Duration: 2 days, Time: July, Per capita cost: 500 yuan. With whom: Parent-child. Play style: Independent travel, weekend tour.
The author visited these places: Huangpu River, Shanghai Shikumen, Lujiazui, and Lupu Bridge. Posted on July 22, 2021, at 20:34.
By the Huangpu River, next to the Expo Pavilion, Songcheng has emerged in Shanghai! As soon as Shanghai Songcheng was born, it immediately shone brightly and instantly became an internet-famous check-in point, resounding throughout the areas with free shipping. It is like this city, full of magic. It has overturned the previous way of playing at Songcheng. Everything is uncertain. There are various shows one after another, each showing a new height. It is really powerful. There are so many beautiful and fun things that are suitable for all ages.
After exiting Metro Expo Avenue Station Exit 1, looking ahead, you can see a unique container-style building. This is Shanghai Songcheng. The scenic area is in this seven-story building. There are too many programs and performances here. What is outstanding is that the space design here is well done. It cleverly arranges the tourist route clearly. Each floor has different surprises. Let me first show you what projects are on each floor of Shanghai Songcheng. This way, when playing, it will be clear at a glance and you won’t be like a headless fly.
First floor: Ghost Ship, War Fire, Costume Changing Hall, Theater 2 (WA! Dinosaurs), Theater 5 (Passionate Samba), Magic Street, Sky Curtain, Snack Plaza, and restaurant. Outdoor on the first floor: Colorful Forest, Forest Theater, Bird Show Theater (Forest Divine Bird), Music Square, and Water Park.
Second floor: Songcheng Story Exhibition Hall, Sister Abu’s Story Hall, and Starry Sky Restaurant.
Third floor: Art Exhibition Space, Variable Space.
Fourth floor: Theater 1, Theater 3 (the performance venue of Shanghai Eternal Love), Costume Changing Hall, Tracing the Origins of Shanghai.
Fifth floor: Variable Space.
Sixth floor: Slanting House, Horizontal House, Invisible House, VR Experience Hall (Moonlight Treasure Box), Storm Eye, Arabian Nights, The Heavenly Market, and Sky Club bar.
Seventh floor terrace: City in the Sky (Spirit of Water), Glass Observation Deck, Cliff Theater, Elf Valley, Fantastic Space, Slide, and Frightening Liaozhai.
I kindly tell you: The performances in Theater 1, Theater 3 (the performance venue of Shanghai Eternal Love), Theater 2 (WA! Dinosaurs), and Theater 5 (Passionate Samba) are all admitted with tickets. The rest can be freely enjoyed.
In this world, if you ask what the favorite ancient animals of mythical beasts are, he (she) will definitely answer that it is dinosaurs. Instead of fighting wits and courage with mythical beasts at home during summer vacation, it is better to take them to see the dinosaur show. Coming to Theater 2 on the first floor, this is “WA! Dinosaurs”, a parent-child show performance that lasts for 40 minutes. Since its opening, it has become a must-visit place for parents and children. It seems that if you don’t bring your child here, you are an irresponsible parent.
Several of us entered the theater in advance. Unexpectedly, there were already many people sitting in the huge theater. It can be seen that children have long been looking forward to this dinosaur drama. As far as the eye can see in the theater, there are dinosaur elements of all sizes. No wonder it is praised as the “Oriental Jurassic”. Which child can resist the temptation of dinosaurs? I think none.
“WA! Dinosaurs” is performed several times a day at fixed times. The one we watched was at 15:40. This performance starts from the doctor’s dinosaur laboratory. The doctor’s laboratory has successfully revived the remains of dinosaurs into a dinosaur named “Abu”.
Led by Abu, we traveled through time to the Jurassic era. Pterosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, and Velociraptors, one by one extremely realistic dinosaurs appeared on the stage. As soon as they appeared, the young audience’s adrenaline soared. After all, which child doesn’t like dinosaurs? “WA! Dinosaurs” is a blockbuster high-tech and grand-produced stage play. The whole process is a collision of art and science. The entire performance is full of knowledge points and is a great tool for spoiling kids.
