Editor's note: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has recently launched 82 high-quality rural tourism routes across the country to enable the public to experience the poetic and picturesque life in the countryside. Notably, Shanghai has three boutique tourism routes on the list. The following is one recommended route.

Embarking on a unique adventure in Pujiang town in Shanghai's Minhang district will be an opportunity to experience a special Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 10 this year. Immersed in the essence of humanity and vibrant festivities, you may discover the cultural codes of Dragon Boat Festival at the Pujiang Country Park, where you can explore the traditions, feel the allure of ancient culture, and engage in the distinctive cultural heritage of Pujiang.

In Pujiang, there lies an opportunity to see the historical relic of the "Train Ferry Site" along the Huangpu River, make a stop at the thrilling Ruiqing Karting Theme Park, and feel the speed and excitement of the most beautiful riverside track in Shanghai. Conclude your day by savoring a cup of coffee along the riverside and watching the sunset.

Location: Pujiang town, Minhang district, Shanghai

Routes: Pujiang Country Park - Chateau Yumm Homstay - Pujiang Green Valley - Ruiqing Karting Theme Park - Train Ferry Site

Transportation:

Self-driving: Approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Shanghai, a 20-minute drive.

Public Transport: Metro Line 8 - Shendu Highway Station (Exit 2).

Highlights of the route:

- Dragon Boat Festival event: In early June, a cultural event to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival will take place at the Pujiang Country Park. Visitors can get a good understanding of the culture of the festival and immerse themselves in the unique culture of Pujiang by watching stage performances, exploring the marketplace of traditional crafts of intangible cultural heritage, and participating in folk games.

- Pujiang Festival: As a national 4A-level tourist attraction, Pujiang Country Park features various zones like the Miracle Garden, Vitality Forest, Egret Countryside, Forest Recreation Area, and Riverside Stroll Area, offering diverse walking and cycling trails. Bursting with trees, flowers, artistic sculptures, and landscapes, the park resembles a vibrant palette filled with lively and vibrant colors. From March to July each year, the Pujiang Festival is held to showcase the harmony of art and nature.

Surrounding attractions:

The Ruiqing Karting Theme Park features an 880-meter-long track with 17 different turns, including straight ways, high-speed bends, U-turns, and S-curves, promising an exhilarating racing experience for visitors.

Gexin village is located in the central-east part of Pujiang town. The village boasts a network of crisscrossing paths, dense waterways, well-preserved historical residences, traditional streets, ancient bridges, and rivers. As one of the five national-level traditional villages in Shanghai, Gexin village offers a glimpse into history and culture, allowing visitors to experience horseback riding at the equestrian center and enjoy helicopter rides for a breathtaking view of Huangpu River at sunrise.

Chateau Yumm Homestay is a five-star rural guesthouse in Shanghai, nestled within the Egret Countryside area of Pujiang Country Park. It is surrounded by lush red bayberry orchards and guests can enjoy unique accommodations, camping on the lawn, participate in red bayberry planting and picking, and taste red bayberry-flavored wines, beverages, and desserts. The homestay spans about 600 square meters, featuring 12 independent guest rooms across three floors, ranging from 25 to 108 square meters. Guests can also enjoy complimentary outdoor swimming pools, children's playgrounds, lawn movie nights, bonsai DIY experiences, camping, and more.

Train Ferry Site: In the 1950s, a train ferry was used on the Huangpu River to transport materials such as ore, coke, and steel for Shanghai's Third Steel Factory across the river, making it the only railway ferry ever used on the Huangpu River.

Pujiang Green Valley is a training base of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Agriculture and Biology, where visitors can experience agricultural research projects. The roadside is lined with Russian spinach, also known as "protein vegetable" due to its high protein content, known for its health benefits.

Specialty Cuisine and Creative Products:

Specialty Cuisine: "Laobayang", traditional eight dishes in Shanghai consisting of eight treasures rice, sweet and sour pork, white-cut chicken, braised fish, egg rolls, three delicacies soup, braised salted pork, and braised three Shreds; Gexin pancake, Luyan square cake, and Xiezhi coffee.

Creative Products: Gift boxes with various themes.

Source: mct.gov.cn