If you are looking for things to do in Shanghai this summer here are some activities you might be interested in:
Please note: Information is accurate at the time of writing. For the latest information, follow official WeChat accounts. Check apps such as Dianping to find ticket discounts.
Shimao Riviera Garden Swimming Pool (世茂滨江花园游泳池)
This iconic residential complex in Lujiazui features indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The north and south clubhouses offer residents and guests access to indoor heated pools, an outdoor beach-style pool, plus extensive sporting facilities including basketball courts, football pitches, tennis courts, squash courts, gym and yoga studio. The outdoor pool area is surrounded by the estate’s lush 70% greenery, creating a tropical oasis in the heart of the financial district.
Age: All ages (children must be accompanied by an adult)
Price: day pass availability for non-residents varies; contact property management
Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (seasonal; confirm with clubhouse)
Address: No. 1 Lane Weifang West Road, Pudong New Area (浦东新区潍坊西路1弄)
Radisson Blu Forest Manor Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥西郊庄园丽笙大酒店)
Escape the city heat at this Mediterranean-inspired resort in Minhang. The Retiro Garden outdoor pool is a 1,000-square-meter polygonal garden pool surrounded by coconut groves, charming fountains, white-sand beach and architecture reminiscent of the Alhambra Palace. Divided into adult and children’s play areas, it’s a true Spanish royal garden escape. For serious swimmers, the Star Swimming Pool is a 12m × 25m indoor pool with a stunning starry ceiling, heated floors around the pool deck and locker rooms, plus steam baths, saunas, massage baths and a heated jade relaxation chair.
Age: All ages (children’s play area available)
Price: FREE for in-house guests; Day Pass ¥200 (weekdays) / ¥380 (weekends & holidays); Children half price
Hours: Outdoor pool 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (July 1 – August 31); Indoor pool 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: 839 Jinfeng Road, Minhang (闵行区金丰路839号)
ShuiGuo Spa (水裹·汤泉生活)
ShuiGuo’s flagship location in Hongqiao is a light-luxury urban micro-vacation destination perfect for cooling off during Shanghai’s sweltering summers. This 24-hour bathhouse blends traditional hot spring culture with modern lifestyle aesthetics, offering gender-segregated hot spring pools, Himalayan salt room, cinema lounge, children’s playroom, and dedicated PS5 and Nintendo Switch gaming zones. The spa is renowned for its all-you-can-eat fruit bar, featuring premium seasonal fruits like cherries, strawberries and durian, plus complimentary beverages. Additional services include aromatherapy massages, foot reflexology, and traditional Chinese body scrubs.
Age: All ages (children under 60cm FREE; 60cm–1.2m discounted)
Price: Adults ¥298 (weekdays) / ¥358 (weekends & holidays); Night tickets from ¥329 (includes overnight stay and breakfast)
Hours: 24 hours
Address: B1, Building H, Longhu Hongqiao Paradise Walk, 1010 Shenbin South Road, Minhang District (闵行区申滨南路1010号龙湖虹桥天街B馆H栋B1层)
Linlinyu Spa (霖林雨汤泉生活)
Located in the Qibao commercial district, Linlinyu is a bathhouse and hot spring retreat, offering traditional Chinese bathing pools, sauna and steam rooms, massage therapy, and relaxation lounges. Guests enjoy complimentary seasonal fruits and beverages as part of the entry fee. The spa provides a range of add-on services including foot massage, body scrubs, and aromatherapy treatments.
