## Impromptu Graduation Trip to Shanghai
The author and their nephew, Taotao, embarked on an impromptu graduation trip to Shanghai, visiting various exciting places. **Published on 2020-07-22 15:16**. Visited Places: Shanghai Happy Valley, Shanghai Film Park, Thames Town, Maya Beach Water Park, and Huaqiao City Grand Theater.
## The Decision
“Taotao, do you want to go out and have fun after graduation?” “Sure, where to?” “Where do you want to go?” “I want to try something thrilling.” “How about Shanghai? I’ve seen round-trip tickets for less than 1K, and there’s a music festival at Happy Valley.” “Sounds good, it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a roller coaster. Let’s go!” “Let’s arrange it right away.”
## Impact of the Pandemic
Due to the impact of the pandemic in the first half of 2020, the author hadn’t been out of the province for fun, and this year they just graduated. The various graduation trips they had imagined before now seemed impossible to realize. Friends and classmates are also busy looking for jobs and internships, which is not very uplifting.
## Invitation to Taotao
Coincidentally, the author’s nephew (Taotao) also graduated this year. After graduation, he found an internship but didn’t like it and stayed at home for a few days. So, the author thought it would be a good idea to invite him out to relax and have fun. Unexpectedly, just two minutes after talking to him, they bought plane tickets.
## Travel Plans: Enjoy Sheshan
Our four-day and three-night trip to Shanghai is arranged in a relaxed manner, not rushed at all. Friends who want to play in a relaxed way can refer to it.
### Day 1:
– Arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the evening and stay in a nearby airport or downtown hotel.
### Day 2:
– Set off for Happy Valley in the morning.
– After watching the water screen and music festival in the evening, stay at Songjiang Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel (if you can book the Happy Valley Jia Hotel, it’s even better).
### Day 3:
– Have a brunch and head to Maya Water Park.
– Stay near the airport or downtown hotel in the evening.
### Day 4:
– On the last day, you can sleep in, stroll around Shanghai, and return to the airport in the afternoon.
## Airport Details
This is our trip plan from Chengdu to Shanghai, and both departure and arrival airports are Pudong International Airport. It’s a bit far from Happy Valley, so we arranged it this way. If you go to Hongqiao Airport, it would be closer, just for your reference.
## Experience at Happy Valley
Don’t think it’s a waste of time to play Happy Valley for a day and water park for a day because you will be quite tired after playing. Friends who have played should be able to understand. You can go back to the hotel and fall asleep directly on the bed.
After finishing Happy Valley, the author’s youth came back again. They had only been to Happy Valley twice, the first time was with classmates in high school at Chengdu Happy Valley, and the second time was this time. When they came to Happy Valley again, it felt like it had been a long time. They hadn’t been to an amusement park in four years of college, and they were lucky to catch up at the time of graduation.
Maybe because they hadn’t played Happy Valley for a long time, they were a bit afraid to try some projects when they first came. Fortunately, their nephew is also brave, and the two of them can be emboldened. They played for a whole afternoon and played almost everything. Now when they think back, they still feel excited and want to do it again!
## Accommodation and Luggage Storage
The night before, they stayed somewhere near the airport because they arrived in Shanghai in the evening. The next morning, after breakfast, they took a bus to Happy Valley and it was almost noon. They planned to spend the whole day there.**Our Itinerary for the Round Trip from Chengdu to Shanghai**
The airport for departure and arrival is Pudong International Airport, which is a bit far from Happy Valley, hence this arrangement. If you go to Hongqiao Airport, it would be closer, but this is just for your reference.
**Why Spend a Day at Happy Valley and Maya Water Park?**
Don’t think it’s a waste of time to spend a day at Happy Valley and a day at the water park because you will be quite tired after playing. Friends who have been there can probably relate. You can go back to the hotel and fall asleep right away on the bed.
**A Return to My Youth at Happy Valley**
After visiting Happy Valley, I feel my youth has returned. In fact, I’ve only been to Happy Valley twice, the first time was with my classmates in high school at Chengdu Happy Valley, and the second time was this trip. When I returned to Happy Valley, it felt like a very long time had passed. I hadn’t been to an amusement park in four years of college, so it was great to catch it just before graduation.
