If you are looking for things to do in Shanghai this spring here are some activities you might be interested in:
*Please note: Places are listed in alphabetical order. Information about age, price, address and hours is listed under each place – accurate at the time of writing. Images are the author’s own or from Dianping.
Century Park
Shanghai’s largest urban park spans 140 hectares (346 acres) in the heart of Pudong. The park features 13 distinct areas including a children’s playground, leisure cycling, sightseeing cars, lake cruises, a green maze, fishing areas, and a pigeon feeding area. Families can rent tandem bikes or pedal boats (¥30-50/hour) to explore the lake and trails, fly kites on the open lawns, or enjoy mini amusement rides. The park hosts seasonal events like flower festivals in spring (cherry blossoms bloom from mid-March to early April) and lantern shows in autumn. It’s conveniently located at Century Park Station on Metro Line 2 (Exits 1 or 2).
Age: All ages (playground best for ages 3-12)
Price: Adults ¥10; Children under 1.2m FREE
Address: 1001 Jinxiu Road, Pudong New Area (锦绣路1001号)
Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Daning Park (Daning Lingshi Park)
The largest park in central Puxi, spanning 680,000 square meters (68 hectares), Daning Park is renowned for its annual spring tulip festival featuring over 2 million Dutch tulips, across 45 different species, covering an area the size of six football fields. The park’s centerpiece for families is the 3,200-square-meter White Sand Beach (imported quartz sand).
Kids can also enjoy boating on Linglong Lake with electric swan boats (¥60/30 mins) or traditional paddleboats (¥40/30 mins), feed koi fish (fed daily at 11 AM by staff), or explore the park’s 19-meter-tall artificial mountain—Shanghai’s tallest. The park features a Roman Square with Corinthian columns, a European-style garden with a windmill, and ecological wetlands with boardwalks. Enter through the North Gate for the most efficient route to the White Sand Beach, cherry blossoms, and tulip fields. Easily accessible via Metro Line 1 to Shanghai Circus World Station (Exit 3), then a 400-meter walk.
Age: All ages (White Sand Beach and playground best for ages 2-12)
Price: FREE admission
Address: 288 Guangzhong West Road, Jing’an District (广中西路288号)
Hours: November 1 – April 30: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM; May 1 – October 31: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Gucun Park
Home to an impressive collection of 10,000 cherry blossom trees featuring 28 different species, Gucun Park is one of Shanghai’s largest cherry blossom sites. The park spans 400 hectares and features themed gardens, a Ferris wheel (¥30 for adults, ¥15 for kids), wide open lawns, and fun spots for kids. The annual Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 11 to April 15. The park is perfect for picnics, biking, and family outings with various leisure activities throughout the year.
Age: All ages (playground areas best for ages 3-12)
Price: Adults ¥20; Children under 1.3m FREE
Address: 4788 Hutai Road, Baoshan District (沪太路4788号)
Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
Jump 360
This massive trampoline park at the Shanghai Expo offers 3,500 square meters of high-flying fun. The facility features wall-to-wall trampolines, giant foam pit for practicing aerials, slam dunk zone, ninja obstacle course, spider wall, and even a 360-degree bicycle. There’s a dedicated area for basketball on trampolines and a devil’s slide for the brave. The venue hosts birthday parties in private rooms on the second floor, complete with decorations and catering options. It’s perfect for burning energy on rainy days.
Age: All ages (dedicated toddler area for younger children)
Price: Starting at ¥99 (after 6 PM tickets); around ¥10/hour for basic packages
Address: 4th Floor, 99 Xingyi Road, near Guyang Road, Shanghai Expo (兴义路99号4楼, 近古阳路)
Hours: Typically 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (check specific location)
Magic Jungle
This is Shanghai’s first high-altitude ropes challenge course, located right on the North Bund with spectacular views of the Lujiazui skyline and Oriental Pearl Tower. The 800-square-meter, four-level rope climbing experience features 94 different outdoor challenges of varying difficulty levels. The ground floor children’s area is designed specifically for kids under 1.4 meters tall, featuring 16 play activities, while adults and taller children can challenge the second to fourth floors, including the open-air “Magic Sky Island” platform at the top. Highlights include a crazy 360-degree spiral slide with views of the North Bund scenery as you descend, various obstacles like swinging from pillar to pillar, riding bicycles along planks, and dodging rolling cylinders—all while suspended 20-30 meters (60 feet) in the air. It’s the perfect place for children to unleash their inner Tarzan while parents enjoy the riverside views.
