As early summer arrives, a delightful encounter awaits you along the banks of the Suzhou Creek in Shanghai. The hydrangeas bloom in perfect harmony, their delicate pink, blue, and purple hues even more enchanting under the azure sky.
Take a leisurely stroll along both sides of the creek near Zhapulu Bridge and Sichuan Road Bridge, where you’ll also find an array of unique and charming coffee shops worth exploring. Here, you can indulge in a super chill “left bank” experience by the Suzhou Creek, embraced by the gentle breeze and picturesque scenery.
Hydrangea Blooms Framed by Century-Old Architecture
As the hydrangea season unfolds, Shanghai seems to have plunged into a sea of these captivating flowers. For many, the area near Zhapulu Bridge along the Suzhou Creek is considered one of the best spots to capture the stunning hydrangea displays.
The expansive sea of blue and purple hydrangeas, coupled with the backdrop of the Shanghai General Post Office Building, creates a truly unique and breathtaking sight that is quintessentially Shanghai.
📍 Near Zhapulu Bridge, South Suzhou Road, Huangpu District
The “Most Beautiful Coffee Shop” Hidden in a Gas Station
Is it a coffee shop within a gas station or a gas station within a coffee shop? Many visitors find themselves pondering this question as they step into the Qinqin Nong Coffee Shop located on the second floor of the First Gas Station on South Suzhou Road.
Beneath the Qinqin Nong Coffee Shop lies the “most beautiful gas station,” while across the creek stand the imposing Shanghai Postal Museum and sleek modern buildings.
The coffee shop features a riverside terrace where you can sip your coffee while lingering to admire the beauty of the eastern section of the Suzhou Creek and the blooming hydrangeas below.
Qinqin Nong (South Suzhou Road Branch)
📍 2nd Floor, First Gas Station, No. 198, South Suzhou Road, Huangpu District
Raise a Cup of Coffee and Pose with the “Three Pieces”
As you stroll along the Suzhou Creek and pass the Sichuan Road Bridge, both J’S LINK BAR&CAFE and REi·FLOWER COFFEE BAR offer outdoor seating by the riverbank.
Sit by the creek, feel the breeze, snap some photos, and take a picture with the Lujiazui “Triangle Set” in the background—this is what the “left bank” lifestyle of the Suzhou Creek is all about.
Continue along North Suzhou Road towards Waibaidu Bridge, and you’ll come across Lights coffee & bar.
This coffee shop is housed in an old Western-style building that was once a maritime office. On sunny days, sitting in the outdoor seating area feels like being on a cruise ship, evoking a delightful holiday vibe.
J’S LINK BAR&CAFE
📍 No. 224, North Suzhou Road, Hongkou District
REi·FLOWER COFFEE BAR
📍 No. 234, North Suzhou Road, Hongkou District
Lights coffee & bar
📍 No. 111, North Suzhou Road, Hongkou District
Related Articles:
