Dongtan Wetland Park is located at the easternmost tip of Chongming Island, at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The air is fresh, and the reed-covered mudflats stretch as far as the eye can see. Walking along the wooden boardwalks is a truly immersive experience. Dongtan is a popular spot for watching the sunrise, and during the autumn and winter bird migration seasons, visitors can enjoy watching flocks of birds flying or roosting in the distance from the park's birdwatching platform, offering a unique and vibrant experience. Dongtan Wetland is a crucial migratory route for migratory birds from the Asia-Pacific region and a wintering ground for waterfowl. The wetland park offers a wide range of facilities, including boat tours, barbecues, camping, and fishing. November to March is peak birdwatching season, when visitors can witness the spectacular sight of thousands of geese, herons, and other birds in flight. The best time for birdwatching is early morning, coinciding with sunrise time, offering a truly unique experience. A heron-watching platform is located in the center of the park, offering convenient access to birdwatching. However, Dongtan is geographically remote and has inconvenient transportation. Therefore, if you want to watch the sunrise and birds in the early morning, it is best to stay in a nearby town and drive yourself. Entering Dongtan Wetland Park, you will pass through the wetland landscape area, wetland habitat restoration area, waterfowl habitat, and rainwater collection area. You can see vast reeds and wetland lakes. In spring and summer, you can see various flowers and plants in the grass, but it is difficult to see migratory birds.
Attractions Location: Dongwang Road, Chongming District, Shanghai
Tickets:
Tickets: Adults 50 RMB / Discounted 30 RMB (Tuesday to Friday, January 1st - December 31st)
Tickets: Adults RMB 80 / Discounted RMB 40 (January 1st - December 31st, Saturdays and Sundays, including holidays)
Free ticket: 1. Children under 1.3 meters in height;
2. Active military personnel and persons with disabilities with valid certificates;
Discounted tickets are applicable to: minors between 1.3m and 1.5m in height; seniors over 60 years old with valid ID; full-time university students with a bachelor's degree or below with their valid ID.
Opening hours:
08:30-17:00 (Tuesday-Sunday, January 1st-December 31st)
Official phone number: Ticketing Inquiry
021-39367000;021-39367042
Transportation:
Currently, there are no public buses to Dongtan Wetland. From downtown, take the Shenchong Line 1 or 2, get off at the Yangtze River Bridge Station in Chenjia Town on Chongming Island, transfer to the Chenqian Line on the island to Qianshao Farm, and then take a taxi. The distance from Qianshao Farm to Dongtan Wetland Park is approximately 9 kilometers.
Time reference: More than 3 hours
Perfect for nature lovers with limited time, this one-day itinerary lets you explore the beauty and tranquility of Dongtan Wetland Park on Chongming Island.
Lunch: Dine at the eco-restaurant inside Dongtan Park (organic local food); Dinner back in downtown Shanghai or at Chenjia Town (local Chongming cuisine like crab, rice cakes).
Souvenirs: Eco-themed postcards, handmade straw crafts, bird-themed accessories from the park’s souvenir shop.
Enjoy Dongtan Wetland leisurely and explore nearby Mingzhu Lake, a serene eco-resort known for lakeside walks and traditional architecture.
Food: Try Chongming honey rice cakes, freshwater fish hotpot, and local crab dishes at guesthouse restaurants.
Souvenirs: Mingzhu Lake herbal teas, local honey, and water chestnut-based snacks.
Ideal for those wanting both nature and culture, this itinerary includes wetland exploration, a serene lake, a local museum, and a vast forest park.
Accommodation: Forest resort lodges, or Dongping Forest Park eco-lodge.
Food: Try forest mushroom hotpot, fried river shrimp, and local herbal soup.
Souvenirs: Wood-carved wildlife figures, museum replicas, and eco-friendly snacks.
Experience an immersive journey into Chongming’s natural beauty and traditional culture with relaxed pacing and optional bike trails.
Accommodation: Eco-resorts in Dongping or Changxing, with nature immersion experiences.
Food: Farm-to-table meals, locally grown vegetables, organic tofu dishes.
Souvenirs: Local fruits (pear, melon), eco-village handmade soaps, herbal oils.
Focus on seasonal birdwatching, local culture, and Chongming’s lesser-known countryside and villages.
Accommodation: Birdwatcher’s inn near Dongtan or Qianwei Village homestay.
Food: Home-cooked meals in villages, seasonal veggies, Chongming cake varieties.
Souvenirs: Bird photo books, Qianwei embroidered cloth, herbal insect repellents.
Explore Chongming by bike, integrating environmental education with scenic routes and rural life.
Accommodation: Cycling-friendly inns, local farmstays with meals.
Food: Fresh farm breakfasts, seasonal fruit, traditional Chongming stews.
