Qingpu Qushui Garden Parent-Child Exploration｜Playful Moments in a Classical Garden🪁

🌸 Morning Light in the Garden: First Impressions of the Nine-Bend Corridor** Take Metro Line 17 to Qingpu Xincheng Station early in the morning, then walk 10 minutes to reach the south gate of Qushui Garden. Tickets are 5 RMB per person (free for children under 1.3 meters). Pushing open the weathered wooden door, the child is immediately drawn to the Nine-Bend Corridor—vines entwine the corridor pillars, sunlight filters through carved window lattices casting dappled light. He jumps and counts the shadows on the ground: "Dad, does this look like the maze in Journey to the West?" 🎨 Parent-Child Interaction: A Natural Classroom in the Ancient Garden ❶ Ancient Tree Tracking Challenge Follow the garden signs to start the "Ancient Tree Exploration" mission: White Bark Pine (in the Huashen Hall courtyard): Teach children to touch the grooves of the century-old bark and observe the spiral structure of pine cones; Ginkgo Tree (south side of Qinglai Mountain House): Male and female trees grow side by side, golden in autumn, and in spring their green leaves form a natural collage; Podocarpus (next to Ninghe Hall): 200 years old, branches spread like an umbrella, perfect for the "Tree Shadow Rubbing" game. ❷ AR Poetry Treasure Hunt Scan the QR code on the stone stele to trigger AR animation—the ancient poem "Qushui Garden Travel Record" transforms into fluttering butterflies. The child follows virtual clues to find hidden check-in spots, collecting 3 digital badges to exchange for a hand-drawn map. ❸ Ninghe Hall Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Saturday morning parent-child workshops offer experiences in Qingpu paper cutting and bamboo weaving. Children cut snake-shaped window flowers from red paper (2025 is the Year of the Snake theme). The master craftsman praises, "The little one’s hands are skillful; the spirit of our garden lives on!" 🌳 Nature Exploration: An Ecological Wonderland with Changing Views Lotus Pond Birdwatching: Rent binoculars (20 RMB/hour) to observe the agile white egrets fishing in the pond. Early summer reveals the "little lotus just showing its pointed tip"; Jiufeng Viewing Pavilion Climb: Climb to the fourth floor for a panoramic view of the garden. The daughter points at the winding waterway in amazement: "So Qushui Garden is like a coiled snake!" (matching the Year of the Snake theme); Wisteria Flower Corridor Sketching: In April, purple clusters hang like waterfalls. Free drawing paper and colored pencils are provided by the stone table. The child's doodle of a "vine monster" amuses passersby. 🍜 Food Recharge: Playful Flavors Inside and Outside the Garden Garden Tea House: Osmanthus lotus root starch soup (15 RMB), sweet but not greasy, served with snake-shaped glutinous rice cake. The daughter bites out an "S"-shaped tooth mark; West Gate Snack Street: Must-try "Smiling Spicy One-Strand Spicy Stick" (mildly spicy version), paired with Qingpu malt sugar paintings, where the chef draws the zodiac snake live; Wanda Plaza (2 km from the garden): Parent-child set meal includes mini soup dumplings and dinosaur egg pudding. Children's tableware comes with garden-themed puzzles. 📝 Practical Tips: Stress-Free Parent-Child Guide* ✅ Transportation: Drive and park at Gongyuan Road parking lot (6 RMB/hour), or take Metro Line 17 to Qingpu Xincheng Station then transfer to Qing’an Line bus; ✅ Gear: Bring mosquito repellent patches, children’s Hanfu (many ancient-style photo spots in the garden), strollers can be stored free at the entrance; ✅ Timing: Recommended visit from 9:00 to 11:00 to avoid afternoon crowds. The lotus pond reflections are most beautiful at dusk; ✅ Combo Recommendation: Visit Qingpu Museum (free) in the afternoon, where children can join the "Archaeology Blind Box" digging experience. 🎋 Conclusion: Cultural Sprouts in the Garden When the child picks up fallen leaves under the ginkgo tree and suddenly asks, "Why did ancient people make gardens so winding?" I point to the "Qushui Liushang" plaque on the corridor pillar and tell the story of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering. He half-understands but draws the nine-bend river and a grinning koi on the back of the hand-drawn map. The charm of Qushui Garden may lie here—in this small world, classical aesthetics and childlike curiosity quietly collide, and the seeds of culture take root beneath these blue tiles and white walls. 📍 Address: 612 Gongyuan Road, Qingpu District 🕒 Open: 6:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)