Finding grassy parks where you can enjoy a picnic can be tricky, so we’ve compiled a list of playgrounds perfect for both play and picnics! Join us as we explore 13 of the city’s top spots to unwind, relax, and enjoy outdoor fun with tasty treats!
At-A-Glance List
Baoshan
Baoshan Riverside Park
Address in English: Across from Lingjiang Park
Name and Address in Chinese: 宝山滨江公园, 上海市宝山区临江公园对面
This location is next to the river where you can see lots of tree blossoms and large ships docking. There is a sandpit area with slides. It’s a great spot for picnics, camping, and is dog-friendly too!
Changning
New Hongqiao Central Garden
Address in English: 97 Yili Road (walkable distance from Yili Road Station, Line 8, Exit 4)
Name and Address in Chinese: 新虹桥中心花园, 上海市长宁区伊犁路97号
A great spot for picnics with large open grass spaces. Head to one end for some basketball or badminton action. And check out the lake, where you’ll find swans, ducks, turtles, and even frogs and tadpoles.
Shanghai Zoo
Address: 2381 Hongqiao Road, Changning (next to Shanghai Zoo Station, Line 10, Exit 4)
Name and Address in Chinese: 上海动物园, 上海市长宁区虹桥路2381号
Entry fee 40 RMB/adult, 20 RMB/child. In addition to the animals, which the kids love, it has a large, lush lawn in the middle, which is perfect for picnics.
Zhongshan Park
Address in English: 780 Changning Road (next to Zhongshan Park Station, Line 2, Exit 4)
Name and Address in Chinese: 中山公园, 上海市长宁路780号
The large grassy areas in Zhongshan Park are popular for picnics, tanning and frisbee throwing.
Minhang
Minhang Science and Technology Innovation Park
Address in English: Intersection of Jianchuan Road and Zhongchun Road
Name and Address in Chinese: 闵行科创公园, 上海市闵行区剑川路与中春路交叉口
A lovely park for walking, picnic-camping, cycling or letting the kids enjoy the large playground that features ropes, slides, a sandpit and climbing walls.
Minhang Cultural Park
Address in English: 2019 Wuzhong Road, Minhang (Walkable distance from Hangzhong Road Station, Line 10, Exit 3)
Name and Address in Chinese: 闵行文化公园, 上海市闵行区吴中路2019号
A large picnic-friendly park. Playground is on padded flooring or sand, with multiple tubular and open slides, swings, activity walls, spring horses and an obstacle course.
Pudong
Qiantan Leisure Park
Address in English: Intersection of Qiantan Avenue and Gaoqing West Road
Century Park
Address in English: Intersection of Huamu Road and Haitong Road (Gate 7. Next to Century Park Station, Line 2, Exit 4)
Name and Address in Chinese: 世纪公园, 上海市浦东新区海桐路与樱花路交叉口
Nice for picnics and light sports (no teams, but a few people throwing or kicking a ball is ok). Popular on weekends, very tent-friendly and there is a small farm and playground for the kids for 58 RMB entry fee.
Shanghai Binjiang Forest Park
Address in English: 3 Lingqiao Gaoshatan, Gaoqiao Town, Pudong
Putuo
Lizi Garden Park
Address in English: 822 Zhennan Road, Putuo
Name and Address in Chinese: 李子园公园, 上海市普陀区武威东路与真南路822弄交汇处
In addition to being picnic-friendly, Lizi Graden Park also has a huge playground that can be found under a walkway. It features lots of ropes to climb, slides, see-saws and swings.
Suzhou Creek Half Marathon Park
Address: 6 Guangfu West Road, Putuo
Name and Address in Chinese: 半马苏河公园, 上海市普陀区光复西路6号
A gigantic sandpit area borders a section of the Suzhou River, offering swings and a boat for kids to play in. Adjacent to this is a playground with slides, climbing ropes and a climbing wall. This area is also welcoming to dogs and is picnic-friendly.
Suzhou Creek Mengqing Garden Environmental Protection Theme Park
Address: 66 Yichang Road, Putuo (Walkable distance from Zhongtan Road Station, Line 4, Exit 5)
Name and Address in Chinese: 苏州河梦清园环保主题公园, 上海普陀区宜昌路66号
Situated on Suzhou creek, near the 1000 Trees shopping mall and M50 art district, this park has a playground equipped with open and tubular slides, ropes course and a climbing wall. There is also a small area that kids can use as a sandpit, but it may be an unfinished garden bed. The lake and creek also has small fish that children are welcome to catch using their own tools.
Xuhui
Xuhui Riverside Green Space
Address: Intersection of Dong’an Road and Longteng Avenue (Walkable distance from Longhua Middle Road Station, Lines 7/12, Exit 5)
Name and Address in Chinese: 徐汇滨江绿地, 上海市徐汇区东安路与龙腾大道交叉口
This area is popular for picnics, as well as bouldering/climbing, slacklining, rollerblading, skateboarding and music practice. It is also pet-friendly and has multiple dog parks/enclosures nearby where dogs can be let off the leash.
(Images contained in this article are from Dianping or personally taken.)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Naz Lim
Naz grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to Shanghai to pursue her dreams of becoming a scientist. She has lived in Shanghai for over 7 years and is passionate about STEM, pet adoption, Chinese culture and finding things to do in the city she lives in. Her family currently consists of adopted dog George, 3 year old Zoe and her husband Simon. In her spare time, you can find Naz reading, writing, drinking tea, practising yoga, trying new desserts or scootering around the city seeing friends.
Deanna “D” Irizarry
Originally from the US, D has lived across the East Coast, Mid-West and Central America. Wanderlust at heart, D loves traveling, helping others make connections, exploring Shanghai, reading, and finding the perfect Paloma. She lives in the FFC with her husband (Edmond), 7-yo son (Aaron) and 3 goldfish (Huey, Dewey, and Louie).
