★ Introduction:

I used to enjoy wandering in art museums, savoring the world depicted by painters

I used to enjoy seeing different ancient buildings or experiencing firsthand the wisdom of the ancients with my heart

I used to enjoy stopping in various churches in Europe, listening to hymns, and receiving spiritual baptism

………

Art brings infinite joy to the journey, and also gives more meaning to my growth! However, an epidemic brought the world to a halt, and I stayed indoors for a long time, continuing my unfinished artistic journey through reading or watching movies

At the same time as the domestic epidemic situation improved, I received an invitation to experience TONG Hecheng Travel, and my heart was filled with anticipation! Finally, I am about to embark on a new journey, and luckily, this time I will explore in my favorite artistic way. Now, please follow Pandy to embark on this artistic journey in Sheshan, Shanghai!

★ Sheshan Tour (itinerary introduction)

At the beginning of July, Shanghai still had a cool temperature, which was somewhat related to the recent Huangmei weather. Going out on such days, besides preparing for rain, the overall feeling of the body was still very comfortable. I have scheduled my trip for the weekend so that I can share the joy of the journey with my family.

We chose self driving for this trip, which I highly recommend. On the one hand, it is the most convenient way to go to Sheshan, and on the other hand, considering that the epidemic has not completely ended, self driving is the most suitable and relatively safe way for a family.

Our tour route is as follows:
first day:
Departing from Jiading, Shanghai - Yuehu Sculpture Park - Yuehu Art Museum - Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel
the second day:
Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel - Songjiang Sheshan Forest Park - Shanjiao Bookstore

★ History of Sheshan

Located in Songjiang District, southwest of Shanghai, Sheshan is the highest peak and backyard of Shanghai. Don't be scared by this' first peak ', Sheshan is divided into East Sheshan and West Sheshan, with elevations of 72.4 meters and 100.8 meters respectively. Although the altitude is not high, the flat Shanghai Plain presents a beautiful and diverse forest scenery due to the presence of Sheshan.

You may be curious about the origin of the name Sheshan. There are many theories circulating about it. Some say that in ancient times, a cultivator surnamed She was named here, while others say it was named after the fiefdom of General She of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The most interesting story is undoubtedly related to the "snake". At that time, there were two giant pythons, green and yellow, on Mount Emei. After thousands of years of cultivation, they ascended to heaven at the same time. However, because they drank the immortal water from the Yao Pool and became true dragons, they were first exiled to the East China Sea by the Queen Mother and continued to cause trouble, and finally fell to earth by the Jade Emperor to form Dongsheshan and Xisheshan. Later, people thought that the character "snake" was unlucky, so they changed it to "Sheshan".

In history, the earliest record of multiple visits to Sheshan can be traced back to the "Shanghai Ancient Road" in Xu Xiake's travelogue. The travelogue of Xu Xiake records his last journey to Sheshan via Qingpu in September 1536, and recalls his past two trips to Sheshan.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many literati and ink artists sought solace in the mountains and waters of Songjiang, leaving many traces in Sheshan. In addition, later French missionaries built a Catholic church and established an observatory here, which attracted many pilgrims and tourists, including many foreigners. Seeing such abundant tourism resources and business opportunities, Songjiang industrialist Yin Shisheng began investing at the foot of Dongsheshan and built the Sheshan Scenic Area.

Nowadays, Sheshan is a very mature 4A level scenic spot with complete surrounding facilities. The surrounding area includes entertainment such as Sheshan National Forest Park, Moon Lake Sculpture Park, Shanghai Happy Valley, Maya Beach Water Park, Chenshan Botanical Garden, Sheshan Golf Club, Tianma Racecourse, etc. At the same time, there are also many choices of hotels and homestays in the surrounding area. The Sheshan World Trade Deep Pit InterContinental Hotel, which opened in 2018, is the world's first natural ecological hotel built in a waste rock pit, adding another charm to Sheshan.

