Chongming Island Self-Driving Travel Guide

Here is a self-driving travel guide for Chongming Island, including itinerary planning, attraction recommendations, food introductions, and practical tips to enhance your trip.

I. Itinerary Planning

One-Day Trip
- Morning: Depart from downtown Shanghai via the G40 Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway to Chongming Island. Visit Dongping National Forest Park for forest bathing, horseback riding, and other activities.
- Noon: Enjoy lunch near the park and savor local specialties like Chongming cake and Chongming crab.
- Afternoon: Head to Xisha Wetland Park to admire wetland scenery and migratory birds.
- Evening: Visit Baozhen Pier (popular Dingba) to watch the sunset over the Yangtze River.
- Night: Return to downtown Shanghai.

Two-Day Trip
- Day 1:
- Morning: Arrive at Chongming Island and visit Manyu Outdoor Sports Camp for kayaking, platform boats, and other water activities.
- Noon: Have lunch at a nearby restaurant.
- Afternoon: Go to Chongxi Sluice to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
- Evening: Visit the Meiding Art Museum for an artistic experience, then stay at Nanshe Homestay, enjoying their BBQ and entertainment facilities.
- Day 2:
- Morning: After breakfast at the homestay, explore Xisha Wetland Park to see natural landscapes like redwoods.
- Noon: Have lunch near the park.
- Afternoon: Return to downtown Shanghai.

II. Attraction Recommendations
- Dongping National Forest Park: The largest forest park on Chongming Island, featuring vast natural forests, flower gardens, and activities like horseback riding, BBQ, and RV camping.
- Xisha Wetland Park: The island's largest wetland park, a paradise for birdwatching and wetland scenery.
- Chongming Island Yangtze River Bridge Park: Offers stunning views of the bridge and insights into its history.
- Chongming Island South Gate Square: Experience the urban charm of Chongming Island.
- Chongming Island Lühua Town: Immerse in the ambiance of a Jiangnan water town, with rural scenery and unique homestays.
- Chongming Island Miao Town: A historic town with ancient streets, temples, and local delicacies.

III. Food Recommendations
- Chongming Cake: A local specialty with a delicate, sweet flavor.
- Chongming Crab: Renowned for its tender and delicious meat.
- Chongming Crispy Duck: Fragrant and tender.
- Chongming Island Farmhouse Cuisine: Authentic dishes made with fresh ingredients.

IV. Practical Tips
- Transportation: From downtown Shanghai, take the G40 Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway or S2 Shanghai-Lu Expressway to Chongming Island (1-2 hours). Road conditions are good, but observe speed limits.
- Accommodation: For a two-day trip, book homestays or hotels in advance for a comfortable stay.
- Tickets: Some attractions like Dongping National Forest Park require tickets; check prices and discounts beforehand.
- Weather: Monitor forecasts to avoid bad weather.
- Eco-friendliness: Protect the environment by not littering.

May this guide make your Chongming Island self-driving trip perfect. Have a wonderful journey!