**Overcoming Hesitation with My Nephew**
Perhaps because it had been a long time since I last visited Happy Valley, I was hesitant to try some of the attractions at first. Fortunately, my nephew was also brave, and we could encourage each other. We spent the whole afternoon there and played almost everything. Looking back, I still feel excited and thrilled, and I want to do it again!
**The Night Before and the Morning After**
The night before, we stayed somewhere near the airport because we arrived in Shanghai in the evening. The next morning, after having breakfast, we took a bus to Happy Valley. It was almost noon when we arrived. We planned to spend a whole day at Happy Valley. We left our luggage at the entrance of Happy Valley first. The lockers are automatic. The medium-sized ones cost 40 yuan, and the large ones cost 60 yuan. They can be opened and closed unlimited times within a day. Just set your own password. The account number is the last four digits of the mobile phone number. Since we had luggage, the two of us opened a large locker together. It’s quite spacious inside. Two 20-inch suitcases are completely sufficient, and then a backpack can also be put in.
**Sunshine Port Area | Romantic Harbor, Dream Sets Sail**
When we first entered Happy Valley, it was drizzling. It is said that these days in Shanghai are the plum rain season. In a few days, the intense heat will arrive. Although it may rain these days, fortunately, it’s cool and not hot. Moreover, it seems that the rain in Shanghai comes in bursts and will pass soon. Happy Valley is divided into seven major areas. I will specifically mention them later. The area we first entered is called Sunshine Port, which is a romantic harbor with a strong British style. There are ancient Gothic buildings on both sides, making people feel as if they are in Europe in the 19th century. By the lakeside embankment, you can take in the beautiful scenery of the whole park. It is the place with the widest view in Happy Valley. Walking in, you can see small trains passing by everywhere.
**Happy Time Area | Colorful Dancing, Happiness Forever**
Moving forward is the Happy Time area. Of all the areas, I still like this one the most. There are many people and it’s the liveliest. There are also many fun projects. The background of Happy Time is a prosperous European town in the early 20th century. Being in Happy Time, enjoy happiness and release passion in the deafening screams.
The Joy Time Zone features eight attractions including the Valley Wooden Roller Coaster, Twin Sky Towers, Swinging Umbrella, Joyful Bumper Cars, Another Dimension, Merry-Go-Round, Fantasy Gyroscope, and Joyful Wind Fire Wheel, making it the liveliest area in Happy Valley.
The square is lined with numerous stalls, selling candied hawthorn berries, coconut water, and convenience stores, reminiscent of the amusement park of old. At that time, there was a street magic performance taking place, with many tourists resting and watching. We also bought a bottle of drink to rest here. The magician was performing a rope trick, inviting a child to check it, but the child was puzzled and didn’t know what to do, amusingly.
**Joyful Bumper Cars**
Remember the bumper cars you loved as a child? Visiting amusement areas (not quite amusement parks, just smaller entertainment zones), the favorite was always this, experiencing it brings back childhood memories. The venue is not small, and there are quite a few people playing. This kind of activity thrives on being crowded and lively, especially suitable for bringing children to play together. After arriving at Happy Valley, start with this to warm up, and then challenge the Twin Sky Towers next.
**T
Happy Valley Attractions
Valley Wooden Roller Coaster
The most thrilling project in Happy Valley besides bungee jumping! The excitement index and recommendation index are both five stars, highly recommended! At first, when I saw that the track and construction materials were made of wood, I was worried whether it could withstand such a huge force. Moreover, the wood is exposed to wind and rain, won’t it rot? (A hundred thousand whys) Valley Wooden Roller Coaster uses the oldest form of roller coasters in the world, mainly using the super structural material of southern yellow pine from the United States, built along the lake embankment, bringing visitors more than ten times the zero gravity feeling of space in a hundred seconds, and it is also the most thrilling project I think in Happy Valley.
