Top 15 Parks in Shanghai: Discover the Best Green Spaces in the City

Written by Veronica | Updated August 08,2025

As a top travel destination in China, Shanghai impress most travelers with its ultimate modernity, dense skyscrapers, and rich historical sites. Few tourists will add a local park visit to their Shanghai tour. But they definitely should.

Though not the iconic highlights of this city, the nearly 1000 parks in Shanghai are where you can encounter authentic life of local residents when they practicing Tai Chi, dancing, flying kites, playing cards, picnicking, strolling, and communicating with Shanghainese dialects.

More than modern green spaces equipped with every amenity, there are also many centuries-old parks steeped in history. These parks are important cultural landmarks themselves, featuring a unique blend of Eastern and Western aesthetics.

If time permits, try to spend some time in one of Shanghai’s parks for all kinds of reasons. Here’s our guide to the 15 best parks in Shanghai.

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• Shanghai Parks are a Must-Visit for Locals and Tourists
• 1. Shanghai Disneyland Park – World-Famous Magic in Pudong
• 2. Shanghai Century Park – the Largest Urban Park in Shanghai
• 3. Shanghai Fuxing Park – Only One Comprehensive Garden of French classical Style in Shanghai
• 4. Shanghai Wild Animal Park – A Safari Experience near the City
• 5. Shanghai Botanical Garden – A Paradise for Plant Lovers
• 6. Shanghai People’s Park – Right in the Heart of the City
• 7. Shanghai Zhongshan Park – Locals’ Favorite Green Escape
• 8. Shanghai Lu Xun Park – Literary and Cultural Heritage
• 9. Shanghai M50 Creative Park – the Cultural Landmark of Art and Creativity
• 10. Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park – the World of Marine Animals
• 11. Shanghai Film Park – Base of Film and Television
• 12. Shanghai Jing’an Park – Integration of History and Modernity
• 13. Shanghai Xujiahui Park – Urban Renewal of Industrial Sites
• 14. Shanghai Houtan Park – Benchmark of Ecological Restoration
• 15. Shanghai Huangpu Park – Centuried Memory of The Bund
• Plan Your Shanghai Tour with Us

Shanghai Parks are a Must-Visit for Locals and Tourists

As a must-visit attraction for locals and tourists, all Shanghai parks have their unique features and charms. It offers the way to embrace nature for urban residents. You can do some exercises, have a break, take a walk with your kids, have a sightseeing tour and have a picnic or others. Shanghai Parks of all kinds enable you to have a unique perspective to learn this city.

1. Shanghai Disneyland Park – World-Famous Magic in Pudong

Shanghai Disneyland Park combines classical elements of Disneyland and unique Chinese style, with total area of 3.9 km². For many, it is one of the top things to do in Shanghai.

It embraces a wide range of popular projects, such as Mickey Avenue, Disney Castle, Treasure Cove, and Adventure Isle and so on. They will give you a diversified recreation and bring an exciting and pleasant experience. It is a dreamland for kids and adults.

• Type: Theme park
• Opening Hours: 8:30-21:30
• Tickets: 475 yuan during ordinary days; 719 yuan during peak days; 799 yuan during festivals and holidays; 25% off is given to children, the elders and people with disabilities
• Recommended Visiting Time: over 8 hours
• Address: No. 310, Huangzhao Road, Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai上海市浦东新区川沙新镇黄赵路310号

2. Shanghai Century Park – the Largest Urban Park in Shanghai

Shanghai Century Park, incorporating natural ecology and landscape art, is the largest green space in the central area of inner ring road.

It, covering 140.3 hectares, mainly features lawn, forest and lake. Visitors can have a picnic, ride a bike or go boating. You can get the beautiful scenery of cherry blossom and plum blossom in spring. In summer, lotus comes into full blossom and its leaves link up into a single stretch. At dusk in winter, soft light will provides a best backdrop to observe starts. It is the best for urban workers.

