Comprehensive Travel Guide to Songjiang, Shanghai

Duration: 3 days, Time: June, Average Cost: 3000 yuan per person, Companions: Friends, Activities: Food, Photography, Free Travel, Weekend Trip. The author visited these places: Sheshan National Forest Park, Zui Bai Pond, Chenshan Botanical Garden, Sheshan Observatory, Zhi Ye Zen Temple. Published on 2020-06-10 15:07.

Introduction: Have you seen Songjiang in Shanghai? Known as the root of Shanghai, Songjiang boasts a long history and beautiful scenery that captivates visitors. After reading this travel guide, you will gain insights into Songjiang, Shanghai. Shanghai is an international metropolis where, in the evening, the dazzling neon lights highlight the splendor of the Oriental Pearl Tower. The Bund is bustling with people, laughter, and car lights accompanying the lights of high-rise buildings, forming a continuous panoramic view. Various foreign-style buildings shine in the light, like they are made of gold, telling us the history of Shanghai.

Day 1: Xiamen – Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – Happy Valley – Sheshan National Forest Park – Forest Hotel – Dining at the hotel restaurant – Staying at Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel.

Day 2: Guangfulin Cultural Relics – Zui Bai Pond – Yunjian Granary – Xiaoshu Ye – Staying at Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel.

Day 3: Smurf Theme Park – Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden – Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – Xiamen.

First Stop: Happy Valley. Upon arriving in Songjiang, Shanghai, the first stop is Shanghai Happy Valley. I have visited Happy Valleys in other places before, but this time in Shanghai, I felt that the park is quite large. There were many people queuing up early in the morning to enter, and the entrance was already filled with tourists. I observed that young people tend to come here more often, as the attractions inside are quite thrilling and more suitable for the young, though there are also attractions for children. Here, you can find the charm of old Shanghai as well as the fashion of the new metropolis; it is a paradise for adventurers and a realm for dreamers.

Visit the Ocean Fantasy Pavilion to experience ten thousand square meters of high-tech interaction, including a 6D virtual roller coaster, diving kangaroos, colorful whirlpools, and a jellyfish family… It is perfect for parents and children to visit and take photos.

