Hidden Gems of Shanghai Songjiang: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need
Have you ever seen Songjiang, Shanghai? Songjiang is known as the root of Shanghai, with a long history and beautiful scenery that will make you linger and forget to leave. After reading this guide, you'll know all about Shanghai Songjiang.
Shanghai is an international metropolis. In the evening, the dazzling neon lights highlight the splendor of the Oriental Pearl Tower; the Bund is thronged with people, laughter filling the air. Car lights blend with the lights from high-rise buildings, creating an endless scroll-like panorama. Colorful foreign buildings shimmer under the lights, as if made of gold, seemingly telling the history of Shanghai.
Day 1: Xiamen – Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – Happy Valley – Sheshan National Forest Park – Forest Hotel – Dining at hotel restaurant – Check-in at Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel
Day 2: Guangfulin Cultural Relics – Zuibaichi – Yunjian Granary – Xiaoshuye – Check-in at Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel
Day 3: The Smurfs Theme Park – Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden – Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – Xiamen
First stop: Happy Valley
The first stop in Shanghai Songjiang is Shanghai Happy Valley. I've been to Happy Valley elsewhere before, but this time I found the park quite large. Early in the morning, many people were already lining up to enter, and the entrance was packed with visitors. I noticed more young people come here, as the rides are thrilling and relatively more suited to them, but of course there are also rides for kids. Here, you'll find the charm of old Shanghai and the vogue of new Shanghai; it's an adventurer's paradise and a dreamer's world. Visit the Ocean Fantasy Pavilion to experience 10,000 square meters of high-tech interactive fun, with a 6D virtual roller coaster, diving kangaroo, rainbow swirl, jellyfish family... perfect for bringing parents and little ones. The 1,200-meter all-wooden roller coaster Gu Mu You Long is for thrill-seekers, with rapid spirals and dives, reaching the top as if standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun—an exhilarating, energetic summer! Also, try Mine Adventure, Sky Drop, and Ocean Adventure.
After entering the gate, we first visited Happy Time area for a check-in. There are so many rides here. Many visitors were already queuing for the roller coaster. When I got closer, I saw that this roller coaster was different from others, built with wooden pieces. It's not extremely high, but don't underestimate it—it's still a bit scary when you ride it. The speed is so fast; after climbing to a certain height, it plunges down and speeds away. If you're afraid of heights, it's best to avoid it.
Walking further in, we came to the Old Shanghai Street. Here, you can reminisce about the old dreams of Shanghai in the 1920s and 30s, while the rhythm of modern disco and ubiquitous internet cafes bring you back to 21st-century modern life. In Happy Valley, you can still feel the ambiance of those old Shanghai buildings. Experience joy in the Happy Ocean area, which has many rides for children. Many attractions are painted blue like the ocean. I saw many parents with kids enjoying the water speedboats, Ocean One, Ocean Star, etc. Kids love them! As summer arrives, this must be one of their favorite spots—a great place to play in the water and cool off.
Guide:
Address: No. 888 Linhu Road, Sheshan Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Opening hours: May 1 – June 30, 09:30–18:00 (last entry at 18:00); Labor Day 09:00–19:30 (last entry 19:30); Dragon Boat Festival 09:00–19:30 (last entry 19:30); for specific hours, refer to the official website.
Tickets: Adults 220 RMB
Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Sheshan Station, cross the street to the Happy Valley shuttle stop and take the park bus.
Second Stop: Sheshan National Forest Park
Sheshan National Forest Park features beautifully shaped hills, lush trees, and rich flora and fauna. It's especially famous for the bamboo shoots that carry a subtle orchid fragrance. Located in Songjiang District in the southwestern suburbs of Shanghai, the park boasts dense pines and bamboo and gorgeous scenery. Besides the most visited East Sheshan and West Sheshan, there are also 12 peaks like Tianma Mountain, Fenghuang Mountain, and Xiao Kunshan. Excluding man-made hills, the Sheshan range is Shanghai's only 'real' mountains, and Tianma Mountain, at 98.2 meters above sea level, is naturally Shanghai's highest peak.
Climbing to the top of Sheshan, you can take in the entire scenery. Many villas dot the landscape—they must be worth a fortune in Shanghai. At the foot of the mountain, villas are surrounded by trees; residents here are lucky, able to hike Sheshan Forest Park daily, breathe fresh forest air, and take evening strolls. At the summit stands an old Sheshan Observatory, but unfortunately it wasn't open when we visited, so we missed seeing inside. We'll have to come back to check it off our list. Before the observatory entrance, the stone railings are carved with various constellation patterns, including Andromeda, a clear sign of its astronomical theme.
Guide:
Transportation: From Sheshan Station (Metro Line 9), just steps away are many buses heading to Sheshan: Qingsong Special Line, Hu-Chen Line, Song-Chen Special Line, Songjiang 92, Shi-Qing Special Line, Song-Zhong Line, Shang-She Line. To East and West Sheshan it's 1-2 stops, about a 10-minute walk.
