Sheshan National Tourist Resort, located in the Songjiang district of Shanghai, is known for its wide array of cultural and natural tourist attractions. In order to cater to the increasing demand for getaways from fast-paced city life and to encourage outdoor exploration, the resort has planned a variety of autumn-themed tourist products and activities during the Shanghai Tourism Festival, which is set to take place from Sept 16 to Oct 6.

This year, Sheshan National Tourist Resort's autumn program will revolve around three main themes: study tour, natural beauty exploration tour and play tour. To serve the diverse needs and interests of individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds, a wide range of activities and products will be offered.

The study tour will feature a myriad of activities including the Young Masters Program at the Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park, offering a three-day camp experience for participants to learn about cultural relics repair and maintenance. Additionally, there will be the Youth Drone Innovation Challenge Camp, providing an opportunity for young minds to explore and innovate in the field of drone technology.

A cultural program known as "From Shanhaijing to Guangfulin" will be included in the study tour, offering participants an opportunity to delve into the rich history of Shanghai. The event organizers emphasize that Shanhaijing, also known as The Classic of Mountains and Seas, is an ancient text dating back more than 2,000 years that holds significant importance in Chinese mythology. The Guangfulin area served as a vibrant cultural, political, economic and transportation hub in ancient Shanghai, thus earning the distinction of being the birthplace of the city.

The Guangfulin Culture Relics Park showcases the preserved original surroundings of this area, allowing tourists to experience its authentic rural landscape, agricultural heritage and ecology. By immersing visitors in the fascinating stories of both Shanhaijing and Guangfulin, the organizers aspire to deepen their understanding of Shanghai's past, present and future.

The Sheshan Resort is not only known for its cultural heritage but also for its outdoor beauty. For example, the 2023 Sheshan Forest Festival is held in the picturesque Sheshan National Forest Park. This festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the lush greenery and tranquil atmosphere of the park while enjoying a range of activities.

Another must-visit event is the Chenshan Natural Life Festival, held at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. The botanical garden is a national 4A-level scenic spot and a member of the international community of botanical gardens, as well as a leading facility dedicated to the collection, conservation and cultivation of plants in China. It has a collection of more than 15,000 species and varieties of plants from 71 countries and regions, including some that are rare and endangered.

The trendy play tour includes a wide range of outdoor activities, such as musical performances, interactive parent-child activities, captivating plays and entertaining shows. This year is particularly special as the resort will celebrate the first anniversary of the enchanting Pancoat Park, an outdoor amusement park designed specifically for families. Moreover, the highly anticipated Shanghai Happy Valley Street Carnival Festival is set to take place at Shanghai Happy Valley, offering visitors a delightful blend of cultural experiences. For those seeking a magical adventure, the Smurfs Theme Park in Shanghai Shimao Dream City promises to captivate both children and parents alike with its themed activities and attractions.

Tourists to Sheshan will have a chance to learn more about Xu Xiake, who traveled through China for 35 years and visited ancient Sheshan five times during his travels between the years 1624-36. Xu was a geographer, traveler and writer well-known for his work "The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake", which covers a wide spectrum of China's topography, scenic areas and geography. In China, he was compared to Marco Polo, a 13th-century Western explorer.

This year, the tourist industry of Sheshan Resort reported strong recovery. In the first half of 2023, the resort received more than 6.65 million tourists and achieved a total tourism revenue of 878 million yuan ($120.06 million), an increase of 14.12 percent and 32.4 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2019.

The Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park at Sheshan National Tourist Resort offers visitors a chance to explore the origins of Shanghai and the city's ancient way of life. CHINA DAILY

The Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden is home to a variety of plants. CHINA DAILY