The 1200-meter wooden roller coaster, Valley Wood Dragon, is suitable for adventure seekers, with its rapid twists and dives, allowing you to be at the top alongside the sun, experiencing an exhilarating and energetic summer! There are also attractions like Mine Adventure, Heaven and Earth Heroes, and Ocean Adventure. Upon entering Happy Valley, we first visited Happy Time to take photos. There are many attractions to enjoy here, and we saw many tourists already queuing up. It turned out they were waiting to ride the roller coaster. When I approached, I noticed that the roller coaster here was different from those I had seen outside. It was made of wooden blocks, not very high, and relatively enjoyable. However, don’t underestimate this roller coaster; it can still be a bit scary when you ride it.
The speed is too fast. When climbing to a certain height, one suddenly falls from a high place to the lowest point and then slides away quickly. Those with acrophobia are still advised not to go up and play. Walking further inside, we come to the Old Shanghai block. Here in Old Shanghai, people can recall the old dreams of Old Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s. The rhythm of modern disco and the ubiquitous Internet cafes bring people back to the modern civilized life of the 21st century. In Happy Valley, one can still feel the old Shanghai architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. Feel happiness in Happy Ocean. Here, there are more projects for children. There are many amusement projects painted in blue, just like the color of the sea. We see many parents bringing their children here to play. Water speedboats, Ocean One, Ocean Star and other amusements are very popular among children. Summer is here. This should be one of the places that children like to play the most. You can play with water here. It is a good place to escape the summer heat. Guide: Scenic spot address: No. 888, Linhu Road, Sheshan Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Opening hours: From May 1st to June 30th, 09:30 – 18:00 (latest admission at 18:00); on Labor Day, 09:00 – 19:30 (latest admission at 19:30), on Dragon Boat Festival, 09:00 – 19:30 (latest admission at 19:30); for specific opening hours, refer to the scenic area’s official website. Ticket price: 220 yuan for adults. Transportation guide: Take Metro Line 9 and get off at Sheshan Station. Cross the street to the Happy Valley connection station and take the park shuttle. Second stop: Sheshan National Forest Park. The mountains of Sheshan National Forest Park are beautiful and the forests are lush. It is rich in animal and plant resources. Especially the bamboo shoots produced in the mountains are famous for their orchid fragrance. Sheshan National Forest Park is located in Songjiang District in the southwest suburbs of Shanghai. The mountains are densely covered with pine and bamboo and the scenery is beautiful. In addition to the East Sheshan and West Sheshan that tourists most often visit, there are also 12 peaks such as Tianma Mountain, Phoenix Mountain, and Xiaokunshan. Except for the artificially piled up mountains, the Sheshan mountain range is the only “real” mountain in Shanghai. Tianma Mountain with an altitude of 98.2 meters naturally becomes the highest peak in Shanghai. Climbing to the top of Sheshan Mountain and looking around, the entire scenery of Sheshan is in full view. We see many villas. This should be worth a lot in Shanghai. Looking around, the villas at the foot of the mountain are surrounded by trees. The residents living around are happy. They can climb Sheshan Forest Park every day, breathe fresh air in the forest, and take a walk in the evening. At the top of the mountain, there is an ancient Sheshan Observatory. It’s just that when we went up, it was not open to the public. It’s a pity that we didn’t see the inside of the observatory.
Looking forward to checking in here again next time. Just in front of the entrance of the observatory, there are many stone guardrails engraved with patterns of various constellations, such as the Andromeda constellation. These constellations show that this place is related to astronomy. Guide: Transportation: At Sheshan Station of Metro Line 9, a few meters after exiting, on the left side, most are for Sheshan. Qingsong special line, Huchen line, Songchen special line, Songjiang No. 92 bus, Shiqing special line, Songzhong line, Shangshe line. It’s 1-2 stops from East Sheshan and West Sheshan, and it takes about 10 minutes to walk. Ticket: Free. Opening hours: 08:30 – 16:30 (Monday – Sunday, January 1 – December 31). Food: Chinese Restaurant of Forest Hotel. After climbing down Sheshan National Forest Park, I was extremely hungry. Opposite the park entrance, there is a hotel called Forest Hotel. Unexpectedly, the delicious food in the hotel is also open to the public. It can be said to be hidden delicacies in the hotel. We directly came here for lunch. Unexpectedly, the price of this place is very cost-effective. It’s just that we usually don’t know much about it. We ordered several dishes, and the taste is very good. The key is that some dishes are memories of what people in Shanghai ate when they were young. Boiled chicken has little difference in appearance from ordinary chicken, but the taste is different. The taste is even better than ordinary chicken. Mainly because this restaurant has chosen different varieties of chicken, which is tenderer and more delicious. A new way of making fish soup is fresh and delicious. The fish soup is as white as milk. It tastes really good and is very fresh. This pot was drunk up in an instant. Braised pork rice is the first time I have eaten rice cooked in this way. It’s simply delicious. The greasiness of the braised pork is