Let’s travel to the Jurassic era and accompany our kids on a wonderful journey. Bring textbook knowledge to reality and let children not be confined to books or classrooms. They can increase knowledge while watching and it’s not boring at all. After watching a stage play, knowledge is learned. “Abu falls down” and “Protect dinosaur eggs”. The plot is full of twists and turns and extremely interesting. This huge egg is a dinosaur egg. Let the audience protect the dinosaur egg together and establish an ecological consciousness from an early age.
When the realistic “dinosaurs” come to the aisle next to the audience seats, children rush to touch the animals from 200 million years ago, making exclamations. There are several mysterious interaction sessions interspersed in the performance, each time unexpected, which delights the children.The correct way to open Shanghai Songcheng is to rent a cheongsam at the entrance and travel back to 1921 (a cheongsam with makeup and styling costs 158 yuan and can be worn until the park closes). Pass through the corridor and come to the Magic Snack Street. On both sides, there are ice cream shops, dessert shops, and crazy barbecue stalls. There are several of them and you can find everything you want to eat. On Magic Street, there is a “supply and marketing cooperative” that sells the snacks we bought at small grocery stores when we were young. There are also telephones, typewriters from the 1980s, and electronic game consoles from that time. It’s not easy to find all these disappearing daily necessities. There is also a green train. “Board” the train from Shanghai to Harbin and take pictures of your travel time. While playing, people on the street suddenly gather around. It turns out that a bubble show is being performed. We can only blow small bubbles, but others can blow large bubbles and put children directly into the bubbles. At the same location, different shows are performed at different times. “Miracle” is also performed here. To put it bluntly, it’s a magic show. Although I really want to decipher it, I can never see through it. It’s interesting and there is interaction. There are multiple shows every day, each lasting 15 minutes. Follow the official account “Shanghai Songcheng” to master the program schedule in real time. Magic Street is indeed magical. Looking up, you can see the giant sky screen. Sometimes whales swim overhead, giving a sense of being in an underwater world. Sometimes the light and shadow are dancing, and the beautiful scenes are overwhelming. In the evening, we come back here again. At this time, it has become a punk city. The actors of “Punk Flash Mob” and the rock band sway together. Characters dressed in bizarre costumes move about, catching the eye. Actors weave through the streets, interacting closely with visitors, making one involuntarily dance to the rhythm of the music. It becomes hard to distinguish between actors and visitors. The grand finale is a carnival where everyone is welcomed! On the first floor, there is not only the parent-child show “WA! Dinosaurs” that I just introduced, but also the dinner show “Passionate Samba” in Theater 5, Magic Street, Costume Changing Hall, Giant Sky Screen, “Ghost Ship”, “Flames” and Snack Plaza. Walk in and pass through a “Time Corridor”. On both sides are films shown in Songcheng Theater. The theater is always filled with children’s laughter and ends this magical journey amid the hot songs and dances of dozens of dinosaurs. The 40-minute performance is so wonderful that children are reluctant to leave. In addition to “WA! Dinosaurs”, there are also performances such as “Shanghai Eternal Love” and “Passionate Samba”, which we will check in one by one next time. On the first floor, there’s a ‘Ghost Ship’ whose eerie name hints at its spookiness. Every ‘person’ here is incredibly lifelike, making one wonder if real people are playing ghosts or if ghosts have become human. A ‘person’ lying down suddenly sits up, and the hallway, sensitive to footsteps, will release a disheveled ‘person’ to stare you almost face-to-face, definitely scaring you into screaming and running. Remember to run fast! The recommendation index is 4 stars, and the horror index is also 4 stars. Visiting a haunted house is nothing to brag about; the highlight is the horror restaurant, where dining is a scene that could go viral in minutes. Imagine eating a meal surrounded by ghosts – can you swallow your food? On the first floor, there’s also ‘Warfire,’ depicting war scenes with continuous gunfire and bombing sounds, giving one the feeling of being in a war drama, perfect for photos. Along the way, these people appear to be statues. When I aimed my camera at a female soldier and pressed the shutter, she actually spoke: ‘I am human,’ which startled me. The outdoor pool on the first floor is a family amusement park, with many parents playing in the water with their children, challenging water projects, and the children are going wild. Remember to bring a change of clothes! Here, for 15 yuan, you can buy a cup of carrots to feed the alpacas, interact with them, and get close to these cute pets. Seeing them play and forget about their parents, a sense of happiness wells up in my heart. ‘The Forest’s Divine Birds’ is also a must-see show for family tours in Shanghai Songcheng. The performance takes place in the outdoor bird show theater on the first floor, where there are various parrots. These parrots are linguistic masters, capable of speaking any human language. They truly act like divine birds, playing skateboards, riding
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Fortunately, we didn’t miss the water-splashing event. At night, the music square hosts a water-splashing festival, ensuring you get completely drenched. The little one carries a heavy weapon, a formidable role, with many little girls succumbing to him. If you see someone you like, splash them with water; the more you splash, the more you like them.
