Typical Shanghainese always have a special complex with regard to Sheshan Hills. Since Shanghai's average altitude is only 3 meters above sea level, the Sheshan Hills with its highest point at only 97 meters, is often jokingly termed a “mountain”. So if any Shanghainese say that they are going to climb a mountain in Shanghai, the destination will definitely be Sheshan National Forest Park.

As one of the earliest forest parks in Shanghai, Sheshan is a good place to free oneself from the hustle and bustle of the concrete forest. Only 35 kilometers away from downtown Shanghai downtown, it is located in the Western Shanghai district of Songjiang.

There are two main hills among the 12 hills inside the forest park: the West Sheshan Hill and the East Sheshan Hill.

The East Hill is 74 meters high and is famous for its bamboo shoots. In spring, there is a bamboo shoot festival. The park will provide tourists with tools to dig out the bamboo shoots, and if you like, you also can take them home to cook the typical Shanghai dish—bamboo shoot stewed with pork.

The West Hill is the geographical top point of Shanghai, and maybe it's also the reason that the biggest Marian Basilica in the Far East and the Astronomical Observatory were built on top of the hill.

Location: 35 kilometers away from the downtown area. in Songjiang District, the west suburban area of Shanghai West Hill
Open Hours: 7:30am-4:30pm
Tickets: 30 yuan (including the Astronomical Observatory and the Maria Bacilica. If you want to take the cable car up and down, you have to pay 10 yuan more.)
East Hill
Open hours: 7:30am-5pm

The Sheshan observatory is on the top of West Sheshan Hill, the highest geological point in Shanghai.

It has two areas, one to the west of the Maria Basilica——the most important basilica of the Far East, and the other to the east. The two areas are known as the new and old areas respectively.

The old area was first founded by a French catholic missionary in 1900. Now the French-style construction has become the center for the popularization of astronomy in China, with a 40cm double refracting telescope also built in 1900 and an astronomical museum.

The new area is nowadays for professional observation and study. It is not open to the public.

Shanghai Astonomical Museum was built in 2004 with the theme of how the concept of time developed in China. It also exhibits historical relics and instruments from Chinese astronomy through the ages.

Address: West Sheshan Hill,Sheshan National Forest Park, Songjiang District
Open hours: 8am-4pm

Located on the top of Sheshan west hill, the level B basilica was built in 1935. The construction lasted 10 years. The hill itself has an even longer Christian history as a Jesuit monk purchased an area on it in 1863. Since that time the hill has become a place of Christian belief. In the 1940's the Sheshan Marian Basilica was even the most famous Catholic church in the far east. Even today many pilgrims visit the basilica to worship the Christian God and “Our Lady”.

Already from far away you can see the red brick church with its 38 meter high bell tower. To get up to the basilica you have two possibilities: firstly you can climb the route on foot. This way you pass an old pagoda, walk through a bamboo forest and along a zigzag path with woodcarvings on each curve showing the 14 Stations of the Cross. Secondly you can take a cable car, which is faster but of course more expensive (10 RMB per person). When you reach the top of the hill take a look around the church and enjoy the view over Shanghai's western suburban area.

The church itself is built in a cruciform shape. No nails, beams or steel were used for the construction. Instead the whole interior is made with granite. Above the marble altar the Virgin Mother, holding Jesus Christ in her arms, watches over the faithful. Up to 3,000 people can find a place inside. Although the interior is less pompous the colonnade architecture is impressive.

During the Cultural Revolution, the church was severely damaged. All paintings and stained glass windows were destroyed. In 1981 the government returned the church to the Shanghai Diocese and so the basilica was renovated.

Address: West Sheshan Hill, Songjiang District
Open hours: 8am-4pm