Areas

Outer Shanghai

郊区

Day trips in Shanghai's outer districts: the canal town of Zhujiajiao, Qibao Old Town, Sheshan Basilica and the theme parks, from Disneyland to Legoland.

Best forday trips

Shanghai municipality is much larger than its centre, and a few of its outer towns and sights are worth a day on their own. None of them is a place to stay for a city trip; go out in the morning and come back in the evening.

Water towns and old streets

Zhujiajiao, in Qingpu, is a canal town of stone bridges and old trading streets on Metro Line 17. Qibao Old Town is much closer: a rebuilt market street along a small river, reached on Line 9, good for a half-day.

Sheshan

The red-brick Sheshan Basilica stands on a hilltop in Songjiang and is Shanghai’s main Marian pilgrimage site.

Theme parks

Each of these needs a full day, and all are far from the centre.

Shanghai Disneyland, in eastern Pudong, has its own stop on Line 11.
Happy Valley Shanghai, a roller-coaster park in Songjiang’s Sheshan resort area, is nearest to Sheshan station on Line 9.
Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, a marine park with animal shows, is by Dishui Lake in Lingang, on Line 16.
Shanghai Wild Animal Park, a safari park with a drive-through section and pandas, is in southern Pudong, about 2 km from Wild Animal Park station on Line 16.
Legoland Shanghai, opened in 2025 in Jinshan, is not on the metro; it is about 1 km from Jinshan North railway station.

Jinjiang Action Park, the old amusement park on Line 1, closed in January 2025 and is being rebuilt as a Harry Potter studio tour.

For trips beyond the municipality, see Day trips by train from Shanghai.

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Places to see

Museum· 2006–2009

China Maritime Museum

中国航海博物馆Zhōngguó Hánghǎi Bówùguǎn

A maritime museum on the shore of Dishui Lake in Lingang, opened in 2010, with a full-size Ming ship and six halls; far out in southeast Pudong.

Shopping district

Daning Commercial District

大宁商圈Dàníng Shāngquān

A city-level shopping district in Jing'an around Daning Lingshi Park, with the Daning International mall (2006) and Shanghai Circus World.

An illuminated Disneytown sign above a pavilion and visitors after dark. — Photo: Jeremy Thompson from Los Angeles, California (resized) · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped to fit

Shopping district· 2016

Disneytown and Bicester Village (Shanghai International Resort)

国际旅游度假区商圈（迪士尼小镇）Guójì Lǚyóu Dùjiàqū Shāngquān (Díshìní Xiǎozhèn)

The shopping and dining quarters of the Shanghai International Resort: Disneytown by the park, and the Bicester Village outlet beside it.

Park· 2009

Happy Valley Shanghai

上海欢乐谷Shànghǎi Huānlè Gǔ

A big thrill-ride park in Songjiang's Sheshan resort area, opened in 2009, with seven themed areas and a wooden roller coaster.

Shopping district· 2009

Hongqiao International Central Business District

虹桥国际中央商务区商圈Hóngqiáo Guójì Zhōngyāng Shāngwùqū Shāngquān

A transport-hub business district west of the airport, with malls between Hongqiao station and the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

Shopping district· 1986

Hongqiao-Gubei Shopping District

虹桥-古北商圈Hóngqiáo-Gǔběi Shāngquān

A western district of malls around Tianshan Road and Gubei, home to a large international community; a city-level centre in the 2022–2035 plan.

Temple· 1219

Jiading Confucian Temple

嘉定孔庙Jiādìng Kǒngmiào

A Confucian temple and county school founded in 1219, rebuilt over the Yuan and Ming, now a national-level heritage site and examination museum in Jiading.

Park· 1984–1985

Jinjiang Action Park

锦江乐园Jǐnjiāng Lèyuán

Shanghai's first big post-1949 amusement park, open 1985–2025 and known for its 108-metre Ferris wheel; the site is becoming a Harry Potter studio tour.

The colourful facade of Legoland Shanghai Hotel, with block-shaped decorations and a large welcome sign. — Photo: 4084470 0.smil (resized) · CC BY 4.0

Park· 2021–2025

Legoland Shanghai Resort

上海乐高乐园Shànghǎi Lègāo Lèyuán

Mainland China's first Legoland, opened in July 2025 in Jinshan, with eight themed areas, a Monkey King zone and a Lego hotel.

Shopping district

Middle Ring (Zhenbei) Commercial District

中环（真北）商圈Zhōnghuán (Zhēnběi) Shāngquān

A Putuo trade and shopping district on the Middle Ring Road around Zhenbei Road, listed as a city-level commercial centre in Shanghai's 2022-2035 plan.

Nanxiang's twin stone pagodas beside a paved street, with tiled roofs beyond. — Photo: 钉钉 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Site

Nanxiang Twin Pagodas

南翔寺砖塔 / 五代双塔Nánxiáng Sì Zhuāntǎ / Wǔdài Shuāngtǎ

Two small seven-storey brick pagodas facing each other across a Nanxiang street, the surviving gate-side remains of the old Nanxiang Temple.

Site

Qibao Old Town

七宝古镇Qībǎo Gǔzhèn

A reconstructed market-town street along the Puhui River in Minhang, with arched bridges, small museums, Qibao Temple and a cricket tradition.

Temple· 2000–2002

Qibao Temple

七宝教寺Qībǎo Jiàosì

The Buddhist temple that gave Qibao its name, rebuilt in 2000-2002 after destruction in 1862, with a seven-storey pagoda and a legend of seven treasures.

Museum· 2021

Shanghai Astronomy Museum

上海天文馆Shànghǎi Tiānwénguǎn

A planetarium-led astronomy museum in Lingang that opened in July 2021, designed by Ennead Architects; it is far out in southeast Pudong.

Museum· 2007

Shanghai Auto Museum

上海汽车博物馆Shànghǎi Qìchē Bówùguǎn

A car museum in Anting, Jiading, opened in 2007, with historic cars from Peugeot, Jaguar, Ford and others and rotating exhibitions.

Park· 2011–2016

Shanghai Disneyland

上海迪士尼乐园Shànghǎi Díshìní Lèyuán

Mainland China's first Disney park, in Pudong's Chuansha area; opened 16 June 2016, with eight themed areas and no Main Street.

Park· 2015–2018

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

上海海昌海洋公园Shànghǎi Hǎichāng Hǎiyáng Gōngyuán

A marine theme park by Dishui Lake in Lingang, opened in 2018, split between a polar half with a snow mountain and a tropical half with a volcano.

Museum

Shanghai Museum of Glass

上海玻璃博物馆Shànghǎi Bōlí Bówùguǎn

A glass museum on the site of a former glass instrument factory in Baoshan, with exhibits on glass technology and art and live glassblowing.

Park· 1995

Shanghai Wild Animal Park

上海野生动物园Shànghǎi Yěshēng Dòngwùyuán

China's first national-level wild animal park, opened in 1995 in southern Pudong, with a drive-through safari section and a walking zoo with pandas.

Church· 1925–1935

Sheshan Basilica

佘山进教之佑圣母大殿Shéshān Jìnjiào Zhī Yòu Shèngmǔ Dàdiàn

A red-brick Romanesque Catholic church on Sheshan Hill, completed in 1935 and raised to minor basilica in 1942; Shanghai's main Marian pilgrimage site.