Island Life

The island is a resting place for migrating birds and spring and fall are the best seasons to watch bird migration. [Photo by zhou zuwei and xu xiaomin/shanghai star]

Bicycle kingdom

I am not a huge fan of cycling, but if I must get on a bike then Chongming island is my favorite place to do so. It is not easy to rent a bicycle on the island, so it is better to take your own.

Chenjiazhen, a town close to Dongtan, is an ideal place to cycle as well to get a glimpse into local life. As one of the 22 most important towns as determined by the government, Chenjiazhen seems to have developed into a modern Xanadu. Cycling through the town, which is still under construction in some parts, you will find ecology is at the forefront of the designers' minds.

Although the town is still being built, it is beginning to take shape. A wide green lawn in a camping area is waiting for families. Lying on the green grass with the boundless blue sky stretching overhead, gives you then illusion that you could reach out and touch the sky. Children and dogs can run freely in this green expanse — what a luxury!

Across the river, a bicycle park is under construction. Someday, it will be the largest bicycle park in Asia and will be suitable to host international competitions. Residents will be able to ride through a floral sea of lavender and tulips.

Mingzhuhu Park is a perfect place for cycling. The park is built around a big lake of 3,500 meters in length and 700 meters in width. There is only one main passage inside the park, so there is no threat of getting lost. You can rent a bicycle or tricycle at the entrance. It is uncrowded, and cycling through the green landscape with fresh air is very relaxing. You can hop off the bike to visit the fish specimen gallery to see a 1.6-m-long fish, have a drink at a café, feed wild geese and play with your children in the kid’s corner. Green, fresh air and no people. What more could you ask for?