Staying in Shanghai During the Pandemic: Travel Through Time and Space~

📍 Shanghai · 👁 11 reads · ❤️ 141 likes

For an entire year, we haven't left Shanghai. During the pandemic, with so many ties holding us back, we dutifully stayed put. This stifled 'old mother' kept scouring every nook and cranny of the city, only to find I'm not the only one going stir-crazy. The internet is flooded with 'pretending to be in...' posts. Sure enough, later flipping through my own 'photo deceptions,' I could barely tell where I actually was. Whether you call it self-amusement or self-deception, this autumn and winter we played a journey through time and space, which brought its own share of delight.

A fully transparent Glass Forest Café, nestled in the Hongqiao villa area, looks très Korean set against white walls and green plants. It's said to be inside Shanghai's current largest shopping mall, whose entrance hides a secret garden strikingly similar to Gardens by the Bay. This little white pavilion calls itself 'Fontainebleau.' No matter, we were just as happy to sit along the river and soak up the sun as if we were in that romantic country. Our most recent travel memory was Japan, a year ago. So when we saw a Japanese-style garden, we felt an instant kinship. Multiple gabled wooden roofs, projecting bay windows with corner turrets, deep entries and broad porches—that's unmistakably England. To Americans, the log cabin is not just a building but a way to remember and pass down history. White Corinthian columns support a wide-span dome, recalling the Pantheon I once saw in Rome. Seeing a castle, one first thinks of Germany. But who knew this famously strict and serious nation also has its sentimental side? Beyond spatial travel, we also journeyed through time. In this vast five-thousand-year history, we caught glimpses here and there. Han-style aesthetics, embodied in exquisite characters, or in hollow-cut light and shadow, where script and totems interplay, time reverses. Pavilions over small bridges and flowing water, carved wooden lattice doors and windows, grey brick floors—every detail exudes the charm of traditional architecture. Exquisite layout, elegant setting, petite and delicate—these are the hallmarks of Ming Dynasty gardens. A faint autumn mood stirs endless reverie. The green tram is the unique symbol of this era. At dusk, you almost expect the glittering nightlife of the former Shiliupu Wharf area to begin. Shanghai's longtang (alleyways) are my childhood memories. Unexpectedly, at a Japanese anime exhibition, my thoughts were pulled in a hundred directions. A silent dialogue with master architects, and once again, wishing for the next journey to be to a truly faraway destination……

Location: No. 3055 Caobao Road, Minhang District, Shanghai.

This venue, voted one of the 'Top Ten Outstanding Art Museums in Asia,' was founded with the mission to 'promote the essence of traditional culture and drive the development of contemporary art.' It showcases modern and contemporary artworks, building a new 'rivers converge' collection system. The museum's interior is like a Chinese version of the New York Guggenheim Museum. Frank Lloyd Wright's 1947 masterpiece, with its spiraling white flowing space, is a paragon of modern art architecture. The circular gallery spirals upward, serving as both the start of the Book Collection Building exhibition and the prelude to this art feast. The circular hall deliberately displays small, exquisite pieces, aiming to let visitors wander closely and savour their beauty. Entering the Book Collection Building, you see Shi Jinsong's 'Pine,' a representative work made from waste wood and branches modeled after the famous Guest-Greeting Pine of Huangshan, transformed into a naturally distinctive artwork. Another highlight is seven works by Yayoi Kusama. These pieces often capture artists' relaxed brushwork and flashes of inspiration, direct expressions of true emotion. In this art corridor, though techniques differ between East and West and philosophies vary, the works share an astonishing commonality: the artists' ultimate pursuit of 'beauty,' where they resonate with viewers. The visually delightful spiral corridor, though, is a slight disappointment; it's not easy to get great photos due to high requirements for natural light. We arrived on a cloudy, rainy day, so conditions were predictably poor. I had to rely heavily on post-processing, but noise was unavoidable. Upstairs, however, a new world opened: Exhibition Hall 2, almost deserted, but I loved it. Still keeping the overall white minimalist style, it ingeniously features a circular archway, evoking the mood of a Suzhou classical garden. Here, you can see over a hundred classic works by many Chinese masters. Through these paintings and calligraphies, you can't help but marvel at the profound cultural heritage and national sentiment. My child may not fully understand, but can feel the beauty of Chinese painting and calligraphy, absorbing nourishment to pass on the essence of Chinese culture to future generations. Among current exhibitions worth viewing, the Yungang Grottoes exhibition is a must-see. Exhibition period: 2020-12-26 to 2021-03-28.

