Shanghai’s Mini-Erhai Lake: Dianshan Lake Day Trip Guide

Dianshan Lake, a tranquil freshwater lake bordering Shanghai and Suzhou, offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Just an hour from downtown Shanghai, it’s ideal for a day of lakeside serenity and exploration.

Red metasequoia forests in autumn, golden rapeseed fields in spring.The ecological protection is particularly excellent, is a combination of water, sequoia forests, rare birds in one of the protection base, a real urban forest oxygen bar.
-Address: 青浦区金泽镇紫莲路/Zilian Rd, Jinze Town
-Entry: Free

Vast rapeseed fields merging with the lake, perfect for cycling and rustic dining.Super, super large fields of rapeseed flowers, great for photos. You can also fish around the lake, don't miss it if you like fishing!
-Address: : 青浦区金泽镇蔡浜村/Caibang Village, Jinze Town

-Tips: Free entry; try local dishes (¥50-80).

An extra-long stone arch sightseeing bridge, rainbow bridge to the end is Dianshan Lake Ecological Park, about 5:00 p.m. or so in the rainbow bridge to find a perfect place to watch the sunset, the sunlight mapping in the shimmering surface of the lake, through the clouds sprinkled with a golden, quietly in the lake to feel the breeze on the face, waiting for sunset, you will be able to see the sun from the golden to the red sun, and the sunsets with the sun sinking into the orange waters of the area. 400-meter bridge with dazzling light shows at night.
-Address: 青浦区淀山湖大道/Dianshan Lake Ave

-Best Time: Dusk to night

It is a large-scale antique garden designed based on the famous novel ‘Dream of Red Mansions’ of the Qing Dynasty. The garden has more than 20 groups of architectural attractions such as Yihongyuan, Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Asarumuyuan and Daguanlou, each of which is full of classical flavour.

-Address: 青浦区金商公路701号/701 Jinshang Rd

- Opening hours:

1 April - 20 October: 07:30-18:00

21st October - 31st March: 07:30-17:00

-Entry: ¥50

Located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, it is the only ancient town in Shanghai bordering Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. “Bridge Capital of Jiangnan” with 700-year-old ginkgo tree.Known as the ‘First Bridge Township of Jiangnan’, it is said to be dotted with seven ancient bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

-Address: 青浦区金泽镇/Jinze Town
-Food: Rice noodles, sweet dumplings (¥20-40)

This is a thousand year old temple with a thousand year old apricot tree, which is nearly twenty metres tall. The ground is surrounded by a circle of blessing words, standing on the corresponding words to reach out and catch the water to wash their hands, it is said that the wish will be able to achieve. The first floor of the main hall is designed as a corridor, and you can see the whole Newspaper Temple and Dianshan Lake.
-Address: 青浦区朱家角镇/Zhujiajiao Town
-Entry: Free

-Must-try: Steamed perch, crab roe soup, stir-fried snails

-Restaurant: 湖畔农家乐Lakeside farmhouse (¥80-120)

-Must-try: Grandma’s rice dumplings, stinky tofu, flower cakes
-Address:青浦区朱家角镇 Zhujiajiao Town
-Price: ¥30-60

-Route: Downtown Shanghai → Huhangping Highway → Dianshan Lake (1hr)

-Parking: ¥20-30/day

-Subway + Bus: Line 17 to Zhujiajiao Station → Bus Qingjin Line to Jinze.

-Customised Shuttle Bus: Some platforms offer direct buses to scenic spots (¥ 50/person round trip)

• Avoid crowds: Weekends are crowded with tourists, so weekdays or early mornings are recommended.
• What to wear: Light-coloured clothes go well with the natural scenery, and the sequoia forest is suitable for red/white colours.
• Eco-friendly: Bring your own cups of water and take your rubbish with you to protect the ecology of the lake area.
• Seasonal restrictions: Spring rape blossom (March-April) and autumn sequoia (November-December) are the best times to visit.

🌾🚣From boating on the lake to exploring ancient towns, Dianshan Lake reveals Shanghai’s hidden charm—a blend of poetry, wilderness, and history.