Age: 4-60 years old; Children under 140cm can only play on the first floor; Full course requires height over 140cm and weight under 120kg.
Price: High rope courses ¥168; Full ticket ¥236 (cheaper on weekdays); Multi-use cards and single item tickets available.
Address: G/F, Shanghai Port Cruise City, 500 Dong Daming Road, Hongkou District (Southeast side of Rainbow Bridge), near International Cruise Terminal, Line 12.
Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (tickets available until 7:30 PM, last admission 7:30 PM)
Shanghai Botanical Garden
One of China’s largest botanical gardens, this 81-hectare sanctuary features over 3,500 plant species across more than 20 themed gardens. For families, the Children’s Playground near Entrance No. 4 (accessible via Metro Line 3 to Shilong Road Station) offers dedicated play equipment. Kids can explore the Tropical Plant House, visit the Bonsai Garden to see miniature trees, and learn about medicinal plants in the Herb Garden. The garden provides wheelchair and children bike rentals at each entrance, and a clinic is available at Entrance No. 1 for any minor injuries. Spring is the perfect season to introduce children to various flowers and plants while taking stunning photos.
Age: All ages (Children’s Playground best for ages 3-10)
Price: Adults ¥15; Conservatory ¥30; Bonsai Garden ¥7; Orchid Garden ¥7; Combo Ticket ¥40; Children under 1.3m FREE
Address: 1111 Longwu Road, Xuhui District (龙吴路1111号)
Hours: Open Area 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Gardens and Exhibition Halls 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Shanghai Children's Museum
China’s first children’s museum (opened 1996) features themed galleries across multiple floors: an underground world where kids play archaeologist, sea-themed first floor with a life-size submarine model and ship simulator, and space-themed second floor where children can weigh themselves on different planets. A cute alien mascot named Gulu guides young visitors.
Age: Best for ages 3-10
Price: FREE admission (some special activities inside cost ¥20-50)
Address: 61 Songyuan Road, near Huangjin Cheng Dao, Changning District (宋园路61号, 近黄金城道)
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8:45 AM – 4:45 PM (last entry 3:30 PM), Closed on Mondays
Shanghai Natural History Museum
This stunning “green spiral” building houses over 290,000 specimens. Kids love the B1 “Exploration Center” where they can participate in fossil digging experiences (free but requiring advance booking for children 100-130cm tall), the 4D cinema, and the magnificent Mamenchisaurus skeleton that towers four stories high.
Age: All ages (best for school-age children; under 6 or under 1.3m FREE)
Price: Adults ¥30; Children under 1.3m or under 6 years FREE; Seniors 70+ FREE
Address: 510 Beijing West Road (West), Jing’an District, at intersection of Datian Road and Shanhaiguan Road (静安区北京西路510号)
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM), Closed on Mondays
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
After an extensive renovation, this museum now features the “One-Metre World” zone designed entirely from a child’s-eye perspective for ages 3-8, using play-based interactions to introduce science concepts. The museum integrates art into scientific storytelling with kinetic sculptures and AI-driven installations.
Age: All ages (special “One-Metre World” zone for ages 3-8)
Price: Adults ¥45; Students ¥22; Children under 1.3m or under 6 years FREE
Address: 2000 Century Avenue, Pudong (世纪大道2000号)
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last ticket 4:00 PM), Closed Mondays
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
This six-story museum at People’s Square offers a fascinating look at Shanghai’s past, present, and future. The centerpiece is a massive 600-square-meter scale model of the entire city. Kids enjoy the 360-degree theater that makes them feel like they’re flying through future Shanghai.
Age: All ages (school-age children and up will appreciate most)
Price: FREE (appointment required)
Address: 100 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District (人民大道100号)
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission 4:00 PM), Closed on Wednesdays
Xujiahui Park
This centrally located urban park offers a perfect blend of nature, play, and culture for families. The Children’s Playground is equipped with sandpits, slides, swings, and climbing structures with age-appropriate designs, ensuring both toddlers and older kids can find their own joy. The park is particularly stunning in spring when tulips bloom alongside elegant black swans. Easily accessible via Metro Line 1/9/11 to Xujiahui Station, then a 5-minute walk.
Age: All ages (playground best for ages 2-8)
Price: FREE
Address: 889 Zhaojiabang Road, Xuhui District (肇嘉浜路889号)
Hours: Open all day (Baidai Little Red House: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, closed Mondays)
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 9 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 or 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.