Sheshan Mountain

Address: Sheshan (Songjiang District), Shanghai Municipality, China

Website: http://www.sheshanpark.com/

Hours: Sheshan National Forest Park generally open 7:30am-5:30pm (check local listings)

Sheshan is a pair of low wooded hills in Songjiang District, Shanghai, known for a Catholic basilica, an observatory, and an extensive municipal forest park. The west hill rises to about 100 metres, making the site one of Shanghai’s principal natural high points.

The hills have long been a local landmark; the basilica and related religious complex developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and have since become an established pilgrimage destination. The observatory and park facilities were added in the 20th century as Shanghai expanded.

Sheshan sits in the western suburbs of Shanghai’s Songjiang District, southwest of the city center, and forms a wooded island of higher ground amid the otherwise flat river plain.

• Hill heights: The west hill reaches around 100 metres, making the site one of the few notable hill landmarks within wider Shanghai’s mostly flat terrain.
• Mixed uses: Home to a prominent Catholic basilica and an observatory, combining religious pilgrimage and scientific facilities in the same park complex.

What to See#

• Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan: A Roman Catholic basilica and pilgrimage church located on the hillside that is a focal point for annual Marian pilgrimages.
• Sheshan Observatory: An observatory station belonging to the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, used for research and outreach on the western slope of the hills.
• East and West Sheshan: Two principal hilltops often referred to as East Sheshan and West Sheshan, with the west peak reaching roughly 100 metres above sea level and forming the area’s highest ground.
• Sheshan National Forest Park: A municipal forest park that covers much of the hills, featuring paved paths, viewpoints, and recreational facilities used by local visitors.

From Shanghai, take suburban rail or buses to Songjiang district, then local buses or taxis to Sheshan National Forest Park. A short tram or cable-car service operates from the park entrance to higher viewpoints.

• Take the scenic tram up to the Sheshan Basilica on weekends when the park is lively but not overcrowded.
• Combine a visit with the Shanghai Astronomy Museum and Sheshan National Forest Park trails for a fuller day.
• Avoid Chinese public holidays-parks and tram services can be busy during those times.