Trip Overview
When: February (winter, but mild)
Duration: 2 days
Travelers: Couple (spouses)
Budget: ~2,000 RMB (~$280 USD)
Transportation: Self-drive (Weivo Latte DHT hybrid SUV)
Day 1: Qingxi Rural Park & Griffin Drive-in Theater
We escape the city chaos and head to Shanghai's suburbs for a romantic weekend getaway. The drive takes about an hour from downtown—fresh country air, good music, and my favorite person beside me. That's the whole point, isn't it?
After weaving through life's hustle and bustle, what we really want is peace and quiet away from the glitz. City life gets exhausting. Nature is where you find true calm.
Having traveled to seven continents, I can say the best moments are the quiet ones with someone you love. Wind, rain, dreams, memories—none matter as much as real companionship. With you by my side, I have the whole world.
Our first stop: Qingxi Rural Park (青西郊野公园), Shanghai's only wetland-focused country park, located by Dalian Lake in Qingpu District. This place went viral for its stunning metasequoia trees—nature's own red tapestry.
The metasequoia-lined path crunches under your feet—romantic enough to hear your own heartbeat. Though we'd missed peak season, it didn't matter. Walking through the grove, chatting about past and future, time flew by.
Weather wasn't on our side—overcast turning to rain—but that's just life. Sunny days, rainy days, blazing sun—each offers different scenery. We embraced it all.
Pro tip: Come in late autumn for the full chromatic explosion—this forest looks like nature's paint palette, impossibly beautiful.
This place is a photographer's dream. Even with rainy weather, it didn't diminish its charm in my eyes.
That evening, we tried something different—the Griffin Drive-in Theater (格里芬汽车影城), a "car owner's private cinema." Watching movies in your car? Yes, please.
Watching domestic and international blockbusters from the comfort of your car is a unique experience. There are two big screens showing different movies from 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM until 2 AM, rolling continuously. Pick whatever strikes your fancy.
Tickets are charged per car: 139 RMB (~$19) for the entire night. Fair warning: food options within the venue are limited. We grabbed desserts and milk tea nearby, then headed back to the car to continue watching.
Pro hack: Tune your radio to the right frequency—the car's sound system is premium quality, rivaling actual theaters. The whole car becomes your personal screening room.
After the movie, it was already late. We checked into Artyzen Habitat (雅辰悦居酒店)—a dream come true for social butterflies like me.
The public areas feature eco-friendly design—walls and installations use renewable materials, many created by artists on-site, combining green philosophy with youthful aesthetics. The living wall by the entrance is both innovative and practical; you can tell the hotel is meticulously maintained.
The lobby has no obvious divisions—it feels like a stylish café where taste meets functionality. It breaks down the traditional boundaries between functional zones. You can read, dine, work, or sip coffee all in the lobby.
We booked their suite—clean, modern, smart layout with bedroom inside and living room outside. My favorite feature? The oversized writing desk. Working from here is an absolute dream.
Day 2: Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town
Day two: time soft, slow at Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town (朱家角古镇).
Driving is easy—just navigate to Zhujiajiao Scenic Area with a large open-air parking lot. From there, you walk directly into the ancient town and wander at leisure.
I love the slow pace here. The gentility and softness of Jiangnan water towns belongs to everyone's private life. Zhujiajiao has 36 ancient bridges—take your time crossing each one, each offers a different flavor.
No admission fee, not overly commercialized, few tourists, peaceful and quiet—and only an hour from Shanghai. Perfect for a day trip.
On a lazy afternoon, with small bridges and flowing water before you and wooden boats gliding silently past, time slows to a crawl here.
Spending an entire leisurely day here with my partner, far from the daily hustle and bustle, enjoying romance that belongs only to us.
There are plenty of local specialty snacks. When you've walked enough, choose a teahouse or café to rest—many excellent shops worth exploring. If you're looking for water towns near Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is truly an excellent choice.
Road Trip Guide
We drove the Weivo Latte DHT—good performance, comfortable ride, and quite intelligent.
Both Qingxi Rural Park and Zhujiajiao charge no admission. Highway tolls are 15-17 RMB each way (~$2-2.40). Parking available at scenic areas. Zhujiajiao parking: free for first 15 minutes, then 20 RMB per day (~$2.80).
Griffin Drive-in Theater: 139 RMB per car for the entire night (~$19).