Chongming Island, China's third largest island (besides Taiwan Island and Hainan Island), is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River. With an area of nearly 1,200 square kilometers, it is a perfect place for a back-to-nature weekend because of its pleasant climate, loamy land, green forest and crossing rivers.

Now there is only one way to go to Chongming from Shanghai - taking the cruise. But in one or two years, the construction of the Yangtze River Bridge and Tunnel for Shanghai-Chongming Cross-River Expressway Project will be finished. The transportation and communication will be faster and closer.

Chongming Island, Shanghai

You can take cruise from Bao Yang Port (Addr: No. 18 Baoyang Side Road, Baoshan District; Tel: 021-56122081) or Shi Dong Kou Port (Shengshi Road, Baoshan District; Tel: 021-56153537) and it departs at about every 30 minutes. To get to these ports, please find hereunder the details:

Bao Yang Port: Take a bus No. 5 from Tourist Distribution Center (Gate 12, under stairs No. 5) in Shanghai Stadium (Addr: 666 Tian Yao Qiao Road); Public bus No. 541 from Shanghai Stadium; Public bus No. 508 from Shanghai Railway Station; Public bus Beibao Line and No. 51 from Shanghai North Railway Station.

Shi Dong Kou Port: Public bus Pengshi Line from Pengpu New Village; Public bus Beishi Line from Shanghai North Railway Station.

Also, the cruises arrive at different ports on Chongming Island (Nan Men Port, Xin He Port and Bao Village Port). The tickets and transfer time are different due to the cruise types you choose: normal passenger cruise, speed passenger cruise or passenger and vehicle cruise. So please make sure you board the right cruise.

There are 8 bus lines on the island: Shanghai Bus / Subway Search
1.  Nan Jiang Line is from Nan Men to Yangtze Farm;
2.  Nan Dong Line is from Nan Men to Qian Wei Village;
3.  Bao Sheng Line is from Bao Village Port to Qian Wei Village;
4.  Xin Cen Line is from Xin He Bus Station to Dongping Forest Park;
5.  Nan Jian Line is from Nan Men to Lv Gang Village
6.  Nan Niu Line is from Nan Men to floodgate;
7.  Bao Chen Line is from Bao Village to Chen Jia Village;
8. Chen Bai Line is from Chen Jia Village to Ying Dong Village.

Chongming Island, Shanghai

You can take a taxi (flag-down price: CNY5.00) or a bus to travel around the island. The good thing here is, whatever you need, transfer, food or accommodation, they can be bargained. For your convenience, you may need to charter a taxi to drop or pick you up at the scenic spots. And it is easy to find a restaurant or a guesthouse/local people's home to stay.

Chongming Island is shaped long and narrow. At the southeast end of the island lies the wetland named Dong Tan. It is a resting place for birds migrating between Siberia and Australia. Dongping Forest Park is at the central area of the island, which is a real recreational area for riding horse or bicycle, hiking, camping, barbecuing, paintball shooting, racing, rock climbing, etc. Everyone will have fun here.

Chongming County is where Nan Men Port is located. It is said that strolling around the small county is like back to the old Shanghai. The local food is quite different from what you have in the city, much more delicate and tasty. Believe it or not, you may find out by yourself.

One more thing, when you go back to Shanghai, please make sure you have time to catch the last bus from Shanghai port to your home.