The fifth century AD was the period when Buddhism from the west became established in China. First, Kumarajiva retranslated Buddhist scriptures in Chang'an, and Mahayana Buddhism shone across the land. Then, through the promotion of two major Buddhist centers—Jiankang (modern Nanjing) and Guzang (modern Wuwei)—the Chinese Buddhist system matured and temple activities grew. In 439, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei pacified Liangzhou, ending the Sixteen Kingdoms era in northern China. Subsequently, military expeditions to the Western Regions ushered in a new peak of East-West cultural exchange. The capital Pingcheng (modern Datong) rose to become the eastern center of world Buddhism, and the Yungang Grottoes became the first sacred site to astonish the world. As the earliest large-scale cave complex east of Xinjiang, the magnificence and splendor of Yungang embody the wisdom of both East and West, reflecting the practical experience and artistic heights of Buddhist development over millennia. It became the model for cave temples during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui-Tang periods, and an unparalleled masterpiece of cultural and artistic fusion. As the only entirely imperial cave temple project in China, Yungang Grottoes leave us profound, rich cultural and spiritual meanings. Bringing Yungang art out of the mountain temples to the nation and the world showcases the open, inclusive spirit of the Chinese nation and its pioneering ethos, which has significant contemporary relevance.

According to known records, the development of Yungang's statue styles divides into three distinct periods. The first, represented by the 'Tan Yao Five Caves' under Emperor Wencheng, features exotic splendor, a masterpiece of Western statuary art introduced to the East. The second period, the heyday, with large caves and statues commissioned by Emperors Xianwen, Empress Dowager Feng, and Emperor Xiaowen, showcases varied forms and lavish decoration. The third period, after the capital moved to Luoyang, saw an end to imperial projects but thriving folk cave carving. With rising Han ethnic consciousness, the 'slender elegant' style emerged, documenting the gradual Sinicization and secularization of Buddhist imagery. Yungang carved the endless thoughts and eternal soul of a dynasty and a nation into the rock, creating a rich, vivid world mirroring the human realm.

Since the 20th century, research on Yungang has advanced through five major archaeological excavations, unearthing over a thousand historical artifacts categorized into stone sculpture, pottery, steles, architectural components, and utensils, forming a comprehensive picture of political, cultural, and daily life during the Northern Wei, Liao, and Jin dynasties.

The next exhibition is Han-style Aesthetics, an absolutely photogenic show. Exhibition period: 2020-12-19 to 2021-03-11. The exhibition looks back to 202 BC, with curtains and light boxes creating an immersive cultural experience centered on Han culture. It includes seven themed areas and eight scenes such as 'East Meets West,' 'Wonder of Han Paintings,' 'Myriad Splendours,' 'Boundless Square Inch,' and 'Between the Lines,' creating an immersive aesthetic journey of step-by-step discovery. You engage in a seamless dialogue with culture from two millennia ago, feeling, gazing, exploring resonances deep within—a spark between historical culture and contemporary art. Chinese characters, passed down and evolving for thousands of years, each carry the ideology and thought of different eras and peoples. They express not only meaning but also pictograms, ideograms, and phonetic compounds, traceable to antiquity, able to be newly coined or transformed. This display, through layers of black gauze, presents the epochal pulse of Han clerical and bamboo-slip scripts. Each stroke, combining form and sound, strength and grace, reveals unique writing pleasure and design realms, weaving them into captivating stories and endowing characters with new contemporary meanings, allowing viewers to appreciate from multiple angles and be inspired within the textual landscape. Mastering light and shadow to the extreme is this three-dimensional bell column. Unprecedentedly integrating Han aesthetics, exquisite Han characters create multi-sensory enjoyment through hollow-cut light, shadow, and sound installations. Color impact is another highlight: not just black, but also a striking use of red. The black and red of Han Dynasty, stunningly cool, as if foretelling that era's heroes and beauties were vividly distinct. The overall grandeur, with massive scale and symmetrical classical beauty, is exquisitely interpreted. After the exhibition, rest on macaron-like cushions. There's also a café on the first floor where you can brew a pot of flower tea and laze away the afternoon. Engaging with art isn't just gazing intently at works; it's also the subtle influence and nourishment to the soul. Sitting inside, savoring delicacies, is another way to connect with art, satisfying both mind and palate.

Ticket info: Book Collection Building: 50 RMB/person (We stayed at the adjacent Powerlong Le Méridien and could enter free). Park 202 BC Han Aesthetics: 98 RMB/person. Yungang Grottoes: 98 RMB/person. Tips: Children under 1.2m free. For 3+ exhibitions, buy a full pass at 198 RMB/person.

Location: No. 366 Yingjia Road, Chedun Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai.

