Shanghai Attractions: Tourist & Entertainment Spots

The Shanghai Expo 2010 has garnered much attention for this China metropolis. Our Shanghai Attractions series of articles was started to introduce to our readers what to do and where to go to experience all that the wonderful Shanghai city has to offer. We have brought you to the Sightseeing Spots and Attractions, the unique and Famous Streets and Buildings of Shanghai as well as where to satisfy your shopping desires in modern and trendy Shanghai.

In this last article of the series, we will show you more fun with the most popular Tourist spots, Entertainment attractions and Amusement Parks in Shanghai!

Shanghai has many interesting tourist places to visit. These are good choices for returning to the nature while exploring new and exciting activities on a day tour or family day outing.

Changfeng Ocean World 长风海洋公园

Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World, opened in April 1994 at the cost of 25 million dollars, is 13 meters under the surface of the Silver Shovel Lake in Changfeng Park. The Ocean World is China’s first large-scale theme aquarium and is the flagship tourist attraction of the Oceanis Australia Group, the world’s largest aquarium operator.

The Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World offers a mix of marine sightseeing, aquarium viewing and show and performances at the stadium. The park has become a famous tourist attraction of Shanghai.

This theme park in East China is also known as “Shanghai Ocean World” and is the only theme park which combines marine sightseeing with ecological leisure.

Info

Website : Changfeng Ocean World

Address: No.451 Daduhe Road

Opening hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Ticket Price:

Adult 130RMB

Child 90RMB

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium 上海海洋水族馆

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is located just next to the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai’s busy financial district of Lujiazui, Pudong. It is the largest modernization in Asia Marine Aquarium and covers an area of about 13,000 square metres and a total construction area of over 20,000 square metres.

In Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, you will find distinctive fresh water and marine creatures all over the world. Not only that, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is currently the only aquarium that has the separate exhibition area showing the aquatic animals in China, especially the rare animals along Yangtze River.

Info

Website: Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

Address: No.1388 Lujiazui Ring Road

Opening hours: 9:00am – 6:00pm

Ticket Price:

adult 135RMB

child 90RMB

Jinjiang Action Park 锦江乐园

Jinjiang Action Park is the first modern amusement park in Shanghai. There are more than 40 attractions in the park and the huge Ferris wheel has been regarded as a landmark among theme park lovers.

With other activities such as shopping, dining in the park, Jinjiang Action Park will be a fun-filled attraction for everyone.

Info

Website: Jinjiang Action Park

Address: No.227 Hongmei Road ,Minhang District

Shanghai Happy Valley 上海欢乐谷

Shanghai Happy Valley is renowned as a theme park of beautiful scenery, with huge areas to explore, superb scientific and technological content with breathtaking and exciting amusement rides.

It is located in the central area of Shanghai Sheshan National Holiday Resort, Songjiang District, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the downtown area. It covers an area of 863,500 square meters (213 acres).

Shanghai Happy Valley is composed of seven major areas, each with different themed zones, such as Sunshine Beach, Happy Times, Typhoon Bay, Gold Mine Town, Ant Kingdom, Shanghai Beach and Shangri-la Woods. There are more than a hundred attractions and 12 top recreational attractions.

Info

Website: Shanghai Happy Valley

Address: No.888 Linhu Road, Sheshan, Songjiang District

Entrance Fee: 200RMB

Shanghai Film Shooting Base 上海影视乐园

Shanghai Film Shooting Base (also known as Shanghai Film Park) is invested by The Shanghai Film Group Corporation. It is built as an ideal site for film shooting, sightseeing and culture communication.

What attracts visitors here are the beautiful and unique buildings only seen on the television of the olden China streets and sights. You will find yourself back in time at different scenes in the park, like “Nanjing Road in the 30’s”,”Shanghai traditional houses”, “Downtown Shanghai in old times”, “European style architecture”, “Suzhou Creek”, “Church”, “Peace Plaza”, “Old Shanghai bridge” and scenic “Lake and mountain area”. You can also visit the large soundstages, costume and prop ware-house, film library and their screening rooms.

