How to Use This Guide
Each route below lists the fastest metro line and station, a connecting bus if one helps, an estimated taxi or DiDi fare, and what to look for on arrival. Most international visitors stay around People's Square, Lujiazui, or the Bund — times and fares below are measured from those central baselines.
Shanghai's metro is the easiest in China to use without Chinese: you can ride with a QR code inside Alipay linked to a foreign card (see the car-free guide). Save the quick-reference table at the bottom of this page to your phone before you set out — it fits in one screenshot.
Forest Park — Gongqing (Yangpu)
Gongqing Forest Park is the closest large forest to the city centre. Take metro Line 8 to Shiguang Road station (市光路站), the nearest hub to the West Gate; the East Gate is closer to Nenjiang Road station (嫩江路站) if you plan to exit that way. On weekends and holidays from March to June and September to December, a 'Forest Direct' shuttle (森林直通车) runs from Shiguang Road to the gate between roughly 08:00 and 18:00; at other times bus 537 covers the short hop, or walk about 15 minutes from the station.
A taxi or DiDi from central Shanghai to the West Gate costs roughly ¥40–60 and takes 30–50 minutes depending on traffic. Tell the driver 共青森林公园 (Gongqing Forest Park) or 军工路2000号 (the West Gate address). The park is free but reservation-based — book on the park's WeChat account, Meituan, or Ctrip before you go.
Natural Hills — Sheshan (Songjiang)
Sheshan is Shanghai's only natural forest hills, about 30 km southwest of the centre. Take metro Line 9 to Sheshan station (佘山站), Exit 2. From the exit a row of shared bikes usually sits by the pedestrian overpass — the ride to the East Sheshan South Gate is a flat, shaded 3 km along Linyin New Road (林荫新路), about 20–30 minutes. If it is raining, Songjiang bus 92 or 98 (¥2) runs from the station to the park gates.
A taxi from central Shanghai is ¥120–160 and 45–70 minutes — longer in peak traffic. Tell the driver 佘山 or 佘山国家森林公园. The bamboo boardwalks and twin peaks are worth the trip out.
Riverfront & Citywalks — West Bund, Xuhui, Pudong, Suzhou Creek
These routes are threaded along the Huangpu River and the former industrial waterfront, and they are the simplest to reach.
West Bund: metro Line 11 to Yunjin Road (云锦路站) puts you at the cement-works end; Line 7 or 12 to Middle Longhua Road (龙华中路站) reaches the museum cluster. Xuhui Riverside: Line 7 or 12 to Middle Longhua Road, or Line 4 to Shanghai Stadium (上海体育场站) for the northern stretch. Pudong Riverside: the corridor is long — stations vary by section (Lines 6, 7, 8, 10 and 14 all touch it); check the specific trail page for your chosen segment. Suzhou Creek: Lines 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 and 13 all run near points along the creek — Line 2 to East Nanjing Road (南京东路站), Line 3/4 to Baoshan Road (宝山路站), or Line 12 to Qufu Road (曲阜路站) are common starting points.
Confirm the exact exit and walking direction in Amap on the day — riverside entrances shift between developments.
Expo Park & Outer Hills — Twin Hills, Tianma, Xiaokunshan
Twin Hills (Expo Culture Park's artificial hills) is the easiest of the outer routes: metro Line 13 to Shibo Avenue (世博大道站), or Line 8 to China Art Museum (中华艺术宫站), both a short walk from the park.
Tianma Mountain and Xiaokunshan are in Songjiang, far west. Take metro Line 9 to Songjiang University Town (松江大学城站) for Tianma, then a taxi or bus the remaining ~10 km; for Xiaokunshan, Line 9 to Songjiang South (松江南站) is the closer hub. From either station, budget ¥25–45 and 15–30 minutes by taxi, or use a local bus — schedules are thinner out here, so check the trail page and confirm times in Amap.
The Car-Free Crossing: Huangpu River Ferry
If you want to link the Bund side with the Pudong riverside without a car or the metro, take the Huangpu River ferry (轮渡). The Dongjin line (东金线) runs between Zhongshan East 2nd Road (中山东二路, by the Bund) and Dongchang Road (东昌路) on the Pudong side, a flat, scenic crossing for about ¥2. Ferries generally run from around 07:00 to 22:00, but confirm the day's hours on site. It is one of the cheapest and most characterful car-free moves in the city, and it drops you straight onto Pudong's riverside greenway.
Quick-Reference Table
Save this table before you head out:
| Route | Nearest Metro | Connecting Option | Taxi (from centre) | Search in Amap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gongqing Forest Park | Line 8 Shiguang Rd (市光路) | Bus 537 / weekend shuttle | ¥40–60 (30–50 min) | 共青森林公园 |
| Sheshan | Line 9 Sheshan (佘山) Exit 2 | Songjiang 92/98 bus | ¥120–160 (45–70 min) | 佘山国家森林公园 |
| West Bund | Line 11 Yunjin Rd (云锦路) | Walk | ¥30–50 | 徐汇滨江 |
| Xuhui Riverside | Line 7/12 Middle Longhua Rd (龙华中路) | Walk | ¥30–50 | 徐汇滨江 |
| Pudong Riverside | Lines 6/7/8/10/14 (by section) | Walk | ¥35–60 | 浦东滨江 |
| Suzhou Creek | Lines 2/3/4/10/12/13 | Walk | ¥25–45 | 苏州河 |
| Twin Hills (Expo) | Line 13 Shibo Ave (世博大道) | Walk | ¥35–55 | 世博文化公园 |
| Tianma / Xiaokunshan | Line 9 Songjiang Univ. Town / Songjiang South | Taxi or bus | ¥25–45 (last 10 km) | 天马山 / 小昆山 |
All fares are estimates and exclude surge pricing. Add 20–40 minutes in weekday peak traffic or on holiday weekends.
