Jinze () is a town in Qingpu District of Shanghai, China. As of the 2017 census it had a population of 60,800 and an area of . The town is bordered by two provinces, namely Zhejiang and Jiangsu. With convenient land and water transportation, it is an important transport hub linking Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. It is surrounded by the towns of Shenta, Zhouzhuang and Jinxi on the northwest, Liantang Town on the southeast, Zhujiajiao Town on the east, and the towns of Dingshan and Dashun on the southwest.

Name
Jinze, formerly known as "Bainingli" (). According to Chorography of Jiangnan (), the name derives from a farmer got a stone of the same colour as gold.

History
In 978, it used to be in the territory of Northern Song Empire (960–1127) under the jurisdiction of Huating County ().

In 1279, the Yuan Empire (1271–1368) set up province system to maintain control of the vast region. Jinze under the jurisdiction of Songjiang Prefecture () of Zhejiang Province.

In 1573, in the ruling of Wanli Emperor (1573–1620) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Qingpu County was established. Jinze belonged to Qingpu County.

In 1743, in the reign of Qianlong Emperor (1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), four townships was founded, namely Haizhong Township (), Haishang Township (), Huazhong Township () and Huashang Township (), Jinze came under the jurisdiction of Huashang Township. In 1909, the Qingpu County was divided into 16 autonomous districts, Jinze was one of them.

In 1912, after the establishment of the Republic of China, Jinze became a township. In 1929, the whole county was divided into 13 districts, Jinze was the Fifth District. In 1934, after the merger of districts, it belonged to the Fourth District. In February 1948, after the adjustment of administrative divisions, Jinze became a township.

In July 1949, Qingpu County was divided into 8 districts, Jinze was one of them. In May 1957, Jinze Township was founded. In September 1958, it was renamed "Jinze People's Commune". In May 1986, it was upgraded to a town. In March 2004, the towns of Shangta () and Xicen () were merged into the town.

Administrative division

As of 2017, the town is divided into 5 communities and 30 villages: 
 Jinxi Community ()
 Jinyang Community ()
 Xicen Community ()
 Liansheng Community ()
 Shangta Community ()
 Xuli ()
 Xinchi ()
 Jinze ()
 Yangwan ()
 Dongxi ()
 Jianguo ()
 Jinyao ()
 Xingang ()
 Cenbo ()
 Xicen ()
 Santang ()
 Yutian ()
 Hezhu ()
 Aiguo ()
 Dongtian ()
 Rentun ()
 Tianshanzhuang ()
 Gongdu ()
 Qiansheng ()
 Dianhu ()
 Lianhu ()
 Caibang ()
 Dongxing ()
 Wanggang ()
 Shuangxiang ()
 Nanxin ()
 Chendong ()
 Xuemi ()
 Dianxi ()
 Shagang ()

Geography
The Dianshan Lake is located in the town, it is the largest freshwater lake in Shanghai.

Jinze is in the subtropical oceanic monsoon climate zone and exhibits four distinct seasons. It has an average annual temperature of , total annual rainfall of , and a frost-free period of 247 days.

Economy
The local economy is primarily based upon aquaculture and local industry. The main aquatic products are crabs, turtles, eels, shrimps and various freshwater fish.

Culture
The Farmland and Mountain Folk Song () is a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

Tourist attractions
According to historical records, there had been "Six temples, a tower, thirteen archways and forty-two bridges" in the town, among which 21 old bridges survived till today. It is the only town that has so many old bridges in Shanghai, thus earning itself the accolade "the top Bridge Town of Jiangnan region". The five bridges spanning parallel over the  river course in the vicinity of Xiatang Street in particular, were built respectively in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (960–1911), so there was a saying "Bridges of four dynasties are stringed by one river". Of the five, Puji Bridge and Wan'an Bridge, built in the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), are the oldest stone arch bridges in Shanghai. The two being collectively known as the "Sister Bridges".

Religion
Yihao Temple () is a Buddhist temple in the town. It was originally built in 1260, during the southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) and renovated under the following dynasties. The temple reached unprecedented fame during the Yuan dynasty (1721–1368), in this respect overtaking Lingyin Temple and Chengtian Temple.

Transportation
The town is connected to two highways: National Highway G318 and G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway.

The main channel is the Taipu River ().

Notable people
 Wang Dajue (), writer.
 K. K. Chen (), Chinese-American pharmacologist.
 Jiang Linhua (), sailing competitor.

References

Bibliography
 
 
 

Towns in Shanghai
Divisions of Qingpu District