Escape the heat, Shanghai’s cool spots are waiting for you to explore!

Great places to beat the heat in Shanghai include natural forest oxygen bars, water town summer retreats, cool urban hidden gems, and nearby short trips~[Leaf] 👍Top recommendations: 1. Natural Forest Oxygen Bars[Scenic] 1. Dongping National Forest Park (Chongming District) - Features: The largest man-made plain forest in East China, with over 80% forest coverage and negative ion concentration up to 20,000/cm³. You can bike along shaded trails, row boats to enjoy lake views, and stay overnight in forest lodges to experience natural air conditioning. - Recommended activities: forest camping, tea tasting at bamboo forest cafes, lotus viewing at the Lotus Expo Park. 2. Sheshan National Forest Park (Songjiang District) - Features: Cool and deep bamboo boardwalks, the shaded path of the 14 stations of the West Sheshan Way is perfect for hiking; Guangfulin Underwater Museum maintains a constant 22°C, with lotus fields and cool mist under the glass dome. - Recommended experiences: grape picking and making smoothies, drinking chilled pear syrup under Fulin Tower. 3. Qingxi Countryside Park (Qingpu District) - Features: Water forest with swaying cedar shadows, poetic lotus ponds, wetland boardwalks to watch elegant egrets, perfect for forest-themed photoshoots. - Best time: early morning or dusk with soft light, wearing light-colored clothes for better photos. 2. Water Town Summer Retreats[SnowFlake] 1. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (Qingpu District) - Features: Ride a black-awning boat through water alleys, enjoy views of white walls and black tiles from glasshouse cafes, cool breezes in the covered corridors of Kezhi Garden, and poetic night light shows. - Must-try foods: Grandma’s meat rice dumplings with mint jelly, well water chilled lotus root starch. 2. Qingxi Ancient Town (Fengxian District) - Features: 1400-year-old street built by the water, enjoy tea and Zen at Wanghailou, night lotus viewing in Nanyuan, wear Hanfu for immersive ancient-style photos. - Hidden activity: intangible cultural heritage pear syrup candy making experience. 3. Fengjing Ancient Town (Jinshan District) - Features: Ride a black-awning boat to experience “small bridges, flowing water, and homes,” dazzling carved beams and painted rafters illuminated at night, stone slab roads and arch bridges reflected in the water. 3. Cool Urban Hidden Gems[FallenLeaf] 1. New Hongqiao Central Garden (Changning District) - Features: Bamboo forest secret spot in the city center, babbling streams, shaded by greenery, perfect for walking and bird watching, experience nature’s wild charm in the city. 2. Changning Outer Ring Forest Belt Ecological Greenway - Features: 6.25 km shaded trail connecting wetlands and small water features, suitable for biking or renting shared bikes, half an hour direct to downtown. - Recommended entrances: Guangshun North Road entrance (opposite Lingkong Music Park), Konggang 8th Road entrance (connected to Metro Line 10). 3. Pujiang Countryside Park (Minhang District) - Features: Direct access via Metro Line 8, Miracle Garden sprays cooling mist every hour, riverside bike path with refreshing river breeze, Du Xing ferry pier perfect for shooting “Little Kamakura of Magic City” photos. 4. Nearby Short Trips to Beat the Heat[FourLeafClover] 1. Moganshan (Huzhou City) - Features: 93% bamboo coverage, summer temperatures 5-8°C cooler than the city, hiking to Sword Pool waterfall or staying in starry sky lodges, experience cliff swings and other aerial activities. 2. Anji Yunshang Grassland - Features: 1168 meters above sea level, a forest secret realm like the Land of Oz, cliff park thrilling activities combined with cool mountain breeze, great for families and young people. 3. Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area - Features: 15,000 hectares of bamboo sea forming a natural barrier, mirror lake bamboo raft drifting, Yunu Peak overlooking bamboo waves, temperatures 2-3°C cooler than the city. 5. Practical Tips[Compass] - Transportation advice: For nearby attractions, prioritize driving or metro (e.g., Pujiang Countryside Park, Sheshan); for farther Yangtze River Delta suburbs, take high-speed rail + short bus rides (e.g., Moganshan, Anji). - Recommended gear: sun hats, mosquito repellent, portable fans, wear light and breathable cotton-linen clothes. - Food pairings: Bright ice bricks, mung bean shaved ice, cold wontons, chilled Shikumen yellow wine (Chongming farmhouse specialty).