[Hai Guide] Shanghai's parks are rolling out the red carpet for spring activities

From forest art exhibitions to lifestyle festivals, parks in Shanghai are ushering in spring with an array of activities! Here are some highlights that will run through the whole spring season!

Pujiang Lifestyle Festival

Pujiang Country Park is the closest country park to the city center, as well as the only suburban park with direct Metro access.

With a 5.3-kilometer riverbank shoreline, the park is a unique blend of industry and forest, making it a large-scale recreational, strolling and artistic paradise.

This spring, the park has organized a lifestyle festival that included over 35 food, art, and sports activities.

It welcomes people to stroll through the verdant forest, visit the market, see the exhibitions, breathe in the fresh air, and savor delicious food while enjoying a spring outing.

The Forest Co-creation Art displays trees adorned with artist-woven "clothes" to create a colorful display. Hugging trees heals spiritually, while strolling among them is a visual feast.

The forest market sells contemporary brands, local delicacies, and handmade intangible cultural heritage goods, while the forest art workshop offers plant crafting and other artistic activities. Kart racing and pizza cooking experiences are also available.

If you go

Opening hours: 8:30am-5pm, through July 20

Address: No.8 Lane 2578 Puxing Highway, Minhang District 闵行区浦星公路2578弄8号

Pressed Flower Art and Crabapple Festival

The People's Park in downtown Shanghai will feature a crabapple festival and intangible cultural heritage events in late March.

Over 1,600 crabapple trees and other flowers like peonies and camellias fill the area.

Paint on the fan surface with ink made from flowers. Pressed floral round fans are a sort of handicraft that combines natural beauty and traditional skill. Using a circular fan as a medium, dried flowers are precisely created and attached to the fan surface.

This not only gives the fan an antique charm but also infuses it with the fragrance and natural colors of the flowers, combining both aesthetic appeal and practicality.

The experience will be offered on the spot this weekend.

If you go

Opening hours: 7am-7pm, through mid-April

Pressed flower art experience: 9am-11am, March 22

Address: 231 Nanjing Rd W., Huangpu District 黄浦区南京西路231号

Shanghai Family Gardening Festival

Menghuayuan Garden will host 18 themed gardens, three flower avenues, and balcony and community garden exhibitions during the festival.

The rainbow-like "Romantic Flower Street" cascades down to earth. Hydrangeas, petunias, and spring flowers cover both sides of the street. Sweet aromas permeate the air as the flower shadows swing in the wind.

The "Aegean Flower Street" freezes time with its blue-and-white symphony.

Branches of rosemary peek out from Mediterranean-style pottery, while in the "Artistic Flower Street," the flowers form a picturesque oil painting.

Bright hydrangeas and lively animal sculptures complement the plants, creating an interesting interplay.

If you go

Opening hours: 8:30am-4:30pm, April 11-May 11

Address: 1398 Luheng Rd, Minhang District 闵行区芦恒路1398号

Magnolia Tour and Citywalk

The city's landscaping authority has created a citywalk that takes in magnolia, coffee, and culture. It begins at Shanghai Mass Art Center, stops at One Step Garden cafe, and ends at Liantang Ancient Town, where magnolia and coffee scents linger.

The route is:

Shanghai Mass Art Center (125 Guyi Road) - One Step Garden Cafe (Xiangzhang Garden outlet, 2 Hengshan Road) - Gucheng Park (333 Renmin Road) - Wangyiji Kaoting Academy Tea House (154 Nanjing Rd E.) - One Step Garden Cafe (Century Park outlet 809 Huamu Road) - Guangfulin Cultural Relics Site (3260 Guangfulin Road) - Liantang Ancient Town