On the second floor, you’ll find the Songcheng Story Exhibition Hall, study room, and restaurant. To the left, several walls introduce the history of Songcheng and the honors it has received. The artistic atmosphere is strong here, with a whole wall of bookshelves being the favorite photo spot for literary girls. Sister Abu’s story hall is also located on the second floor, where the teacher sister tells stories to children. The children earnestly learn knowledge, while parents leisurely sit aside, either checking their phones or eating food, with food for sale nearby. The second floor’s Theater No. 2 features the 5D large-scale live experience drama ‘The Great Earthquake,’ which fully and vividly recreates the tragic scene of the 2008 5·12 Wenchuan earthquake and the rescue efforts after the disaster. Latecomers enter directly from the first floor, as the theater is tiered, with seats arranged from the first floor to the second floor, and there are entry and exit doors on both floors, so it’s correct to say that ‘The Great Earthquake’ is on both the first and second floors.
Duration: 2 days. Time: July. Per capita cost: 500 yuan. With whom: Parent-child. Play style: Independent travel, weekend tour. The author visited Huangpu River, Shanghai Shikumen, Lujiazui, and Lupu Bridge, posting on July 22, 2021, at 20:34. By the Huangpu River, next to the Expo Pavilion, Songcheng has emerged in Shanghai! Once Shanghai Songcheng was born, it immediately shone brightly and instantly became an internet-famous check-in point, resounding throughout the areas with free shipping. It is like this city, full of magic. It has overturned the previous way of playing in Songcheng. Everything is uncertain. There are various shows one after another, each showing a new height. It is truly powerful. There are so many interesting and fun things that people of all ages can enjoy.
After exiting Metro Line Expo Avenue Station Exit 1, looking ahead, you can see a unique container-style building. This is Shanghai Songcheng. The scenic area is in this seven-story building. There are so many programs and performances here. What’s outstanding is that the space design here is well done. It cleverly arranges the tourist routes clearly. Each floor has different surprises. Let me first show you what projects are on each floor of Shanghai Songcheng. This way, when you play, it will be clear at a glance, and you won’t be like a headless fly.
First floor: Ghost Ship, Battlefield, Costume Changing Hall, Theatre 2 (WA! Dinosaurs), Theatre 5 (Passionate Samba), Magic Street, Canopy, Snack Plaza, and Restaurant. Outdoor on the first floor: Colorful Forest, Forest Theatre, Bird Show Theatre (Forest Divine Bird), Music Square, and Water Park.
Second floor: Songcheng Story Exhibition Hall, Sister Abu’s Story Hall, and Starry Sky Restaurant.
Third floor: Art Exhibition Space, Variable Space.
Fourth floor: Theatre 1, Theatre 3 (venue for Shanghai Eternal Love), Costume Changing Hall, Tracing the Origins of Shanghai.
Fifth floor: Variable Space.
Sixth floor: Slanting House, Horizontal House, Invisible House, VR Experience Hall (Moonlight Treasure Box), Storm Eye, Arabian Nights, Celestial Market Street, and sky club bar.
Seventh floor terrace: City in the Sky (Spirit of Water), Glass Observation Deck, Cliff Theatre, Elf Valley, Fantasy Space, Slide, and Frightening Liaozhai.
I kindly tell you: The performances in Theatre 1, Theatre 3 (venue for Shanghai Eternal Love), Theatre 2 (WA! Dinosaurs), and Theatre 5 (Passionate Samba) are all admitted with tickets. The rest are freely accessible.