Other attractions include Exhibition of SFS Costumes & Props Selection and old Shanghai street show, just to name a couple.

Info

Website: Shanghai Film Shooting Base

Address: No.4915 Beisong Road, Songjiang District

Entrance Fee: 50RMB

Shanghai Wild Animal Park 上海野生动物园

Shanghai Wild Animal Park (SWAP) is the first national wild animal park established by Shanghai Municipal Government and State Forestry Administration. The park is located in XuanQiao Town of Nanhui District in Pudong New Area, and about 35km from Shanghai downtown and coving an area of 153 hectares.

More than 200 types of representative and rare animals from the world were collected in SWAP. The total number of animals is about 10,000. These include foreign giraffe, zebra, antelope, white rhinoceros and more. Shanghai Wild Animal Park also house Nationally protected animals like the giant panda, snub-nosed monkey, and Chinese tiger.

The park is divided into 2 parts, Bus visiting area and Walking area.

In the Bus visiting area, you can see gentle giraffe, elongating his neck in expectation of your visit. You also can see elephants – the biggest mammal on land, greeting guests gently. Spot the fastest animal in the world, the cheetah, whose speed can reach up to 110 km per hour. Be in awe at the African lion, the king of beasts, showing his grand demeanor. Observe the Clumsy bear, begging for food from the passing buses. And watch the Majestic tiger striding along.

In the walking area, you can enjoy the world’s rare animals such as white lion, white tiger, white kangaroo, giant panda, Chinese alligator and more. You can even take photos with the alpaca camel, zebra and elephant. It is an amazing experience to be able to view these unique animals at such close proximity.

In the small animal garden, you can even hug the small animals, feed the lovely monkeys, and experience how it is like being close to the animals.

At the Wild animal Park, there are shows and performances by some of the animals. There are many animal shows like the beast training show or where both the tiger and lion perform on the same platform, or a world-class sea lion show which will sure to give you a stunning experience. The greyhound race is also a popular and exciting show to watch out for.

Info

Website: Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Address: No. 178 Nanliu Road, Nanhui District

Opening hours:

Mar.1st – Nov.30th           8:00am – 5:00pm

Dec.1st – Feb.29th           8:00am – 4:30pm

Entrance Fee: 120RMB

Shanghai Circus World 上海马戏城

Shanghai Circus World is located in the Pudong district of Shanghai City and is renowned as the No. 1 Circus World in China. The Circus World has a large indoor circus stadium and with unique architectural shape of a golden dome-like roof, Shanghai Circus World has become a landmark in Shanghai.

The Acrobatics Field, the main body of Shanghai Circus World, has 1,638 seats. The field is equipped with modern computer-controlled lighting facilities, multi track and stereo sound systems. The design of the performance area is creative with a revolving stage, a lifting stage and picture-frame stage.

The glittering Shanghai Circus World has been well known internationally. The place is a center for national and international acrobatic and circus performances exhibitions and exchanges. The prominent Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe gives its sensational performances here on a regular basis.

Circus performance with amazing acrobatic acts and performances with animals like elephants, chimps, horse, giant pandas and some fierce beasts including tigers, lions can be enjoyed at the Circus World.

Info

Address: No.2266 Gonghexin Road

Qibao Ancient Town 七宝古镇

Qibao Ancient Town, approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Shanghai, is the only ancient Chinese town in Shanghai. This old town is 2 square kilometers in size and is crossed by two strips of water. Surrounding the water is a variety of well preserved ancient Chinese houses, shops, and restaurants. Qibao means “Seven Treasures” in Chinese and the town got its name from a legend that referred to seven treasures in this area. Qibao Ancient Town, with a history of more than 1000 years, is one of the most important historical sites in Shanghai.

