Countryside Escapes | Jiading: Fruit picking, pottery, and rural art

As part of the 2026 Golden Autumn Consumption Season, Shanghai has introduced countryside travel routes across nine districts.

This installment of the nine-part series explores Jiading district, highlighting four routes that combine fruit picking, rural art, pottery making, and family-friendly farm experiences.

Route 1: Rural art and grape picking

Suggested route:

Hongtai Garden → Jiayuanhai Art Museum → Malu Grape Theme Park

Hongtai Garden

Located in Malu town, known for its grape-growing industry, Hongtai Garden offers farming, sightseeing, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wellness experiences.

The garden offers agricultural activities, dining, accommodation, and opportunities to learn about TCM.

Jiayuanhai Art Museum

Located in Dayu village, Malu town, Jiayuanhai Art Museum is Jiading's first contemporary art museum built in a rural setting.

The museum consists of two rectangular buildings connected by a stepped plaza. The northern building houses public art spaces, while the southern building contains exhibition galleries.

Surrounded by waterways, woodlands, farmhouses, and vineyards, the museum offers a quiet place to enjoy art away from the city.

​The reading area at Jiayuanhai Art Museum in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Malu Grape Theme Park

Malu Grape Theme Park grows more than 100 varieties of premium grapes and offers agricultural exhibitions, educational programs, and sightseeing.

During the grape-picking season, visitors can pick fresh grapes, sample grape products, and explore the vineyards.

​Grapes growing at Malu Grape Theme Park in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Route 2: Fruit picking, traditional crafts, and farm experiences

Suggested route:

Huating Hami Melon Theme Park → Yunong Farm → Yuyucongcong Agricultural Cooperative → Wenxing Grape Farm

Huating Hami Melon Theme Park

Covering 230 mu (about 15.3 hectares), the park grows Hami melons and other fruit.

Its 120-mu greenhouse complex uses modern drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Visitors can learn about fruit cultivation, shop for local produce, and participate in seasonal picking.

​Visitors sample fresh melons and watermelons at Huating Hami Melon Theme Park in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Yunong Farm

Yunong Farm grows Shine Muscat and Kyoho grapes, which ripen in autumn. Visitors can sample the grapes and purchase freshly harvested produce.

​An aerial view of Yunong Farm in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Yuyucongcong Agricultural Cooperative

The cooperative uses a rice-crayfish farming system that reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Its rice and crayfish have earned China's Green Food certification.

It also runs educational programs where visitors can learn about farming and the natural environment, including a project titled "Botanical Gardens from Textbooks".

​Visitors plant rice seedlings at Yuyucongcong Agricultural Cooperative in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Wenxing Grape Farm

Located in Tanghang village, Huating town, the 107-mu farm grows more than 10 grape varieties, including Summer Black and Shine Muscat.

The farm has received Green Food certification and has been recognized for its fruit quality and safety.

Route 3: Fruit picking, country park walks, and pottery

Suggested route:

Juyuan Fruit Park → Jiabei Country Park → Mamen Pottery Village

Juyuan Fruit Park

Spanning 1,380 mu, Juyuan Fruit Park grows seasonal fruits and vegetables and features more than 100 varieties of flowers.

With orchards, flower gardens, and waterways, the park offers something to see and do year-round. Visitors can pick seasonal fruit, enjoy barbecues, and take part in family activities and educational programs.

​Tulips in bloom at Juyuan Fruit Park in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Jiabei Country Park

Jiabei Country Park has a planned area of 14 square kilometers, with the first phase covering 7.39 sq km. The park is known for its farmland in the south, woodlands in the north, and network of waterways.

​Pink muhly grass at Jiabei Country Park in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Mamen Pottery Village

Located in Mamen village, Waigang town, this destination is among the first 15 pilot projects of Shanghai's "Shanghai-style Jiangnan" rural development initiative. Jiangnan refers to the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, known for its traditional water towns and cultural heritage.

The village retains its traditional Jiangnan landscape, featuring waterways, woodlands, farmland, and rural homes.

Pottery has become a distinctive feature of the village. Visitors can try shaping clay by hand and enjoy coffee in a peaceful countryside setting.

​Pottery sculptures on display at Mamen Pottery Village in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Route 4: Farm experiences, strawberries, and animal encounters

Suggested route:

Lijiang Ecological Park → Meili Strawberry Park → Fugui Pet Park → Siji Jiayuan

Lijiang Ecological Park

Located along the Xinliu River near Shanghai's northern border with Jiangsu province, the park grows seasonal fruit and attracts a variety of birds throughout the year.

Visitors can try traditional farming activities, including planting and harvesting rice, drawing soy sauce from traditional vats, and milking cows.

Meili Strawberry Park

This strawberry-themed park features dining facilities, a reading space, and children's play areas. Visitors can enjoy strawberry-themed snacks and participate in hands-on farming activities.

Fugui Pet Park

The park is home to nearly 50,000 osmanthus trees and more than 300 animals of over 60 types.

Its animal interaction areas are set among woodlands that extend toward the riverside. Visitors can meet the animals while enjoying the surrounding countryside.

​Peacocks at Fugui Pet Park in Jiading district. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs]

Siji Jiayuan

Siji Jiayuan offers year-round fruit and vegetable picking, along with recreational activities, educational programs, and farming experiences. Visitors can harvest seasonal produce and learn about farm life.

Note: Fruit-picking seasons, activity schedules, and opening hours may vary. Visitors are advised to check with individual venues before traveling.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs