Chongming Island

 

Basic Facts of Chongming Island

Chinese Name: 崇明岛 Pronunciation: Chóng Míng Dǎo

Admission Ticket Fare: Free

Suggested Visiting Hours: 1-2 Days

Area: 1,269.1 square kilometers

Best Visiting Time: All year round

Address: The Yangtze River Estuary in the north of Shanghai

Popular Activities: Exploring in Dongping National Forest Park, observing various birds at Pearl Lake

 

Surcharge Inside the Island

Place	Price
Dongping National Forest Park	70 yuan
Dongtan Migratory Bird Protection Area	69 yuan
Shou’an Temple	10 yuan
Xisha Wetland Park	Free
Chongming Academy	Free

 

Opening Hours

Place	Time
Dongping National Forest Park	8:00 - 17:00
Dongtan Migratory Bird Protection Area	6:00 - 18:00
Shou’an Temple	7:00 – 16:30
Xisha Wetland Park	8:30 - 16:00
Chongming Academy	8:30 – 11:00, 14:00 – 17:00 (Jun. 15 to Sep. 14)
	8:30 – 16:30 (Sep. 15 to next Jun. 14, closed on Monday)

Introduction of Chongming Island

Located at the Yangtze River Estuary in the north of Shanghai, Chongming Island covers an area of 1,269.1 square kilometers, which is the third largest island in China.
 

Chongming Island is formed by a large amount of sediment from the Yangtze River under the interaction of rivers and seas. Chongming Island is flat and low, and there are no hills on the island. The general terrain trend on the island is slightly higher in the north-west and slightly lower in the southwest and east.
 

The climate is warm and the seasons are distinct on the island. Primitive forests, lakes, wetlands, intertidal zone, and fishing grounds are dotted on the island. There are various birds and other animals.
 

Chongming Island is surrounded by water in all directions; ferries are the major transportation to connect the land. Chongming Island is connected to Shanghai urban area by Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel Bridge in the south and by Chongqi Yangtze River Bridge in the north.

 

History of Chongming Island

Chongming Island is the alluvial island at the eastern end of the Yangtze River Delta, the third largest island in China, the largest estuarine alluvial island and the largest sand island in China, which has a history of over 1300 years.
 

During the Wude Period of the Tang Dynasty, the land was exposed from the water surface of the Yangtze River, initially two sandbanks called Xisha, Dongsha. In the Northern Song Dynasty, there were another two sandbanks Yaoliusha and Sansha connected with the Dongsha in the northwest. After the construction of sea dikes, the shoreline became stable. During the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing dynasty, Pingyang, Xifu, Ping’an and other dunes were connected with the main island successively into one, thus forming the island.
 

According to “Shanghai Record”, the name of the island – “Chongming” is derived from the name of a region on the island. In the tenth century AD, Chongming Town was set up in Gujunsha (also known as Xisha, one of the first two sandbanks to form Chongming Island).

 

Chongming Island Amazing Sights You Should Not Miss

Dongping National Forest Park

Located in the north central Chongming Island, Shanghai Dongping National Forest Park is the largest forest park in Shanghai and the largest man-made plain forest in Eastern China, with a total area of 3.55 square kilometers (about 877 acres).
 

In the forest, there are not only flourishing trees and fragrant flowers, but also various animals. Except exploring in the woods, other activities are also available here such as rock climbing, forest golf, grass skiing, and camping.
 

Dongtan Migratory Bird Protection Area

Located at the estuary of the Yangtze River, east beach of Chongming Island, it covers an area of 300 square kilometers (about 74,132 acres). Dongtan Migratory Bird Protection Area is a paradise for wild birds, which inhabits hundreds of kinds of birds.
 

Dongtan Migratory Bird Protection Area was listed as a National Nature Reserve in 2005, which is also declared as one of the world’s important wetlands.
 

In Dongtan, there are 265 species of birds recorded, including 140 species of waterfowls, such as cranes, herons, geese and ducks, waders and gulls; a total of 34 species of birds which are rated as the first or the second national protected birds have been observed here, such as Ciconia boyciana, Ciconia nigra, Haliaeetus albicilla, and Grus monacha. Apart from some rare birds like white-fronted goose, striated heron, and black-faced spoonbill, a number of transit migratory birds from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries also found here during their annual migration. The number of little swans that live in Dongtan for wintering reaches 3,000 to 3,500.
 

Shou'an Temple

Shou’an Temple, one of the four ancient temples on Chongming Island, is located on the south side of Jin’ao Mountain, 5 miles away from Chongming County, Shanghai. Shou'an Temple was first built in the Song Dynasty more than 700 years ago; the temple existing now was rebuilt in 1983 for the old one was damaged in the war.
 

The temple was named “Fu'an Temple” in the beginning, and then it was granted “Yongfu Shou’an Temple” by the imperial court in the Yuan Dynasty.
 

Later, after continuous repair and expansion during the four dynasties of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing, the temple came into a big scale, which included Daxiongbao Dian (the Great Buddha’s Hall), Tianwang Dian (Hall the Celestial Kings), Sansheng Dian (Three Saints Hall), Dizang Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Ancestral Hall, Inquiry Pavilion, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, etc. Apart from the halls, there are two 500 years old ginkgo trees covering the ground in the temple yard.
 

National Xisha Wetland Park

Xisha National Wetland Park is located at No. 588 Baohu Road, Lvhua Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, near Mingzhu Lake Park.
 

There is a wooden trestle across the grass to the edge of the Yangtze River. The grasses are green in spring and summer, and sand crabs often creep on the tidal-flat area. Boundless reeds are dancing in autumn.
 

Unlike many other wetlands, people can see natural tidal phenomena in Xisha Wetland Park. At high tide, the trestle road is almost close to the water surface, and the beach is exposed when the tide goes out.
 

Xisha Wetland Park is known as a bird-watching resort. It is home to a large number of egrets, wild geese and green ducks. There are many bird-watching platforms for bird-watching. Every November to March is the best time to research birds.
 

Chongming Academy

Chongming Academy, also known as Chongming County Museum nowadays, is located at No. 696 Aoshan Road, Chengqiao Town, Chongming District, Shanghai. It is the largest one of the three well-preserved Confucius temples in Shanghai, which was first built in 1327, covering an area of 15,473 square meters (about 3.8 acres).
 

In history, it was a place for people to pay their homage to Confucius, but later it became the place of the local official college. Nowadays, it is a comprehensive museum with abundant collections varying from customs, boats, history, and culture.
 

There are two basic display series in the museum, one is “Chongming Island History and Ancient Ship”, and the other is “Chongming Folk Custom”.

 

How to Get to Chongming Island

By Bus

Take Bus Shenchong Line 1, Shenchong Line 2, Shenchong Line 3, and ShenChong Line 6 and get off at the bus terminal.
 

By Ferry

Take a ferry at Wusong Wharf, Baoyang Wharf, or Shidongkou Wharf to the Nanmen Wharf of Chongming Island.
 

By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去崇明岛。English: Please take me to Chongming Island.

If you go to Chongming Island from Pudong International Airport, it takes about 70 minutes (67 km, about 240 yuan).

If you go to Chongming Island from the Shanghai Railway Station, it takes about 85 minutes (71 km, about 255 yuan).

If you go to Chongming Island from the Shanghainan Railway Station, it takes about 86 minutes (85 km, about 310 yuan).

If you go to Chongming Island from The Bund, it takes about 90 minutes (69 km, about 249 yuan).