Tickets: Free
Opening hours: 08:30–16:30 (Mon–Sun, Jan 1 – Dec 31)
Food: Forest Hotel Chinese Restaurant
After coming down from Sheshan National Forest Park, we were starving. Right across from the park entrance is a hotel called Forest Hotel, and to our surprise, its restaurant is open to the public—truly a hidden gem! We went straight there for lunch. The prices were very reasonable, something we didn't expect. We ordered several dishes, all delicious. Some dishes even reminded Shanghai locals of their childhood flavors. The white-cut chicken looked like ordinary chicken, but tasted different—better, in fact, because the restaurant uses a special breed, making it more tender and tasty.
A new take on fish soup: tender and flavorful, the broth as white as milk, incredibly fresh. The whole pot was gone in no time. The braised pork rice was a first for me—absolutely delicious. The fat from the pork melted into the rice, mixed with a bit of greens. It's somewhat similar to the salty rice of southern Fujian but different. Give it a stir before eating, and it's not greasy at all.
During this period, Forest Hotel's room rates were half the usual, a real bargain. The rooms are spacious and bright, and you can see Sheshan across the street from the balcony. The hotel is right at the foot of Sheshan, with a beautiful, quiet environment. Transportation is convenient, and parking is easy if you drive. Overall, it felt like great value.
Guide:
Hotel address: No. 9259, Wai Qingsong Road, Sheshan, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Third Stop: Guangfulin Cultural Relics
Ten years of Shanghai, look to Pudong; a hundred years, to Puxi; a thousand years, to Songjiang. Songjiang is the birthplace of Shanghai's history and culture. As the 'root of Shanghai,' its profound historical and cultural heritage shines uniquely. As early as 6,000 years ago in the Neolithic Age, indigenous people lived, fished, hunted, and farmed in the area of today's Guangfulin. Around 4,000 years ago, ancestors from the Wangyoufang site in the Yellow River basin migrated here, blending with locals to create the 'Guangfulin Culture,' a fusion of north and south civilizations, from which Shanghai's roots grew thick. Most visitors come to Guangfulin to see the amazing underwater museum. Entering the Guangfulin Underwater Museum allows you to travel through millennia and feel the city's charm. Half of the museum is submerged underwater.
Across a vast expanse of open water, houses seem to rise from the depths, floating on the surface. With sharp, angular architectural lines, it looks as if they are experiencing a flood, with only their triangular roofs emerging above water. This is the Guangfulin Underwater Cultural Exhibition Hall.
Fulin Pagoda is the landmark of the park, visible from afar with its towering spire. This three-story Tang-style square pagoda differs from the hexagonal and octagonal pagodas of other periods. It serves as a religious art museum. Next to it stands Zhiye Chan Temple, a Buddhist cultural exhibition hall. It was rebuilt to commemorate the compassionate deeds of Master Zhiye, who offered medical help to save people. The temple serves vegetarian noodles at 20 yuan per bowl, perfect for lunch if you happen to be there at noon.
Guide:
Transportation: Metro: Take Line 8 (toward Shendu Highway), transfer at Lujiabang Road to Line 9 (toward Songjiang South Station), get off at Songjiang University Town (Exit 3), and you're there.
Tickets: 40 RMB
Opening hours: 09:00–17:00 (Mon–Sun, Jan 1 – Dec 31)
Fourth Stop: Zuibaichi
Zuibaichi is one of the famous classical gardens in Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze) and a tourist attraction in Shanghai. Dating back over 900 years from its earlier incarnation, the park covers 76 mu (about 12.5 acres). Ancient trees flourish, pavilions and terraces dot the grounds, and many historic relics remain. After more than 300 years, Zuibaichi still preserves halls, studies, pavilions, boats, and waterside pavilions in the Ming and Qing dynasty Jiangnan garden style, with winding balustrades, curved corridors, and ancient charm.
When the garden was completed, its owner thought: if the great poet Li Bai were alive and visited here, he would surely be enchanted by the pond scenery and the garden. So he named it 'Zuibaichi' (Drunk on Bai's Pond). He also recalled that Han Qi, a high-ranking poet of the Song Dynasty who was obsessed with Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi's works, built a classical hall called 'Zui Bai Tang' (Drunk on Bai's Hall) in his hometown Anyang, Henan. Gu Dashen, the garden's owner, also greatly admired Bai Juyi and often got lost in the beauty of his poems, so he followed Han Qi's example and named his garden 'Zuibaichi'.
Guide:
Transportation: Song-Mei Line, Hu-Song Special Line, Songjiang 19, 12, 13, 9, Metro Line 9 Zuibaichi Station, Songjiang 26, 6.
Tickets: 12 RMB per person
Opening hours: 06:00–17:00 (Mon–Sun, Jan 1 – Dec 31)
Fifth Stop: Yunjian Granary
Yunjian Granary is located at No. 327 Songhui East Road. Once an abandoned grain warehouse and factory spanning 98 mu, it houses many single-story sloped-roof granaries built between the 1950s and 1990s. The old granaries have been transformed into a new cultural landmark. Every brick and tile retains the marks of time, while the transparent glass facades exude a contemporary artistic vibe.