In this world, if you ask what the favorite ancient animals of mythical beasts are, he (she) will definitely answer dinosaurs. Instead of fighting wits and courage with mythical beasts at home during summer vacation, it’s better to bring him to see the dinosaur show. Come to Theatre 2 on the first floor. Here is “WA! Dinosaurs,” a parent-child show performance that lasts for 40 minutes. Since its opening, it has become a must-visit place for parent-child activities. It seems that if you don’t bring your child here, you are an irresponsible parent.
We arrived at the theater early, only to find that a considerable crowd had already taken their seats, indicating the children’s eager anticipation for the upcoming dinosaur show. The theater was adorned with dinosaur elements of all sizes, no wonder it’s praised as the ‘Jurassic of the East’. What child could resist the allure of dinosaurs? I think none. ‘WA! Dinosaurs’ performs several times a day at fixed times, and we attended the 15:40 show.
—In a doctor’s dinosaur laboratory, the performance begins with the doctor successfully reviving dinosaur remains into a dinosaur named ‘Abu’. Under Abu’s leadership, we embark on a time-traveling journey to the Jurassic era, where we witness pterosaurs, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptors, and other incredibly realistic dinosaurs on stage. The young audience’s adrenaline surges at the sight of these prehistoric creatures, as the allure of dinosaurs is irresistible to children.
“WA! Dinosaurs” is a hit high-tech, large-scale stage play that blends art and science throughout the performance, with educational points scattered throughout. It’s a perfect treat for children, as it brings textbook knowledge to life and allows them to learn beyond the confines of books and classrooms. The play is filled with excitement and fun, with plots such as ‘Abu falls to the ground’ and ‘Protect the Dinosaur Eggs’ that are full of twists and turns.
The giant egg on stage is a dinosaur egg, which encourages the audience to protect it and instills ecological awareness from a young age. When the realistic ‘dinosaur’ comes to the aisle by the audience’s seats, children rush to touch these animals from 200 million years ago, creating a chorus of exclamations. The performance includes several mysterious interactive segments that delight the children, filling the theater with laughter and joy.
The 40-minute performance is so brilliant that the children are reluctant to leave. In addition to “WA! Dinosaurs”, there are other performances such as “Eternal Love in Shanghai” and “Passionate Samba” that we will visit one by one next time. On the 1F, there is not only the “WA! Dinosaurs” family show but also the No. 5 Theater’s dining show “Passionate Samba”, Magic Street, Costume Hall, giant sky screen, “Ghost Ship”, “Warfire”, and snack plaza, etc.
Walking in, you pass through a ‘Time Corridor’, with films shown in the Songcheng Theater displayed on both sides. The correct way to experience Shanghai Songcheng is to rent a cheongsam at the entrance and travel back to 1921 (the cheongsam includes makeup and styling for 158 yuan, and can be worn until the park closes). Passing through the corridor to the Magic Snack Street, you see ice cream shops, dessert shops, and crazy barbecue stalls on both sides, with several to choose from, offering everything you want to eat.
On Magic Street, there is a ‘Supply and Marketing Cooperative’ that sells the small snacks we used to buy at tobacco paper shops, and it also features a telephone, typewriter, and electronic gaming console from the 1980s. Collecting these vanished daily items is no easy task. Additionally, there is a green-skinned train where you can ‘ride’ the Shanghai to Harbin train and capture your travel moments.
While playing, people on the street suddenly gather around a performance of a bubble show. While we can only blow small bubbles, they can create large ones, encapsulating children within them. At the same location, different performances take place at different times. ‘Miracle’ is also performed here, which is, to put it bluntly, a magic show. Although I am eager to decipher it, I have not been able to, and it is interesting and interactive. Multiple performances are held each day, each lasting 15 minutes. By following the ‘Shanghai Songcheng’ public account, you can keep up-to-date with the schedule.
Magic Street is indeed magical; you can see the giant sky curtain overhead, with whales swimming across it at times, giving a sense of an underwater world, and at other times, the light and shadow create a beautiful and magnificent scene that is captivating. In the evening, we return here, and it has transformed into a punk city with ‘Punk Flash Mobs’ where actors and rock bands perform together. Characters dressed in peculiar attire roam around, catching people’s attention. Actors move through the streets, interacting closely with tourists, making it impossible not to dance along to the rhythm of the music, resulting in a blur between actors and visitors. The final event is a grand carnival, a joyful activity that cannot be missed!
