Shanghai Outskirts | A Weekend Road Trip for Two

The world bustles with people coming and going.

Having walked through brilliant prosperity and seen traffic-filled streets, what I ultimately long for is the peace that comes after stripping away all the glitz.

City life always makes one restless, but nature is truly calm and stable.

After traveling across all seven continents, what I enjoy most is quiet time with my beloved.

The sound of wind, the sound of rain, dreams, the past – none are as important as genuine companionship. With you by my side, it feels like I have the whole world.

Day 1: Home – Qingxi Country Park – Griffin Car Cinema (Stay at Artyzen Habitat Hotel)

Day 2: Hotel – Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Every holiday, I always want to explore the surroundings with my partner. This time we chose to drive to the outskirts of Shanghai, to breathe in nature and savour a romantic getaway for two.

We set off early from home in the WEY Latte DHT, accompanied by coffee and music, heading towards our destination.

The weather wasn’t particularly cooperative, turning from overcast to moderate rain, but perhaps this is just how life should be.

Sunny or rainy, blazing sun – no matter when, life always gives us different scenery.

Our first stop was Qingxi Country Park. Driving from the city centre takes a little over an hour. The fresh, pleasant air of the countryside is perfect for a weekend stroll with your loved one.

Qingxi Country Park recently gained fame because of its dawn redwood trees, becoming a trendy hotspot. It is located beside Dalian Lake in Qingpu District and is Shanghai’s only wetland-themed country park.

The red leaves of the dawn redwoods colour the entire trail, and you can almost hear the sound of heartbeat with each step.

Though we had passed the peak season for the redwoods, it didn’t affect our date. We wandered through the forest, chatting about the future and the past, and time flew by.

If you come here in late autumn, it truly resembles nature’s palette, with a beauty that cannot be duplicated.

This place is perfect for photos. Although the weather left us with some regrets this time, it hasn’t diminished its charm in my heart.

In the evening, we went to Griffin Car Cinema for a different movie-watching experience – it’s a “private cinema for car owners”.

Watching domestic and international blockbusters inside your own car adds a unique flavour.

There are two large screens, playing different films on a rolling basis from 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm respectively until 2:00 am, so you can choose whichever you like.

Tickets are charged per car, at 139 yuan per car, and you can watch the whole night.

Dining options within the complex are limited; we had some desserts and milk tea nearby, then went back to the car to continue the movie.

We tuned the radio to the right frequency. Our car’s sound system is exceptionally good, almost comparable to a real cinema – the whole car became our entire world.

It was already late when we returned to the hotel after the movie. We chose Artyzen Habitat this time, a real boon for social butterflies.

The public areas incorporate many eco-friendly designs: the walls and installations use renewable materials, and many are art pieces created on-site by designers, blending green concepts that appeal to the young and express the designers’ style.

The living plant wall at the entrance is both novel and practical; you can tell the hotel is meticulously maintained.

The lobby layout has no obvious partitions – it feels like a chic café, breaking down the usual boundaries between functional areas. You can read, dine, work, or enjoy a coffee right there in the lobby.

I stayed in their suite, which was clean, modern, and well-zoned, with the bedroom inside and a living room outside. What I loved most was the oversized desk – working there was simply so comfortable!

On the second day, we headed to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town to savour a day of soft, unhurried time.

Driving is very convenient; just navigate directly to the Zhujiajiao scenic area, where there is a large open-air car park.

From the car park, you can enter the ancient town directly and wander about at leisure.

I especially love the slow pace of ancient towns. The gentle, graceful charm of Jiangnan water towns belongs to each person’s private life.

Zhujiajiao has 36 ancient bridges in total; each bridge you encounter offers a different flavour when you walk across it.

No admission fee is charged, and it’s not overly commercialised. There aren’t many people and it’s relatively quiet. Most importantly, it’s very close to Shanghai, making it a great day-trip destination.

On that lazy afternoon, the sight of little bridges over flowing streams, and sculling boats gliding quietly by, made time slow right down.

Spending a whole day here leisurely with my partner, away from the usual hustle and bustle, enjoying a romance just for two.

There are also many local speciality foods, mostly snacks. When tired, you can pick a tea house or café to rest; there are many lovely little shops worth exploring.

If you’re considering an ancient town near Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is truly a good choice.

Our two-day, one-night weekend trip came to an end as evening fell.

Fully nourished, we returned to this young, vibrant city to start a new week of hard work. Though the holiday was short, it became special because of the person beside me.

May you and I always be full of passion for life, with light in our eyes and love in our hearts.

Self-drive tips:

We drove the WEY Latte DHT, which offers great performance, comfort, and smart features;

Both Qingxi Country Park and Zhujiajiao do not charge an entrance fee. One-way expressway tolls range from 15 to 17 yuan. You can park at the scenic areas; parking at Zhujiajiao is free for the first 15 minutes and 20 yuan per entry/day;

Movie tickets at Griffin Car Cinema are charged per car at 139 yuan, allowing you to watch all night.