integrated into the rice. A little green vegetable is added to the rice. It is a bit similar to but not the same as the salty rice in southern Fujian. Stir it a little when eating, and it won’t be greasy. The room price of Forest Hotel is half of the usual price during this period. It’s really cost-effective. The rooms are spacious and bright. Stepping out onto the balcony, you can see Sheshan opposite. It is across the street from Sheshan Park. The transportation here is also convenient. If you drive by yourself, parking is also convenient. At the foot of Sheshan, the environment is beautiful and quiet. In short, it gives me the feeling of high cost performance. Guide: Hotel address: No. 9259, Qingsong Highway outside Sheshan, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Third stop: Guangfulin Cultural Site. In ten years, look at Pudong in Shanghai. In a hundred years, look at Puxi in Shanghai. In a thousand years, look at Songjiang in Shanghai. Songjiang is the birthplace of Shanghai’s history and culture. As the ‘root of Shanghai’, Songjiang’s historical culture shows unique charm with its profound heritage. As early as the Neolithic Age 6,000 years ago, the indigenous people of Songjiang thrived and engaged in fishing, hunting and farming in today’s Guangfulin area.
Dating back 4000 years, the ancestors of Wangyoufang from the Yellow River basin migrated to Guangfulin, creating the ‘Guangfulin Culture’, a blend of northern and southern civilizations with the local indigenous people. The roots of Shanghai thus flourished. Most visitors come to Guangfulin to explore the fascinating underwater museum. Stepping into the Guangfulin Underwater Museum allows you to travel through millennia and feel the charm of this city. Half of the museum is submerged beneath the sea. On a vast expanse of water, houses seem to grow out of the water, floating on the surface. The buildings, with their sharp and angular lines, appear to be experiencing a flood, with houses seemingly submerged, only revealing triangular ridges. This is the Guangfulin underwater cultural exhibition hall. Fuling Tower is a landmark within the archaeological park, visible from afar with its towering spire. The three-story ancient Tang-style square tower is distinct from other periods’ hexagonal and octagonal towers. Fuling Tower serves as a religious art museum. Adjacent to Fuling Tower is Zhiye Zen Temple, a Buddhist cultural exhibition hall. It was reconstructed in memory of the good deeds of Zhiye Zen Master who provided medical assistance to those in need. Zhiye Zen Temple offers vegetarian noodles for 20 yuan each, which you can enjoy during lunchtime. Guide: Transportation: Subway: Take Line 8 (heading towards Shendugong Road), transfer at Lujiabang Road Station, then take Line 9 (heading towards Songjiang South Station), and get off at Songjiang University Town (Exit 3), and you will arrive. Admission: 40 yuan. Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 (January 1st to December 31st, Monday to Sunday). The fourth stop is Zui Bai Chi. Zui Bai Chi is one of the famous classical gardens in Jiangnan and a tourist attraction in Shanghai. Since its predecessor, it has a history of over nine hundred years. The park covers an area of seventy-six acres. It is lush with ancient trees, dotted with pavilions, and rich in historical sites. After more than 300 years, Zui Bai Chi still preserves ancient buildings such as halls, verandas, pavilions, pleasure boats, and arbors, maintaining the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties’ Jiangnan gardens, with its curved railings, winding corridors, and antique charm. When the owner finished building the garden, he thought that if the great poet Li Bai were to visit, he would be enchanted by the scenery on the pond and intoxicated by the garden beside it. Thus, he named the garden ‘Zui Bai Chi’. He also considered that there was a poet named Han Qi from the Song dynasty, who was a high-ranking official and was very intoxicated by the poetry of the Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi. Han Qi built a classical hall in his hometown of Anyang, Henan, called ‘Zui Bai Hall’. Gu Daxin also admired Bai Juyi and was often intoxicated by the beautiful artistic conception of his poetry, so he followed Han Qi’s example and named his garden ‘Zui Bai Chi’.
Strategy: Transportation: Songmei Line, Hu Song Special Line, Songjiang 19 Route, Songjiang 12 Route, Songjiang 13 Route, Songjiang 9 Route, Rail Transit Line 9 Zui Bai Chi Station, Songjiang 26 Route, Songjiang 6 Route. Admission fee: 12 yuan/person. Opening hours: 06:00-17:00 (January 1st to December 31st, Monday to Sunday). The fifth stop: Yunjian Granary. Yunjian Granary is located at No. 327 Songhui East Road, originally an abandoned grain warehouse and factory for many years. The total area of the base is 98 acres, with many single-story slope-roofed granaries, built in the 1950s to the 1990s. The old granaries have transformed into a new cultural landmark, with every brick and tile still bearing the marks of time, and the transparent glass exterior exuding the artistic atmosphere of a new era. Now the old granary has transformed into a new cultural landmark in Songjiang. Some exhibition halls are open, and others are being prepared. Upon entering Yunjian Granary, a huge trumpet-shaped iron product appears in front of you. Currently, many rooms are still closed, and some are under renovation. I think in the future, this place will definitely become a cultural and artistic landmark. Strategy: Address: No. 10053 Songjin Highway. Admission: Free. Food: Uncle Xiao’s. If you travel to a place, good food is definitely a must. When you come to Uncle Xiao’s to taste local specialty food, this food shop is quite