• Type: Large urban park
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2-4 hours
• Address: No. 1001, Jinxiu Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai上海市浦东新区锦绣路1001号

3. Shanghai Fuxing Park – Only One Comprehensive Garden of French classical Style in Shanghai

Shanghai Fuxing Park is the only one comprehensive garden of the French classical style. Its salient feature is French landscape design, which creates a strong atmosphere of European romance.

Roses will come into full blossom in spring. In summer, the park will be covered with the golden yellow of Chinese parasol. It is appropriate for photography enthusiasts because the color scheme of Mailard reaction will give a best photo backdrop.

• Type: Comprehensive garden
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1-2 hours
• Address: No. 105, Yandang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai上海市黄浦区雁荡路105号

4. Shanghai Wild Animal Park – A Safari Experience near the City

Shanghai Wild Animal Park is a place of wildlife conservation, popular science education and leisure experience.

It simulates natural habitats of 153 hectares and collects more than 200 species of animals, like manchurian tigers and flamingoes. You can feed animals like giraffe and kangaroo. They will be more active during 7:30-10:30. You can enjoy animal shows and circus performances. Don’t miss sea lion show at 15:30/17:00. Also, you can have a bus safari to have a close look at rare animals like giant pandas, golden monkey and white tiger, etc.

It is a nice option for children and adults, especially family tour.

• Type: large wildlife park
• Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 from January 1 to June 30 and From October 8 to November 30; 9:00-22:00 from July 1 to October 7; 9:00-16:30 from December 1 to 31
• Tickets: 165 yuan for adults; 82.5 yuan for students and children; free for children below 1.3 meters
• Recommended Visiting Time: 5-6 hours
• Address: No. 178, Nanliugong Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai上海市浦东新区南六公路178号‌

5. Shanghai Botanical Garden – A Paradise for Plant Lovers

Shanghai Botanical Garden is well-known for diverse plant species.

It, with total area of 81.86 hectares, is divided into four special gardens. In bonsai garden, you can find the largest bonsai exhibition of Shanghai style. In exhibition greenhouse, you will find a wide range of tropical plants and alpine plants. Besides, it regularly conducts flower shows and collects thousands of bonsais of Shanghai style.

You can admire magnolia and cherry blossom in full blossom in spring and lotus in summer. In winter, exhibition greenhouse will present unique color-changing plants. This is the best place for plant enthusiasts.

• Type: large urban botanical garden
• Opening Hours: No. 1 Gate: 7:00-17:00 from November to April and 7:00-18:00‌ from May to October; No. 3 Gate and No. 4 Gate: 6:00-17:00 from November to April and 6:00-18:00‌ from May to October; special gardens: 8:30-17:00‌
• Tickets: free to the public. Special garden will be extra charged: 30 yuan for exhibition greenhouse; 7 yuan for bonsai; 7 yuan for orchid house;
• Recommended Visiting Time: 4-6 hours
• Address: No. 1111, Longwu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai (No. 1 Gate); No. 940, Baise Road (No. 3 Gate); No. 151, Luocheng Road (No. 4 Gate) 上海市徐汇区龙吴路1111号（1号门）/百色路940号（3号门）/罗城路151号（4号门）

6. Shanghai People’s Park – Right in the Heart of the City

Shanghai People’s Park, also hailed as the urban green lung, integrates culture, history and natural landscape.

It is divided into three parts. You can admire the flower sea of cherry blossom and magnolia in spring. In summer, you can find large expanse of lotus. If you are interested in the traditional Chinese way to find life partner, this is absolutely the best place on every Sunday mornings.

• Type: comprehensive urban park
• Opening Hours: 07:00-19:00 throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
• Address: No. 231, Nanjing West Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai上海市黄浦区南京西路231号

Related reading: How to Plan a Trip to Shanghai

7. Shanghai Zhongshan Park – Locals’ Favorite Green Escape

Shanghai Zhongshan Park, firstly established in 1914, was to commemorate Sun Yat-sen. As a memorial park with centuries history and culture, it integrates elements of British and Chinese garden.

