Chongming Island: nothing much, deliberately

Chongming is China’s third-largest island and Shanghai’s least-known district: farmland, reed beds, migrating birds and almost nothing to look at in the conventional sense. It is administered by Shanghai, which is why it counts as being in the city at all.

People come here to cycle on flat roads, look at birds in the Dongtan wetlands, and eat river fish. If that sounds dull, skip it. The value is precisely that it is dull.

Getting there

The Yangtze tunnel-bridge carries metro line 19 and road traffic to Chongming. Multiple routes from the city take between 1.5 and 2 hours door to door depending on where you start.

If you are staying near Hongqiao, Chongming is more accessible than people expect — it sits on the northern side of the estuary approach.

What there is to do

Dongtan Wetland Park for bird migration in spring and autumn. Cycling — the island is flat and has designated routes. Chongming Dongping Forest Park for trees and quiet.

Then: very good local river fish, rice, and not much else. That is the itinerary.

When to go

Spring and autumn for bird migration and tolerable weather. Summer is hot and the mosquito situation is serious. Winter is bleak.

It is best as a weekend rather than a day given the travel time, though a day trip is possible.