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9 Kid-Friendly Day Trips from Shanghai for Family Fun ❤️
Shanghai’s vibrant energy is perfect for families, but sometimes you need a day trip to spark joy for kids and parents alike. From thrilling amusement parks to serene water towns and animal adventures, these 9 destinations, all easily accessible by metro or high-speed rail, offer unforgettable experiences for children of all ages. Each spot blends fun, learning, and relaxation, with practical details to make your family outing a breeze. Dive into these kid-friendly escapes and discover Shanghai’s surrounding treasures!
1️⃣ Shanghai Disneyland: A Magical Wonderland
In Pudong, Shanghai Disneyland dazzles with classic Disney magic, featuring eight themed lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Disney Pixar Toy Story Land, and Zootopia. The Enchanted Storybook Castle, the tallest Disney castle worldwide, anchors the park with its princess-themed grandeur, housing dining and character meet-and-greets. Vibrant parades like Mickey’s Storybook Express and nightly fireworks captivate all ages, while rides like TRON Lightcycle Power Run thrill teens and Hunny Pot Spin delights toddlers.
❤️Ride the family-friendly Dumbo the Flying Elephant, explore Treasure Cove’s pirate ship play area, or enjoy one of the fantastic live performance shows.
🚝 Getting There: Take Metro Line 11 to Disney Resort Station, about 1 hour from central Shanghai. Follow signs for a 5-minute walk to the park entrance.
2️⃣ Changzhou's China Dinosaur Land: Jurassic Excitement
In Changzhou, Jiangsu, China Dinosaur Land (often called Changzhou Dinosaur Park) is a thrilling blend of education and entertainment, open year-round with a seasonal water park in summer (June–August). Just under an hour by high-speed rail, it features the China Dinosaur Museum with real fossils like Sinosauropteryx, plus rides like the 4D Dinoconda roller coaster and Dinotoon’s kid-friendly attractions. The summer-only Jurassic Water Park features slides, splash zones, and water play areas designed for kids.
❤️ Tour the museum’s dinosaur skeletons, ride the rollercoasters, or splash in Dino Water Town’s water slides
🚝 Getting There: Take a high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Changzhou North Station, then a 15-minute taxi to 60 Hehai Road, Xinbei District.
3️⃣ Shanghai Wild Animal Park: Safari Thrills
In Songjiang, this vast park is home to over 200 species, comprising more than 10,000 animals in total, including pandas, tigers, and giraffes, providing a safari-like experience. Bus tours through open enclosures provide safe animal sightings, while a children’s zoo with petting areas engages younger visitors. The chance to see rare animals up close, combined with interactive zones, creates a thrilling yet safe adventure for animal-loving families.
❤️ Hop on a guided bus tour to spot tigers, feed animals in the children’s zoo, or watch a live animal performance.
🚝 Getting There: Take Metro Line 16 from Longyang Road Station to Shanghai Wild Animal Park Station (上海野生动物园站).
4️⃣ Tongli Water Town: Gentle Canal Adventures
In Jiangsu, near Suzhou, Tongli is a 1,000-year-old water town with picturesque canals, ancient bridges, and the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden. Its calm atmosphere and family-friendly activities offer a cultural escape about 1 hour from Shanghai. Gentle boat rides and explorable gardens provide a relaxing outing that introduces kids to Chinese history in a fun and accessible way.
❤️Glide along canals on a rowboat, explore Tuisi Garden’s pavilions, or enjoy snacks at canal-side cafes.
🚝 Getting There: Take a direct tourist bus from Shanghai Stadium or People’s Square — it drops you at Tongli’s entrance in 1.5 hours, no transfers. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train to Suzhou and a taxi to Tongli from there.
5️⃣ Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park: Underwater Wonders
In Pudong, this marine-themed park combines an aquarium with amusement rides, featuring penguins, dolphins, and sharks in underwater tunnels. Live shows and attractions like the Polar Express roller coaster cater to all ages. The blend of marine education and thrilling rides creates a dynamic experience for families, with interactive shows sparking kids’ curiosity.
❤️ Watch the dolphin performance, explore the Shark Infinity tunnel, or ride the family-friendly Merry-Go-Fish.
🚝Getting There: Take Metro Line 7 to Lingang New City Station (about 1.5 hours from central Shanghai), then ride the free shuttle bus (5 mins) to the park entrance. Summer/holidays offer extended hours with night shows.
6️⃣ Suzhou: Gardens and Cultural Delights
In Jiangsu, just 30 minutes by high-speed rail, Suzhou’s UNESCO-listed classical gardens and historic streets offer a cultural adventure. The Humble Administrator’s Garden (arrive early to avoid crowds) and the shops along Pingjiang Road offer spaces for children to roam and parents to soak in history while enjoying serene landscapes.
❤️ Stroll the Humble Administrator’s Garden, take a canal boat ride, or visit the Suzhou Silk Museum for hands-on weaving demos.
🚝 Getting There: Take a high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Suzhou Station, then a taxi or Metro Line 4 to Gusu District.
7️⃣ Shanghai Greenhouse Garden: Nature’s Modern Marvel
In the Shanghai World Expo Culture Park, Pudong, this cutting-edge attraction features three pavilions—Coastal Adventure (featuring tropical plants and a baobab tree), Cloudy Forest (featuring a misty 35m waterfall), and Desert Secret (featuring arid flora)—showcasing global ecosystems through zero-carbon design. Opened in 2024, its zero-energy design and interactive exhibits make it a standout.
❤️ Explore the Cloudy Forest’s suspended trails, Coastal Adventure’s baobab, or join a terrarium-making session.
🚝 Getting There: Take Metro Line 13 to World Expo Museum Station (10-minute walk). Book timed-entry tickets online in advance!