★ The Fate of Sheshan and Art

In addition to abundant tourism resources and diverse entertainment and leisure experiences, Sheshan also places great emphasis on the development of culture and art. Sheshan not only has Moon Lake Sculpture Park and Moon Lake Art Museum, but also various places suitable for filled with Zen and book atmosphere, such as Xiyin Mountain House, which is a place of pure Zen The bookstore at the foot of the mountain is not only the first choice for book lovers, but also a great cultural and creative space; Relying on the Guangfulin Cultural Site, the Duoyun Academy not only allows people to slow down and experience life, but also allows them to appreciate elegance in Huizhou style ancient architecture.

In the process of researching, I found that in recent years, Sheshan has also held various art activities: "The exhibitions we have done in recent years", "Sheshan has love - Rose Art Exhibition", "Subjective Reality" and other successful exhibitions have not only brought a feast of art to Sheshan, but also supported contemporary art and attracted more attention.

★ Moon Lake Sculpture Park

Yuehu Sculpture Park is the first stop of my journey. This beautiful garden was built in 2003 by Mr. Cao Rizhang, President of Taiwan, China Jinbaoshan Group: a sculpture art park that combines natural scenery with modern landscape art.

From the map, the Moon Lake Sculpture Park is really large, surrounding the Moon Lake and covering an area of about 1300 acres. As it is not a holiday, there are not many tourists, so you can enter by purchasing tickets at the entrance. The admission fee is 100RMB/person for adults and 50RMB/person for children. It's very convenient now, just swipe the QR code to buy the ticket. Remember to prepare the Shanghai health code first, as it's still quite strict during the epidemic.

Park Guide

The entire Moon Lake Sculpture Park is divided into four parts around the Moon Lake according to seasons: spring shore, summer shore, autumn shore, and winter shore. Designed with different landscape and architectural styles, the supporting facilities showcase different scenery throughout the four seasons. I traveled in the order of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with the gentle breeze brushing my face and beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.

The first place to arrive is Chun'an, which is the location of the tourist service center. Before departure, you can take a map for guidance. Crossing the Water Curtain Bridge, the entire Moon Lake is visible, and there are many teenagers practicing badminton on the spring shore. This environment is indeed an excellent choice for outdoor activities.

Various boats are docked by the lake, and it's really relaxing to go boating with family and friends on the lake during holidays.

There are over 80 sculptures scattered throughout the Moon Lake Sculpture Park, ranging from serene, leisurely, to warm. As you walk and admire them, both your body and mind are satisfied.

Sculpture: Memories of the River

Some sculptures have the meaning of "life", reflecting the theme that water is the source of life, and hoping that people will cherish and protect nature. For example, this artwork by a New Zealand artist: Memories of Rivers. It can be a marker stick for children to record rising tides, or a signpost for archaeologists to discover ancient ruins. The moment when the river meanders is sealed in stone for eternal memory.

Sculpture: Mermaid

Another sculpture: Mermaid, created by Bulgarian artist Givoji Filin, inspired by an Eastern sailboat, symbolizing the sculpture of three sails floating on the water surface, as if time and space are continuous. The three sculptures simultaneously depict different parts of the mermaid's body, as if the sail has undergone wind carving and water carving, gradually transforming into a mermaid. The undulating body, plump lips, half human, half fish body... When watching the sculpture, it reminds me of the sad yet beautiful story in the fairy tale 'The Little Mermaid'.

Sculpture: Giant Stone Forest

My favorite sculpture is "Giant Stone Forest" by Xia An, from the Japanese art master Jun Tian Zheng. The 26 giant granite blocks are like ancient relics left by a lost civilization, very shocking!

