Where to Take the Kids for a Two-Day, One-Night Trip in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai? Shanghai Sun Island is Super Suitable

Childhood is so short, I want to spend as much time with you as possible. The weekend is here again—where to go for a two-day, one-night trip? I was captivated by beautiful photos of Shanghai Sun Island that popped up on my phone, and we set off right away. This time, we are heading to the Shanghai Sun Island Resort in Zhujiajiao. In my mind, Zhujiajiao is famous for its ancient water town, but I never expected this charming place to hide a family-friendly island.

Accommodation: Discovery Family Villa

If you're traveling with several families, I highly recommend this place: the Discovery Family Villa. White walls, wood-toned roofs and trims—it's very Nordic cabin-like, as if stepping into a fairy tale. Each villa comes with two dedicated parking spaces right out front, so no worries about parking if you drive. You can drive around the resort yourself, or call the shuttle bus and it'll come pick you up!

This 190-square-meter villa is huge. Push open the door and you'll find a spacious living room connected to the dining area, mainly in white and wood tones—warm, clean, and with a tall giraffe and a fawn stool that add a playful touch. There's a small outdoor courtyard, perfect for relaxing, sipping tea, and chatting in the afternoon or after sunset. Adults and kids alike can find their own cozy spot here.

The dining area features a modern, stylish marble six-seater table, right opposite the children's play area. A semi-circular cutout lets you keep an eye on the little ones—such a thoughtful design. The kids' dedicated play zone is a mini playground inside the villa: a connected rotating slide, a three-story elastic climbing net, a LEGO wall, a magnetic wall, and lots of colorful cartoon plush toys. Kids could happily spend all day here and never get bored.

An loves playing with LEGOs and spent a long time at that wall, tinkering and creating. There's also a crawl tube in the living room for kids to shimmy through, adding more fun even indoors. An kept crawling back and forth through it, overjoyed.

This villa has three bedrooms and three bathrooms: one twin room, one king room, and one tatami room, meeting all kinds of needs. The décor is light and comfortable, with Nordic touches like reindeer and geometric patterns—bright but not overwhelming. Upstairs are two rooms: a king room and the tatami room. The king room is airy and lively, in the same light, youthful style. Every bedroom has its own bathroom; this king room has a shower and a bathtub with a wet/dry design, and the glass shower makes the space feel even bigger.

The tatami room is a split-level, connected to an attic stargazing loft on the third floor. It's the largest bedroom, consistent with the overall style, and comes with an adorable blue kids' bathrobe. The glass railing on the split-level gives an open view straight up to the third floor. Climb the wooden stairs to the top floor and discover a secret little hideaway—a place to escape, daydream, or unwind far from the hustle. Up here is a telescope for stargazing at night, spotting constellations, or you could just project a movie and cozy up together—a wonderfully relaxed choice. Even the stairway corners hide little nooks, like tree hollows, where kids can crawl right in.

Fun: Little Ranch

Who doesn't love animals? Kids especially. At home, An spends her time imitating animal sounds. Seeing real animals made her ecstatic—she'd chase them and make sounds: pigs oinking, goats bleating, so much fun! This little ranch has pigs, goats, peacocks, and even Angora giant rabbits you can pet. If you want hands-on animal encounters, this is the spot. Opening hours: Sun–Thu 09:30–16:30, Fri–Sat 09:30–18:30.

Cartoon silicone animal toys lined against the wall instantly became An's rides: a little dinosaur, a fawn, a kitten—she tried them all one after another. Tiny pet pigs are the ranch's main characters, wandering everywhere, following you for food. So cute. The goats are another star, stretching out their heads and bleating loudly whenever someone comes near, begging for a treat. The pigs and goats are super enthusiastic, sniffing and nudging with their noses, thinking we had snacks. When they realized we didn't, they'd turn and scamper off. An kept wanting to touch the pigs but was also a little scared. She'd reach out, and the moment the pig looked back, she'd dive into my arms. It's a great chance to get close to animals, especially for city kids who rarely see farm animals except on outings like this.

The little pigs on the ranch seem to while away their days entertaining visitors, racing, and, of course, eating and sleeping—pretty blissful! There's an exciting pig race daily where you can place bets and guess the winner; prizes await. Which pig will cross the line first? Come cheer for your pick! Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10:30–11:00, 13:30–14:00; Fri–Sun 10:30–11:00, 13:30–14:00, 15:30–16:00. *Subject to slight adjustment due to weather.

Staff brings the goats out regularly so they can roam and graze, and that's when kids can get up close. You can buy feed (hay) and become the herd's best friend—if you have a bag of feed, you'll be the center of attention. Please don't bring your own food; their diet is controlled for their health.

There are other play facilities too. An loves slides—her eyes lit up the moment she saw one, shouting "Slide! Slide!" as she ran over. She wouldn't come down until she'd gone at least ten times. Who knew a small slide could bring so much joy?