Once one of China's top ten film and TV bases, it has the old Shanghai street scenes and behind-the-scenes secrets of movie-making. In my childhood memories, most period films about Shanghai were shot here. The most famous include 'Romance in the Rain,' 'Lust, Caution,' 'New Shanghai Bund,' 'Love in a Fallen City,' etc. As you enter, it's 1930s Nanjing Road. Although I never experienced it, I could vaguely recognize some landmarks. The green tram is the era's symbol, instantly evoking countless scenes of heroes and heroines meeting—Gu Manzhen and Shen Shijun, Lu Ruping and He Shuhuan… So meetings on green trams might not be good omens! My thoughts flew too far; I quickly pulled them back, seeing my husband and little one, not knowing where to start. I felt a bit bashful—ah, I used to be deeply hooked. The high-fidelity reconstruction of old Shanghai provides ideal filming sets, allowing visitors to relive the colorful city's past. These varied backdrops realistically and artistically present Shanghai's history and culture, serving as a gallery to understand its evolution. Take a stroll along the Old Street next to Nanjing Road, then stop in front of a shikumen (stone-gate house). Shanghai longtang are the deepest childhood memories for our generation. This spot is the most down-to-earth: glowing red coal stoves, long-distance calls suddenly announced, rows of deck chairs for cooling off... and playmates always available, even the sour plum drink made by the aunty next door—all flash before my eyes. After the 1930s Nanjing Road and old alleyways, having savored the human touch of old Shanghai, meet its other side. There are Catholic churches, medieval wineries, and European-style buildings in English, French, German, Spanish, Norwegian styles—the perfect backdrop for concession-era stories. Old Shanghai's architectural style bears deep historical marks, where Chinese and Western cultures coexist seamlessly. Thus, the vivid charm of old Shanghai is defined as a style: Shanghai Haipai culture. Back then, Chinese and foreigners mixed, and cultures from all over merged, forming a blend that neither lacks the subtle romance of the East nor borrows the simple lifestyle of the West. In recent years, nostalgia has come into vogue. Returning here, seeing these classic, retro images, I'm somewhat moved. The romantic yet tasteful lifestyle Shanghainese yearn for, with a refreshing simplicity, still feels timeless, even more stylish after the sedimentation of time. In this film park, the must-visit Waibaidu (Garden) Bridge is where Yiping in 'Romance in the Rain' 'went to look for trouble' and jumped off. Even my husband, who never watches Qiong Yao dramas, had heard of it when I mentioned it. In recent years, the tide has turned, and many criticize Qiong Yao's stories for their questionable values. Once on a variety show, Zhao Wei said, 'Why has He Shuhuan become a jerk now?' Haha, that made me laugh. For a post-80s girl like me, Qiong Yao holds nostalgia. As a child, I watched videotapes with adults; in my teenage years, I devoured the TV dramas; I even secretly read my mom's hidden Qiong Yao books. Turns out, Auntie Qiong didn't lead us astray. Looking back, these stories are exaggerated and absurd, but they evoke the thrills and emotions of youth. Perhaps romance novels were my writing inspiration; and because I loved the book titles, I memorized Li Qingzhao's lyrics by heart. As I age, nostalgia grows, and so does my capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. It's no one's fault—it's the shift of eras, the transmission of cultures, the independence of ideas... We've all grown up! Step into the train station, with tracks and platforms, forever symbols of literary retro. Here, farewells and reunions are sent and received. We too say, goodbye~ Ticket info: College students: 50 RMB; middle school students: 30 RMB; adults: 80 RMB. Opening hours: 8:30-16:30.

Location: No. 3805 Jiangchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai.

This is a water ecological garden built by 3,000 villagers of Pengdu Village in Maqiao Town, Minhang District, to protect Shanghai's drinking water intake. It's both an ancient bridge museum and a protected area for rare old trees, a rare classical garden in Shanghai that combines water, bridges, pavilions, terraces, towers, halls, trees, flowers, grass, and wood. Hanxiang Water Park comprises an ancient ecological zone, ancient cultural zone, and agricultural sightseeing park. We mainly explored the ecological zone, which features waterways, ancient pagodas, old trees, scenic rocks, and antique-style buildings in a rustic, natural, wild tone. There are over 800 half-century-old trees and 25+ relocated ancient bridges. Nearly 50 ancient or replica bridges are gathered or hidden in every corner. Five-arched Hanxiang Bridge, single-arched Xiangjing Bridge, three-arched Xingshi Bridge, plus flat bridges, zigzag bridges, covered bridges—each carries a history. Pavilions beside streams have black-tiled roofs, vermilion carved lattice doors and windows, and grey brick pavements, showcasing traditional architecture's splendor. The entire ecological zone finds lakes and ancient bridges intimate, bridges and pavilions connected, pavilions and ancient trees interdependent, trees and flowers accompanying each other—a harmonious, wild garden scene. Pity, when we arrived, there were few visitors or staff, and most rooms were shut. If only I could sit by the window in a lakeside tea house, sipping fragrant tea and admiring a lake of autumn colors—how pleasant and satisfying! Being overlooked has its perks: portrait shots are much freer. The buildings exude a weathered, historical sense; after time's baptism, the settled texture feels even more ancient. Strolling, every blade and tree adds vibrancy. Everywhere, you see groves of ancient trees, some towering, some gnarled, some with broken branches, each with its own character, forming a vigorous, deep, vibrant, and poetic ancient ecological tableau. The garden architecture set against ancient trees shows history's weight and ancestors' wisdom. Remembering them serves as a warning for descendants, to continue and promote fine traditional culture. Ticket info: Adult: 30 RMB. Parking: 10 RMB. Free ticket policy: children under 1.2m free; Discount policy: seniors over 70 with ID, disabled with disability certificate get discounted tickets. Tips: Hanxiang Water Park is about a 15-minute drive from Shanghai Film Park; you can visit both in one day.

Location: No. 788 Shenfu Road, Minhang District, Shanghai.

Deqiu Cultural Creative Park is in Xinzhuang Industrial Park. Many buildings are converted old factories. Its distinctive feature: European retro castles, terraces, and gardens with vines everywhere, making the scenery classic, elegant, and romantic. It's a relatively niche photo spot for now—so photography enthusiasts should hurry before it explodes in popularity. Visiting in winter, combined with the castle's somber aura, adds a bleak feeling. The massive thick walls, but with delicately rounded windows and doors, balance strength and softness, reducing heaviness. It makes you wonder about the interior atmosphere: dark? Or mysterious. The castle sits by a lake, its solid medieval beauty surprisingly harmonious with the surroundings, withered grass and trees echoing, creating another time-lapse, tranquil scenery. Retro scenes are easily found everywhere; stop with your child to gaze at ducks playing in the water; or sip a rich coffee—that's the most pleasant afternoon. There are many specialty shops here; the popular one is a café called 1833 Mantuo Garden. After wandering, we decided to sit there for a while, passing the still-early daylight. The decor indeed matches the outside environment, with elegant tableware. But the food was average, not satisfying my picky dessert palate. The ambiance was perfect, but after 2 PM, it got noisy, no longer suitable for quiet enjoyment.

Location: No. 7575 Boyuan Road, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Shanghai Auto Expo Park, built around the Shanghai Auto Museum, is on the south side of the core trade zone of Shanghai International Automobile City. It's a comprehensive park themed on auto entertainment, exhibition, and culture, covering 768,000 sqm. Highly recommended as a hidden gem park; an afternoon stroll lets you experience various countries' exotic flavors—sounds great, right? The park is themed on developed auto industry regions, divided into five areas: China, America, Britain, Japan, and Europe, each with buildings in local characteristic styles. Though each area is just a small building, not enough to fill the longing for distant travel, it at least soothes the restlessness. This one is called 'Fontainebleau'—my husband and I laughed, quite the bold label! I recall our 2012 trip to Paris: we jumped into the morning rush-hour metro, squeezed among a crowd of whites and blacks. At the exit, a black security guard warned us to be careful; my husband showed him two padlocks on his backpack, and he praised us… Could you still travel like that in France now? The Japanese garden is built within the traditional landscape pattern of 'south lake, north mountain,' creating a space where 'mountains shape the lake, water gives life to mountains.' It's very quiet; we even saw a musician come to play violin before we left. Every corner features mountains, water, islands, wetlands, greenery, and shores that structure the park, expressing, shaping, and restoring nature, reestablishing harmony between land, mountain, lake, plants, and animals. Having been to Japan three times, we're thinking that after the pandemic, our first trip abroad will probably still be Japan. Japan's beauty isn't in cities; wherever you go, you enjoy attentive service and a clean environment. Why not head to the countryside? There, you can more fully enjoy peace and tranquility. Our most recent trip, a year ago to Aomori, still lingers on the palate. Without any sign, I asked my husband, 'How do you know this is the British Garden?' He said, 'By the crosses on the house.' Because British villas emphasize decorative porticoes; this Georgian style was popular in British colonies for a century, derived from Italian Renaissance styles brought to England, adhering to classical symmetry and harmony. Walking around the house, this style seems thoroughly executed: classical portico, symmetrical windows, timber frame, carved decorations, all perfect and exquisite. Sunlight slanting down cast just the right shadows on the wall, lifting my mood. The American garden features a complementary log cabin. My kid immediately thought of Harry Potter, as if it were a magical little house. The cabin itself is fairy-tale-like, rugged yet visually cute. A log cabin always evokes many daydreams, imbued with rich culture and rustic elegance. When oppressed by polluted air, a cabin in the forest is a spiritual refuge far from worldly noise. You can see the tree rings on corner posts and smell nature's fragrance from cracked bark. The Italian garden is the park's highlight. White Roman columns and a dome remind one of the Pantheon—structurally strong, upright, proportionally harmonious, a marvel of architectural history showing ancient Roman architects' profound knowledge and sophisticated calculations. Though it can never compare to the Pantheon, it's indeed a good spot for photos. A casual snap gives a European illusion, especially with the soft evening light, making you linger. This gem of a park is actually free. Through different architectural styles and landscape elements of various countries, it symbolically presents the unique garden features of major auto nations. The diverse scenes combined with auto displays make car culture and garden landscape culture complement each other, offering rich experiences.