It is understood that this is also the largest art stone forest in China, with the four central stones reaching 12 meters high and weighing over 100 tons each. Walking into the interior of the megalithic forest, one feels as if they are immersed in the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

Some other excellent and beautiful sculptures:

The waterfront beach in Xia'an is also a great place for parent-child activities. The beach, built with nearly 5000 tons of yellow sand, has a strong tropical atmosphere that reminds people of the beaches in the Maldives.

Tired of strolling, there is a coffee station by the water on the autumn shore where you can take a break and enjoy a cup of coffee while admiring the lake view.

Coffee Station

When I arrived at the winter shore, the sky had already become very dark, the rain was getting heavier and heavier, and I couldn't see the figures of other tourists. I started to feel a little scared and hurried on my way. I didn't feel relieved until I saw the sculpture 'Forest of Reflection' from afar.

In the pouring rain, a fishing tourist sat quietly in the rain, as if he was the only one left in the world. That peaceful feeling touched me for a moment.

Tips：
Scenic spot address: No. 1158 Linyin New Road, Sheshan, Shanghai
Scenic spot ticket: Adult 100RMB/person, Child 50RMB/person

★ Moon Lake Art Museum

Yuehu Art Museum is located on the autumn bank of Yuehu Sculpture Park. It is a circular building with panoramic french window. Seen from a distance, it is almost integrated with nature.

The sculpture at the entrance of the art museum: Cat, inspired by British artist Laura Ford's mural "Expulsion from Eden" by Masaccio. Adam and Eve seem to be a group of tall and thin black cats. Coincidentally, the humorous image of the six cats coincides with Confucius' "Do not look, listen, speak, or move unless you are polite" in the Analects. I think this is the most interesting thing about art: they are borderless, and everyone can have different interpretations in their hearts.

The Moon Lake Art Museum does not charge admission fees, which are included in the ticket for the Sculpture Park. Don't miss it. For the protection of artists, except for some exhibits, photography is not allowed in the art museum, but it does not prevent us from experiencing the art works up close and experiencing the beauty of the museum's architecture.

In order not to damage the overall visual effect of the park, the art museum adopted a double helix landscape project during construction, with most of the buildings hidden underground and the buildings above ground level decorated with transparent glass. Whether it's sunny or rainy, you can feel the most beautiful scenery of the lake area in the art museum.

Half of the building is below ground level

Recently, the Moon Lake Art Museum is holding a 2007 exhibition of creative works by more than 50 famous sculpture artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and three regions at the Guilin Yuzi Amusement Park. The artists of that time not only gathered together, each unleashing their own creative sparks, but also burst out with new creative inspirations in their shared life, communication, and beautiful landscapes, bringing us a feast of soul and vision.

★ Sheshan National Forest Park

Since you have come to Sheshan, while enjoying contemporary art, you cannot miss Sheshan National Forest Park. Covering an area of 401 hectares, the mountain peaks run southwest northeast for 13 kilometers, covered by evergreen broad-leaved forests, and the air is very fresh.

We enter the forest park through the north gate without a ticket, but we need to make an appointment online before entering. During the epidemic, we also need to measure our temperature and check our health code.

Climbing up the stairs, the first thing you see is the Xiudao Tower, which is a seven story tower with eight corners and a brick and wood structure. The tower is 20 meters high in total.

You may not have thought that this tower has existed for over 1000 years and was built during the Taiping Xingquan period of the Northern Song Dynasty (976-984). There are corridors around each level of the tower, and the tower body has north and south school gates to pass through. Unfortunately, due to years of disrepair, the tower stairs have been destroyed, and tourists can only stand on the first level to enjoy.

The eaves and pedestal of the tower no longer exist, but fortunately the tower body remains solid and impartial, standing firm for ten centuries and demonstrating the wisdom of the ancient builders

Continuing up the signs, you will arrive at the important attractions in Sheshan: the Observatory and the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and heavy rain, the Observatory has not been opened and the Catholic Church is undergoing maintenance.

