A Leisurely Living Travelogue: Two Days and One Night on Sun Island, Qingpu

Sun Island is shaped like a shuttle, with rivers flowing ceaselessly, as if weaving history and shaping civilization. Qingpu Sun Island Resort is located on Mao Island at the confluence of the Maogang River and the Taipu River in the upper reaches of the Huangpu River. The Maogang River connects to Dianshan Lake, and the Taipu River links to Taihu Lake. It's fair to say that Sun Island is Shanghai's 'island born of the land.'

Why choose Sun Island in Qingpu? First, the Sun Island Resort Hotel is the nearest relaxing family getaway to downtown Shanghai. Second, I didn't want to leave my dog behind—a vacation where both humans and pets can have fun together is just perfect, and as a pet-friendly hotel, Sun Island is the top choice.

My whole family drove to Sun Island. From downtown Shanghai, it takes around an hour by car to reach Qingpu Sun Island. I had long heard that the Sun Island Resort is a beautiful place, and when we arrived, the island was lush with vegetation, green willows, and fragrant grass everywhere—a touch of April's bloom, a real paradise away from the world.

The check-in lobby and the villa area of Sun Island Resort Hotel are separate. After completing the formalities, you can drive or take the island shuttle bus to your room. The villa area is huge, with dense greenery, nestling by the Maogang River. Strolling through it feels like a winding path leading to a secluded spot.

We chose a riverfront parent-child room in the Club category. Before check-in, we were told the room is 71㎡, and it truly felt very spacious when we arrived. The décor inside featured cartoon themes that my child loves. Right at the entrance, there was a large Ludo carpet, plus several boxes of Lego toys, a children's tent, and cartoon dolls. It really lives up to its zero-negative-review reputation as a parent-child resort hotel.

The room came with a capsule coffee machine and complimentary soft drinks, plus a bottle of red wine from the hotel's sister brand—felt like great value. The room had a bunk bed design: one double bed and one child's bed. The bathroom had a separate bathtub, children's toothbrush and toothpaste, and a child's toilet seat—very thoughtful.

After dropping off the luggage, we headed straight to the Pet Paradise with Adai (my silly dog). Before we even got there, we saw lots of other dog parents, and Adai was super excited. The Pet Paradise has both indoor and outdoor areas. Indoors, dogs can enjoy afternoon tea, play on climbing frames and in a ball pit. Outdoors, there's a huge, free-run lawn, and a pool where dogs can swim—it's a professionally designed pool with shallow and deep ends just for pets!

It's worth mentioning that Sun Island offers pet boarding and training services, with professional dog trainers who can help correct bad habits or teach new skills. Adai spent an afternoon there. He's a timid little guy and kept barking, but the staff were very patient, giving him biscuits and yogurt—super nice.

Coming out of the Pet Paradise, I took my daughter on the Mermaid Train. The train is blue and white, with colorful paintings on both sides, full of childlike charm. It stops at three stations: the hotel lobby, Mermaid Pier, and Little Green Space. Buying a ticket lets you ride all day, enjoying the island scenery and a relaxed mood.

For dinner, the family tried the mini hot pot—each person had their own pot. The set meal included vegetables, meats, fish, and shellfish, with a rich pork bone broth. I heard the vegetables are organic and grown right on the island. They were crisp and fresh. Together with the meat and seafood, it was plenty of food. If you're still hungry, you can add a main course—no limit!

Breakfast was at the hotel buffet restaurant. I have to rave about it—it was of very high quality for a hotel. Both Chinese and Western options were available. The made-to-order noodle station was delicious, and you can mix your own soy milk yogurt, which was amazing. If you prefer Western fare, there were salads and bread too. The whole family left very satisfied.

Before we came, I'd heard that the Sun Island Equestrian Club is famous. After breakfast, I took my daughter to ride a horse. She was a bit scared of the big horses at first, but then the staff brought a small pony for her to ride, and she fell in love with it instantly. Before mounting, she put on protective gear, and the staff led the pony the whole time, so there was no danger. She had great fun. I saw many kids at the equestrian center (Shanghai Sun Island Equestrian Club) learning professional riding—they looked so cool!

There are many places for children to play on the island. We first went to the Artisan Studio to do some crafts. They provided instructors and tool kits, so you just follow along. We chose polymer clay and a ukulele—both were completed successfully!

By May, the weather was already quite warm. Mermaid Pier was crowded with people, and water sports were the hot activity. A family of three renting a water bike was so relaxing and pleasant.

For lunch, we chose the Waterfall Western Restaurant on the first floor of the main building. Still full from breakfast, the three of us weren't very hungry. I ordered a special children's meal for my daughter, with kids' utensils, a freshly made burger, and juice that was a hit. My husband and I tried the new 'Dirty Milk'—a chilled dessert made with fresh milk and fruit, perfect for an early summer day.

Well-fed, happy, and thoroughly entertained, we headed home. Our time at Sun Island Resort Hotel was lovely—slow, leisurely hours that melted away our fatigue and calmed our minds. I hope we'll have the chance to come back again.

Hotel on Ctrip: https://hotels.ctrip.com/hotel/1706857.html#ctm_ref=hod_hp_sb_lst

Travelogue Contents: 1. DAY 1: 2. Check-in: 3. Pet Paradise: 4. Mermaid Train: 5. DAY 2: 6. Fun/Entertainment: Travel Info Hotel Index Travel Guide Index Flight Index Site Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Partner Cooperation Affiliate Program Friendly Links Corporate Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agent Agency Cooperation Hotel Partnership Destination & Scenic Spot Cooperation More Partner Cooperation About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip Hot Topics Contact Us Join Us User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure