Sheshan National Forest Park is located in the southwestern suburbs of Shanghai, within the Songjiang District. The park is known for its dense pine and bamboo forests and beautiful scenery. In addition to the frequently visited Dong Sheshan and Xi Sheshan, there are also 12 other peaks such as Tianma Mountain and Xiaokunshan. Although the peaks are not tall, “mountains” are a rare resource in Shanghai, making this a popular destination for hiking, leisure, and spring outings in the city.
During the prosperous times of Sheshan, each mountain had “ten scenes” or “eight scenes” named by scholars of various dynasties. Famous gardens, villas, pavilions, and towers were scattered throughout, and temples and Taoist monasteries were ubiquitous across all mountains, with a total of 1048 rooms, indicating the prosperity of Buddhism at that time. Xu Xiake, a famous traveler, also visited five times. Unfortunately, these historical sites and scenic spots gradually disappeared after the early Qing Dynasty. Since 1993, some old scenic spots have been restored and new ones have been built.
The Xi Sheshan Garden is one of the better environments and larger areas among the Sheshan peaks. In the northern part of the mountain top, there is the Sheshan Catholic Church with a strong religious color, integrating architectural styles from various countries: the arched ceiling and aisle are Romanesque; the columns are Greek; the spires are Gothic; the olive-shaped bell tower is Israeli; the small dome on the east end is Spanish; the clear water wall, angular bricks, and colored glaze tiles are Chinese, making the entire building majestic and grand.Sheshan Observatory, funded by Jesuit priests and established in the 26th year of the Guangxu period (1900 AD), is located at the southern peak of the mountain. The new observatory serves as a hub for astronomy enthusiasts during celestial events, while the historic observatory is open to visitors for exploration.
On the southwest foothill, you’ll find the Sheshan Monastery, and on the southern mountainside, the Sheshan Zhongshan Virgin Mary Church stands proudly. The Dong Sheshan Garden features a Bird Garden with designated feeding spots where visitors can purchase bird food and interact with the avian inhabitants. Additionally, historical sites such as the wooden fish stone, Qilong Weir, Feixiang Spring, Mei Gong Fishing Jetty, and Baishi Mountain Pavilion have been meticulously restored, complemented by new attractions focused on bamboo culture.
The recently developed Forest Bathing Area offers a variety of leisure activities, including Qi Gong therapy, ethnic bamboo structures, bamboo mazes, and picnic barbecue facilities, providing a comprehensive experience for visitors to enjoy while they climb and sightsee.
Visitors to the park can access it from May 1st to October 7th between 08:30 and 17:00, and from October 8th to April 30th between 08:30 and 16:30. The Dong Sheshan Garden, located at Waiqing Song Highway No. 9511, is open from 6:30 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. For your convenience, the park offers service facilities such as mobile phone charging via power bank rental, mother and baby rooms, and automatic vending machines at the scenic area entrance.
