Top Attractions
Sheshan (literally "She Mountain") is Shanghai's only natural elevation — a 100-meter hill that rises from the flat plains of Songjiang like a gentle green island. Though modest by any mountain standard, Sheshan's significance in Shanghai is outsized: it has been a sacred site since the Tang Dynasty, a Catholic pilgrimage destination since the 1600s, and today hosts an astronomical observatory, a Catholic basilica, and extensive parkland. The hill consists of two peaks — East Hill and West Hill — connected by a park that covers 400 hectares.
The hill's most striking landmark is the Sheshan Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes (佘山圣母大教堂), a red-brick Gothic revival church perched atop West Hill. Built between 1925 and 1935, it replaced an earlier 1871 church and is the largest Catholic church in East Asia, accommodating over 3,000 worshippers. The basilica's twin spires and commanding position make it visible for kilometers across the Songjiang plain. The annual Sheshan pilgrimage (held in May) draws tens of thousands of Catholics from across China. Even for non-religious visitors, the climb to the basilica through the forested hillside — past the 14 Stations of the Cross — is a beautiful walk, and the views from the summit extend across the entire Songjiang district.
The east peak houses the Sheshan Astronomical Observatory (上海天文台佘山站), established in 1900 by French Jesuits and now a branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The observatory's historic 40-centimeter refracting telescope is still operational, and a small museum displays astronomical instruments and meteorological equipment. The hill also features an amusement park, cable car, and extensive walking trails through bamboo groves and cedar forests. Sheshan Station (Line 9) is a 15-minute walk from the hill's main entrance. Admission is free for the park; the observatory charges ¥12.
Thames Town is one of China's most unusual urban developments — a faithful replica of a traditional English market town, complete with cobbled streets, red telephone boxes, Tudor-style half-timbered buildings, a Gothic church, and a riverside promenade, all built from scratch in the Songjiang countryside. Conceived in 2001 as part of Shanghai's "One City, Nine Towns" initiative (which assigned each suburban district a different foreign architectural theme), Thames Town was designed by British architects to create a walkable, livable community inspired by towns like Salisbury and Bath.
The town's centerpiece is St. Mary's Church, a Gothic revival structure built of grey stone that serves as the most photographed landmark. The surrounding streets are lined with pubs, cafés, galleries, bookshops, and boutique stores — many with English-language signage. The town's market square hosts weekend craft markets and outdoor events. Despite its artificial origins, Thames Town has developed an authentic community feel: local residents (a mix of young professionals, artists, and retirees) frequent the cafés and riverside paths, and the town has become a popular location for wedding photography — the English backdrop is much sought after by Chinese couples.
For visitors, Thames Town offers a surreal but pleasant experience: walking through what feels like a real English village while knowing you're in the middle of Shanghai's suburbs. The town is compact and easily explored on foot in 1–2 hours. It's particularly photogenic in spring when the surrounding cherry trees bloom. The town has several good cafés and restaurants, many serving Western-style food. Thames Town is accessible via Songjiang University Town Station (Line 9) followed by a 15-minute bus or taxi ride. Combined with nearby Sheshan Hill, it makes for an engaging half-day Songjiang excursion.
🌐 Official WebsiteGuangfulin Relics Park is one of Shanghai's most important archaeological sites and a beautifully designed cultural park that brings the region's ancient history to life. Excavations beginning in 1958 revealed that Guangfulin was continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years — from the Neolithic period through the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties — making it the oldest known human settlement in the Shanghai area. The discovery of the "Guangfulin Culture" (dating to approximately 3,900–3,200 BCE) pushed back Shanghai's known history by over 1,000 years.
The park's most dramatic feature is the Cultural Exhibition Hall, designed to appear as if it is submerged in water — only the characteristic tiled rooftops of traditional Jiangnan buildings are visible above the surface of an artificial lake, creating a striking visual metaphor for an ancient civilization lying beneath the surface. Inside, the underground exhibition space spans over 10,000 square meters, displaying artifacts including pottery, jade ornaments, bone tools, and rice-grain impressions that document the evolution of human settlement in the Shanghai area. The exhibits are well-presented with bilingual labels and multimedia displays.
Beyond the museum, the park includes a reconstructed ancient village, a Zen garden, a floating tea house, and landscaped walking paths along canals. The architecture blends modern design with traditional Chinese elements, and the overall atmosphere is peaceful and contemplative — a marked contrast to Shanghai's urban intensity. The park is particularly beautiful in autumn when the surrounding trees turn gold. Allow 2–3 hours for a thorough visit. Guangfulin is accessible via Guangfulin Road Station (Line 9) with a short taxi ride.
Chenshan Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in Shanghai and one of the most impressive in China, covering 207 hectares at the foot of Chenshan Hill in eastern Songjiang. Opened in 2010, the garden was designed by a German landscape architecture firm and features over 30 specialized gardens, glasshouses, and exhibition spaces housing more than 10,000 plant species from around the world. It is a serious botanical institution as well as a stunning public park.
The garden's most dramatic structure is the cluster of glass conservatories — three interconnected greenhouses covering 12,600 square meters that simulate tropical, subtropical, and desert environments. The tropical conservatory features towering palms, orchids, and bromeliads; the desert house displays cacti and succulents from the Americas and Africa; and a special greenhouse is dedicated to rare and endangered plants. Outside, themed gardens include a rose garden, a cherry blossom valley, a bamboo grove, a medicinal herb garden, an aquatic plant garden, and a children's discovery garden with interactive exhibits.