Speaking of the Sheshan Catholic Church, it was originally built by French missionaries in the 13th year of the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi reign (1871 in the park). After several renovations, what we see now is the expansion in 1925. The church is a Baroque style building that combines Greek and Roman Gothic architecture, with some building materials and decorations using traditional Chinese architectural techniques, making people really want to explore it. Unfortunately, due to maintenance and rain, the mountain roads have been blocked, so we can only come back when the weather is clear in summer.

Although it cannot be visited, there are still two church annex buildings at the viewing platform, with the same red bricks and Baroque window frames, giving a sense of instantly traveling to Europe.

Climbing mountains, taking a stroll, and breathing in the scent of nature!

East Gate of Sheshan National Forest Park

However, I also want to remind everyone that in the summer, if you are afraid of Sheshan, remember to do a good job in mosquito prevention

Tips：
Sheshan National Forest Park:
Ticket: Free
Opening hours: 8:30-16:30 throughout the year
Transportation: Line 9 Sheshan Station can be reached by transferring to Qingsong Special Line, Huchen Line, Songchen Special Line, Songjiang 92 Road, Shiqing Special Line, Songzhong Line Shexian Line, etc.

★ Sheshan Maoyu Zhenxuan Boutique Hotel

A complete vacation requires a comfortable and unforgettable stay experience. The 'Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel' we visited this time was the Marriott Le Meridien Hotel, which has now become the Tribute Protfolio Hotel under the Marriott brand. Before checking in, I learned that as a family oriented hotel, there are many activities suitable for parent-child travel here, as well as a large backyard for various activities.

Firstly, let's talk about the location of the hotel. It is situated in an area surrounded by three mountains, making it convenient to go to Moon Lake Park or Sheshan Forest Park, with a travel time of approximately 5 minutes. Free parking is also available upon check-in at the hotel.

The hotel adopts a new Chinese style decoration style, with spacious halls and lighting that create a very comfortable feeling. I like to search for some design inspired corners for photography:

I really like the fireplace in the hall, but it only turns on occasionally when the weather gets hot.

This time, the hotel upgraded us to a super large semi-circular room with a semi open bathroom, a separate dressing room, and a separate wet and dry bathroom, which is very convenient. Family members can stay together without interfering with each other.

The oversized terrace allows for a close-up experience of the fresh air and verdant mountains of Sheshan. The spacious rooms and humanized facilities make the stay experience particularly wonderful.

I recommend everyone to check in at the hotel early, because the backyard of Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel is really "colorful"! For example, have you ever thought about what it feels like to feed lambs, chase piglets, or fish for small fish in a hotel? Passing through the long lounge, the dense forest catches the eye. Occasionally, small squirrels climb over their heads and walk to the hotel farm, which feels like a natural zoo. Guests can get close to various cute animals here.

You can go feed the goats and take photos with them; The big pig is kept in captivity, while the little pig runs around the yard, super cute; There are also little rabbits and Dutch mice. Due to the rain, many parents take their children fishing, creating a lively atmosphere.

On the other side of the farm, various dishes are planted, resembling a large vegetable garden in a garden.

Walking slowly along the main building of the hotel, you will be amazed by the large garden of Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel, a peaceful lake water reflecting the hotel building and the surrounding peaceful valley. Not far away, there is a big yellow duck with a cute and adorable appearance, which complements the hotel's parent-child atmosphere perfectly.

Continuing forward, the line of sight will stretch out along a sandy beach, and guests staying here should be eagerly looking forward to summer. They can swim, play in the sand, pile sand sculptures, and even play beach volleyball.

There is a "secret path" leading to the outdoor swimming pool from the beach, and this stone road "floats" on the surface of the lake. From a distance, it looks like people have stepped on the water surface with lightness skills, and when they walk on their own, they realize that it is very safe and fun.

Passing through the stone road on the water, you will arrive at the outdoor swimming pool area of the hotel. There are three different sizes of swimming pools here, including a children's pool and a infinity pool.