Souvenirs: Handmade cycling caps, wooden flutes from folk village, honey jars.
Slow-travel style week to explore Chongming’s ecological zones, rural beauty, folk traditions, and wellness offerings.
Accommodation: 7-day eco-lodge package or homestay combination plan (rotating by region).
Food: Wellness cuisine, vegetarian meals available, plus hands-on local food sessions.
Souvenirs: Tea sets, handmade crafts, wellness oils, and nature photography prints.
This is a free national wild bird sanctuary, where you can observe the various bird species of Chongming Island from the wooden boardwalk. We visited once in 2013 and had a vivid memory of it. This time, we planned to bring Du's mom and Du's grandmother, who were visiting Chongming Island for the first time. Zhao Dudu didn't really remember it much. We followed the navigation to the Dongtan Wetland Park parking lot. We had originally planned to take the sightseeing bus to the sanctuary to see the birds, as we had done before. However, upon arrival, we discovered the entire sanctuary was sealed off. After asking the Dongtan Wetland Park staff, we learned that it had been closed to the public since 2017. We were so disappointed. We parked in the Dongtan Wetland Park parking lot. The entrance fee was 10 yuan per person, which was quite reasonable. We walked from the parking lot to the wetland park entrance, but I didn't plan to enter the wetland park. I'd been there before. Chongming Island's fee-paying parks—Dongtan Wetland Park, Dongping Forest Park, and Mingzhu Lake Park—are essentially the same as the comprehensive parks in the city and suburbs. Except for Mingzhu Lake Park, the entrance fee is quite expensive. Especially the Dongtan Wetland Park, where the ticket price is 40 yuan on weekdays and doubles to 80 yuan on holidays, which is really a steal. Actually, these parks are quite large, and you can easily spend a whole day in one park. Bring a tent and some food, and it's a great choice when the weather is nice. On my return, I actually think these fee-paying parks are still okay to visit on holidays because they have ample parking lots, so you don't have to worry about parking.
If you're looking for a setting sun, soaring wild geese, and a fusion of autumn water and sky, Dongtan Wetland Park is the perfect spot. In Chongming, you can listen to the chirping magpies, watch birds soar, stroll, and run, perfect for both solitude and companionship. Whether you're visiting for fun or seeking seclusion, it's an ideal choice.
I drove to Dongtan Wetland Park on a weekend trip. It was a three-hour one-way trip in traffic, but it was worth it. The air in Dongtan is incredibly fresh. Although it's part of Shanghai, it's so far from the city that it felt like being out of town. In summary: Public transportation isn't very convenient to get to Dongtan, so it's best to drive yourself or rent a car.
The air here is fresh, and there are endless reeds covering the mudflats. The air here is like the smell of the wet sea. Walking on the wooden boardwalk, there is an urge to return to nature. This is also the best place to watch the sunrise in East China.
The Dongtan Wetland Park map is small, so it's a bit of a slog. It took less than half an hour to get to the bird watching platform, and the bicycles in the Maotou scenic area were useless. But you wouldn't have used them anyway, as the wind would have blown people and bikes into the river. The name of the bird watching platform sounds nice, but once you get there, you'll find a rather unremarkable tower with drafty windows on all sides, no clear explanations, and no bird watching equipment for visitors.
At the bird watching platform, you can't see anything unless you look carefully. Maybe it was too windy that day and many birds couldn't fly. Fortunately, we brought a 16x telescope with us to watch the migratory birds in the distance. The birds that were not afraid of the wind and rain were immediately drawn into our sight. Now, when you stand at the bird watching platform to watch the migratory birds in autumn and winter, you can see the distant flocks of birds flying, playing, hunting, or roosting in various poses. This scene really makes us feel like we are immersed in the migratory bird world. It is magnificent!
Dongtan Wetland is mainly for watching migratory birds and coastal scenery. Located on the east side of Chongming Island, Dongtan Wetland requires a ticket to enter. After entering Dongtan Wetland, you will first see a wetland museum and a cruise ship dock where you can take a boat tour along the river in the wetland. If you don't want to take a boat, you can also walk along the path along the shore.
If you have time, visit Dongtan Wetland Park. The poppies are in full bloom now, creating a stunning sea of flowers. The park passes through the wetland landscape area, wetland habitat restoration area, waterfowl habitat, and rainwater collection area, offering views of vast reed beds and wetland lakes. In spring and summer, you'll see a variety of flowers and plants amidst the grass, but migratory birds are less likely to be seen.
With a broad view, fresh ecology and good environmental protection, it is a great place for vacation.
There's not even a sign at the entrance. Even people over 70 need a ticket. There's nothing to see inside; it's shabby and there are no birds. It's far from the city. There's no place to rent a bike with children. It's far inferior to Dongsen and Pearl Lake. It's a complete wetland wreck. Don't go.
