[2025 Shanghai Attraction] Travel Guide for Houtan Park (Updated Jul)

The last time I went to the Expo Riverside was probably 2-3 years ago. I took advantage of the New Year's Day to eat at the Expo Source and walked along the riverside again✌️ 🗓 Itinerary: Expo Source➡️Celebration Square➡️Expo Park Gate 1➡️Expo Park (Shanghai Songcheng)➡️Expo Avenue➡️Expo Cultural Park The North District of the Expo Cultural Park in this itinerary was newly opened on 12/31. The "Shen Garden" full of Jiangnan style requires advance reservation. Because it was a spur-of-the-moment itinerary, I didn't go there, so I can only leave it for next time to check in. The Expo Riverside in winter is a little depressed, and there are not many tourists. I feel that it is more suitable to check in in spring and autumn. There are abundant green plants, and it must be more fun to walk in it. ps: Songcheng is also closed recently, so it is temporarily impossible to play. If you want to go to Songcheng, don't go in vain. #ShanghaiTravel

#shanghaionbudget Visiting Houtan Park in May was like discovering Shanghai’s secret slice of countryside—all for free. Located along the Huangpu River at 2200 Shibo Avenue, Pudong, this linear park spans 14 hectares and is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM . Once a derelict shipyard and steel plant, the park has been transformed into a lush ecological haven with winding wetlands, bamboo groves, terraces of sunflowers and rice, and reclaimed industrial structures—now charming viewing platforms and shaded spots . In May, wildflowers carpeted the wetland terraces, and early lotus shoots emerged in the streams. I wandered along wooden boardwalks, breathing in fresh river air as gentle waves lapped the irregular riverbank. Numerous seating areas overlooked the water, perfect for reading, sketching, or admiring the skyline from a tranquil distance . Without an entry fee, this park was a delightfully low-cost escape. I spent around 1–2 hours strolling its paths, pausing at reclaimed steel art installations, and marveling at the wetland’s vibrant biodiversity—dragonflies zooming among reeds, tadpoles darting in clear pools, and birds flitting through bamboo . A Reddit user captured it perfectly: “I really like Houtan Park. It is beautiful and great for walking. Some parts feel like you are out in the wilderness. I think it is also one of the few parks in Shanghai where you can ride your bike.”  ⸻ Budget Tips: • Cost: Free entry • Best visit time: May mornings or late afternoons—photogenic light & fewer crowds • Duration: 1–2 hours is enough, but pack a book or snack if you plan to linger • Bring: Water and snacks—cafés may not be open, especially on weekdays ⸻ Final Take Houtan Park is Shanghai’s hidden ecological gem—a peaceful, free park blending wetland wonder, reclaimed industry, and vibrant nature. A must-visit for anyone seeking a green respite by the river without spending a yuan.

Jiuzhai Valley is a bit far, so if you want to get the same color scheme, head to Shanghai's Houtan Park! The ginkgo and plane trees have turned yellow, the maple leaves and roses are red, and the orange, yellow, and green colors create an ultimate romantic atmosphere. The metasequoia trees are reflected in the lake, with green water and blue sky, and the colors are very similar to Jiuzhai Valley, like a fairy tale world in autumn. Come here for a city walk, embrace nature, step on the fallen leaves, listen to the birds and the babbling water, and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery. 🍁🍂

Houtan Park is located along a bend of the Huangpu River, with the riverbank on one side and Expo Avenue on the other. The entire park is distributed in a narrow arc shape. An artificial river runs through the middle of the arc. Standing in this valley, you will feel like you are in nature. The large patches of reeds and pennisetum in the valley are connected in a line and spread out into a surface. The rows of cedar trees on the riverbank echo each other, creating a beautiful autumn and winter landscape.

The weather in Shanghai is indeed a bit too hot recently. We can’t spend all our time indoors during the summer vacation. So, I rushed into the outdoors again in the middle of summer. This time we went to Houtan Park and Houtan Wetland Park Compared with the recently popular World Expo Cultural Park, the Houtan Park seems very quiet. Although the area is not large, it is still very playable. Especially suitable for the midsummer season, let's talk about it in detail below 1️⃣There is a clear water system and a water platform where you can fish or just watch the fish swimming in the water (for details, you can look at the Gogo Park on the map, which is nearby) 2️⃣There are reed marshes in the water system, where you can observe waterfowl such as moorhens and little grebes 3️⃣There is a plank road in the forest, which I personally feel is still cool. Take a walk, there is wind and it’s not that hot. 4️⃣There is a viewing platform by the Huangpu River where you can sit and watch the boats coming and going on the river 5️⃣The Expo Cultural Park is next door and you can walk over for a stroll. When the sun is not shining, it is still very comfortable to play football on the lawn and look at the flowers on the plank road. The entire Expo Cultural Park, including Houtan Park and Houtan Wetland Park, can actually be seen as a whole. The three share the same supporting facilities, and the scenery is highly consistent. If you want to get close to water and enjoy some quiet time, you can choose to go to Houtan Park and Wetland Park. If you want to get outdoors during the summer vacation, this is a good choice. Here are the Tips time: 🚇Metro Line 7: Take Line 7 to Houtan Station and exit from Exit 4 (accessible Yao Road direction) Turn left to Shibo Avenue, and then go about 250 meters to arrive (next to Shanghai Houtan RV Cultural Park - No. 2500 Shibo Avenue) If you park your car, 1) Dog Go Park Ground Parking Lot: You can enter before 10 am. If you enter later, you need to make an appointment. 2) Expo Cultural Park P1 parking lot: close to the waterfront area 3) Expo Cultural Park P2 parking lot: closer to the tent area

#ShanghaiAttractions Walking along the winding wooden boardwalk, you can appreciate the unique wetland exploration beauty of this park. The thriving wetland vegetation and clear streams are all fascinating. In the distance, children cheered and laughed, having fun on the amusement facilities that simulated wetland adventures. Being in it is like entering a natural temple that nurtures life. The rippling lake is like a natural jade mirror, quietly reflecting the surrounding natural scenery; in it, various water birds fly and shuttle through it, like a group of lively natural elves from nature. Being in it, it feels like being in a unique natural wonderland. Houtan Wetland Park is a fantasy kingdom that combines ecological protection with parent-child entertainment. It not only provides citizens with a unique natural experience, but also becomes an ideal place to get close to nature. Being in it is like exploring a unique wetland wonderland.

