2022 Spring Festival Self-driving Tour in Shanghai (Longhua Temple, Yongding Temple, Huilong Temple, Xinchang Ancient Town, Sanlintang Old Street, Lujiazui Binjiang)

On January 31, 2022, as the eve of the Chinese New Year approached, we decided to explore within the[...]

On January 31, 2022, as the eve of the Chinese New Year approached, we decided to explore within the boundaries of Shanghai due to the ‘no cross-provincial travel unless necessary’ epidemic prevention requirement. The weather in Shanghai was cloudy to overcast, with temperatures ranging from 1.1 to 8.4 degrees Celsius. The streets were free of charge for parking, and we found ourselves near Taolin Road along the Huangpu River, enjoying the tranquility of the city.

On February 1, 2022, the weather remained cloudy to overcast, with temperatures slightly warmer at 5.0 to 8.6 degrees Celsius. We visited Yongding Temple in Pudong, where there was no need for an admission ticket and the parking lot was spacious and free of charge. We parked on the roadside of Yongtai Road in Pudong and walked north along Sanxin Road to Sanlintang Old Street. Sanlin Binggua, a local specialty, was a must-try. The old street is situated on the north side of Sanlintang Port, with high-rise residential buildings on the south side. Sanlin Tang’s pork skin and pickled melon are local delicacies that those who enjoy them find quite delightful. Conveniently, there is a parking lot at the intersection of Yongtai Road and Sanxin Road, just a 200-meter walk to Sanlintang Old Street.

Continuing our exploration on February 2, 2022, the weather turned overcast with light rain, and temperatures remained at 5.0 to 8.6 degrees Celsius. We visited Huilong Temple in Pudong, which also did not require an admission ticket. Despite the change in weather, our self-driving tour within Shanghai provided a unique and memorable experience of the city’s cultural and historical sites.On February 3, 2022, in Shanghai, the weather was overcast with light rain, and temperatures ranged from 3.2 to 6.9 degrees. Despite the gloomy weather, Longhua Temple attracted a large number of visitors. Fortunately, parking was relatively convenient, with a temporary parking lot located on the south side of Longhua Road, charging 20 yuan per time. At the temple entrance, local farmers had set up stalls to sell vegetables they had grown themselves.

Longhua Pagoda, which is part of the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units and falls under the ancient architectural category, dates back to the Song Dynasty. Longhua Temple, a national key Buddhist temple in the Han area, did not require an admission ticket and is also a cultural relic protection unit in Shanghai. During the visit, I bought two portions of vegetarian specialties at Longhua Temple.

On February 4, 2022, Shanghai experienced the first sunny day of the Spring Festival this year, with the weather transitioning from sunny to cloudy, and temperatures ranging from 2.6 to 8.8 degrees. We drove to the Huangpu River side on Dongfang Road in Pudong for a walk. In front of the Orange Crystal Hotel Oriental Pearl Store, there is a large open space that serves as a parking lot, charging 10 yuan per hour. It’s only a hundred meters from there to the riverbank.

On the east side of Dongfang Road, several old houses stand, including the ‘Shanghai Jianghai Bei Guan Inspection Office Office Building’, which was built in 1906 and moved to its current location in 2010. Qicang Matou is located on the riverbank of Dongfang Road.

Additionally, at the Sinopec Pudong Yusan Road gas station, the cost of 95 gasoline was 350 yuan, with a price of 8.12 yuan per liter.On February 5, 2022, in Shanghai, the weather was cloudy with temperatures ranging from 2.4 to 7.0 degrees. I visited the Nanshan Temple, located at the southern end of the Xinchang Ancient Town scenic area in Pudong. This temple is a cultural relic protection unit in the Pudong New Area. Xinchang Town is also recognized as one of the fourth batch of Chinese historical and cultural famous towns. The streets were adorned with blooming red plums, a beautiful sight to behold. Due to limited parking spaces in front of Nanshan Temple, I parked on Xinhuan South Road.

The following day, February 6, 2022, also with cloudy skies and temperatures between 2.0 and 6.5 degrees, I drove to Lujiazui Binjiang. The Pudong Avenue, which had been under construction for over a decade, reopened with two-way six-lane traffic in December of the previous year. Parking at Lujiazui Binjiang costs 10 yuan per hour, with every half hour after the first hour costing an additional 5 yuan. All the photos that follow were taken at Lujiazui Binjiang, capturing the scenery by the river. I parked on Sifang Road for this visit.

In the past, hypermarkets were the most popular places during the Spring Festival. However, with the rise of online shopping, these stores now have very few customers. The picture below was taken at the Lotus Yanggao Zhonglu Store on Sifang Road. During my visit, I ordered a snack platter at KFC.