This old town started development in the Song dynasty of China and was at its best in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The stone roads and long narrow lanes that are worn over time at Qibao Ancient Town date all the way back to the Song Dynasty while the traditional Chinese architectural specialties, such as pavilions, terraces, and towers came from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Walking along the lanes in the ancient town, you will be transported back in time to ancient China with the scenic sights of stone bridges and chinese pavilions.

Info

Website: QiBao Ancient Town

Address: QiBao Town, Minhang District, Qing Nian Road (Subway Line 9 – Qibao station)

ZhuJiaJiao 朱家角

ZhuJiaJiao is located in a suburb of Shanghai city and is also popularly known as the Venice of Shanghai. With a history of more than 1700 years, ZhuJiaJiao is a water town that exhibits ancient charms of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The architecture is preserved and representative of that time. 36 unique wood and stone bridges connect this town with numerous rivers running through it.

The ancient water town well-known throughout the country and worldwide. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.

Endowed with another elegant name – ‘Pearl Stream’ – the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards attached all transport people who have been living amidst the bustle and hustle of the modern big city to a brand-new world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquility.

Info

Website: ZhuJiaJiao

Address: Qingpu district, Zhu Jia Jiao Town

Grand View Garden 大观园

Shanghai’s Grand View Garden, located at the lakeside Dianshan in Qingpu in Shanghai, is a complex in typical architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1616 AD – 1911 AD).

The garden is modeled from the scenes described in The Red Chamber Dream, one of the greatest Chinese novels. Because the landscapes in the garden and the stories depicted in the book are beautiful and accurately created in reality, the Grand View Garden quickly, become an attractive scenic spot in Shanghai area in recent years.

The beautiful scenery and sentimental love story depicted in The Red Chamber Dream have enchanted readers for generations. It is said that this is a love story that can be retold over and over again and still charms and interests people.

Visitors walking in the Grand View Garden can imagine the scenes described in the love story vividly as they experience the sight and atmosphere of the imperial private gardens of the Qing Dynasty.

Walk inside Bamboo Lodge – the home of Lin Daiyu, the male protagonist and stroll along the Pleasant Red Court in which Jia Baoyu, the female protagonist lives. Exquisitely constructed pavilions, towers, caves, rocks scenes and pavements will leave you in a surreal and beautiful world of the ancient Chinese era.

Info

Website: Shanghai Grand View Garden

Address: No.701 Qingshang Road

Opening hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Entrance Fee: 60RMB

Mt. SheShan 佘山

Last but not the least of Shanghai’s attractions, is the breathtaking Mt. SheShan. Mt. Sheshan is the only existing hill of Shanghai and it is renowned for its mesmerizing natural beauty. The place boasts of a pleasant weather and attracts large number of tourists especially during the spring. Mt. SheShan features some popular tourist destinations like the Basilica Minor of St Mary, which is a Roman and Gothic-styled Catholic basilica along with a butterfly garden that covers an area of 800-square-metre.

Sheshan National Forest Park is another popular destination in the area, which is located in the nearby Tianma Hill. The entire area boasts of a rich cultural and historical heritage, which is reflected in numerous monuments, landmarks and temples, all of which are scattered throughout the area.

Info

Website: Mt. SheShan Tourism Site

Address: Shanghai, Songjiang District

Shanghai Attractions Articles

This is the last part of Shanghai Attraction, I hope you will thoroughly enjoy yourself in Shanghai! Shanghai is really a place of attractions and opportunities and you are sure to find yourself mesmerized by the city’s charms. I hope this series of Shanghai Attractions could do you a little favour by providing you information on where to go and what to expect. Have fun in Shanghai!

Learn Some Mandarin

生态	shēng tài	Ecological	adj.
海洋	hǎi yáng	Marine	n.
上海市政府	shàng hǎi shì zhèng fǔ	Shanghai Municipal Government	n.
国家林业局	guó jiā lín yè jú	State Forestry Administration	n.
宁静	níng jing	Tranquility	n.
红楼梦	hóng lóu mèng	Red Chamber Dream	n.
教堂	jiào táng	Basilica / Church	n.