Qu Shui Garden Family Adventure: A Day of Fun in a Classical Garden🪁

🌸 Morning in the Garden: First Impressions of the Nine-Bend Corridor** Take Metro Line 17 to Qingpu Xincheng Station in the morning, and it's a 10-minute walk to the south gate of Qu Shui Garden. The entrance fee is CNY 5 per person (free for children under 1.3m). As soon as we pushed open the weathered wooden door, my son was immediately captivated by the Nine-Bend Corridor. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, dappling the floor between the vine-covered pillars. He hopped around, counting the shadows: "Dad, doesn't this look like the maze in *Journey to the West*?" 🎨 Interactive Fun: A Nature Class in an Ancient Garden ❶ Ancient Tree Hunt Follow the signs in the garden to start the "Ancient Tree Exploration" mission: *Chinese White Pine (in the Huashen Hall courtyard): Teach children to touch the grooves of the centuries-old bark and observe the spiral structure of the pine cones. *Ginkgo Tree (south of the Qinglai Study): Male and female trees stand side by side. In autumn, the leaves turn golden, while in spring, they create a natural painting with their green foliage. *Buddhist Pine (next to Ninghe Hall): This 200-year-old tree has branches and leaves like a canopy, perfect for playing "tree shadow tracing" games. ❷ AR Poetry Treasure Hunt Scan the QR codes on the stone tablets in the garden to trigger AR animations. The ancient poem "Qu Shui Garden Travelogue" transforms into fluttering butterflies. Children can follow the virtual prompts to find hidden checkpoints and collect three electronic badges to exchange for a hand-drawn map. ❸ Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience at Ninghe Hall Every Saturday morning, the parent-child workshop offers children the opportunity to experience Qingpu paper-cutting and bamboo weaving. My son cut a snake-shaped window decoration out of red paper (2025 Year of the Snake theme), and the old craftsman praised him: "Clever hands, the spirit of our garden is passed down!" 🌳 Nature Exploration: A Shifting Landscape of Ecological Wonders *Birdwatching at the Lotus Pond: Rent binoculars (CNY 20/hr) to observe the agile egrets fishing in the pond. In early summer, you can witness the "tiny lotus tips just showing" scene. *Climbing the Nine Peaks Pavilion: Climb to the fourth floor for a panoramic view of the garden. My daughter pointed to the winding waterway and exclaimed, "So Qu Shui Garden is a coiled snake!" (echoing the Year of the Snake theme). *Sketching in the Wisteria Corridor: In April, the purple wisteria hangs down like a waterfall. Free drawing paper and crayons are provided at the stone tables. My son's "vine monster" doodle made passersby laugh. 🍜 Food and Refreshments: Child-Friendly Treats Inside and Outside the Garden *Tea House in the Garden: The sweet osmanthus lotus root starch soup (CNY 15) is sweet but not greasy, and comes with a snake-shaped glutinous rice cake. My daughter bit an "S" shape into it. *Snack Street at the West Gate: Don't miss the "Xiao La La Yi Gen Jin" spicy strips (mild version), paired with Qingpu malt sugar paintings. The craftsman draws the zodiac snake on the spot. *Wanda Plaza (2 km from the garden): The kids' meal includes mini steamed buns and dinosaur egg pudding, and the children's tableware comes with a garden-themed jigsaw puzzle. 📝 Practical Tips: A Hassle-Free Family Guide* ✅ Transportation: Drive and park at the Gongyuan Road parking lot (CNY 6/hr), or take Metro Line 17 to Qingpu Xincheng Station and transfer to the Qing'an Line bus. ✅ What to Bring: Mosquito repellent patches, children's Hanfu (many ancient-style photo spots in the garden). Strollers can be stored for free at the entrance. ✅ Time: It is recommended to visit between 9:00 and 11:00 to avoid the afternoon crowds. The reflection of the lotus pond is most beautiful at dusk. ✅ Recommended Combination: Visit the Qingpu Museum in the afternoon (free). Children can participate in the "archaeological blind box" digging experience. 🎋 Conclusion: Cultural Sprouts in the Garden As my son picked up fallen leaves under the ginkgo tree, he suddenly asked, "Why did the ancients build gardens with so many curves?" I pointed to the "Curved Water Flowing Cup" plaque on the corridor pillar and told him the story of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering. He seemed to understand, and then drew a nine-bend river and a grinning koi on the back of his hand-drawn map. Perhaps this is the charm of Qu Shui Garden—in this small space, classical aesthetics and childlike curiosity collide, and the seeds of culture take root and sprout beneath the green tiles and white walls. 📍 Address: No. 612, Gongyuan Road, Qingpu District 🕒 Opening hours: 6:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)