Century Park世纪公园
Century Park covers about 140 hectares in Pudong, the district's largest urban park. It is known for its broad lawns and flower displays — plum blossom, cherry blossom and rapeseed draw the crowds each spring — and for big events such as the meadow music festival. A favourite green escape for Shanghai locals.
Shanghai · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Century Park worth visiting?
Century Park is Pudong's largest green space at 140 hectares — sweeping lawns, flower seasons and open-air music festivals; entry CNY 20.
Quick facts
| Ticket | CNY 20 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 07:00-18:00 (to 21:00 in peak season) |
| Recommended duration | 2-4 hours |
| Best time to visit | March-April for blossoms; October-November for autumn colour |
| How to get there | Metro Line 2 to Century Park or Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station, then a 10-minute walk |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Area | About 140 hectares |
| Location | Pudong New Area |
| Opened | 2000 |
| Flower season | Plum and cherry blossom, March-April |
| Events | Meadow music festival |
| Lake | About 20 hectares |
What to expect
Century Park opened in 2000 with a thoroughly modern design that weaves together natural ecology and landscape architecture. Lakes, islands, bridges and planting play off one another across a stretch of green that is rare so close to central Shanghai.
The park is at its best in flower season. In early spring the plum grove clouds pink, cherry petals drift along the blossom avenue, and willows leafing out beside the lake make a classic Jiangnan spring. Autumn turns the ginkgos gold and the maples fiery, layer upon layer of colour.
Century Park stages big events through the year — meadow music festivals, an international beer festival, rowing races — that pull a young crowd. There is a children's playground, making it a solid family outing, and the most comfortable way to see it all is on a rented bike following the perimeter path.
How to get there
Metro Line 2 to Century Park Station Exit 1, then a 5-minute walk to Gate 2.
Best photo spots
- The cherry blossom avenue
- Reflections on the lake
- The plum grove
- The panorama from the viewing mound
Tips
- Rent a bike to cover the park with minimum effort
- Spring weekends are busy — arrive early
- Bring water and snacks; prices inside are high
- Pairs well with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Scams to avoid
- Watch out for bike-rental overcharging
- Ignore anyone offering a so-called fast-track ticket
Frequently asked questions
Century Park or Shanghai Botanical Garden?
Century Park is in Pudong, all lawns and flower displays; the Botanical Garden is in Xuhui and richer in plant species.
Can we pitch a tent?
Yes — designated areas of the park allow tents.
Is it good for kids?
Very — there is a children's play area.
Read next
Other things to do in Shanghai
Jing'an Temple
Shanghai's oldest and most famous temple, Jing'an Temple, founded in 247 in the Three Kingdoms era; the 50 yuan ticket includes three incense sticks, open 7:30-17:00.
City God Temple (Chenghuang Temple)
The spiritual heart of old Shanghai, anchoring the Yuyuan Garden bazaar and its sprawling small-commodities market. Temple entry CNY 10.
Sweet Love Road (Tian'ai Road)
Sweet Love Road (Tian'ai Road) is Shanghai's most romantic street — a 300 m tunnel of plane trees and a favorite photo stop.
French Concession
Shanghai's leafy plane-tree quarter, the French Concession of 1849-1943; free to wander, shops about 10:00-20:00, by Jiaotong University or Shanghai Library metro stations.
Jade Buddha Temple
Famous Shanghai Buddhist temple of 1918 with two Burmese jade Buddhas, seated 1.9 m and reclining 4.6 m; entry 30 yuan, 8:00-17:00, 10 minutes' walk from Jiangning Road station.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
China's busiest shopping street in Shanghai, about 1.2 km long with over 100 years of history and roughly 1 million visitors a day; free, malls 10:00-22:00.
Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower is Shanghai's 468 m landmark, with a revolving restaurant and one of the city's best vantage points over the night skyline.
People's Square
Shanghai's central square of about 140,000 sqm, free and open, ringed by the Shanghai Museum, the Grand Theatre and metro lines 1, 2 and 8.
Qibao Ancient Town
Thousand-year-old water town of Song-dynasty origin about 20 km from downtown Shanghai; free entry with a 30-yuan combo ticket, a 15-minute walk from Qibao metro station.