On the first floor, there is also the ‘Ghost Ship’, from whose name you can sense its eerie nature. Every ‘person’ here is incredibly realistic, leaving you wondering whether real people are playing ‘ghosts’ or if ghosts have become human. The ‘people’ lying down suddenly sit up, and the hallway, triggered by footsteps, will release ‘people’ with disheveled hair to almost face-to-face with you, which will definitely scare you into screaming and dodging, so remember to run fast. The recommendation index is 4 stars, and the horror index is 4 stars. Visiting a haunted house is nothing to brag about; the highlight is the horror restaurant, where dining is a sceneImagine dining with ghosts all around you. Can you swallow your food? Along the way, these people are all statues. When I pointed my camera at a female soldier and pressed the shutter, she spoke: “I am a person”, which startled me.
On the first floor, there is also ‘Warfire’, which depicts a war scene with continuous gunfire and bombing sounds, giving a feeling of being in a war drama, suitable for taking photos. The outdoor pool on the first floor is a parent-child paradise, with many parents and children playing in the water and challenging water projects. The children are going crazy. Remember to bring a change of clothes!
For a mere 15 yuan, purchase a cup of carrots to feed the alpacas and interact with these gentle creatures, fostering a close bond with the adorable animals. Watching the children play so engrossed that they forget about their parents fills my heart with a sense of happiness.
The ‘Forest Deity Birds’ show is a must-see for family outings at Shanghai Songcheng, located in the outdoor Bird Show Theater on the first floor. Here, you can find a variety of parrots, known for their linguistic prowess, capable of mimicking human speech. These parrots, as if divine birds, perform remarkable feats such as skateboarding, riding bicycles, lifting dumbbells, juggling, and playing bowling, truly embodying the spirit of sportsmanship. These parrots even raise the national flag and pick up trash, demonstrating abilities beyond human capabilities!
The music square outside on the first floor transforms into a martial arts stage during the day, featuring performances we unfortunately missed. However, we were fortunate to partake in the water-splashing event in the evening, where the music square hosts a water festival that leaves you thoroughly drenched. The little ones carry heavy ‘weapons,’ turning into fierce participants, with many young girls succumbing to their relentless splashing. The more water you splash on someone you like, the more it signifies your affection.
On the second floor, you will find the Songcheng Story Exhibition Hall, study rooms, and restaurants. To the left, several walls detail the history and numerous honors of Songcheng. The artistic atmosphere is palpable, with entire walls of bookshelves serving as the perfect backdrop for artistically inclined young women to capture memorable photos. Sister Abu’s Story House is also located on the second floor, where the teacher narrates stories to children. While the children attentively learn, parents can relax nearby, either browsing their phones or enjoying a meal, with food vendors conveniently located nearby.
The No. 2 Theater on the second floor features the 5D large-scale live-action experience ‘The Great Earthquake’, which recreates the tragic events of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and the subsequent rescue efforts in a comprehensive and immersive manner. Once the show begins, latecomers can enter through the first floor, as the theater is tiered, with seats arranged from the first to the second floor, and both levels have entry and exit doors. It is accurate to say ‘The Great Earthquake’ is on both floors. Before the show starts, the director recruits eight People’s Liberation Army soldiers, eight firefighters, eight nurses, and fifteen civilians from the audience. Remarkably, these impromptu participants, without rehearsal or guidance, follow the lead of the professional actors and succeed in their roles. The performance takes the audience on a journey to remember the pain of the Chinese people, with the floor vibrating and seats shaking in sync with the show, providing an authentic experience of an earthquake. Due to the unconventional seating, it is not recommended for individuals over 70 or children under six to sit in rows 2 to 15. In the face of natural disasters, the nation unites with a strong will and a single heart to resist the calamity, with the People’s Liberation Army’s extraordinary efforts being particularly striking. Indeed, the audience is moved to tears. There is also a water show, with thousands of tons of water cascading onto the stage, and as I sat in the front row, the water mist splashed onto me.
There is a starry sky restaurant on the second floor that gathers world cuisines. There are Shanghai local stir-fries, spicy hot pots, fruits, and snacks. There are quite a few choices. The area is also large and can accommodate a thousand people for dining. This restaurant also has an outdoor area where you can eat while looking at the Huangpu River.
