Shanghai Sun Island: A Pet-Friendly Resort Hotel for a 2-Day Romp with the Pooch

After promising my daughter a spring outing for so long, we finally went in May. We mulled over the destination for a long time and ended up choosing Sun Island Resort near Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. For one, it's a family hotel great for three people, and for another, hotels that allow pets are really hard to come by. So off we went, the three of us plus our 16-month-old dog Beibei, in our car towards Qingpu District!

Shanghai Sun Island Resort is located on the outskirts of Shanghai, near Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. Legend has it that there were traces of human habitation on the island as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, making it an island with a long history. In May, the island is lush with vegetation, willows are green, and fragrant grass carpets the ground, evoking the feeling of a hidden paradise in full spring bloom.

Self-drive/Public Transport Routes:

We drove from downtown Shanghai to Sun Island via the Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway (G50), about an hour's drive, very convenient. If you don't drive, you can take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station, then take a taxi or transfer to a bus.

Beloved Family Room:

The check-in lobby at Sun Island is separate from the villa area. After completing the procedures, you can drive or take the island shuttle bus to your room. The villa area is large, with dense vegetation, adjacent to the Mao River. Strolling through it gives a sense of winding paths leading to secluded spots.

We chose the Club Family Room right next to the river. They told us before check-in that it was 71 square meters, and sure enough, it was very spacious. The soft furnishings were all cartoon-themed, which our little one loves. Right in front of us was a large flight chess carpet, with several boxes of Lego, a children's tent, and cartoon dolls nearby. It's no wonder this is a zero-negative-review family hotel in Shanghai.

The room came with a capsule coffee machine and complimentary soft drinks, plus a bottle of red wine from a sister brand of the hotel—excellent value. The sleeping arrangement was a parent-child bed setup: a double bed plus a children's bed. The bathroom had a separate bathtub, child-specific toothbrushes and toothpaste, and a child's toilet seat—very thoughtful.

After dropping off our luggage, we headed straight for the pet park with Beibei (our silly dog). Before we even arrived, we saw lots of other dog owners, and Beibei was super excited. The pet park is divided into indoor and outdoor areas. Indoors, dogs can have afternoon tea, play on climbing frames and in a ball pit; outdoors, there's a huge free-running lawn and even a swimming area—a professional pool with shallow and deep ends just for pets.

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

Mermaid Train:

After leaving the pet park, we took our 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. Tickets are valid for the whole day, so you can ride along and enjoy the island scenery, which is very relaxing.

Fun/Entertainment:

We had heard that Shanghai Sun Island's equestrian club is quite famous. On the second day after breakfast, we took our daughter horseback riding. She was a bit scared of the big horses at first, but then a staff member brought over a little pony for her to ride, and she instantly fell in love with it. Before mounting, she was fitted with safety gear, and the staff led the horse the whole time, so there was no danger. Our little one had a blast. We saw many children learning professional equestrian skills at the riding arena (Shanghai Sun Island Equestrian Club), and they looked so cool.

There are many places for children to play at Shanghai Sun Island Resort. We first went to the Artisan Workshop to do some crafts. There were instructors and tool kits; you just needed to follow along. We chose a polymer clay project and a leather craft kit, and we completed both successfully!

By May the weather was already quite warm, and Mermaid Pier was crowded with people. Water activities were the hot thing to do. Our family of three rented a water bike and had a wonderfully relaxing time.

For our first dinner, we tried the small hot pot, one pot per person. The set meal included vegetables, meat, fish, and shellfish, with a rich pork bone broth. We heard the vegetables were organically grown on the island, crisp and refreshing. With the meat and seafood, it was plenty. If you're still hungry, you can add an unlimited serving of a staple food—no extra charge.

The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel's buffet restaurant. I have to rave about it—it was among the best hotel breakfasts we've had, with both Chinese and Western options. The noodle station was excellent; the soy milk yogurt you mix yourself was a standout. If you went Western, there were salads and breads as well. The whole family ate very contentedly.

For lunch, we chose Waterfall Western Restaurant on the ground floor of the lobby. We were still quite full from breakfast and not too hungry. We ordered a kids' meal for our daughter, which came with child-friendly tableware. The freshly made burger and juice were a hit. My husband and I tried the new 'dirty milk' dessert, made with fresh milk and fruit—served icy cold, it was perfect for early summer.

Well-fed, well-played, and satisfied, we headed home. Our time at Shanghai Sun Island Resort was delightful—slow and easy, it let us shed our fatigue and find peace of mind. We hope to come again next time.