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July 5, 2025

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Floating Shanghai

Source: Shanghai Daily | 00:01 UTC+8 July 5, 2025 | Print Edition

ON weekends, I eagerly escape the bustle of daily life and head to my favorite lake, paddleboard in hand, ready to embrace myself in the serenity of nature. In Shanghai, a city known for its vibrant contrasts, I’ve discovered the perfect setting where my passion for the water comes alive.

To me, Shanghai is a “multiverse” city — a unique blend of contrasts that coexist in perfect harmony.

My favorite retreat is the WaterWays of Qiantan in Pudong, a peaceful escape that offers the best of both worlds: the modern energy of the city and the calming embrace of nature. Paddling here is pure bliss. Standing on the board, I paddle gently through the waterways. The rhythmic splashes of my paddle create a meditative calm. Looking up, the bustling city unfolds nearby: The Oriental Sports Center stands like a huge yet graceful sculpture, while the reflections of towering skyscrapers and weeping trees served as a reminder of Shanghai’s unmatched ability to balance modernity with serenity.

I paddleboard most often on the Xinjiangwan waterway. Residential area and the tranquil campus of Fudan University frame the scene.

When I paddled on the twisting canals of Xinjiangwan, sunlight danced on the water, sparkling like scattered diamonds. Sometimes a little fish leaped up and vanished in the thick waterweeds as if playing a hide-and-seek with me. I dipped my feet into the river.

The water was cool and refreshing. I splashed the water vigorously, and the spray flew up, landing on my body and the paddleboard.

Here, time slows down, as I embrace this peace of joy, feeling myself blending in with nature.

At Yuanxiang Lake in Jiading, the ripples glimmer with sunshine, while reeds sway rhythmically along the shore, whispering tales of the wild. I paddled swiftly and smoothly like a paraglider on water, paddling past the Poly Theater, rows of white camping tents, many small and delicate bridges, a line of people who were concentrating on fishing, and a group of children chasing each other ... Suddenly, a boy on the bridge waved at me and said: “You’re so cool!” I smiled and waved back at him. A flock of birds circled ahead of me, playfully pecking a fish.

In Shanghai, a city known for its vibrant contrasts, I’ve discovered the perfect setting where my passion for the water comes alive.

Floating on the serene waters, surrounded by modern architecture and vibrant ecosystems, I feel deeply connected to the soul of this dynamic city.

In Focus


 

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