large, and it mainly features the folk taste of old Shanghai, integrating the taste of Shanghai’s food into life. As soon as you enter the store, you are attracted by the food here. In the ordering area, you can see the food of the day listed, and just looking at the food makes you want to eat. The signature dish of this store is a kind of cake, which is made with crab meat and looks like a crab shell. It tastes very crispy and tender, with a full mouth of fragrance. A local specialty fish, a very large one, with tender and delicious fish meat and sweet fish soup. This is also one of the signature dishes of this store, with a sufficient portion, highly recommended as a local specialty fish. The sixth stop: The Smurfs Theme Park. The classic work of the Belgian cartoonist Peyo, ‘The Smurfs,’ entered China in the 1980s and is one of the common childhood memories of several generations. The first Smurfs theme park in the Asia-Pacific region has been launched, bringing the scenes from the animation into the theme park, where the classic characters Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Inventive Smurf, and the evil Gargamel have also been transformed into characters in the park. When I walked into the Smurfs Theme Park, I was attracted by the architectural environment here. As soon as I entered the gate, there was a huge blue arched hall, with a play area for children in the middle.
The home of Gargamel, located at the entrance of the Smurfs area, is surrounded by a dense forest that shields the modern world, allowing visitors to immediately immerse themselves in the fairy-tale world created by the park. In the village area, visitors will find themselves in the village where the Smurfs live, with mushroom-shaped houses of various sizes being the homes of the Smurfs. Follow the Smurfs and experience the life scenes from the animations. Entering Gargamel’s home, visitors will play the roles of members of the Smurf rescue team, going through various challenges to rescue the Smurfs captured by Gargamel. Guide: Address: 5088 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District. Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Sheshan Station and transfer to Songjiang 98, or get off at Dongjing Station and transfer to Songjiang 96 to Shimao Nano Magic City. Tickets: Discounted price 149 yuan. The seventh stop is Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, currently the largest comprehensive botanical garden in Shanghai, covering an area of 207 hectares, located at the foot of Chenshan Mountain in the Sheshan Mountain Range of Songjiang District. Shanghai is flat and lacks hills, and although Chenshan has an elevation of only 71.4 meters, it is also very rare. According to Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty, Chenshan ‘is in the southeast of all mountains, next to the Chen position’, hence the name. The scenic area has a complete tour route, with the central exhibition area including 26 specialized botanical gardens such as the East China Flora Garden, the mining garden, the rare plant garden, and the aquatic plant garden. If you visit each one, a whole day would not be enough. In different seasons, flowers bloom, spring cherry and peach blossoms, summer lotus and hibiscus, autumn chrysanthemums and cornelian cherry, winter wintersweet and orchids, and more flowers that are not commonly seen and whose names are not known, accompanied by flowers all year round, every visit to Chenshan Botanical Garden brings a good mood. Guide: Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Dongjing Station, transfer to Songjiang 19 to Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden (Bus Station). Tickets: Full price ticket: 60 RMB; Discounted ticket: 50 RMB (January 1st – December 31st Monday – Sunday) Half ticket: School students, minors aged 6-18 with valid documents; Free tickets: Elderly aged 65 and above, children under 1.3 meters or under 6 years old, retired cadres, active-duty military personnel, and disabled people with valid documents. Tips: Discounted tickets are applicable to elderly people aged 60-64. Opening hours: 08:00-17:30, 08:30-17:00 (Exhibition Greenhouse) (March 1st – October 31st Monday – Sunday) 08:00-17:00, 08:30-16:30 (Exhibition Greenhouse) (November 1st – February 28th of the following year). Regarding the hotel, this time we stayed at the Shanghai Songjiang Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel, which is close to the surrounding attractions and has convenient transportation. The room space is relatively large, with a large transparent window, and the distant scenery can be seen at a glance.
For me who often needs to work, having a desk is really very useful. The photos taken on the same day can be uploaded and shared online. The room’s lighting is warm-toned, relatively warm and cozy. The bathroom area is relatively large and there is also a bathtub. The shower room is separated for dry and wet. The hotel’s delicacies should not be missed either. That night we had a meal in the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. Osmanthus spareribs, beef, and lobster all taste good. The way lobster is cooked is different from what I usually have. The lobster meat is tender and smooth. Beef is also one of my favorite delicacies. In conclusion, Shanghai is an international metropolis. For more than a hundred years, Shanghai has always been the center of Chinese commerce and a gathering place for wealth. It is also a business card that China shows to the world. Shanghai is very large. There are many check-in points in Songjiang District worthy of everyone’s visit. Experiencing a different Shanghai on the spot will let you feel another kind of beauty of Shanghai.

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