Picturesque Jiangnan, Bustling City: My 2-Day Getaway at Sun Island Resort
In Shanghai, there's a place with clear water and blue skies, where tree shadows sway gracefully, a leisurely island vibe, and plenty of Instagram-worthy spots — and that's Shanghai Sun Island Resort. Sun Island was originally called Mao Island, shaped like a shuttle, with rivers flowing endlessly, as if weaving the fabric of history and shaping civilizations.
Shanghai Sun Island Resort is located near Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, on the outskirts of Shanghai. It's the closest family-friendly resort to downtown Shanghai. Legend has it that people lived on the island as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, making it a historic isle. Visiting in May, the island is lush with vegetation, willows are fresh green, and fragrant grass carpets the ground, giving off a vibe of late-spring blossoms and a hidden paradise.
Self-driving / Public transport:
We drove from downtown Shanghai to Sun Island Resort via the Huyu Expressway, which took about an hour — very convenient. If you're not driving, you can take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Town, then hop in a taxi or transfer to a bus.
Our favorite family room:
The check-in lobby and villa area at Sun Island are separate. After completing the formalities, you can drive or take the island shuttle bus to your room. The villa area is vast, with lush greenery, situated next to the Maohe River. Walking there feels like a winding path leading to secluded spots.
We chose a Club Family Room right by the river. Even before arrival, we knew it was 71 sqm, and once there, it turned out to be very spacious. The soft furnishings all featured cartoon themes that kids love. Right as you enter, there's a huge Ludo carpet, plus several boxes of Lego, a children's tent, and plush toys — no wonder this Shanghai family resort has zero negative reviews.
The room included a capsule coffee machine and free soft drinks, plus a complimentary bottle of red wine from one of the hotel's sister brands — what a deal! The room has a trundle bed setup with a double bed and a kid's bed. The bathroom has a separate bathtub, children's toothbrush and toothpaste, and a kids' toilet seat — very thoughtful.
After dropping our bags, we took Summer (my silly dog) straight to the pet paradise. Before we even got there, we saw lots of other dog owners, and Summer was over the moon. The pet paradise has both indoor and outdoor areas. Indoors, dogs can have afternoon tea, play on climbing frames and in a ball pit. Outdoors, there's a huge lawn for romping around, and even a pool where dogs can swim — it has separate shallow and deep sections, super professional!
Worth mentioning, Sun Island offers pet boarding and training services, with professional dog trainers who can help correct bad habits and teach new skills. We left Summer there for an afternoon. He's quite timid and barked a lot, but the staff were very patient, gave him biscuits and yogurt — incredibly nice.
After the pet paradise, we took my daughter on the Mermaid Train, a blue-and-white train with colorful paintings on both sides, full of childlike charm. The train stops at three stations: the hotel lobby, Mermaid Pier, and Little Green Space. The ticket lets you ride all day, enjoying the island scenery along the way, putting you in a great mood.
Fun & Activities:
We'd heard before coming that Sun Island's equestrian club is famous. The next morning after breakfast, we took my daughter for a pony ride. At first, she was a bit scared of the big horse, but then the staff brought over a little pony, and she fell in love with it right away. Before mounting, she was kitted out with protective gear, and a staff member led the pony the whole time — no danger at all, and my kid had a blast. Over at the stables, I saw many children taking professional riding lessons, looking so impressive!
There are plenty of kid-friendly spots on the island. We first went to the Artisan Workshop to do some crafts. An instructor was there with tool kits, so we just followed along. We chose a polymer clay project and a leather pouch, both completed successfully!
The weather was already quite warm in May, and the Mermaid Pier area was bustling — water sports were all the rage. A family of three rented a water bike, leisurely and relaxing.
For dinner the first night, we tried the mini hot pot. Each person had their own pot. The set menu included vegetables, meats, fish, and shellfish, with a rich pork bone broth. I heard the greens were organic, grown right on the island, so they were fresh and crunchy. With all the meat and seafood, it was more than enough. If you're still hungry, you can add a main course — unlimited!
Breakfast on the second day was in the hotel's buffet restaurant. I have to rave about it — it was top-notch quality for a resort. Both Chinese and Western options were available. The freshly made noodle and rice noodle station was excellent, and the housemade soy milk yogurt was a highlight. If you fancy Western, there were salads, bread, and more. The whole family left very satisfied.
For lunch, we chose the Waterfall Western Restaurant on the first floor of the lobby. Having had a big breakfast, none of us were too hungry. I ordered the special children's meal for my daughter, which came with kid-friendly tableware. The freshly made burger and juice were a hit. My husband and I tried the new "Dirty Milk" — a cold dessert made with fresh milk and fruit, perfect for an early-summer cool-down.
As we were leaving Sun Island Resort, we spotted the resort's iconic sculpture — a plump mermaid! Haha, rumour has it the concept was inspired by Yang Guifei, the famous beauty of ancient China.
