Xiangshuiwan Organic Farm

Have you ever dreamed of picking your own tomatoes, dicing up your own cucumbers or sinking your teeth into a strawberry freshly picked from your own patch? Many Shanghai people preoccupied with the stress of urban jobs dream of the joys of having their own gardens. Well, why not try it?

In Pujiang town, the Xiangshuiwan Organic Farm offers the opportunity for urban residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. It's a real-life version of the virtual farming on Kaixin001.com, where young white collar workers plow land, plant seeds, harvest crops and sometimes even pinch others' veggies.

The farm is the first of its kind in Shanghai, enabling city slickers to get their green thumbs into the soil. After paying a 3,280 yuan (US$482) registration fee, farm members receive a 67-square-meter plot of land that they can plant for a year.

The farm provides more than 50 crops to plant, including cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries. Members can do all the garden work themselves or get local farmers do assist in jobs like watering and fertilizing. Family and friends can also lend a hand at hoeing up a garden bed.

The farm provides its members with gardening advice and arranges for delivery of fresh crops to their homes during harvest periods.

White-collar workers who sign up for a plot of land rarely have the time to tend their gardens full-time, said Jiang Qinglin, a senior staff member at the farm. They are encouraged to do at least a bit of the work themselves, but many end up having the farm manage their plots once planted.

Members who don't have the time to get out to the farm on a regular basis can check how their crops are doing via online cameras.

The aim is to get people to appreciate the value of organically grown fruit and vegetables and to get some healthy outdoor exercise at the same time, Jiang said.

About 200 plots of the 300 available are already taken.

The farm, which covers about 345,351 square meters, also provides members the opportunity to fish and wander around amid unspoiled natural beauty.


Hanxiang Water Expo Park

It's said there's nothing more soothing than water, and that makes the Hanxiang Water Expo Park in Maqiao, a restful place to take those jangled nerves on days off work. The park is more than just a water wonderland; it's a serene hideaway that's a work of art in itself.

The park, covering about 800,000 square meters along the Huangpu River, contains streams, trees, pavilions, rock formations and replicas of ancient dynasty buildings.

It was built as an ecological protection barrier around one of Shanghai's major sources of drinking water. It's sited where the ancient Maqiao people lived more than 3,000 years ago.

Visitors can sit in the riverside gardens, sipping tea and inhaling the fresh air of spring. They can stroll through a bamboo forest, rest their legs alongside an exquisite pavilion, do a little fishing and marvel at the richness of Chinese culture. It's a slow-paced environment where you can daydream and let the rest of the world go by.

Inside the picturesque garden, there are dozens of stones more than 10,000 years old. Some, including the Lingbi and Taihu stones, each weigh a hundred tons. Many of the stones are said to possess magical shapes: a girl reading, a monk in contemplation, a bird flying, a boat floating.

One highlight in the park is the Stone Sail - an 8-meter-high, 3-meter-wide stone inscribed with a blessing for ships passing by. It was transported from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The park's forests include gingko, camphor, crape myrtle and beech and 600 of the trees are more than 1,000 years old.

Bridges connect areas of the park. There are 56 bridges more than a century old, relocated here from their original sites. They are said to represent the 56 ethnic minorities in China. There are arch bridges, beam bridges, zigzag bridges and covered bridges. Some date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Every bridge has its legend.

The Hanxiang Bridge of five archways is named after Han Xiangzi, one of the eight legendary immortals in Chinese mythology. There is a Chinese proverb: "The Eight Immortals cross the sea, each revealing its divine power." Han is said to have lived in Maqiao. Standing on the bridge, visitors can enjoy a perfect view of the Huangpu River.

The Thanksgiving Bridge, a stone arch bridge dating back to the Ming Dynasty, has its own tale to tell. Legend has it that a flood hit the village of Jiangnan one day, and a six-year-old boy was placed in a huge wooden barrel by his mother to save his life. The barrel floated far away, where the boy was finally rescued. His mother was not so lucky. She was washed away by the torrents. The boy spent 10 years carving the stone and building the bridge to give thanks to his mother and those who had saved him.

The Xiangjing Bridge, meaning "a bridge with a fragrant pathway," got its name from a visit by Emperor Qianlong (1736-95) to Jiangnan. At the time, the village had only a narrow covered bridge. So locals built a new bridge to welcome Qianlong. Jiangnan was famous for its jasmine, so locals spread flower petals on the new bridge for the emperor to walk across. Qianlong was so impressed that he named the bridge Xiangjing.

All the buildings, corridors and pavilions in the park feature dark gray bricks and black tiles, decorated with wooden, carved red doors and windows. The setting reproduces the architecture, colors and mood of ancient China.

The park also features an aquatic species science pavilion and an ancient stage.


Out and about in spring:

For those seeking some very pleasant diversions to soak up the spring environment, picking strawberries, digging up wild veggies and spending a few days living with farmers rank near the top of anyone's list.

Luscious strawberries are ready to be picked in Pujiang and Wujing towns. The U-pick strawberries are fresh, fragrant and organic.

The Fengning Strawberry Farm at the intersection of Yongnan and Zhaotai roads is a popular place for strawberry lovers, who can be seen filling up baskets with the fruit for family and friends. Those who get there first get the plumpest of the crop, some weighing up to 100 grams each. It's a good way, too, to get a bit of outdoor exercise!

A kilogram of berries cost about 20 yuan, and the harvest season runs through June. The strawberries are grown in hothouses, so it's best to dress lightly or risk working up a big sweat as you pick.

Strawberries are supposed to be good for the liver and can help avoid arterial clogging, heart disease and scurvy. On the fringes of urban areas in Minhang, country roads and hillsides often provide an abundance of wild herbs and vegetables there for the picking. Look carefully and you may find shepherd's purse, a medicinal herb from the mustard family; edible Indian aster and wild leeks.

The Pujiang area is a great place to search. But remember: Sometimes you have to pick through a lot of weeds to find the edible treasures.

Shepherd's purse is rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin K and is used to control bleeding. It's also a popular herb in regional cooking. Indian aster, or Kalimeris indica, is believed to remove toxicity from the body and relieve diabetes. Wild leaks are supposed to be good for the kidney and as an appetite inducer.

But don't overdo it. These wild edibles can give you a stomach ache if overeaten.

The best way to enjoy the delights of spring in a rural setting is to do a farm stay, or as the Chinese say, become a farm tourist, or nongjiale. The farm stays enable visitors to live with farmers, help them with daily chores and enjoy authentic country cooking.

In Minhang, there is a raft of options to enjoy the nongjiale experience. They include Laojiayuzhuang on Sanpu Road, which is known for its delicious fish and turtle specialties; Shenzhu Nongjiale, where chicken and pigs are bred; and Haibie Organic Farm, which is famous for country cookery drawn from local produce.

And finally, what better way to let spring breezes ruffle your hair and rejuvenate your spirit than to walk through a sea of golden rape flowers. Wujing, Maqiao and Pujiang towns provide city people with open fields of the gorgeous rape blooms. Close your eyes and be swept away by the moment!


Beiqiao International Horticultural Exposition Garden

The Shanghai Beiqiao International Horticultural Exposition Garden has been called "a natural oxygen bar" for urban dweller seeking a bit of respite from city pollution.

This hidden gem in Zhuanqiao is famous for its breathtaking garden landscapes. A stroll through the garden takes visitors a world away from urban Shanghai. Springtime is a perfect season to visit because of the evocative blend of rich greenery and colorful buds..

The garden covers 57,600 square meters and is a great place to take pets for a walk.

The garden offers advice on flower arranging and sells bonsais, root and wood carving, paintings, clay teapots, porcelain and calligraphy works.