Location: L6-L8, No. 829 East Nanjing Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai.

Shimao Hello Kitty Shanghai Bund Time Tour is another masterpiece by Shimao Group in culture and entertainment. Collaborating with Sanrio's team, it's the first indoor Bund-themed Hello Kitty theme park in China, with a time-travel concept through three different eras of Shanghai. Hello Kitty, My Melody, Bad Badtz-Maru and other IPs are set against each era's backdrop. I didn't have high expectations; it was just a weekend outing with the kid to an indoor place with nice decor and nearby food. I'd been to a Hello Kitty theme park at Shin Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, so I figured the interior would be similar. Shanghai landmarks combined with Hello Kitty and friends' cute poses present modern Shanghai's glamorous entirety, kicking off the Bund time-travel prelude. The dreamy exterior, full of color and rhythm, but somewhat disappointing, and tickets aren't cheap. If that were all, I'd consider it an IQ tax. But the surprise came swiftly—the fusion of cartoon anime with old Shanghai charm is truly one-of-a-kind globally! Through a magical 'kaleidoscope,' we arrived at L7, Happiness Lane in an old Shanghai longtang. A Shanghai girl like me, with deep alleyway nostalgia, saw heart-shaped coal bricks, even the stove handle heart-shaped, and exclaimed, 'This is too clever!' My daughter Miaomiao, a Shanghai kid who can't even speak Shanghainese, naturally didn't grasp her mom's girlish nostalgia. But she looked around curiously; everything was new to her, not nostalgic. It let kids experience their parents' daily life in the 1980s: the public phone booth, breakfast stall, yellow fish cart, clothes drying rack, sewing machine... objects once commonplace in my childhood, now fleeting memories. In just a few decades, Shanghai has changed so fast, not a trace of the past remains. At L8, 'Ten-Mile Bund,' it's a Shanghai I'm unfamiliar with—glamorous, decadent, the 1930s memories only heard from elders. Accompanied by classic songs, the old street scenes and distinctive architecture unfold. This theme park partners with many local Shanghai brands, developing globally exclusive Hello Kitty products with distinct local features, carrying the rich Haipai cultural heritage and historical charm. As a 'global superstar' in IP, Hello Kitty is loved by fans of all ages, showing high popularity in fashion, film, commerce, etc. This collaboration between Shimao Group and Sanrio opens a new path for consumption upgrades on Nanjing Road and becomes a model of deep integration between domestic real estate and world cultural brand IP. It's another heavyweight world IP theme project landing in Shanghai after Shanghai Disney Resort. Currently not yet super popular, with few visitors, it's fun to explore. But it's bound to become a new cultural card for Shanghai and even the nation—visit early to have no regrets. 260m walk from Exit 19, People's Square Station, Metro Lines 1/2/8. Mon-Sun 09:30-22:00. Adult: 80 RMB; Parent-child (1 adult + 1 child): 148 RMB; Couple ticket: 168 RMB; Child: 88 RMB.

