2022 Spring Festival Shanghai In-City Self-Drive Tour (Longhua Temple, Yongding Temple, Huilong Temple, Xinchang Ancient Town, Sanlintang Old Street, Lujiazui Riverside)

In past years, we would go on cross-province self-drive trips for the New Year. This year, following the pandemic prevention policy of 'non-essential cross-province travel', we only took a self-drive trip within Shanghai.

January 31, 2022 (Shanghai weather: cloudy to overcast, 1.1 to 8.4°C)

On New Year's Eve, streets were quiet with free parking. The Huangpu Riverfront near Taolin Road.

February 1, 2022 (Shanghai weather: cloudy to overcast, 5.0 to 8.6°C)

Pudong Yongding Temple, no admission fee. The parking lot is huge and free. We parked along Yongtai Road in Pudong. Walked north along Sanxin Road to Sanlintang Old Street. Sanlin Bengua (a local melon) is a specialty. Sanlintanggang River. The old street sits on the north side of the river. Sanlintang Old Street. On the south side of the river are high-rise residential buildings. There are several historical sites on the old street. Fried pork skin and pickled cucumbers from Sanlintang are local specialties; those who like them find the taste quite good. There's a parking lot at the intersection of Yongtai Road and Sanxin Road, from which it's about 200 meters to Sanlintang Old Street.

February 2, 2022 (Shanghai weather: overcast with light rain, 5.0 to 8.6°C)

Pudong Huilong Temple, no admission fee. At the temple gate, local farmers set up stalls selling their homegrown vegetables. Filled up with 95-octane gasoline at Sinopec Yushan Road gas station in Pudong, costing 350 yuan at 8.12 yuan/liter.

February 3, 2022 (Shanghai weather: overcast with light rain, 3.2 to 6.9°C)

Longhua Temple had many visitors, but parking was fairly convenient. There's a temporary parking lot on the south side of Longhua Road, 20 yuan per entry. At the intersection of Longhua Road and Longhua West Road. Longhua Pagoda, a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level (sixth batch), ancient building category, dating from the Song Dynasty. Longhua Temple, a national key Buddhist temple in Han Chinese region, no admission fee. Also a Shanghai Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Bought 2 packs of vegetarian specialties at Longhua Temple.

February 4, 2022 (Shanghai weather: clear to cloudy, 2.6 to 8.8°C)

The fourth day of the new year was the first clear and fine weather for this Spring Festival. We drove to the Huangpu Riverfront at Dongfang Road in Pudong for a stroll. In front of the Orange Crystal Hotel Oriental Pearl Store, there's a large open area that serves as a parking lot, charging 10 yuan/hour. From there, it's only a hundred-some meters to the riverfront. A few old houses on the east side of Dongfang Road. This building is called 'Shanghai Jianghaibeiguan Inspection Yard Office Building', built in 1906 and relocated here in 2010. Qizhanzhan Ferry at the river side of Dongfang Road. Distant view of Yangpu Bridge. On the opposite bank of Qizhanzhan Ferry is the Qinhuangdao Road Ferry.

February 5, 2022 (Shanghai weather: cloudy, 2.4 to 7.0°C)

Nanshan Temple at the southern end of Xinchang Ancient Town scenic area in Pudong. Nanshan Temple is a cultural relics protection unit of Pudong New Area. Xinchang Town in Pudong New Area, designated as a National Famous Historical and Cultural Town in the fourth batch. Red plum blossoms were blooming everywhere on the streets. Parking at Nanshan Temple was limited, so we parked on Xinhuan South Road.

February 6, 2022 (Shanghai weather: overcast, 2.0 to 6.5°C)

Drove to Lujiazui Riverside. Pudong Avenue, after more than 10 years of construction, was restored to two-way six-lane traffic last December. Parking at Lujiazui Riverside, 10 yuan/hour. After 1 hour, it's 5 yuan per half hour. The following were all taken at Lujiazui Riverside. It's a pity to see such 'scenery' by the river. Parked on Sifang Road. In the past, hypermarkets were the busiest places during the New Year, but now in the era of online shopping, there were few customers. The photo below shows the CP Lotus Yanggao Middle Road store on Sifang Road. Ordered a snack platter at KFC.