With Children’s Day just around the corner, it’s the peak season for “cute kids” to hit the streets. However, popular destinations like parks, zoos, and parent-child playgrounds are always crowded during holidays.
Why not choose a less crowded and more enjoyable fairy-tale-like parent-child mall instead? Not only can you solve all your eating, drinking, playing, and entertainment needs in one place, but there are also plenty of free playgrounds and children’s facilities. It’s a hassle-free and cost-effective way to ensure your kids have a fun and fulfilling time.
AIPLAZA West Bund · Phoenix Nest
Strolling with kids, lounging on the lawn, and checking in at internet-famous buildings – you can do it all!
Since its opening, the West Bund Phoenix Nest has been one of the most popular internet-famous buildings in Shanghai. The streamlined steel structure, the mechanical phoenix “wings” that seem to be about to take flight, and the futuristic design are all quite impressive in the architectural world.
As an open-air mall, the air circulation and open view here are easy on the eyes and lungs. The mall is currently hosting the “Island Flying Market” event, with colorful children’s play installations everywhere.
There are also two visually appealing and photogenic oversized non-powered children’s playgrounds outdoors. On the 1F outdoor area of the East Tower, there is a Wind Dance playground with climbing walls, climbing frames, slides, and plenty of open space.
On the B1 floor outdoor atrium of the mall, there is a Solar System parent-child playground, including cosmic planet installations, slides, swing platforms, balance bridges, etc., which is more suitable for younger children.
The indoor atrium also has a themed children’s playground designed specifically for kids, which can be enjoyed for free. For more amusement options, there are plenty of paid parent-child venues like the Naierbao Science and Technology Museum and Chaofan Chaowa.
Diagonally across from the West Bund Phoenix Nest, near Exit 7 of Line 11, is a runway park transformed from a former airport. The recently viral “ergonomic lawn” is located here, along with an amusement park, sunken basketball court, and other parent-child sports venues. You can enjoy the joy of sports and the relaxation of lying flat while strolling with your kids.
📍 683 Yunjin Road, Xuhui District
Kerry Parkside, Pudong
Parent-Child Carnival Month, 7 major themed activities in rotation
Kerry Parkside in Pudong can be considered a model mall for children and parent-child business. The shopping center is located within the Linkong International Community and is close to Century Park, with a mature sports atmosphere. The mall’s positioning is aimed at the parent-child business for international family customers.
There are many children’s sports and amusement facilities. The outdoor plaza has two free outdoor children’s playgrounds, and there is also a free indoor playground with climbing, slides, swings, rotating chairs, ball pits, and other facilities covering different age groups.
In addition, there are music fountains, three-dimensional caves, and other installations that children love, allowing them to have a great time even in the middle of summer.
The 900㎡ children’s adventure playground in the mall is the pioneer of large-scale indoor children’s playgrounds in Shanghai and even in China. The three major slides, “Wave Slide, Double Slide, and Devil Slide,” have become a paradise for children to play.
In June, the mall is holding a “Sports Play Carnival” themed event. Every weekend, seven major themes will be launched in rotation, including dragon boat racing, cute pet sports meets, parent-child fun games, and nearly 10 carnival activities.
Parent-child families and sports enthusiasts can bring their children to participate in activities such as “Tree Sports Meet” and “Parent-Child Flying Challenge” to help children complete self-challenges while playing games.
📍 1378 Huamu Road, Pudong New Area
Nanxiang Impression City MEGA
A one-day vacation destination in the suburbs of Shanghai
Covering an area of 340,000 square meters, Nanxiang Impression City can be regarded as a one-day micro-vacation destination in Shanghai. If you want to take your children out without going too far, this tropical rainforest-style specialty shopping center is the perfect choice.
The Mijing Forest on the lower ground floor of the mall is a must-visit. It’s like a miniature tropical rainforest with various rare plants and flowers that are both enchanting and therapeutic. The transparent dome with a super moon is also very photogenic.