🌸 In spring, a myriad of flowers bloom, so let's arrange a flower viewing route that shuttles between both sides of the riverside, where you can see three types of flowers in one day. And it's free! 🗺️Route: 1️⃣ Take the subway line 4 to Luban Road Station, then go to Nanyuan Riverside (Tulips) 2️⃣ Ride a bike to subway line 13, World Expo Museum Station, cross the river, and take one stop to Expo Avenue Station 3️⃣ Stroll along the riverside to Hou Tan Wetland Park (Rapeseed flowers) On the way, you can grab a drink at manner and Yichi Garden 4️⃣ After viewing the rapeseed flowers, ride a bike to Expo Source for lunch 5️⃣ Take the subway line 8 to China Art Palace Station, cross the river, and take one stop to South Xizang Road Station 6️⃣ Qinjian Spring Garden (Tulips & Cherry Blossoms), Miaojing Road Bansongyuan Road bus station (Cherry Blossoms) 7️⃣ Ride a bike or walk to Nanpu Bridge bus station (Cherry Blossoms) 🚶‍♀️Surroundings: Besides flower viewing, there are many attractions worth visiting along the way. 📍World Expo Museum Station: World Expo Museum, free. The architecture itself is quite distinctive, and there are occasional special exhibitions. 📍China Art Palace Station: China Art Palace, free. 📍South Xizang Road Station: Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art, TeamLab Light Show 📍Nanpu Bridge Station: Sanshan Guild Hall, free ❗If you think it's too far, you can just keep the Puxi part, which is along the Puxi riverside, from Nanyuan Riverside — Qinjian Spring Garden — Nanpu Bridge, with a total distance of about 3 kilometers. Shanghai Hou Tan Wetland Park

✨No need to go to Wuyuan, you can see vast fields of rapeseed flowers right in the urban area of Shanghai. 📸Photo taken on: 2024.3.23 🌸Status: Just the right amount of bloom 📍Location: Hou Tan Wetland Park 🚶‍♀️Route: Hou Tan Wetland Park is a long strip area located by the Huangpu River, with the rapeseed flowers mainly concentrated in the southern part. ☕Food and Drinks: There are manner and Yichi Garden 🚇Transportation: Metro Line 13, Expo Avenue Station, it's a bit far to walk, better to ride a bike Shanghai Hou Tan Wetland Park

A stunningly beautiful wetland park, a paradise of naturalism Wetland parks are known as the 'lungs of the earth' with high ecological value, most of them are located in the suburbs, this wetland park located in Shanghai city is too precious Houtan Wetland Park is located in the Expo area of Pudong New District, northwest of the Expo Culture Park, adjacent to the Huangpu River, stretching for several kilometers, the opposite side is the under-construction Xubin West Bank Financial City Shanghai's early winter weather is in the teens, the sunshine is warm and not dazzling, the air is cool When I went there, there weren't many people in the park, only the sound of birds could be heard, it was very quiet, the large wetland, reed and reed clusters were full of wild interest, there were people with nets catching shrimps and tadpoles by the wetland, occasionally cyclists and runners passed by, take a deep breath, close your eyes, you can empty yourself Location: Expo Houtan Wetland Park, Admission: Free

In the cold winter days, because of the clear weather, I want to run to the park no matter how cold it is. I still remember the Taxodium in Houtan, and I rushed there after lunch. Although it was noon, it was really cold. In the large park, there were few tourists. I encountered a cat, a bird, and two grebes, basking in the sun alone under the cedar forest, on the branches of Euphorbia, and by the water grass, just like me alone. Houtan is probably the last place to appreciate cedars in Magic City. There are quite a few trees with lush branches and leaves, dressed in red, and you can see that fire from a distance. The rest gradually faded their heavy makeup, and the dim brick red reflected in the clear water is still picturesque. There are a few trees, the treetops are still stubbornly retaining the green and red, with the blue sky as a backdrop, it is also a simple and bright postcard. This is probably the last bright color of the 23rd year, and I start to look forward to the beauty of the 24th year. 📍Detailed address: No. 2200, Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area ⏰Opening hours: all day 💴Average consumption: free

Wetland parks are known as the 'lungs of the earth' with high ecological value, most of which are located in the suburbs. This wetland park located in Shanghai city area is too precious. Houtan Wetland Park is located in the Expo area of Pudong New District, northwest of the Expo Culture Park, adjacent to the Huangpu River for several kilometers. The opposite side is the under-construction Xubin West Bank Financial City. Shanghai's early winter weather is in the teens, the sun is warm and not dazzling, and the air is cool. When I went there, there weren't many people in the park. I could only hear the birds singing. It was very quiet. The large wetlands, reeds and reed clusters were full of wild fun. There were people with nets catching shrimps and tadpoles by the wetland. Occasionally, cyclists and runners passed by. Take a deep breath and close your eyes to empty yourself. Location: Expo Houtan Wetland Park Admission: Free

Do you like roses? There are so many beautiful places in the parks on Pudong side along the Hunagpu River. The rose garden is a beautiful place and can be visited for free. (Date of visit 21st of August 2022)