Spring has sprung (some days!) which means it's the perfect time to check out some of Shanghai's most popular parks. Here's our pick of the best to hit with the family.
Gongqing Forest Park
Image by Mandy Tie
It might be a bit out of town, but if you are looking for a full day of entertainment there are few things better than Gongqing Forest Park in Yangpu District. The second largest public park in Shanghai it boasts more than 100 acres of green space, woods, an intricate network of waterways and abundant recreational activities, including funfair and theme park rides, climbing walls, a shooting gallery, playgrounds and more.
Gongqing Forest Park, see listing here.
Shanghai Botanical Gardens
Image via Weibo
There are few better ways to celebrate the arrival of spring than paying Shanghai Botanical Gardens a visit. Located in south Xuhui District, you'll find a wide range of green expanses, plus jungle and desert greenhouses, waterways and magnolia-lined avenues. There's also an outstanding garden dedicated to the arts of penjing, better known under its Japanese name bonsai. Kids will love the amusement zone, and don't forget to keep an eye out for the wildlife; bees and birds suckle blossoms and fish and water birds swim in the ponds.
Shanghai Botanical Gardens, see listing here.
Zhongshan Park
Image via Dianping
For those living a little to the west, a bicycle 'sky rail' over lotus ponds makes Zhongshan Park a family favorite. Kids can jump on one of the amusement rides and join in with kite flyers to make the most of the extensive green space. There are various gardens and waterfronts to stage a Sunday picnic, and plenty of trees to climb (just don't get caught!). Oh, and it is one of those very rarest of Shanghai things – a family friendly park.
Zhongshan Park, see listing here.
Century Park
Image via Dianping
Pudong's answer to Central Park, endless areas of green make Century Park the ideal place to go for a picnic or a wander through the tree-lined pathways. Don't want to walk? Take a bike or rickshaw, or rent a boat for a reasonable RMB80 per hour (with RMB100 deposit). Don't forget to make the most of the RMB10 entry by paying the butterfly garden a visit before the day ends.
Century Park, see listing here.
Fuxing Park
Image via Dianping
How could we leave out this old faithful, so popular the grass goes yellow in the height of summer? Fuxing Park is located in the center of the former French Concession, and has a huge rectangular stretch of grass to have a picnic, kick a ball, blow bubbles, fly a kite and generally frolic. Located on the fringes are waterways to jump over and a mini forest to explore. And if all that wasn't enough, they even have an old-style mini funfair.
Fuxing Park, see listing here.
Jing'an Sculpture Park
Image via Dianping
Looking for a little culture with your greenery? Then Jing'an Sculpture Park is your spot. Free, and full of art and statues, you can wind your way along the mazy paths and let your imagination run wild. They also rotate some of the works throughout the year, with international artists often making an appearance. It is also the home of the fantastic Shanghai Natural History Museum, so you can tick two boxes in a day.
Jing'an Sculpture Par, see listing here.
[Cover image via Dianping and Weibo]