Shanghai Disneyland
The first Disney park on mainland China, open since June 2016 in Pudong, with the tallest Disney castle anywhere (~60 m) and rides you can't get elsewhere like TRON and the redesigned Pirates.
Shanghai Museum
China's top museum of ancient art, about 1.02 million objects in its 1995 People's Square home; free with reservation, 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays, star piece the Da Ke Ding bronze.
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building at 632 m — second tallest in the world, designed as a dragon-like spiraling form.
The Bund
Shanghai's signature waterfront: 52 historic buildings in every style — the 'Exhibition of World Architecture' — with the best night views in the city.
Shanghai World Financial Center
One of the three Lujiazui skyscrapers, nicknamed 'the bottle opener' for its trapezoid aperture, with an observation deck up on the 100th floor.
Xintiandi
Shikumen renovation district opened in 2001, now a Shanghai fashion landmark; free entry, shops about 10:00 to 02:00, a 5-minute walk from South Huangpi Road station on Metro Lines 1 and 10.
Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden)
A classical Ming garden in Shanghai first built in 1559 and counted among Jiangnan's four great gardens, covering about 2 hectares; tickets 30-40 yuan, open 8:30-17:30.
Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town
Zhujiajiao is Shanghai's best-preserved water town, 1,700 years old, with 36 stone bridges and intact Ming-Qing architecture. Free entry (combo ticket CNY 40), 8:30-17:00.
Museums in Shanghai
M50 Art District
A converted 1930s wool-spinning mill on Moganshan Road now hosting 130+ artist studios and galleries; plan 2–3 hours for a real walk-through, not a quick photo stop.
China Art Museum
Modern and contemporary Chinese art in the striking former China Pavilion from Expo 2010. Free entry. Home of the animated digital "Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
China Maritime Museum
Maritime Silk Road, Zheng He's treasure ships, and a full-size Ming Dynasty junk replica inside a sail-shaped building near Dishui Lake. China's national maritime museum. ¥50.
HOW Art Museum
A private contemporary art museum in Pudong with about 3,000 sqm of exhibition space, walkable in 90 minutes if you skip the gift-shop vortex.
Long Museum (Pudong)
Two million RMB and eight years of collecting went into this private art museum in the Pudong riverfront — set aside about 2 hours and arrive before noon.
Long Museum West Bund
Shanghai's largest private art museum, built in a former coal warehouse on the West Bund — 33,000 sqm of modern and contemporary Chinese art including Wang Jianwei.
Power Station of Art
China's first state-run contemporary art museum, set inside a converted 1897 British-built coal-fired power plant on the Huangpu River — admission is free and 2-3 hours covers the main halls.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art in a striking 1933 Art Deco building on the Bund. ¥50. Rotating exhibitions by Chinese and international artists. The building rivals the art.
Shanghai History Museum
Shanghai's journey from fishing village to 1930s "Paris of the East" — told through artifacts, photographs, and immersive street scenes. Below the Oriental Pearl Tower. Free.
Shanghai Museum
China's best museum for ancient Chinese art — 5 floors of bronzes, jades, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, coins and Ming-Qing furniture. Free, on People's Square.
Shanghai Natural History Museum
A world-class natural history museum inside Shanghai's famous "Plant-Bulb" building on People's Square — 10 million specimens, evolution galleries.
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre
Private collection of Mao-era propaganda posters in a basement gallery. ¥20. One of Shanghai's most distinctive small museums. A window into 20th-century Chinese political art.
Shanghai Propaganda Posters
Note: this slug is an alternate reference for the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre, the ¥20 basement museum of 5,000+ Mao-era posters — see that entry for tickets and hours.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
A family-oriented science museum with robot musicians, a walk-through animal world, and Shanghai's best hands-on physics exhibits — budget a full afternoon (4–5 hours). ¥60 adults, ¥30 students.
Shanghai Urban Planning Museum
A 5-floor museum inside Shanghai's municipal government building showing the city's past, present, and future urban planning — the highlight is a 1:500 scale model of Shanghai in 2035. ¥50.