After seven years of construction, the Twin Hills at Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park finally opened last September. Standing at 48 meters, it is now the tallest man-made hill in Shanghai's urban area.

This year's Spring Festival saw a surge in visitors to the park. During the eight-day Chinese New Year holiday, daily attendance averaged 50,000 people, with reservations for hiking on the twin hills and visiting the greenhouse garden fully booked every day.

So, have you been to the Twin Hills or the greenhouse garden yet?

Located in the southeastern part of the park, the twin hills span 300,000 square meters and consist of a 48-meter main peak and a 37-meter secondary peak, with over 7,000 trees planted across the landscape.

They feature exhibition halls, a parking garage, and a power substation. This makes the Twin Hills the first artificial, nature-inspired mountain in China with a hollow-core structure exceeding 40 meters in height.

Right beside the hills is the greenhouse garden, covering 22,000 square meters. The garden includes a visitor center and three themed pavilions:

• Hall 1: Sand Mirage
• Hall 2: Clouds Forest
• Hall 3: Clouds Canyon

If you're not up for a hike, doesn't matter but don't miss the World Flower Garden – a free attraction that requires no reservation. This stunning, world-class floral park features five themed sections, each showcasing distinctive horticultural styles from around the globe.

Reservations & Ticketing

Twin Hills:

Main peak: Free admission, but a reservation is required.

Secondary peak: No reservation needed, open to all visitors.

Reservations open daily at 10am for the following day.

Opening hours: 8am-6:30pm.

Greenhouse Garden (Ticket & reservation required)

Weekday ticket: 98 yuan (US$13.4) per adult

Weekend & holiday ticket: 128 yuan per adult

Opening hours: 9 am-5 pm (Last entry at 4:30 pm, closed on Mondays except for public holidays).

How can foreign visitors make a reservation?

In China, locals normally use the Dianping App to book restaurants and attractions, including the Twin Hills and the Greenhouse Garden. However, Dianping requires real-name verification with a Chinese ID, making it inconvenient for foreign visitors.

Use WeChat mini-programs instead! This method is much simpler and does not require real-name verification.

How to book via WeChat:

1. Search for the WeChat mini program "上海世博文化公园 (Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park)"

Pro tip: Ensure your WeChat Pay is set up and ready to use. Need help? Check out this link.

2. Tap "玩转公园 (Explore the Park)"

3. Click to buy tickets

4. Select your desired attraction. Greenhouse Garden (on the left), Twin Hills (on the right)

5. Click "Book Now", choose a date and time slot, and confirm your reservation.