Now, the old granaries have become a new cultural icon of Songjiang. Some exhibition halls are already open, with more in preparation. Walking in, you'll see a giant horn-shaped iron sculpture. Many spaces are still closed or under renovation, but I believe it will definitely turn into a must-visit art and culture spot in the future.
Guide:
Address: No. 10053 Songjin Highway
Tickets: Free
Food: Xiaoshuye
If you travel to a place, you must not miss the local cuisine. We went to Xiaoshuye for some local specialties. The restaurant is quite large, focusing on old-school Shanghai folk flavors, where the taste of Shanghai food blends into daily life. As soon as you walk in, you're drawn to the food. At the ordering area, all the day's dishes are displayed, and just looking at them makes you want to eat. The signature dish here is a kind of crabmeat pancake—it looks like a crab shell and tastes incredibly flaky and tender, with a mouthful of fragrance.
A local specialty fish, very large, with tender and delicious flesh and a clear, sweet broth. This is another signature dish, generous in portion, highly recommended.
Sixth Stop: The Smurfs Theme Park
Belgian cartoonist Peyo's classic 'The Smurfs' arrived in China in the 1980s and became a shared childhood memory for several generations. The first Blue Smurfs theme park in the Asia-Pacific region has now opened, bringing the animated scenes to life. Classic characters like Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Handy Smurf, and the evil Gargamel appear as costumed figures. When I walked into the Smurfs Theme Park, I was captivated by the architecture. Right at the entrance is a huge blue arched hall, with play areas for kids in the center.
The Gargamel's Forest area is located at the entrance of the Smurf zone. Dense woods block out the modern world, immediately immersing visitors in the fairy tale world created by the park. In the Village area, you'll find yourself in the Smurfs' village, where mushroom houses of various sizes are their homes, allowing you to experience life as depicted in the cartoons. Entering Gargamel's house, visitors become members of a Smurf rescue team, facing various challenges to save Smurfs captured by Gargamel.
Guide:
Address: No. 5088 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District
Transportation: Metro Line 9 to Sheshan Station, then transfer to Songjiang Bus 98; or get off at Dongjing Station and take Songjiang 96 to Shimao Nano Magic City.
Tickets: Discounted price 149 RMB
Seventh Stop: Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden
Chenshan Botanical Garden is currently the largest comprehensive botanical garden in Shanghai, covering 207 hectares at the foot of Chenshan Mountain in the Sheshan range, Songjiang District. Shanghai is flat with few hills, so even though Chenshan is only 71.4 meters high, it's a rarity. According to Ming Dynasty calligrapher Dong Qichang, Chenshan 'lies to the southeast of all the mountains, in the Chen position,' hence its name.
The garden has well-designed routes, with a central area comprising the Eastern China Flora Garden, Quarry Garden, Rare Plants Garden, Aquatic Plants Garden, and 26 other specialized gardens. To explore them all would take more than a day. Flowers bloom in every season: cherry and peach blossoms in spring, lotuses and hibiscus in summer, chrysanthemums and cornel in autumn, wintersweet and orchids in winter—plus many uncommon flowers you can't name. With flowers all year round, every visit to Chenshan brings a good mood.
Guide:
Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Dongjing Station, then transfer to Songjiang Bus 19 to Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden bus stop.
Tickets: Full price: 60 RMB; Discounted: 50 RMB (Mon–Sun, Jan 1 – Dec 31). Half price: school students, minors aged 6-18 with valid ID. Free: seniors 65+, children under 1.3m or 6 years old and younger, retired officials, active military, disabled persons with valid ID. Discounted tickets apply to seniors aged 60-64.
Opening hours: 08:00–17:30 (exhibition greenhouses 08:30–17:00) from Mar 1 to Oct 31; 08:00–17:00 (exhibition greenhouses 08:30–16:30) from Nov 1 to Feb 28.
For this trip, we stayed at the Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel Shanghai Songjiang, close to surrounding attractions and with convenient transportation. The rooms are spacious, with large floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views. As someone who often needs to work, having a desk was really helpful. Photos taken that day could be uploaded and shared online right away. The room's warm-toned lighting felt cozy, and the bathroom was spacious, with a bathtub and a separate shower area.
The hotel's cuisine is not to be missed. That evening we dined at the hotel's Chinese restaurant. The osmanthus spare ribs, beef, and lobster were all excellent. The lobster was prepared differently from what I'm used to, with tender, smooth meat. The beef was also one of my favorite dishes.
Shanghai is an international metropolis. For over a century, it has been China's commercial center, a gathering place of wealth, and a calling card for China to the world. Shanghai is vast, and Songjiang District alone has many check-in spots worth visiting. Experiencing a different Shanghai in person will let you feel another kind of beauty the city has to offer.