It boasts British-style lawn, European clock tower and music pavilion, bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen. Here you are provided with the scenery of magnolia and cherry blossom in spring and lotus in summer. It is a pleasant place to have a relax and learn Shanghai history.

• Type: garden of history and culture
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
• Address: No. 780, Changning Road, Changning District, Shanghai上海市长宁区长宁路780号

Related reading: Top Places to See Cherry Blossoms in China

8. Shanghai Lu Xun Park – Literary and Cultural Heritage

Shanghai Lu Xun Park firstly established in 1896, is among the earliest sports parks in China.

It has Lu Xun tomb. Its gravestone is engraved with Mao Zedong’s inscription in honor of Lu Xun’s literature and revolutionary spirit. It also establishes Lu Xun Memorial Hall that collects over 200,000 historical relics, including his manuscripts and clothes. If you take a fancy to Lu Xun, this is a must-visit place.

In addition to that, it establishes Plum Blossom Pavilion to commemorate a Korean valiant who killed a Japanese officer. In spring you can admire plum blossom of different species.

• Type: commemorative park
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Lu Xun Memorial Hall: 9:00-17:00 (closed at 16:00) from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Monday; Plum Blossom Pavilion: 8:00-17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Monday;
• ‌Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2.5-3 hours
• Address: No. 2288, Sichuan North Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai上海市虹口区四川北路2288号

9. Shanghai M50 Creative Park – the Cultural Landmark of Art and Creativity

Shanghai M50 Creative Park is a cultural landmark integrating historical protection and modern art.

The park is covered with graffiti walls, galleries and studios of foreign artist from different countries. Here you can find the ruins of textile industry and enjoy fashion events, art exhibitions and dramas. In the special exhibition hall, you can learn the culture of civil defense. It shows the theme of war and peace by means of rust-eaten shells. This is a good place for art lovers.

• Type: art and creative park based on industrial transformation
• Opening Hours: 09:30-18:30 throughout the year. The exhibition hall of civil defense is open at 9:00-11:30/13:30-16:30‌ from Monday to Friday
• Tickets: free to the public. Special exhibitions and other activities may be extra charged.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1.5-4 hours
• Address: ‌ 50 Moganshan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai上海市普陀区莫干山路50号‌

10. Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park – the World of Marine Animals

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is a large theme park incorporating animal display, recreation facility and popular science education.

It covers 29.7 hectares and collects more than 30,000 marine and polar animals. Here you can enjoy marine animal shows, light shows, robo warrior tour, drifting, cable car and roller coaster. Also, you can learn how to conserve ocean by means of popular science. It is a dreamland for children and adults. If you plan to have a family tour, there is no place better than here.

• Type: theme park of ocean
• Opening Hours: 09:00-20:30 (closed at 19:30) during ordinary days; 09:00-21:00 (closed at 20:00) during festivals and holidays and summer vacation ‌
• Tickets: 330 yuan for adults during ordinary days (399 yuan during festivals and holidays); 199 yuan for children above 1.0 meters and below 1.4 meters; free for children below 1.0 meters (in the company of adults). Students/the elders/soldiers are entitled to discount.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 6-10 hours
• Address: No. 166, Yinfei Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai上海市浦东新区银飞路166号

11. Shanghai Film Park – Base of Film and Television

‌Shanghai Film Park is a large film and television shooting base and centers on the scene of old Shanghai.

It reproduces the life-sized scene of landmark buildings, such as Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Waibaidu Bridge, Shikumen Lane Group and others. Walking around the park, you can find street performances and ‌scene shooting of films. Many classical works were produced here, such as Kung Fu. It is particularly suitable for visitors who want to personally experience the lifestyle of old Shanghai.