The Four Seasons DIY craft workshop offers different themed classes: making animal cookies, holiday crafts, traditional seasonal snacks... This time, An tried making cookies, shaping dough into her favorite forms. Staff demonstrate step by step, encouraging imagination and hands-on creativity—kids develop focus and creativity while having fun. After baking, they can eat their own creations, which taste even better! Opening hours: Sun–Thu 09:30–15:30, Fri–Sat 09:30–17:30.

An earnestly learned to roll dough and press cookie cutters to make shapes she liked. So quiet and focused—I almost believed you're not a mischievous little one normally!

If I didn't tell you, would you guess An went to the splash pool for the first time? This girl wasn't afraid of water at all—in fact, she had a blast and wouldn't leave even when the sun was setting. Hidden within 2,500 acres of island scenery, this private beach in Shanghai features a wave pool, rainbow slides, water balls, and more. You can also play beach volleyball and other games. Opening hours: June & September 09:00–16:30 (Mon–Thu), 09:00–18:30 (Fri–Sun); July & August 09:00–18:30 (Mon–Thu), 09:00–20:30 (Fri–Sun).

Although An still refuses to step on sand and demands to be held, the moment she touches water she goes running. She had a wonderful time on the inflatable water pads, darting here and there, even after tumbling into the water—not a bit of fear—just getting up and laughing heartily. In the wave pool, she was fearless, clutching her unicorn floatie, happily splashing and kicking. Her joyful laughter was the only sound; clearly, this place was the right choice.

The wave pool simulates ocean waves, and those seeking more thrill can venture deeper. We kept our little one away from the adventurous parts—better for older kids. An ran around the water as if it wasn't her first time in a pool, completely ignoring the fading sun, lost in time, refusing to leave.

This splash pool is very private, surrounded by lush woods. The inflatable play structures are great for young children—water not too deep but adventurous enough for their exploring hearts. On the beach are loungers and umbrellas for a quick rest or soaking up the sun. For older kids, there are also slides—more exciting and daring. Brave little ones, come take on the challenge!

A beach kiosk sells drinks, snacks, and swim rings. So if you forgot yours, you can buy one here. Colorful floaties really are the colors of summer.

A new entertainment center soon to open officially, and An already gave it a try for all the kids—it's so fun! The construction-themed play area lets children become little builders. Put on a hard hat and a yellow vest, and get to work! Load bricks into a wheelbarrow, transport them, and start building a house. An is still a bit young; she wobbles pushing the wheelbarrow, struggling to stay balanced, but she tries hard. Then you can stack bricks like playing with blocks—so cool.

There are all sorts of construction vehicles to drive: excavators, tractors—An took turns on them all. Today, you're the boss of the construction site! One vehicle after another.

The coolest is the remote-controlled excavator, surrounded by control stations. You use the joystick and buttons to move the excavator inside the fenced area and transport sand—it's a very realistic experience. Although An was still a little bewildered, this activity is excellent and worth trying. She moved from one control station to the next, full of curiosity about everything.

On the other side of the entertainment center, there are bumper cars that kids love. Younger children can ride with an adult, while older ones can drive on their own. The speed is very slow, so it's safe. An had to sit in every single car—the round little one was especially cute.

Shanghai Sun Island also has an equestrian club, suitable for older children. An kept shouting "horse riding!" but could only watch from a distance. So grow up quick, and next time you can learn to ride! The Shanghai Sun Island Equestrian Club was founded in 1997, with top-notch facilities, professional horses, and a superb coaching team. In 2018, it was fully upgraded with a new 30x60-meter indoor training arena. They now have over 60 fine horses and five international-standard stables with saddlery rooms, warm-water horse showers, farrier rooms, veterinary rooms, infrared therapy areas, and tacking-up zones. Older kids can try a horse-riding experience before deciding to take lessons—a coach will lead the horse around to get a feel for the saddle.

The Sunshine Chinese Restaurant is on the main building's terrace, a glass-enclosed sunroom that is bright and spacious, featuring Shanghainese cuisine. The outdoor terrace overlooks fragrant herb gardens—so pleasant. Inside, wooden tables and a neo-Chinese minimalist style create an elegant vibe. Opening hours: 11:00–14:00 (lunch), 17:00–21:00 (dinner). Dishes are mostly local Shanghainese: we ordered tender boiled chicken, savory egg tofu, sour soup with beef, shredded pork and pickled vegetable noodles, and a big bowl of sweet white fungus soup—delicious and completely satisfying.

For breakfast, head to the Changmao Buffet Restaurant on the second floor of the main building. Enjoy the views while feasting on a rich buffet blending Chinese and Western options. Opening hours: 07:00–10:00.

Sun Island is truly perfect for family trips—food, accommodation, and fun are all here. Kids will find endless joys. A two-day, one-night trip might be short, but An had such a happy weekend, and that's more important than anything else!