On the 3F is an art exhibition space and a variable space. Here, there is a magical ventriloquism performance. The puppet orangutan can talk.
On the 4F, there are Theatre 1, Theatre 3, the Street of Eternal Love for Shanghai, the Modern Costume Changing Hall, the Origin of Shanghai, bars and terraces, etc. There are many tourists concentrated here. The main show, the performing arts hall of “Audiences in rows 1 to 16 are advised to enter from the second floor, while those in rows 17 to 36 should enter from the third floor. For rows above 37, the entrance is on the fourth floor. During non-performance periods, a “Hello! Chaplin” show takes place at the entrance of the “Eternal Love for Shanghai” theater. The clown “Chaplin” entertains with solo performances and interactions with children, distributing small gifts that are a hit with the younger audience.
Adjacent to the theater is “The Origin of Shanghai,” a nostalgic site worth visiting while waiting in line. It features a security bureau, old Shanghai televisions, song and dance pictorials in front of traditional Shikumen houses, and a riverside pub. Reminiscing about childhood, one can also recall the popsicle cart and the late-night sewing on a sewing machine by mothers to clothe their children.
The “Modern Costume Changing Hall” on the Street of Eternal Love for Shanghai is a popular spot for young girls and women, who can transform into fashionable individuals by choosing from a variety of Hanfu, cheongsam, and Western-style clothing. The area, known for its bustling foreign concessions and vibrant nightlife, has always been at the forefront of international trends.
On the fourth floor, there is a terrace featuring a red chair sculpture, which has a counterpart in the garden on the first floor. These are landmark sculptures that visitors can check in with. The fifth floor is a variable space, primarily hosting the Parent-Child Carnival with various programs at different times. The Dinosaur Sports Meeting occurs at 12:10 and 17:15, each lasting 15 minutes, and Sister Abu’s dance lessons at 15:10, 18:30, and 19:25, each lasting 8 minutes. Families can participate in these activities, such as donning dinosaur costumes for relay races.
The sixth floor is bustling with activities including the No. 6 Theatre, the Heavenly Street Market, Arabian Nights, ‘Storm Eye’, ‘Moonlight Treasure Box’ VR experience hall, ‘Crystal Ball’ performance, and unique houses that offer颠倒的世界 experiences. The ‘Heavenly Street Market’ recreates the world of One Thousand and One Nights, filled with Arabic-toned products and exotic shops. Handcrafted enamel artworks and Bohemian tableware are available for purchase. There is also a Joyful Art Workshop on this floor, with sessions at 1:20 PM and 6:30 PM daily, each lasting half an hour, offering free experiences for children. A tunnel houses a kaleidoscope, attracting many for unique photos, and an archery range for children to practice their skills. The tilted, upside-down, and invisible houses provide a颠倒的世界 experience, such as appearing to lie down in bed while standing.
The seventh floor is the top terrace, a fairy-tale dreamlike and thrilling level, featuring a cliff concert, an elf valley, ‘Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio’ horror house, ‘Laputa: Castle in the Sky’, a glass viewing platform, slides, and a vine bridge. The vine bridge, accessible from the bar on the sixth floor, is a favorite among children. The elf valley replicates Hobbit houses from New Zealand, telling the story of seven dwarfs and is a hit with children, making it a five-star recommendation for parents. ‘Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio’ is a small haunted house that scares and then entertains with photo opportunities with ghosts. The terrace also features slides and rock climbing, enjoyed by both children and adults. With the Huangpu River and the ‘Three Buildings’ of Lujiazui in the background, the terrace offers a close view of the Lupu Bridge.Songcheng in Shanghai is like a massive mystery box, constantly surprising visitors and becoming a joyous planet for both children and adults. Address: No. 1750, World Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area. The geographical location is very superior. You can reach it by taking Metro Line 13. It’s very convenient! For those around Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, choosing self-driving is also very convenient. It is essential to take a souvenir photo with the scenery along both banks of the Huangpu River. If you visit at night, it becomes even more beautiful. There is a cliff concert in the evening, but we missed it after playing with water on the first floor. Although we arrived at 11 AM and left at 7 PM, we still missed many shows due to the overwhelming number of attractions.