Springtime Adventures

We talk to two families to find out what they enjoy doing this season and where they go for short trips with the family.

Lulu, mother of 5-year-old Lou, runs a luxury fashion boutique with celebrity clientele. Her company also works with influential families and film producers, offering high-end real estate and a plethora of lifestyle concepts.

Where do you enjoy short travelling as a family, why? What can you do there?

We enjoy travelling to the north of China where it still snows until the end of March, otherwise we will go for short trips to Changzhou.

What are your favourite places in town to visit this spring?

There are a lot of activities to do in Shanghai. But we enjoy going to the West Bund area to see the museums and for outdoor activities, like running or playing football together. We also enjoy visiting the farms and doing some rice or wheat harvesting in the fields.

Any outdoor sports and activities you enjoy doing with your family?

We are quite sporty, so we enjoy playing football together with friends and family. When the weather is nice we enjoy doing calligraphy outdoors. On occasion we play mahjong with friends.

Teresa Wong, photographed with husband Michael Li, is a mother of three children (9-year-old and 6-year-old boys and 2-year-old girl), is the Operations Director at Tiny Tots Education Group. After graduating with a Master of Finance from University of Cambridge, she spent her early career in Hong Kong as an investment banker. Because of her children and her passion for education, she started her career nearly a decade ago in early education and obtained her Master of Education with a specialty in early education.

Where do you enjoy short travelling as a family, why? What can you do there?

We love going to Suzhou during weekends. Less than an hour on the train or a 1.5-hour drive, you will find yourselves in the heart of old town Suzhou. Although it is so close to Shanghai, it has a very different feel. Suzhou is much more relaxed, an advantage of a smaller town with beautiful scenery, historical garden houses and delicious cuisine. Take a stroll along the lake, enjoy some lovely seafood freshly caught from the lake and chill under the willow trees.

On our drive back to Shanghai, we love to stop on the way in one of the historical water towns, such as Tongli. My kids love to try all the yummy traditional snacks found in the stalls along the lake. The boat trip is also a must for my little ones.

What are your favourite places to visit in town this spring?

Century Park is undoubtedly our favourite place in town in the spring. It has everything springs have to offer. You will be able to see all the different kinds of seasonal blossoms in the park. There is plenty of space for a picnic and running around. Bring a ball and I will have my three young children entertained for an entire afternoon.

Any outdoor sports and activities you enjoy doing with your family?

We love to go to the riverside in Pudong between Nanpu Bridge and Lujiazui. There is a nice and long cycling trail that is never crowded. My kids would take their bikes or strollers out and I can jog with them. If we get tired, we can take a short trip on the ferry to go to the Puxi side and back and enjoy the wonderful Huangpu River view. One great thing about the ferry is you can bring your bikes and strollers on board and continue biking on the other side of the river.