• Type: theme park of film and television
• Opening Hours: 08:30-16:30 (closed at 15:30) during ordinary days; 08:30-21:00 from Friday to Sunday during summer nights
• Tickets: 80 yuan for adults (69 yuan for online ticket); 40-50 yuan for students and the elders of 60-70 years old; free for children below 1.2 meters
• Recommended Visiting Time: 3-4 hours
• Address: No. 366, Yingjia Road, Chedun Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai上海市松江区车墩镇影佳路366号

12. Shanghai Jing’an Park – Integration of History and Modernity

Shanghai Jing’an Park is an oxygen-rich green place in the downtown. Dividing by the boulevard with 32 centuried plane trees on either side, the east part vividly reproduces the miniature landscape of Bajing Garden and the west part is an artificial urban forest.

At dusk, you can walk along the parkway to admire more than 300 plants and admire the aesthetics of light and shadow at sunset. If you want to take a cup of tea in a beautiful surrounding, this will be a nice choice.

• Type: green space in the downtown
• Opening Hours: 05:00-22:00 (closed at 21:30)‌ throughout the year
• Tickets: the main park is ‌free to the public. Bajing Garden: each person will be charged for 3 yuan. Children below 1.2 meters are free.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1-2 hours
• Address: No. 1649, Nanjing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai上海市静安区南京西路‌1649号

13. Shanghai Xujiahui Park – Urban Renewal of Industrial Sites

Shanghai Xujiahui Park is a green space in the downtown. It creates a harmonious conversation between industry and nature by keeping age-old industrial relics alive.

With more than 130 plants such as camphor tree and blueberry tree, you feel like walking into the woods. During summer light, you can enjoy light show, lotus pond and musical fountain. It is particularly suitable for photography enthusiasts. You are strongly advised to take your camera here at 16:00-19:00. When the sunset goes through the shade of trees, you will get the best shot of light and shadow.

• Type: comprehensive urban park
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2.5-3 hours
• Address: No. 889, Zhaojiabang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai上海市徐汇区‌肇嘉浜路889号‌

14. Shanghai Houtan Park – Benchmark of Ecological Restoration

Shanghai Houtan Park, also known as the natural secret realm in Shanghai, is a wetland park integrating ecological restoration and industrial site.

With the total area of 18 hectares, it not only conserves original elements of steel mill but also develops the landscape of urban forest scattered with reed marshes, artificial lake, sculpture art and ecological flood control system. You can go for a walk along the boardwalk to watch birds and enjoy flowers and light show. It is a nice place for locals and tourists.

• Type: wetland theme park
• Opening Hours: 06:00-22:00 from June to August; 08:00-18:00‌ from December to February
• Tickets: free to the public.
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1-2 hours
• Address: No. 2200, Shibo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai上海市浦东新区世博大道2200号

15. Shanghai Huangpu Park – Centuried Memory of The Bund

Shanghai Huangpu Park is the earliest European garden in Shanghai. It boasts the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the relief sculpture of revolutionary struggle that is 120 meters long.

You can overlook the skyline of Lujiazui from the park on the riverside boardwalk. Also, you can stroll along The Bund to view light show during summer nights or do morning exercise or go for a walk in early morning. It is particularly suitable for historians who are interested in Shanghai revolution history and urban residents to have a break.

• Type: memorial park
• Opening Hours: 24 hours throughout the year
• Tickets: free to the public
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
• Address: No. 479, Zhongshan East 1^st Road, The Bund, Huangpu District, Shanghai上海市黄浦区‌外滩中山东一路479号

Plan Your Shanghai Tour with Us

Are you looking forward to embarking on a Shanghai tour? The city’s well developed transportation network, simplified visa processes, diverse payment options and internationalized services in most public areas make it a convenient city for global visitors. But, if you want to go deep into the city, visit its neighborhoods and parks, and deeply understand local life and history, joining a guided tour from a professional travel agency is still necessary. That’s where we come in.

With 15+ years of history in arranging itineraries across the country, we have an expert Shanghai travel consultant team who are always ready to offer insiders’ tips and advice. Just tell us where in this city you want to go, and what you want to experience, we will tailor make your perfect itinerary accordingly.