This is an ecological zone on Chongming Island corresponding to the Dongsha and Xisha wetlands.
There is a car rental point right at the entrance of Dongtan Wetland Park. You can choose to ride a bike or walk. It was a little cold when we went there, so it was not suitable for riding a bike, so we chose to walk around slowly.
I came here today, and the park was closed!!! They said it was closed on Mondays. I searched everything online, but no one mentioned it being closed on Mondays... Then I went to the Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve (right next to the wetland park, free), but they only let me walk 200 meters to the railing before I could go any further. Why was it different from what they said? I'm not happy. I came here with all my preparations, but this has completely ruined my plans. I don't know where to go anymore...
I love the green reeds and the birds singing in chorus early in the morning.
Located at the easternmost end of Chongming Island, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the air here is fresh and the reeds stretch as far as the eye can see. Walking on the wooden plank road is a great way to get close to nature.
There really isn't much to see, just a deserted park with a high ticket price. Not recommended.
Dongtan Wetland Park is pretty good and it's very comfortable to ride a bike.
On the east side of Chongming, the natural scenery is quite beautiful!
As we had no money, we walked the whole way. It was a very ordinary park and we didn't see any migratory birds. The big windmill at the entrance was a bit interesting. The scenic area was quite remote and the drive took a long time.
Dongtan Wetland Park, located at the easternmost end, is said to be a place where you can see fireflies and is also the best place to watch the sunrise on Chongming Island.
There are more reeds and not many trees, and it is extremely hot.
Just want to say! Rubbish! Whoever comes here will regret it! This crappy place costs 80. Sorry, it's not as good as the park next to our home.
It's worth a visit, but it's quite far from the city, and you have to go in the right season to see birds.
It's a rip-off. I went to Dongtan Wetland Park on May 13th. The ticket for 4 people was 80 yuan per person, a total of 320 yuan. I originally went to the Dongtan Migratory Bird Area, but the staff inside said that it was under maintenance for a while. Since it is not open, why do they still charge 80 yuan per ticket? There is no notice or other signs at the entrance. It is really not worth the price. It is a complete rip-off. The other attractions are completely ordinary. There is nothing worth praising.
The park is not very big, and renting a bicycle for 2 hours is enough to go around it. The scenery exceeded my expectations and it was worth the trip.
It wasn't as good as I'd imagined. When I bought my ticket, I asked, "Is it a 4A-rated tourist attraction?" The answer was, "We're in the process of applying for it." So, I spent 130 minutes walking around the park, visiting several scenic spots. It felt quite desolate, probably because of the weather; none of the attractions were open. My initial impression was that it fell far short of 4A status: there were no public restrooms or shops, and many paths between attractions were gravel and dirt. There were few open areas or seats for visitors to rest, and the signage was unclear. The waiting platform had no canopy... The wetland park is quite large, and the grass, trees, and flowers were in good condition. Workers were working, and the waiters were responsible and well-dressed. I didn't have a full day. I might find time to visit again in a different season.
The weather was great during the Qingming Festival in 2014, so I went on a picnic in Chongming with my friends.
When I drove to Chongming, I saw that the traffic was horrible. I guessed that everyone was going to the Forest Park, so I temporarily moved here.
There were surprisingly few people and the environment was surprisingly beautiful, perfect for a picnic and walking around.
My friend said that it’s no wonder the online ratings aren’t high, they’re telling people not to come hahaha so we can come hahaha…
I even ran into a colleague here 😆~ What a coincidence!
The scenery is good, it is recommended to drive with your family
Dongtan Wetland is located in the east of Chongming Island. There are many protected birds in the wetland.
This place is said to be a stopover for migratory birds. There were no buses directly to Dongtan Wetland Park from the bus stop, so we opted for a chartered car. With so many people, it was a good deal. The day we went, it wasn't crowded, and the road leading to the wetland became a photo op. People sat, laughed, and sang. Finally, we arrived at the vast green reed marsh, a breathtaking sight of refreshing greenery. A group of happy friends, we couldn't stop singing while walking. The road to Dongtan Wetland Park was clear of cars and people, and the breeze was refreshing, refreshing. We sang and posed for photos along the way.
Dongtan Wetland Park is quite large, and even on a Sunday, there weren't many people there. Every view felt like it was completely reserved.
Booking a ticket online one day in advance costs 72 yuan. You can bring your own bicycle in to ride, which is not bad.
You can see the sea! You can catch crabs, but it's too far away.
The gravel path in Dongtan reminds me of a country road. The gentle morning breeze and swaying tree shadows make the area feel warm. Although the sun was strong, it didn't feel overly hot. So, I started posing, enjoying the flowers and plants as I walked. Although it was a quick trip, the Dongtan Wetland is still worth a visit.