The rooftop garden features eye-catching dopamine color combinations. There are large patches of grass for free activities, as well as a free children’s playground and sandpit “guarded” by large paper cranes, which are the children’s favorite spots.
Follow the colorful staircase next to the children’s playground to reach the romantic Starry Sky Walkway. The walkway offers excellent views, including a full view of the Metro Line 11 station. It’s a great choice for walking or jogging with children, both beautiful and practical.
The mall’s vast area and numerous tenants naturally provide a wide range of parent-child consumption options. The Tangli Planet zipline, which is the size of 8.5 football fields, the 3,000-square-meter Meland Club flagship store, and the ice skating club with a panoramic skylight, among others, can each be enjoyed for an entire day.
📍 2299 Chenxiang Road, Jiading District
Changfeng Joy City
4 major parent-child activities that can’t be completed in a day
Changfeng Joy City is truly an ideal destination for taking kids out. In addition to the well-known Lego Discovery Center, the mall’s atrium theme installations are also a major feature.
Every summer, the first-floor atrium features a huge water world theme park, with various water amusement projects that are much more fun than fountain water play. In other seasons, various large-scale inflatable facilities with different themes are arranged.
The Sky Park, which offers a panoramic view of the Suzhou River and Changfeng Park, features a large lawn, a pink elevated running track, pink arched stairs, a macaron rest area, and a free children’s playground. The SHIP’S CAT sculpture, art graffiti walls, and other highly photogenic spots are available, and for just over 100 yuan, you can enjoy unlimited climbing all day.
In addition to the shopping center, within a hundred-meter radius, there are a series of destinations for taking kids out, including the 360,000-square-meter Changfeng Park, the 53,000-square-meter Changfeng Riverside Green Space, and the 16,000-square-meter Children’s Library. One day is simply not enough.
Although Shanghai is not short of children’s libraries, the one in Changfeng shines brilliantly! It is currently the world’s largest single children’s and youth library, with a collection of over 520,000 books, and can be called a knowledge carrier. Moreover, it has a high appearance and a good environment, where you can quietly spend half a day. The library is very popular and requires an appointment at 10 am on Mondays.
Changfeng Park is full of large lawns where you can sit and lie down at any time. Here, you can climb the Iron Arm Mountain with your children, go boating on Yinchu Lake, visit the Ocean World together, and check in at the children’s playground.
The Suzhou River Riverside Green Space is more open and free, with a wide view suitable for leisure sports such as cycling and jogging. You can also camp and picnic here, enjoying a rare leisurely time.
📍 196 Daduhe Road, Putuo District
Hongqiao Libao Plaza
A hidden gem for taking kids out without crowds
Although Libao Plaza does not have many open shops and is not very popular, it still deserves the title of “hidden gem destination for taking kids out”!
The mall has created many free children’s play facilities both indoors and outdoors, including swings, slides, trampolines, ball pits, climbing frames, rotating discs, etc., which are quite complete. Moreover, there are few people, no crowding, and no queuing!
The mall’s “Cute Giant Panda” themed public welfare science exhibition, in cooperation with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, turns the shopping center into a cute panda world, with many panda photo spots that are fun, photogenic, and educational.
In the “Cardboard King Secret Garden” in the mall’s atrium, everything is made of cardboard, including animals, plants, and a big tree, which is very dreamy in the interplay of light and shadow.
The two-story-high pink paper rotating slide is the most popular attraction, especially among little girls who simply can’t move their feet when they see it and have to slide around four, five, or six times before they are willing to leave.
The atrium also features a pink sand pool, which is a favorite among children. As long as you bring your own digging tools, you can enjoy the joy of “digging and digging” with your baby for free!
In addition, there is a small football field where children can play with a ball, and a huge library in the atrium where you can read with your child, combining both exercise and learning.
