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5 ridiculously beautiful places right next to the Shanghai metro
Admire the Huangpu River meeting the Yangtze, frolic in a lush experimental farm or just lie still in Asia's most artistic wheat field -- all only a metro ride away
Shanghai's best-kept secrets aren't all hidden down dark corners and twisting alleyways. Some are actually highly accessible. In fact, so accessible, they're right next to a metro station.
Here are our favorite natural escapes in Shanghai that are too often overlooked -- and each reachable by metro.
More on CNNGo: 15 places to see in China that aren't the Great Wall
1. Wusonkou Paotaiwan Wetland Park (吴淞口炮台湾公园)
This breath-taking sight is only one metro ride away from Shanghai city center.
The spot: Near the Shui Chan Lu metro station, the Wusonkou Paotaiwan Wetland Park humbles us with the massive view of the Huangpu River. Located in the east of Baosan District, with the well-known Wusongkou to its southwest, the park is near where the Huangpu and Yangtze rivers merge.
The name Paotaiwan, literary meaning “cannon bay,” can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty, when naval cannons were installed at the site.
The fun: Be sure to walk along the park’s 1,974-meter long riverbank, enjoy the river breeze and watch cruise ships sailing slowly on the Yangtze River.
Getting there: Take Metro Line 3 to Shui Chan Lu (水产路站) station then switch to a short taxi ride, which costs around RMB 10.
Entry fee for the park is RMB 5.
2. Dongjing Experimental Farmland (洞泾实验田)
The farm view along Metro Line 9.
The spot: A Shanghai farm has never looked so postcard perfect than the Dongjing Experimental Farmland.
Perhaps the least obvious of our five choices here, the Dongjing Experimental Farmland is a gorgeous stretch of carefully cultivated crops, roughly the size of three football fields.
Every June, seeds are sown in the field, so visitors can enjoy a beautifully green scene by August, dotted by well groomed livestock.
Head here to take those studio-perfect farm-chic shots and relish in a romanticized version of rural life.
The fun: If you are lucky, you will see farmers working in the fields in the afterglow of sunset –- another perfect photo opportunity.
Fishing fans will also be happy to hear that the pond nearby is home to some big wild carp.
Getting there: Although it’s located in the rural Songjiang district, Metro Line 9 can easily take you there from downtown within 30 minutes. Get out at Dongjing station (洞泾站) and the farm is right across the road.
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