Location: No. 2299 Chenxiang Highway, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Shanghai Nanxiang InCity MEGA brings a forest into the shopping mall, blending commercial space with ecology, circulation, and design, adding forests, wetlands, and hills to create an immersive green relaxation experience. 'Seeking Forest' introduces over 200 domestic and international plants for a 5-story cross-level ecological botanical garden with a plant identification app for educational fun. Meanwhile, the garden, in collaboration with UK artist Luke Jerram, displays a 6-meter diameter 'Super Moon' art installation, first shown in China. It quickly became a new internet-famous spot, with countless visitors flocking in, and we couldn't resist either. This place is basically a mini version of Singapore's Gardens by the Bay conservatory, planted with various tropical plants and flowers, with a small waterfall behind the elevator. When tired from shopping, come rest here; kids will have a blast. Nanxiang InCity is currently Shanghai's largest shopping center, offering dining, entertainment, and shopping in one stop, perfect for families, couples, and friends. The internet-famous glass 'rainforest' is hidden on the first floor outside the mall, to the left of Yinxiang Street exit, with a direct elevator to the mall. I must say, portraits here are even easier than at Gardens by the Bay. When we visited Singapore the year before, with crowds and bad lighting, we didn't get satisfactory portraits at the actual Gardens. This was an unexpected bonus.

Location: No. 41 Hongqiao Fund Town, 3081 Hongmei Road, Minhang District, Shanghai.

A sunroom in the city—FLOWERPLUS FlowerPlus first membership experience store, Glass Forest, is situated in the villa area of Hongqiao. It combines flowers, coffee, magazines, and a small gallery, allowing every customer to experience another possibility of living space. FLOWERPLUS FlowerPlus is a leading comprehensive flower service platform in China, founded in 2015, pioneering weekly flower subscription services. In just five years, it grew into the leader in 'daily flower subscription.' In these five years, it never stopped exploring new territories. As new retail trends emerged, it began laying out offline experience stores, building a comprehensive ecosystem centered on flower products. Unlike typical single-function experience stores, Glass Forest is a comprehensive urban space integrating flowers, greenery, coffee, books, and a mini gallery. The first floor is a heaven of coffee, flowers, and greenery, with a cozy lounge area adorned with magazines, books, and paintings. To enjoy a quieter environment, we deliberately arrived right at 9 AM opening—wise indeed. No reservation needed; just find your preferred seat, scan the QR code to order a fragrant coffee or sweet cake, which is then served. This romantic sunroom feels like a secluded, tranquil forest, with deep-woods elegance and the ease and leisure of life. Surrounded by flowers and plants, with coffee aroma and books, it's perfect for relaxing with friends or enjoying solitude. Constantly innovating, ceaselessly exploring, shaping beautiful life experiences for urbanites is this store's founding philosophy. Thus, breaking life boundaries, Glass Forest is a bold new challenge. After 11, customers trickled in; though not noisy, taking photos became less casual. So, photo enthusiasts should come early—staff said after 1 PM is peak time. With two years of meticulous cultivation, the ultra-modern double-layer glass main building features transparency and horizontal mirror visual expressiveness, with ever-changing light and shadow through 24 hours, like installation art in a museum. Stylish, modern glass art, yet set amidst forest and meadow, surrounded by flowers, exuding nature. The bold collision of city and nature, mutually enhancing, has naturally become another phenomenon-worthy spot loved by young people. Besides the fresh Korean-style mainly white and green, there's another internet-famous photo spot: the orange spiral staircase. Surrounded by greenery and flowers, it spirals up to another artistic small world, a striking bridge. The second floor offers spaces for floristry classes, coffee courses, salon customization, etc. You can enjoy the private experience of creating beauty with your hands; remember to book in advance if interested.

Location: No. 159 Baiyin Road, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Built by the lake, located in the Jiading New City Administrative and Cultural Center, it's the first theatre in China with a water stage, a landmark cultural facility in Shanghai. With beautiful surroundings, complete facilities, and convenient transport, it offers world-class artistic enjoyment. Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre, completed in the Jiading New City center, covers a total area of 56,000 sqm with an investment of about 700 million RMB. Pritzker Prize laureate Japanese architect Tadao Ando led the design; after inspecting the actual building, he called it 'the best embodiment of his work in China.' Tadao Ando, a renowned Japanese architect, known for Azuma House, Japan Pavilion at Expo '70, and Church of Light. Though never formally trained, he created a unique, innovative architectural style, becoming one of today's most active and influential masters. My Hokkaido trip plan includes Hoshino Resorts, especially attracted by the 'Chapel on the Water,' also by Ando. My favorite singer Fish Leong's 'Worship' MV was shot there. This building also fully embodies Ando's signature fair-faced concrete design, wrapped in a transparent glass curtain wall. The theatre is a 100m square cube, concrete walls with glass covering, and five cylindrical tubes intersecting, forming a unique open functional space. The cut creates a unique form, its iconic shape. The cylindrical spaces, as architectural highlights, present a kaleidoscopic variety. They also serve as waiting halls and outdoor theatres. The theatre meets the needs of ballet, opera, drama, symphony concerts, traditional opera, and variety shows, with top-tier architectural acoustics and stage equipment. In daylight, it's like a jade stone holding many secrets, quietly resting by Yuanxiang Lake. At night, it becomes an exquisitely transparent crystal box, floating on the vast water, quietly conversing with its reflection. Combining with water, wind, light and other natural elements, it offers viewing platforms in every direction, allowing audiences different perspectives. The outdoor theatre achieves integration with the environment; simple external form contrasts with rich interior spaces.

