from generation to generation.
Many of Fengxian's ancient bridges are in disrepair. Several are in such poor condition that they are no longer in use. Others need urgent renovations.
In 2002, the district government renovated Tongjin Bridge.
Another famous bridge called "the first bridge in Nantang," from which the district's Nanqiao Town acquired its name, was moved to a public park to protect it from being destroyed.
It appears the district's long love affair with bridges will continue.
Nowadays the modern 2,200-meter Fengpu Bridge, which links Minhang and Fengxian districts on the banks of the Huangpu River, is one of the most important traffic links in the city.
It is believed that more and more overpasses will be built in the "native place of bridges."