8️⃣ Hangzhou: West Lake and Temple Magic
In Zhejiang (45–60 mins by high-speed rail), Hangzhou’s UNESCO West Lake and Lingyin Temple offer serene boat rides and ancient rock carvings. Tea plantations add cultural depth.
❤️ Cruise West Lake (book boats online), explore Lingyin’s grottoes, or tour a tea farm.
🚝 Getting There: Take a high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou Station (best for West Lake) or Hangzhou East, then taxi/Metro Line 1 to sites.
9️⃣ Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: Ancient Charm Near Shanghai
In Qingpu District, about 1 hour by metro or car from central Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is a 1,700-year-old water town known as “Shanghai’s Venice” for its picturesque canals, stone bridges, and Ming-Qing Dynasty architecture. The town’s Kezhi Garden and Fangsheng Bridge offer a cultural experience, with serene waterways and historic streets creating a magical, time-travel vibe that captivates kids and parents, providing a contrast to urban Shanghai.
❤️ Take a gondola ride along the canals, explore Kezhi Garden’s pavilions, or try zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) at North Street’s food stalls.
🚝 Getting There: Take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station (Exit 1; 15-minute walk). Buses from Shanghai South Station run four times a day.
These destinations are family-friendly treasures—dive into the fun for a day of laughter and memories!
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A highly recommended place to visit. I thought the Shanghai Wild Animal Park wouldn't be fun in winter, but it was surprisingly enjoyable and entertaining. The animals were all very energetic. The international circus was especially spectacular. A great value for money destination.
We had a fantastic day with the kids! The park had an amazing variety of animals—the giant pandas, giraffes, and red pandas were all so cute! We even watched the zookeepers feeding the animals and explaining things, and the kids listened intently. The park's layout was excellent; we didn't have to wander around. There were plenty of rest areas and restrooms, making it a very relaxing place to explore. We definitely want to come back!
Unique experience! Safari and animal feeding 🥰🥰 highly recommend for everyone
Ueno is so big! It is divided into: driving area, walking area, and water exploration area. It is enough to visit for a whole day. It is recommended to go straight to the beast area bus after entering the park to see the flamingos (otherwise the line will be very long after watching the sea lion show) For the first time, it is recommended to take the free bus 🚌 (the feeding bus is charged separately). After the tour bus, you can go to see the performances of several major theaters. The sea lion show is free (⚠️Circus Theater and Baishoushan Theater are charged) Clockwise tour route: enter the park through the main gate ➡️Flamingos ➡️Take the bus to visit the beast area (feeding bus 50/time, route and Like the bus,)➡️Various birds➡️Sea Lion Theater (free🆓,🕙starting at 10 o'clock, 20 minutes of performance)➡️Swan Lake (rowing,💰50/person, half an hour)➡️Water Secret Exploration Area (💰40/person, 20 minutes)➡️Sun Plaza (free🕛starting at 12 o'clock, 25 minutes of performance)➡️Kangaroo🦘, giraffe, penguin🐧, giant panda, zebra, etc.➡️Hundred Beasts Mountain Theater➡️African elephants, monkeys and bears, etc.➡️White Pigeon Square➡️Flamingo➡️Exit the park 1⃣️Open at 9 am, be sure to go early! The animals are most energetic in the morning, and many of them are resting in the afternoon. 2⃣️You can go boating in Swan Lake and watch white swans playing in the water and living there. 3⃣️You must take a tour bus/feeding bus. The tour bus 🚌 is viewed through the glass, and the feeding bus experience will be better (50/person, the route is the same as the tour bus). The view is unobstructed, it is recommended to sit on the right side. There are more small animals along the road. 4⃣️There are cute little tigers, monkeys, and lions in the nursery garden for several months. There are also big tigers 🐯 and big lions 🦁 next to them. 5⃣️The animals are scattered, and photography enthusiasts should try to bring a telephoto lens. 🎫Adults 165r, students and seniors half price, children under 1.3 meters free
Shanghai Wild Animal Park is really fun to visit. There are two ways to visit the car park: free bus and VIP feeding car, 100 yuan per person! Follow the tour map to walk around the walking area. The animals are super cute. There are animal performances in the Sea Lion Theater, Sun Plaza, and the Beast Mountain Theater. Don't miss them! The key is that the interactive experience here is very good. You can get close to the animals you like, such as the cute Capybara, the lively little kangaroos, and many animal behavior displays: tigers pouncing on food, birds feeding, etc. It is definitely a paradise for children to popularize science!
It is worth a visit. I highly recommend taking your kids to Shanghai Wild Animal Park. There are so many cute animals there. And because the place is so big, there are so many animals of each species! The animals also have a large range of activities! Especially their animal science, I think it is very good. It is a good experience for children to understand animals. If you are lucky, you can see some interesting behaviors of animals! It is really fun! If you are stressed at work, go see the animals and feed them, it is really healing!
Every area of Shanghai Wild Animal Park is fun. You can follow the zoo's car to see wild animals. There are also feeding cars. There are many tigers, lions, leopards, bears, etc. in the wild animal area, as well as various herbivores and many birds. Peacocks are all spreading their feathers in spring, competing for beauty. In spring, wild animals are very lively and active. There are many newly born animals in the small animal park. There are also many animal performances, such as sea lions and tigers. The most interesting one is the performance at the racecourse.
Although Shanghai Wild Animal Park is not very big, it is enough for you to have fun all day. It is recommended to go there early in the morning, take a car to the beast area to feed the animals, then take a boat to visit the water route, and finally walk around the entire park. There are also wonderful performances at noon and in the afternoon, most of which are free, so you can arrange your own time.