Traveling with Kids and Parents! A 2-Day Off-the-Beaten-Path Road Trip from Shanghai to Shengzhou!

2-Day Road Trip Guide from Shanghai to Shengzhou During the May Day holiday, I took my parents and son on a 2-day road trip to Shengzhou, perfect for those with limited time who enjoy less crowded, leisurely travel. Here's the detailed guide: Transportation Driving from Shanghai to Shengzhou, the recommended route is taking G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway and then transferring to G1522 Changzhou-Taizhou Expressway. The distance is 236.23 km, taking approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes. Road tolls are free during holidays. Itinerary - Day 1: - Morning: Depart from Shanghai at 6:15 AM, arriving at Chongren Ancient Town around 9 AM. Must-visit spot is Yushan Ancestral Hall with its beautifully carved ancient stage. If time permits, also visit Wulian Courtyard Gate and Dangdian Courtyard Gate, Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Recommended to wear qipao or modern Hanfu for photos. At Tanfan Tavern, try specialty coffees like Chongren Coffee and Yellow Wine Coffee; at Qiu Shengji, enjoy grandma's handmade small wontons and other delicacies, with a nice coffee shop environment on the second floor. Allow 2-3 hours for sightseeing. - Afternoon: Head to Xiaokun Village and visit the observation deck. Roads may be closed during holidays, requiring parking at the foot of the mountain and walking to the deck. Enjoy mountain scenery with Chinese torreya trees and tea plants. In April, there are small mountain fruits - experience picking wild fruits and tea leaves. Allow 2-3 hours for exploration. Find a random place for lunch. - Evening: Check into Urban Garden Hotel (Shaoxing Shengzhou Pukou Branch), rest briefly, then have dinner at Xihu Restaurant (Shengzhou Heyue Branch) located on the 4th floor of Heyue Times Square, offering delicious Hangzhou cuisine. - Day 2: - Early Morning: Leave at 5:30 AM to visit Shishe Basalt, observe the original columnar jointing of upright basalt formed by cooling and contraction of lava flows. Return to the hotel for breakfast afterward. - Morning: Visit Shengxian City God Temple, exploring Xishan First Tower, Ancient Stage, City God Hall, and Hui'an Temple. Xishan First Tower is an iconic building with inscriptions by Zhu Xi; the Ancient Stage was an early performance venue for Yue Opera; City God Hall enshrines Yu Anxing with exquisitely carved stone dragon pillars; Hui'an Temple is integrated with the City God Temple and attracts many worshippers. - Afternoon: Explore Yue Opera Town, watch Yue Opera performances at the ancient theater (free outer seats available to experience the cultural charm). Dine at Baixing Jiawei Restaurant, offering clean and refreshing Hangzhou cuisine. Then visit the Yue Opera Museum - the first exhibition hall shows the origins of Yue Opera, the second covers its development period, and the third presents its prosperity after the founding of the People's Republic of China. After the visit, take the expressway back home. Summary This road trip covers Shengzhou's natural scenery, traditional culture, and special cuisine. It's a relaxing and pleasant leisure trip suitable for the whole family to enjoy the pleasures of off-the-beaten-path travel.