Location: No. 1288 Yumin South Road, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Shanghai Jiading Library was built in 1980, opened in 1981, now a branch of Shanghai Central Library. It has won many honors like National Civilized Library and National Second-Class Library. In Dec 2004, with support from Jiading District authorities, the library underwent its first major renovation since opening, emerging with a brand-new look, clean and graceful inside, fully equipped with modern facilities. The new Jiading Library has a designed capacity of 600,000 books, 981 reading seats, with areas for general reading, multimedia, 24-hour self-service library, children's library, visually impaired reading room, and audiovisual services. The architecture follows the Jiangnan academy style, the roof shaped like an open book, perfectly blending traditional charm with modern temperament. It was named 2013 'Best Public Library in the World' by US design magazine Interior Design, also hailed as 'Shanghai's Most Beautiful Library.' During the pandemic, advance booking one day ahead on the WeChat official account is required, and a Shanghai library card is needed to enter. But since we're occasional visitors, we didn't get a card; just walking around the exterior was already great!

Location: No. 314 Dongdajie (East Street), Jiading District, Shanghai.

Qiuxiapu Garden is a famous classical garden in Jiangnan, one of Shanghai's five major ancient gardens, originally the private garden of Ming Dynasty Minister of Works Gong Hong, built in 1502 (15th year of Hongzhi). At first, it had ten scenic spots. After centuries, expansions, and changes of ownership, now it boasts over twenty historic sites like Pushui Pavilion, with beautiful, delicate scenery. Its layout and rockeries, flowers are the work of famous Jiading stone carvers. The most beautiful season at Qiuxiapu is December, with ginkgo and red maple drawing crowds. We visited one winter day just passing by; without the splendor of falling petals, we enjoyed rare tranquility and elegance. Stumbling upon a blooming plum tree, we stopped to appreciate. Now I'm less bound by timing, giving up peak bloom periods to enjoy a private world; I'd choose the latter without hesitation. And who says such a garden doesn't hold other surprises? Qiuxiapu is exquisitely laid out, elegant and petite, with little change in scenery and color, as if veiled in a faint autumn mood, prompting poetic reverie. Centered on a clear pond, surrounded by rockeries and ancient trees, unique in garden art. The thatched hall over the Peach Blossom Pond in the main scenic area is praised: 'One hall sits quietly for long, better than ten miles of West Lake.' A couplet south of the hall depicts garden's spring and autumn vividly. The whole garden is compact, excelling in craftsmanship, with pavilions, winding paths, lush bamboo, low railings, plank bridges, dripping springs, and intriguing rock caves. Gardens within gardens, scenes beyond scenes, mountains have valley beauty, water captures deep seclusion, recreating nature in a small space—hence known as 'City Forest.'

Location: No. 68 Shaxia Road, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Zhouqiao Old Street is a national AAAA tourist attraction. Located near Jiading's bustling Bole Square, the old street area in Jiading West retains Ming and Qing residential features. Crisscrossed by rivers, the renovated Ming-Qing street just across the river is open to visitors. Jiading Zhouqiao is the root of Jiading. Established as county seat in 1218, it has been the center for 800 years, the birthplace of Jiading's history and culture. Within a thousand steps, it gathers ancient pagodas, stone streets, old bridges, temples, and famous gardens from Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, rich in heritage. Visitors can tour Huilongtan Lake, Confucius Temple, Fahua Pagoda, Qiuxiapu Garden, and other sites steeped in ancient charm, plus visit the Bamboo Carving Museum and Lu Yanshao Art Institute, and along the cross-shaped river, enjoy old street life, local snacks, and seek the imprints of ancient Jiangnan city civilization. The most famous on the street is Fahua Pagoda, first built during the Kaixi era of Southern Song, restored in Ming Wanli, Qing Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and the Republic era. In Jan 1996, the underground palace of Fahua Pagoda was excavated, uncovering Buddhist statues, books, ancient coins, jade artifacts from Song, Yuan, Ming. In 1996, the pagoda was restored in Ming style. Today, the old street forms a picturesque water-town scene with one pagoda, two rivers, three streets, four bridges. Across from the old street is Jiading Museum, founded in 1959, integrating collection, preservation, research, exhibition, and education. Now, Jiading Museum manages the nationally protected Confucius Temple, Shanghai protected Fahua Pagoda, and Jiading Bamboo Carving Museum. Basic exhibits include Jiading history, artifacts; plus imperial examination exhibition in the Confucius Temple, Gu Weijun (famous diplomat) and Hu Juewen exhibitions at Fahua Pagoda courtyard, and bamboo carving exhibition in the Bamboo Carving Museum.

