Two-Day Shanghai Itinerary: Exploring the Roots and Flavors of Songjiang

### **Songjiang Weekend Getaway: A Culinary and Cultural Exploration**

**Duration: 2 days**
**Time: June**
**Cost per person: 1500 yuan**
**Companions: Friends**
**Activities:**
– Culinary delights
– Cultural exploration
– Free and easy travel
– Weekend getaway
– Fine dining

**Places Visited:**
– Sheshan National Forest Park in Songjiang
– Zui Bai Chi
– Chenshan Botanical Garden
– Guangfulin Ancient Cultural Site

**Published on June 10, 2020, at 11:58 AM.**

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### **Preface**

Although I have visited Shanghai many times, I have never delved deeply into this city, especially its past stories. Songjiang District, located in the southwest of Shanghai, is known as the ‘roots of Shanghai’. With my recent workload not being very heavy, I decided to take a weekend off to explore Songjiang. Thus, this two-day, one-night trip came into being.

Songjiang District has a long history and is rich in culture, offering numerous scenic spots. Therefore, I decided to spend two days here. It’s perfect to arrive on Saturday morning and leave on Sunday evening, a relaxed two-day and one-night trip with just the right amount of time.

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### **Day 1: Exploring the Roots of Shanghai**

– **Arriving in Shanghai**, visiting **Happy Valley** and **Sheshan National Forest Park** in the morning, having lunch at the Forest Hotel.
– **Visiting Guangfulin** in the afternoon, and staying at the **Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel** in Songjiang in the evening.

**Happy Valley:**
Departing from Hongqiao Station, it takes about 40 minutes to reach Happy Valley. The scale of Happy Valley is quite large, covering an area of 650,000 square meters with over 100 experience projects. There are seven themed areas: Sunshine Port, Happy Times, Shanghai Beach, Shangri-La, Happy Ocean, Gold Mine Town, and Hurricane Bay.

After passing through security and ticket inspection, you enter the scenic area. Although it was early, the park was already very lively. The first part visited was the Happy Times themed area, which offers a variety of activities suitable for all ages. Whether you are a child or an adult, you can find suitable experience projects.

For those who enjoy thrilling experiences, it is recommended to try the wooden roller coaster, pendulum, and Blue Moon roller coaster, which are definitely thrilling. If you prefer more peaceful experiences, you can also find suitable experiences in Happy Valley, such as the carousel, happy bumper cars, dream gyroscope, and 4D cinema, etc. Families with children must not miss the bubble experience with clowns near the Shanghai Beach pier.

**Gold Mine Town themed area** was my last stop at Happy Valley. Entering Gold Mine Town, you can see abandoned trains, simple houses, old gold mining machines, mine tunnels, and some cowboy character sculptures. It feels like you have entered an old European and American movie, a Western cowboy film from the 1970s and 1980s.

**Sheshan National Forest Park:**
In terms of area, Sheshan National Forest Park is quite large, covering 401 hectares with 12 peaks and a winding range of 13 kilometers. Because Sheshan National Forest Park is well-known, many friends living in Shanghai often come here for outings and spring outings. Therefore, after arriving in Songjiang this time, I also made a special trip to visit.

I have to say, walking along the tourist trail, breathing fresh air while leisurely climbing the mountain, is quite pleasant. When climbing to the viewing platform on the top of the mountain and looking around, the lush natural environment is really shocking.

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### **Day 2: Cultural and Culinary Delights**

– **Visiting Zui Bai Chi** and **Yunjian Granary** in the morning, having lunch at Xiaoye Shu.
– **Visiting the Blue Elf** and **Chenshan Botanical Garden** in the afternoon, and starting the return journey in the evening.

**Guangfulin:**
Speaking of the Guangfulin ancient cultural site, I have been longing for it for a long time. Because the core area here – the Guangfulin cultural exhibition area, is a series of triangular roofs floating in the water, which is very creative. In addition, Guangfulin has a very long history. If Songjiang is the root of Shanghai, then Guangfulin is the root of Songjiang. So it is enough to show the important position of Guangfulin Ruins Park among many scenic spots in Shanghai.