Age: All ages
Price: around ¥275/person
Hours: Open 24 hours
Address: 3065 Hongxin Road, Qibao, Minhang District (闵行区虹莘路3065号)
Shanghai Legoland Resort (上海乐高乐园度假区)
Opened in July 2025, as China’s first Legoland and the world’s largest at opening, this 318,000-square-meter resort features 8 themed zones with over 75 rides, shows, and attractions. Summer visitors can cool off at the resort’s dedicated water play areas, including the water playground and splash zones integrated into attractions like the Coast Guard Academy and Dragon’s Apprentice. The park also offers the Lego Ninjago ride with water effects and the Pirate Shores area where families can engage in water-based interactive play. A full water park expansion is planned for future development on the west side of the property. Unique to Shanghai are the world’s tallest 26-meter Lego minifigure “Dada,” the world’s first Monkey King (Sun Wukong) themed zone, and a Jiangnan water town boat ride with Chinese-style architecture in Miniland. For tips on visiting Shanghai Legoland Resort, see our previous article.
Age: All ages (some thrill rides require 107cm+)
Price: Adults from ¥319; Children 1.0–1.4m from ¥255; Under 1.0m FREE
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (summer hours may extend)
Address: 999 Lebin Road, Fengjing Town, Jinshan District (金山区枫泾镇乐缤路999号)
Shanghai Disneyland (上海迪士尼乐园)
Shanghai Disneyland offers several water-based attractions that are essential summer experiences for beating the heat. The signature Roaring Rapids (雷鸣山漂流) in Adventure Isle takes riders on a thrilling raft journey through dark caverns, past a roaring mythical beast, and down churning rapids—guaranteed to leave you soaked and refreshed. In Treasure Cove, the Explorer Canoes (探险家独木舟) let families paddle together across the waters of Treasure Cove, offering a more leisurely, but equally wet, adventure. The Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure ride also features immersive water scenes. During summer months, the park often adds seasonal water play areas and cooling mist stations throughout the grounds.
Pro tip: bring a disposable rain poncho for Roaring Rapids, or embrace the soak—it’s part of the fun on a hot day! For Disney water rides such as the Roaring Rapids, queues can exceed 2 hours on peak days, so use the Disney Premier Access service or arrive at the park opening time to ride first. For other tips on visiting Shanghai Disneyland, see our previous article.
Age: All ages (Roaring Rapids: 107cm+; Explorer Canoes: all ages with adult supervision)
Price: Adults from ¥475; Children 3–11 / Seniors 60+ from ¥356; Under 3 FREE
Hours: 8:30 AM – 9:30 PM (summer; check official app for daily schedules)
Address: 310 Huangzhao Road, Pudong New Area (浦东新区黄赵路310号)
Shanghai Maya Beach Water Park (上海玛雅海滩水公园)
Shanghai’s premier water park returns every summer with over 20 large-scale water attractions, 40+ thrilling rides and 100+ family-friendly water play areas. The park features adrenaline-pumping slides like the Giant Tornado and Deep Sea Python, a massive wave pool that simulates ocean conditions, and a lazy river for more relaxed floating. For younger visitors, the Maya Camp, Happy Jungle, and Animal Kingdom zones offer shallow pools and gentle slides. The park also hosts themed events and music parties throughout the season. It’s located near Sheshan in Songjiang district, with a free shuttle bus from Sheshan Metro Station.
Age: All ages (thrill rides for ages 12+; kids’ zones best for ages 3–10)
Price: Adults ¥99–249 (varies by date and package); Children under 1.2m FREE
Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (seasonal, typically June–September)
Address: 1222 Linyin New Road, Songjiang District (松江区林荫新路1222号)
Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park (上海海昌海洋公园)
This ocean-themed park offers a perfect summer escape with 6 indoor animal exhibition halls, kept at a constant 21°C, providing relief from the summer heat. Summer highlights include the Orca Wave Festival, Yunnan Dai Water Splashing performances, and the Polar Cool-Off Festival. Visitors can enjoy foam parties, water gun battles, and nightly drone and fireworks shows on weekends. The park has expanded shaded areas with mist-cooling systems and offers complimentary sour plum soup and ice packs to help guests beat the heat.
