A bird's-eye view of Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park. [Photo/IC]

Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park at Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort offers visitors a chance to explore Shanghai's origins and ancient way of life through a series of well-preserved relics.

The historical site is about 30 kilometers away from downtown Shanghai.

A bird's-eye view of Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park. [Photo/Official WeChat account of Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park]

Dubbed the "Root of Shanghai", this archaeological site features relics from an ancient culture that dates back to the Neolithic Age. It is also home to many artifacts from ancient inhabitants that lived in the area 5,000 years ago.

Guangfulin was a hub for culture, politics, economy, and transportation in ancient times. Its original surroundings have been preserved in the park so that tourists can explore the area's authentic rural scenery, agriculture, and ecological culture.

The park also features specially designed cultural and archaeological exhibition halls, as well as commercial districts, giving visitors the best of both the past and present.

The relic park includes different exhibition areas that showcase folk culture, ancient religion and local cultural heritage.

This area is popular among foreigners, especially international students in Shanghai that are looking to experience Shanghai's culture.

Major venues in the park include the Guangfulin Cultural Museum, the Guangfulin Archaeological Museum, Chen Zilong's Memorial Hall, Fulin Tower, Impressions of Fulin, the Wooden Art Exhibition Hall, the Antique Pottery Museum, Zhiye Temple, Sanyuan Palace, Town God's Temple, Temple of Guan Yu, and the Duoyun Academy of Classical Learning.

The Guangfulin Cutural Exhibition Hall is an impressive structure. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyoutopnews]

The Guangfulin Cultural Museum includes three buildings which are partially underwater, creating a spectacular scene. The three buildings display cultural relics, showcase reproductions of folk customs from the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD220), and tell the story of important historical figures in ancient Shanghai.

The Guangfulin Archaeological Museum is designed to resemble clay pots that are half buried in the soil. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyoutopnews]

The design of the Guangfulin Archaeological Museum was inspired by earthen pots and broken pottery pieces that were found during an archaeological dig at the site.

The indoor exhibition area of the museum is divided into a main hall and three independent exhibition halls. With the tagline "Root of Shanghai", it uses an "Archaeology + Art" exhibition model to explore Guangfulin's archaeological discoveries, the cultural relics themselves, and the value behind them.

Address: Lane 3260 Guangfulin Road, Songjiang district

Open: 9 am to 5 pm (no entrance after 4:30 pm)

Sources: en.sheshantravel.gov.cn, "shanghaitourism" "rwsj-sh" WeChat accounts, official WeChat account of Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park