Location: No. 3199 Caobao Road, Minhang District, Shanghai.

This hotel perfectly blends Shanghai's classical charm with modern elements, displaying understated elegance. With a modern minimalist style, incorporating simple, clear, serene design concepts, the spatial layout is impeccable. Sensuous and free, it creates a distinctive, avant-garde visual effect, highlighting charm through art. The grey marble-clad feature wall in the lobby is an eye-catcher, contrasting with the distinctive solid wood floor texture, complemented by brass ornaments and metal mesh partitions. The hotel has over 2,500 sqm of versatile meeting space, including a 950 sqm Powerlong Ballroom, ideal for various events. It also offers indoor pool, fitness facilities to exercise and relax. Four distinctive restaurants and bars offer a feast of delicious cuisine. The lobby manager told us each Le Méridien has its own 'LM doll,' with skirt designs reflecting local features. This hotel's doll skirt has bicycles, expressing old Shanghai nostalgia. The mask on the doll's face is also worth a hundred praises! The hotel is about a 15-min drive from the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with convenient transportation. Walkable to Powerlong Art Museum, near Qibao Ancient Town. However, the hotel itself has an art gallery with occasional painting exhibitions, perfect for a relaxing wander. When we visited, the exhibition mainly featured Japanese artists, so there were many anime elements, which appealed to my child. This Yanwu Gallery and Powerlong Art Center, along with the Powerlong Art Museum across the street, were all founded under the mission 'promote traditional culture essence, drive contemporary art development' proposed by the Powerlong Group's board. They showcase modern and contemporary artworks, building a new 'rivers converge' collection system. This is the new art highland of Shanghai's Hongqiao International Hub, creating life-space aesthetics and reshaping artistic modernity under an Eastern value system. The hotel was founded because of a love for art that entered the cultural industry, and from that emotional passion, it became a career to pass on artistic ideals—commendable. Right opposite is Powerlong City, integrating dining, entertainment, education, training, making nearby food hunts easy. The mall decorates according to themes and seasons, especially at night with dazzling lights, pleasant for a stroll.

Location: No. 1366 Yumin South Road, Jiading District, Shanghai.

Shanghai Jiading Hyatt Regency, designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, as a landmark of Jiading New City, together with the adjacent Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre, Jiading Library, and Yuanxiang Lake, forms the vibrant cultural bond of Jiading CBD. The hotel has 304 modern elegant rooms overlooking Yuanxiang Lake and the city's best views. It offers 3,500 sqm of creative, flexible meeting and event spaces, making for a refreshing and cozy home-away-from-home stay. The exterior by Ando, interior by globally acclaimed Wilson Associates, inspired by Shanghai's humanistic sentiment, commercial vitality, and urban energy, incorporating local cultural and artistic elements, with exquisite materials and thoughtful details, infusing this modern space with the elegant grace of traditional Chinese history and culture. Especially notable is the 'Xiang Yue Chinese Restaurant,' designed by award-winning Japanese interior design firm Super Potato. Walking down the corridor, an ancient Chinese aura hits: flowing fish tanks, textured jade plates, as if in a classical garden. The hotel is in Jiading, a charming city shining in Shanghai's northwest. Jiading's history goes back 800 years, since the Song Dynasty a prosperous Jiangnan city and commercial hub. Today, Jiading New City is one of three key new cities in Shanghai's master plan, developing into a modern city centered on modern services, world-class sports and leisure, and high-tech industry, becoming the northwest regional core of the Shanghai metropolitan area.

Travelogue Index

1. Yes, We're Still in Shanghai…

2. Powerlong Art Museum | Ode to Grand Beauty, Han Dynasty Splendor

3. Shanghai Film Park | Street Scenes, Former Splendor

4. Hanxiang Water Park | Jiangnan Water Town, Classical Garden

5. Deqiu Cultural Creative Park | European Castle, Artistic Elegance

6. Auto Expo Park | World Tour, Diverse Flavors

7. Shimao Plaza | HELLO KITTY, Retro Childlike Joy

8. Nanxiang InCity | Seeking Forest, Tropical Memories

9. FLOWERPLUS Glass Forest | Transparent Flower House, Coffee & Books

10. Poly Grand Theatre | Masterpiece, Fair-Faced Concrete

11. Jiading Library | Ancient Charm, Modern Tempo