Top Activities for Kids in Shanghai

By Sara Naumann, About.com Guide

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Description: interactive museum with many activities to engage the kids
Address: Century Avenue (Shiji Da Dao) 2000, Pudong (north side Century Park)
Opening hours: daily 9am-5:30pm (last ticket sold at 3:30pm)
Admission: 60rmb adults, 45rmb high-school students, 20rmb children under 1.2m (4 ft.)
Getting there: metro stop Shanghai Kejiguan
Comments: very large facility suitable for younger and older kids. Great smaller kids' play area with toddler size construction site. Also check out their 3D and IMAX movies.

Description: wide open spaces with grass to run on, a man-made beach and lots of free kids' activities around Shanghai's "largest man-made lake".
Address: 1158 Linyin New Road, She Shan National Holiday Area, Songjiang District
Opening hours: daily 9am-6pm
Admission: 98rmb, 70rmb for kids under 1.2m (4 ft) and 70+ senior citizens
Getting there: Your best bet is to take a taxi, getting back, walk to nearby Le Méridien hotel to hire one for the return trip.
Comments: Really a fun place in the summer with the water park and beach, it's also a great spot to just get out of the city and walk, take a picnic and sit on the grass with a blanket.

Description: outdoor garden displaying large sculptures, galleries and cafes surround green area.
Address: 570 Huai Hai Road | 淮海路570号
Opening hours: Daily 10am - sundown
Admission: free (yay!)
Comments: Nice break for you and kids when you're tired of parks with noisy amusement rides but you still want to be outside. Take a football or frisbee along; kids can run pretty freely around and you can grab a coffee. Have a wander inside the refurbished brick warehouse on the east side of the garden to see some more funky sculpture inside.

Description: drive-through "safari" wildlife park with ability to purchase live prey to feed animals
Address: Nan Hui San Zao Zhen, Pudong (near Pudong International Airport)
Opening hours: daily 8am-5pm
Admission: 80rmb, 40rmb for kids under 1.2m (4 ft)
Getting there: no metro stops
Comments: visitors take buses through the park. Children who may not be able to handle the sight of live chickens being tossed to hungry tigers may prefer the Shanghai Zoo (see next entry).

Description: typical animal zoo plus ferris wheel and other amusement activities
Address: 2381 Hong Qiao Road, near Hami Road
Opening hours: daily 6:30am-5pm
Admission: adults 40rmb, kids and seniors discounts, free for kids under 1.4m
Getting there: Shanghai Zoo Station Line 10
Comments: my family loves the zoo. You will not be horrified by the treatment of the animals in this zoo - unlike other zoos in Asia and China (and what you've heard). They've spent some money upgrading and many of the animals are in decent enclosures. Sure, it could be better but, for a Chinese zoo, it's not bad. Your kids will enjoy it.

Description; "zoo" for all things creepy and crawly
Address: 1 Fenghe Road, around corner from the Oriental Pearl Tower, Pudong
Opening hours: daily 9am-5pm
Admission: 35rmb adults, 20rmb children, kids under 80cm (32in) free
Getting there: no metro stops
Comments: first floor has a fun open area with fish to feed and snakes to watch. Go downstairs for your fill of turtles and lizards as well as a fishing area where kids rent a net and catch goldfish.

Description: 14 day Mandarin immersion programs for 7-12 year olds
Address: YK Pao School Campus, Jiangsu Road
Camp Operation: July-August
Admission: 8400rmb for a two-week program
Comments: This program is ideal for students who are just moving to China, families who are interested in having their youngsters learn Mandarin or for families on an extended holiday or work assignment and want their children to learn Chinese. YK Pao is one of the 2 international primary education facilities in Shanghai that offer students a fully bi-lingual education program and it has a very good reputation. Students combine learning through practical activities including exploring Shanghai and the area. Contact summercamp@ykpaoschool.cn for more information.