In addition to the cultural exhibition area, there is also a large area of ancient architecture area in Guangfulin Ruins Park. There are many religious buildings in the ancient architecture area,**Day Two in Songjiang: A Cultural and Natural Delight**

**Breakfast and a Rainy Morning at Zuibaichi Park**

On the second day of our Songjiang adventure, we started with a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Despite the heavy rain, our enthusiasm for exploring Zuibaichi Park was undampened. The park boasts a wealth of ancient architecture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, alongside towering ancient trees like camphor, privet, and osmanthus, creating a lush, green haven. The post-rain freshness was invigorating, and the exploration of pavilions and towers a delightful experience.

**Cultural Depth at Dong Qichang’s Art Gallery**

Deep within Zuibaichi, we discovered an art gallery dedicated to the calligraphy and paintings of Dong Qichang, the former owner of the park. This gallery infuses Zuibaichi with a rich cultural atmosphere and heritage.

**Yunjian Granary: A Creative Transformation**

For those with an interest in cultural and creative spaces, Yunjian Granary in Songjiang District is a must-visit. Originally a grain warehouse and factory built between the 1950s and 1990s, it has been repurposed into a cultural and creative park, spanning an impressive 136 mu with 59 buildings. The park is divided into various zones, including an international beer culture area and an art exhibition and interaction space, making it a perfect backdrop for those seeking a cold metal style photography setting.

**Smurfs Theme Park: A Nostalgic Adventure**

Recently opened in the Sheshan National Tourist Resort, the Smurfs Theme Park is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Familiar to those born in the 1980s and 1990s, this park offers a nostalgic journey through classic animation scenes and a variety of amusement rides. The park’s extensive use of AR and holographic technologies enhances the immersive experience.

**Chenshan Botanical Garden: A Natural Oasis**

Our journey concluded at the Chenshan Botanical Garden, the largest in East China and the second in Shanghai, covering 2.08 million square meters. Two main attractions stand out: the mining garden, transformed from an old quarry into a stunning horticultural display, and the tropical exhibition greenhouse, a complex of three greenhouses showcasing a variety of tropical plants and offering a picturesque setting for photography.

**Culinary Highlights**

1. **Forest Hotel (Lunch)** – This established hotel offers a tranquil dining experience with signature dishes like Grandma’s Braised Pork and White Cut Chicken, highly recommended for their excellent taste.

2. **Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel (Dinner)** – With its delicately arranged dishes and good taste, the restaurant at this five-star hotel offers a high cost-performance dining experience.

3. **Uncle Xiao (Lunch)** – For authentic Songjiang cuisine, Uncle Xiao is a renowned old Shanghai restaurant where the crab shell yellow and rice field crab hand-pounded rice cake are local favorites.

This curated itinerary through Songjiang offers a blend of culture, nature, and culinary delights, promising a memorable visit.In addition to the soft shell, it has a feeling of melting in the mouth, and the filling is also very layered. Four yuan each, very substantial!

Rice field crab hand-pounded rice cake, with a lot of crab roe and crab yellow. The best part is that the hand-pounded rice cake is soft and delicious, not greasy, and not sticky, especially delicious.

Accommodation recommendation: Songjiang Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel, located on the east side of Kaiyuan Plaza in Songjiang New City, has a very good geographical location and is very close to well-known scenic spots in Songjiang, such as Happy Valley, Sheshan Forest Park, Guangfulin, and Zuibaichi. In addition, this hotel is only a 30-minute drive from Hongqiao Airport. If you come to Songjiang for tourism or vacation, choosing this hotel is still a very good choice.

Practical tips for epidemic prevention and control: Due to the epidemic, all scenic spots have started epidemic prevention and control. So you must make an appointment in advance before departure and apply for a Suishen Code. When arriving at the scenic spot, the staff will check it.

Regarding transportation: The urban transportation in Songjiang District and even in Shanghai is very convenient. Moreover, the scenic spots in Songjiang District are relatively concentrated. It is recommended to choose to take the subway, bus, or take a taxi for sightseeing according to the actual time.