The garden's centerpiece is Quarry Garden (矿坑花园), a spectacular landscape carved into an abandoned stone quarry. A series of steel walkways and platforms descend into the quarry pit, where a waterfall cascades into a deep pool surrounded by sheer rock walls. It has been called one of the world's most impressive quarry garden designs and is worth the visit alone. The garden is vast — allow at least 3 hours to explore the main areas, a full day if you want to see everything. Chenshan is accessible via Chenshan Botanical Garden Station (Line 9) or by taxi from Songjiang University Town.
Songjiang Old Town is the historical core of what was once one of the most important cities in the Yangtze Delta. During the Tang and Song dynasties (7th–13th centuries), Songjiang was a major administrative center and thriving port — far more significant than Shanghai, which was then a minor fishing village. The old town's layout, street grid, and canal system date back to this era, making it the oldest urban center in the greater Shanghai area. While much of the original architecture has been replaced by modern buildings, the town retains important historical sites and a traditional atmosphere.
The old town's most notable landmarks include the Square Pagoda (方塔), a 9-story Song Dynasty pagoda dating to 1068 CE; the Zui Bai Pond Garden (醉白池), one of Shanghai's five classical gardens; and the Songjiang Mosque, one of China's oldest Islamic sites. Zhongshan Middle Road (中山中路), the old town's main commercial street, features traditional shopfronts and has been partially pedestrianized. The Songjiang Museum, housed in a former bank building, displays artifacts from the region's 5,000-year history.
For visitors, Songjiang Old Town offers a more authentic and less touristy alternative to Shanghai's other water towns. It has not been as aggressively commercialized as Zhujiajiao or Qibao, and local life still unfolds along its streets and canals. Several well-regarded local restaurants serve Songjiang specialties, including "four-legged pork" (四鳃鲈鱼, a local fish) and traditional Jiangnan cuisine. Allow 2 hours for a walking tour. The old town is a 10-minute walk from Songjiang South Railway Station or accessible via multiple bus routes.
Shanghai Film Park, also known as Shanghai Studio or Che墩 Film Base, is a working film and television production facility that doubles as a theme park where visitors can explore full-scale replica sets of old Shanghai. The park covers over 30 hectares and features meticulously reconstructed 1930s Shanghai streets — including Nanjing Road, the Bund, and a traditional lane-house neighborhood — complete with vintage cars, period signage, and costumed extras who create an immersive experience of Republican-era Shanghai.
The park has served as the shooting location for over 100 Chinese films and television series, including "The Founding of a Republic" (建国大业), "Lust, Caution" (色戒), and numerous period dramas. Visitors can walk through the replica Bund (with scale versions of the historic colonial buildings), explore a recreated traditional Chinese courtyard, visit a costume and prop museum, and watch live stunt shows. The park offers costume rental, allowing visitors to dress in period clothing and take photos against the vintage backdrops — a popular activity that has become a social media sensation.
For visitors interested in Chinese cinema or Republican-era Shanghai history, the film park provides a uniquely visual and interactive experience. The sets are remarkably detailed, and the atmosphere of walking through "old Shanghai" is engaging even for non-film enthusiasts. The park also features a 4D cinema showing behind-the-scenes footage of Chinese film productions. Admission is ¥80 (adults), with discounts for children and seniors. The park is located in Che墩, about 20 minutes by car from Songjiang Old Town, and is accessible by bus from Songjiang South Station.
The Square Pagoda (兴圣教寺塔, also called Xingsheng Temple Pagoda) is Songjiang's most iconic historic structure and one of Shanghai's oldest surviving buildings. Built in 1068 CE during the Northern Song Dynasty, the nine-story brick-and-wood pagoda rises 42.5 meters and is notable for its square (rather than octagonal) plan — hence its common name "Square Pagoda." The pagoda's elegant proportions, carved wooden eaves, and surviving original brickwork make it an important example of Song Dynasty religious architecture. The surrounding Fangta Park provides pleasant green space for viewing the pagoda from multiple angles.
A 10-minute walk from the Square Pagoda brings you to Zui Bai Pond Garden (醉白池), one of Shanghai's five great classical Chinese gardens. Originally built in 1644 during the early Qing Dynasty as the private garden of a Ming loyalist official, Zui Bai Pond Garden takes its name from the poem "Zui Bai" (Drunk on Bai) by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi. The garden covers 76 mu (approximately 5 hectares) and features traditional elements: rockeries, lotus ponds, zigzag bridges, moon gates, and pavilions linked by covered corridors. The garden is particularly beautiful in autumn when the ginkgo trees turn gold and the lotus pods dry into sculptural forms.
Together, the Square Pagoda and Zui Bai Pond Garden offer a concentrated introduction to Songjiang's classical heritage. Both sites are free or very cheap (¥12 for Zui Bai Pond) and can be visited in 1.5 to 2 hours combined. They are located in the heart of Songjiang Old Town, making them easy to pair with the Songjiang Museum and the old town's restaurant scene. For architecture and garden enthusiasts, these two sites alone justify a trip to Songjiang.