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September 25, 2011 What to Do in Shanghai During Golden Week in 2011

With the National Holiday quickly approaching, a pandemonium has swept through Shanghai. Queues stream from ticket offices, meandering around corners. As mentioned last week, vendors are marketing aggressively, with fliers ubiquitous throughout the city and heavy discounts on a plethora of different products. Packaged tours have become quite the rage too, with special deals on all-inclusive five-day trips to a variety of locales. However, for many, the stress of planning, queuing, and walking into an abattoir such as an airport or train station is utterly unappealing and runs counter to the spirit of vacationing. Thus, staying in Shanghai, sans work or study, should offer the perfect form of respite. However, with many venues of entertainment closed, what should one do? Here, we have you covered.

China National day fireworks

Although many locals will venture afield during the holiday, Shanghai will certainly not be empty. According to Tour Travel China, Shanghai was the top destination for Chinese tourists during Golden Week 2010 and is poised to be similarly lively this year. Although all public facilities will be closed, public buildings will be decorated, along with the obligatory firework shows and concerts. Most retail outlets have red-hot deals over the holiday, making Golden Week as opportune a time as ever for shopping. Check out all of the traditional shopping hotspots, including East Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, Jing’an Temple area, Xujiahui, and Zhongshan Park.

For a fun day trip, particularly if you are a thrill-seeker or adrenaline junky, you can’t beat the venerable Happy Valley Amusement Park (Chinese: 欢乐谷), located at Sheshan metro station (line 9). The park boasts an impressive repertoire of roller coasters, ranging from the extreme (with names like Skydrop, Fireball, and Wave Swinger) to the kid-friendly. There are also a number of restaurants. The tickets go for a flat rate of RMB 200, with some discounting for children on a height basis, and offer unlimited access to rides. As the park closes at 5:45 P.M. and crowds are likely to be prodigious, arriving early is ideal.

Happy Valley Amusement Park - Sheshan

Besides, if you don’t want to spend a long time on the transportation, don’t forget the Grand carnival that we recommended in our previous article Shanghai grand carnival returns now at expo site.

For those less inclined toward wild roller coasters, nearby Sheshan offers the perfect getaway. Replete with gorgeous tree-covered hills, a nice view of Shanghai and the nearby farmlands, and a 19th century Basilica, Sheshan is a world away from Shanghai. The Sheshan Basilica, first constructed in 1863 during the Taiping Rebellion, features 16.46 meter ceilings and impressive stone carving. Nearby is the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, which dates back to the Jesuit times as well. Although it can be reached via the Shanghai Metro, Sheshan maintains a small-town feel and is unlikely to be excessively overrun with tourists.

Sheshan Basilica

Sheshan Basilica from inside

Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum offers another fun of form of family entertainment this holiday season. Located on the tenth floor of the New World Commercial Building on West Nanjing Road, it is the sixth of its kind in the world. The museum features life-sized wax recreations of a number of Chinese and foreign stars, including the likes of Yao Ming, David Beckham, and Albert Einstein. The model is steeped in history, as Madam Tussaud’s first wax museum was built in 1835 to provide ordinary people a glimpse of what dignitaries actually looked like. The museum also features an exhibit on how the figures are created, conferring it with both educational and entertainment purposes. Tickets are RMB 135 for adults and RMB 100 for children, with open hours from 10:00-22:00.

Shanghai Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum

The august Yu Garden, known to locals as Cheng Huang Miao, is a final must-see vicinity for those who have yet to visit. With autumn upon us and the cool breezes cascading off the vegetation, you can’t get much more picturesque in central Shanghai. The garden dates back to 1559 and are the work of Pan Yunduan, who spent 20 years on it in oder to please his father, a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty. Boasting five acres of temples, ponds and impressive greenery, the pristine locale provides the perfect escape this Golden Week.

Shanghai Chenghuang temple

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