Nestled in Caojing town in Shanghai's Jinshan district, the Caojing Shuike Scenic Area is centered around the picturesque Shuiku village, where water shapes every story.

This enchanting village is crisscrossed by 41 rivers and canals stretching over 28 kilometers. Water covers nearly 40 percent of the village’s surface, widening at points to 110 meters to form serene, lake-like expanses.

More than 70 islands and peninsulas punctuate the waterways, crafting a poetic scene of "islands within rivers, lakes within islands".

In September 2025, the Caojing Shuike Scenic Area was recognized as a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

Key experiences

1. Light water sightseeing

• Boat tours: Travel from winding streams to open waters to experience the charm of Jiangnan water towns and enjoy the gentle breeze.
• Kayaking base: Engage in activities such as single and multi-person kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating.

2. Healthy slow living

• Lotus Encounter Park: Renowned for its diverse collection of ornamental lotus species, the park features scenic walkways leading to a peaceful waterside platform. Visitors can admire the colorful fish and blooming lotuses or enjoy a variety of water activities.
• Shangpin Bookstore: With gray tile brick walls and solid wood interiors, the bookstore offers public reading areas, tea rooms, cafes, and guesthouses, providing a peaceful environment for relaxation.
• Chinese Herbal Medicine Science Museum: Dedicated to the cultivation, management, and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine culture, this museum boasts a vast outdoor planting area that showcases hundreds of medicinal herbs
• Caojing Country Park: Located on the south side of the central river's eastern section in Shuiku village, this wetland park is a sanctuary of natural beauty. Its reed marshes, cedar forests, and diverse landscapes can be explored by boat, on foot, or by bicycle, offering visitors a chance to fully immerse themselves in its tranquil, untamed charm.

3. Dining and leisure

• Cao Jing So Cool complex: Centrally located in Shuiku village and surrounded by rivers on three sides, the commercial complex offers scenic views along with dining, accommodation, and family entertainment.
• Yu Xian Xian Restaurant: This farmhouse-style eatery specializes in distinctive rural cuisine, drawing on the area's abundant aquatic resources. Seasonal specialties include stir-fried snails with cauliflower, steamed whitefish, and crispy river shrimp, all freshly caught by local villagers for unmatched freshness and flavor.

If you go

• Address (visitor center): No 3515, Zhucao Highway, Caojing town, Jinshan district
• Visitor center hours: 8:30 am – 5 pm
• Contact: 021-5725-0666
• Admission: Free

(Updated on Sept 5, 2025)

Sources: WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism at "shanghaitourism", Caojing Shuike Scenic Area