Age: All ages (best for ages 4–14)
Price: Adults ¥399 standard; Children 1.0–1.4m ¥249; Under 1.0m FREE
Hours: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM (extended hours in summer; night sessions available)
Address: 166 Yinfei Road, Pudong New Area (浦东新区银飞路166号)
Jinshan City Beach (金山城市沙滩)
One of the most distinctive urban coastal landscapes in the Yangtze River Delta, Jinshan City Beach covers 160,000 square meters of sand with a 26,000-square-meter swimming area. Visitors can swim, play beach volleyball, ride motorboats, try sailing, or simply relax on the sand. The newly opened A-Lang Adventure Island on the beach’s west side is a coastal playground, with 10 immersive themed attractions and 26 types of equipment, including ocean-facing swings, mini excavators, and a giant slide that drops right onto the sand. Families can also dig for crabs and camp by the sea.
Age: All ages (swimming area best for ages 6+ with supervision)
Price: Adults ¥30–50 (seasonal); Children under 1.3m FREE
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (swimming season: July–August)
Address: 7555 Huhang Highway, Jinshan District (金山区沪杭公路7555号)
Oriental Land (东方绿舟)
Located on the shores of Dianshan Lake in Qingpu district, this 5,600-acre ecological resort is one of Shanghai’s largest outdoor recreation areas. Summer activities include star-themed bumper boats, trampolines, amphibious vehicles, and leisurely kayaking. The park’s lush vegetation and expansive waterways create a natural cooling effect, making it an ideal summer retreat. Families can also explore the decommissioned aircraft carrier exhibit, try rock climbing, or enjoy lakeside camping and BBQ. The park connects to scenic water routes linking Dianshan Lake, Daguan Garden, and Yuan Dang.
Age: All ages (water activities best for ages 5+)
Price: Adults ¥50; Children 1.3–1.5m ¥25; Under 1.3m FREE
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 6888 Huqingping Highway, Qingpu District (青浦区沪青平公路6888号)
Shanghai Greenland Forest Park (上海滨江森林公园)
Shanghai’s highest-forest-coverage suburban park sits at the northernmost tip of Pudong, offering a cool retreat with its dense canopy of native plants and diverse wildlife habitats. In summer, the park’s shaded trails, flower gardens, and riverside paths provide natural air conditioning. Visitors can cycle through the woods, set up tents for picnics, or stroll along the waterfront. The park is particularly peaceful on weekdays when crowds are thin, making it a great spot for families seeking a quiet nature escape without leaving the city.
Age: All ages (cycling and trails suitable for all)
Price: FREE
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 3 Gaoshatan, Lingqiao, Gaoqiao Town, Pudong New Area (浦东新区高桥镇凌桥高沙滩3号)
Tips for Summer in Shanghai
- Beat the heat: Most outdoor attractions open early; aim to arrive by 8:00–9:00 AM. Many parks and water parks offer night sessions with cooler temperatures.
- Spa strategy: Bathhouses like ShuiGuo and Linlinyu are busiest on weekends—visit on weekday afternoons for a more peaceful experience. Both are open 24 hours, making them great for late-night relaxation.
- Hydration: Carry water everywhere. Free water stations are available at major attractions.
- Metro access: All locations listed are accessible via Shanghai Metro, though some (like Maya Beach and Legoland) require a short shuttle or taxi ride from the nearest station.
- Book ahead: Water parks, Disney, Legoland, and spa entry tickets sell out quickly on weekends—reserve online in advance.
About the Author
Originally from Siberia, Ollie was always passionate about seeing other countries. Her family moved to a western part of Russia and she had a chance to travel around Europe. When Ollie met her husband, they decided to discover Asia and came to Shanghai together. She’s been living in Shanghai for 10 years now and absolutely loves it! Ollie is fond of foreign languages, learning about new cultures, shooting short videos and dancing. In her free time, you can find her learning Chinese on her own, walking around the city and taking lots of videos. She is developing her personal blog on Instagram about her life on maternity leave as @shanghaimomcation. Follow her to see more of her journey.