The observation deck across from the swimming pool offers a panoramic view of the main building of the hotel.

In the vast back garden of Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel, there is actually a finishing touch, which is a super beautiful small church. Unfortunately, due to some repairs in the hotel garden, we cannot visit it and can only regretfully leave the opportunity for next time.

Such a beautiful and interesting garden is not only for guests staying at the Sheshan Maoyu Boutique Hotel to experience. For ordinary tourists, they can enter the garden for a price of 50 yuan per person to play or visit.

On the day we checked in, it rained heavily, so we didn't plan to go foraging nearby. Instead, we chose a Western style buffet dinner at the hotel. If you are a tourist who likes Chinese food, you can also choose to order at a Chinese restaurant, and the dishes are quite distinctive.

The selection of buffet is very diverse: appetizers, main dishes, soups, desserts, and fruits and vegetables; From Chinese food, western food to Japanese food, the choice of each dish is very rich. Surprisingly, there are crayfish and Spicy Hot Pot. I have to say that the hotel knows the preferences of local customers very well and has made the most considerate preparation for them!

Of course, besides indulging in eating, drinking, entertainment, and playing, don't neglect your weight. The gym at Sheshan Maoyu Zhenpin Selection Hotel is located on the first floor, with all kinds of equipment well maintained. During the day, you can watch the dense forest for exercise, and at night, there are good movies and TV shows to accompany you, making your fitness no longer lonely.

★ Bookstore at the foot of the mountain

If you ask me: Where is the best place to go on a rainy day? I will think of bookstores or coffee shops. The intermittent rain outside the window has wetted the streets, but has shown the world's most peaceful and clean side. People standing in the rain often feel troubled and avoid. Sitting in front of the large french window of bookstores or coffee shops, they have more leisure to feel the changes of the weather. In Sheshan, there happens to be such a beautiful bookstore - the bookstore at the foot of the mountain.

The bookstore at the foot of the mountain is a great name, after all, for a city like Shanghai with only one mountain, it has become a unique location. As soon as I entered, I was immediately drawn to the combination of the "forest" and the plant wall: on one side was the plant wall extending from the first floor to the second floor, and the name of the bookstore floated on the wall; On the other side are bookcases that resemble trees, forming a 'forest' together.

I think the design of the forest is very creative, and it seems to refer to the "book forest". When strolling through the forest, pick up a book and just feel the beautiful reading time of the moment.

There are bright french window in the children's experience area on the other side of the first floor. It's also a great experience to sit down and read two books in a corner here.

The Coffee Workshop on the ground floor is another place I like. The interior is full of coffee aroma, and the outdoor plant wall outside the floor window on one side brings green to my eyes. Order a cup of coffee or clear tea, and of course, a slow life cannot do without the companionship of drinks.

The second and third floors are mainly focused on activity spaces and experiential projects, with the same design sense, warmth and comfort, as well as baking experience classrooms. It must be a lively and extraordinary scene on weekends.

At the foot of Sheshan, far away from the city, there is such a warm and artistic bookstore, which allowed me as a traveler to have a wonderful afternoon during the rainy season in Shanghai and added a wonderful experience to this artistic journey.

Tips：

Address: Cultural Oasis, No. 3770 Sichen Road, Sheshan Town

Business hours: Tuesday Thursday 10:00-17:30

Listening, seeing, experiencing, and feeling, during my travels in Sheshan, I used my five senses to get close to my beloved art time and time again. During the time when I can't go abroad temporarily, I pay more attention to the little things around me and discover more beauty in life. As an international metropolis, Shanghai has always shared the most resources with the world, including avant-garde art, informative exhibitions, rich and interesting books, and various experiences that cleanse the body and mind... All of these have allowed me to enjoy my artistic journey in Sheshan. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude for the invitation to experience with TONG Hecheng
Customer activity! Let's take advantage of the weekend and come to Sheshan for vacation!