Sheshan offers a cool break for families escaping the summer heat
As the orange high-temperature alerts — the second highest level after red — keep on coming in Shanghai these days, the city’s Sheshan National Tourist Resort offers an enticing destination for those keen to escape the heat waves through the fun and frolics of watersports and a host of other cool activities.
The annual Sheshan Summer Carnival formally starts on Friday, and will last to the end of August. During the two-month summer gala, dozens of activities, programs and events with different themes — such as family, fashion, fun, fads and food — will be staged. They will allow visitors to enjoy a “crazy cool summer”, according to carnival organizers.
The organizers said activities and programs that promote interaction between parents and kids to improve family relationship will be the highlight this year.
Parents and children can enjoy a water play summer camp at the Playa Maya Water Park, renowned for its top aquatic facilities. The water park’s famous rides, including the super horn, a free-fall water drop, a big octopus slide, a water turbo drop ride, and the Magic Water Town, help create an oasis of cool fun.
A summer camp focusing on family education will be held at Shanghai Youngster Sheshan Activities Base. The program aims to boost family happiness levels and family relations through a variety of parent-child outdoor activities, and to promote traditional culture.
In addition, Gleetour Hotel Shanghai will be open this summer, which provides a new choice for family outings.
Next to Shanghai Happy Valley and Playa Maya Water Park, the hotel has 293 guest rooms. Among them, 126 rooms have bed height settings, which can satisfy the travel accommodation needs of a family of four. The hotel will also provide flower arranging, pottery and other imaginative activities for parents and children.
“The design of the hotel’s guest rooms take their cue from Spanish history, displaying different styles from that country’s various historical periods,” said Bu Yongqin, general manager of the hotel.
“Each floor’s style is distinct and different, offering guests an authentic Spanish cultural experience.”
There is also a series of summer camp programs, under different themes, that are taking place during the carnival period, to encourage children to go outdoors and explore the beauty of summer.
The Tianma Country Club in the resort will hold summer camp programs featuring a series of sports activities, such as tennis, golf, swimming and horse riding.
A “Fantastic Night” summer camp program at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden will give kids more knowledge about nature through games, workshops and night trips.
In addition, Sheshan’s hotels and restaurants are also offering barbeques and other gastronomic delights, a beer carnival and spicy lobsters to satisfy visitors.
A journey back to ancient times
Visitors who come to Sheshan can also stop by the Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park, a historical site dating back to the Neolithic Age. Located in the southern part of the Sheshan National Tourist Resort, the prehistoric relics were discovered there in 1958.
After a long period of restoration, the park, the first phase of the Guangfulin Cultural Relics project, opened to the public on a trial basis on June 26.
Officials from Songjiang district government said the park will reproduce the ancient way of life and renowned Guangfulin culture in Songjiang, known as the “cultural root of Shanghai”.
Covering an area of 40,000 square meters, the park offers a glimpse into Shanghai from different perspectives, including folk culture, religious culture and local historical heritage.
Visitors can take in over 5,000 years of culture and history at different exhibition areas and halls, such as the Guangfulin Culture Exhibition Hall, a memorial hall dedicated to Songjiang poet Chen Zilong (1608-47), City God Temple, Guandi Temple, Fulin Pagoda, Zhiye Temple, Fulin Porcelain Museum and Sanyuan Palace.
Three museums, partially underwater, are a highlight of the Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park. One of the museums showcases cultural relics, such as pottery, stone plow, stone axes, spinning wheels, cooking vessels and dishes.
The other two museums reproduce the folk customs of the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and recount the stories of important historical figures in ancient Shanghai.