In June, the mall is going with a national trend, adding a new “Thousand Lantern Arena” scene and hosting themed activities including the original “Mo Dao Zu Shi” theme show, a national style creative design competition, and a Thousand Lantern Dragon Boat event. On weekends, free parking is available with any purchase, allowing children to play for a whole day without spending much money!
📍 109 Shenwu Road, Minhang District
Xinzhuang Injoy City
A huge free children’s playground that’s worth visiting even without shopping
Although Injoy City is not very popular now, it was once a viral internet-famous mall. Its biggest selling point is the huge free children’s playground on the rooftop, which is definitely a must-visit even if you don’t plan to shop. It’s truly amazing for taking kids out!
The non-powered exploration playground here features a dopamine color scheme, with a giant climbing frame resembling a long dragon connecting multiple slides, as thrilling as a roller coaster, making children never tire of playing.
Children’s favorites such as sand pits, rocking horses, percussion drums, and swings are all available here. Just bring your own digging tools and you can play for most of the day without any pressure.
If that’s not enough, the mall also has a dedicated parent-child floor (3rd floor) with a series of parent-child tenants such as Tongwaihui, Duoduotao, Katonni, and Taojieke, offering a wide range of activities like shooting, fishing, driving, and petting small animals.
When you’re tired or hungry from playing, you can eat and rest in the mall, which has many affordable and delicious dining options. Remember to take some time to check out the Upside-Down Museum on the 5th floor, where the inverted world will surprise the little ones.
📍 1507 Qixin Road, Minhang District
World Expo Source
A nearly fully open sky garden spanning a kilometer
Converted from the permanent building of the Shanghai World Expo – the Expo Axis, the World Expo Source covers an area of 108,000 square meters and stretches 1,100 meters from north to south. It can be said to be the narrowest and longest mall in Shanghai and even in the whole country. Its straight-line design makes it especially suitable for taking kids out.
The second floor of the mall is an almost fully open sky garden, bright and spacious, with a large area! Here you can find a non-powered playground, a skateboard park, a white sand pool, a racing area, and the Haibei Pier where you can go boating.
Under the protection of the “dome” in the Sunshine Valley, rain and scorching sun have no effect, making it both fun and eye-friendly. From June 7th to 9th, an Asian trendy plant carnival will be held here, featuring Southeast Asian succulents, tropical premium plants, exotic pet carnivals, and more. It’s definitely worth taking the little ones to check it out.
Inside the mall, the L2 Dynamic Street and B Active Street are the mall’s signature floors. The exquisite decorations such as sea view fish tanks, tropical rainforests, and tree net domes make people feel like they are freely shuttling between the underwater world and the forest, which the little ones find particularly novel and interesting.
Stepping out of the mall, you can walk to the banks of the Huangpu River to enjoy the riverside scenery, with the China Art Museum and Mercedes-Benz Arena nearby. The China Art Museum regularly hosts various high-quality free exhibitions and also offers parent-child activities for registration.
📍 1368 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area
Crystal Plaza
Shanghai’s first mall with a standalone KIDS MALL
As Shanghai’s first mall with a standalone KIDS MALL, Crystal Plaza truly understands children. The layout of its businesses caters to children’s interests, with Nairbao Family Center, Bagkiss, Kidsland, KIDS STATION, and others being favorites among the little ones.
The various children’s brands in the KIDS MALL are also highly matched with the international-oriented family customers in the Qiantan area.
There’s Rolingkids, a European and American designer children’s clothing boutique; Hotme Music, which includes various musical instrument training and music creation training; Mad Science, which collaborates with NASA on STEM courses; and Giraffe Art Education, among others.
The mall’s detailed facilities are also highly praised. The pillars are softly padded, and the floor is designed with shock-absorbing mats to ensure the safety of children playing to the greatest extent possible.
The two large-scale non-powered facilities, Sky Playground on the 1st and 3rd floors, introduce the Galaxy series and Corocort climbing series to China for the first time. There’s also the Crystal Fantasy Park, which is free and open to the public.
📍 308 Yaoti Road, Pudong New Area