The ticket price for Dongtan Wetland Park is 50 yuan on weekdays and 80 yuan on holidays and weekends.
The ticket prices for some other entertainment facilities can be seen in the figure below.
The whole park is quite large, and it takes 2-3 hours to walk around it. If you are not strong enough, you can rent a bicycle and walk around it slowly. Entering the park is a world of flowers. It is the end of spring, and the weather is not particularly hot, so the flowers are in full bloom.
There are many small animals in the park.
There was a field with 6-7 sheep, and many children ran to feed them. I said I was a little scared...hahahaha
There are also a few black swans swimming around in the river, and they come ashore from time to time, and they are not afraid of people.
The parking lot is large and easy to park in. The fee is 10 yuan, with no time limit. The architectural design at the entrance of the wetland park is very unique, with large glass windows throughout, which provides excellent lighting.
It's huge! You absolutely have to rent a bike! Rent a bike! Rent a bike! There's a wetland in the middle. The scenery is truly amazing!
Dongtan Park is incredibly large, so renting a bike is a must! The vast expanse of natural water gives Dongtan a pristine charm that city parks can't replicate.
Can we see birds now? Is this also where we can watch the sunrise?
A place even more beautiful than I'd imagined. The front desk said we'd be leaving the park at 5 p.m., which was a bit disappointing, figuring two hours wouldn't be enough. We rented a tandem bike and set off. After a short ride, we came upon a vast field of rapeseed flowers. I knew what rapeseed flowers looked like, but this was the first time I'd seen so many, and so tall. Everyone's expression was "so beautiful!" I was glad we were late, so there weren't many people around. But camera resolution is never as good as the human eye, and 2D photos can never compare to 3D reality. It was truly beautiful, truly beautiful. Many people say rapeseed flowers are everywhere, and spending money to see them is foolish. But it was truly beautiful, like a celestial being intoxicated, shattering the white clouds, dyeing them yellow, and letting the flowers bloom on the ground. This scene was truly beautiful.
Go to Xisha, no tickets are required. Dongsha is completely deserted. (Please don't criticize)
Reed marshes, flocks of water birds, and a place to find wild fun.
Chongming Morning Song
On a morning like this
wake
Flying in a row
Yearning
A volume of days
Slowly unfold
Sit on it
Miss you cleanly
The sun seems
One silk thread
Falling on
In front of you
How I want to use it
Weaving a Chirp
Or a piece
Bright forehead
The wetlands in the east of Chongming Island are rich in vegetation and are a good place to watch birds and sunrises.
The paid park feels average, except that the vegetation is richer.
It is really very beautiful, in one word: beautiful!!!
The park itself is very beautiful, with a great natural environment and a variety of plants and flowers that are very pleasant to look at. However, I don't know if it is because of the recent heavy rain, the lake water is very turbid and has a yellowish-brown color.
The park is not too big, so if you walk, you can probably spend a day there. If you ride a bike, you can finish it in two hours, but it feels a bit rushed. The prices of restaurants and retail stores in the scenic area are quite reasonable, which is worth praising, and the service in all aspects is also good.
It is suitable for self-driving, the air is very good, and meals can be taken at the nearby farmhouse.
Tickets to Dongtan Wetland Park are 80 yuan on weekends and 50 yuan on weekdays, with half-price admission for those over 70. The park is one of the best-preserved pristine wetland attractions, offering close-up bird watching. While April isn't a good time for birdwatching, it's still a great time to cycle, relax, and experience the tranquility of nature.
Weekend tickets are too expensive. You can buy tickets online one day in advance, which can be slightly cheaper. The rapeseed flowers are very beautiful. The rapeseed flower festival is held from mid-March to mid-April every year. The scale is not large, but it is also very shocking. The key is that there are really not many people.
The scenery is nice, there are not many people, it is relatively primitive, but it is not very convenient to go to Chongming
Turn right after getting off the Yangtze River Bridge and keep going. Now they charge 100 yuan for admission, which seems not cost-effective.
Hailed as Shanghai's last remaining pristine natural treasure, it's a renowned wetland area in the Jiangnan region and a wintering rest stop for migratory birds. Dongtan Park is quite large, so renting a bicycle is recommended upon arrival.
Bird watching in Dongtan is not something you can understand unless you are a bird enthusiast, but if you get up early, the sunrise is still great.
Located in Chongming Island, Dongtan Wetland Park, the air here is very good, and it is a good choice to come here for vacation during the holidays.
Located at the easternmost end of Chongming Island, it is only 10 kilometers away from the highway and the entrance fee is 80 yuan.
Chongming Wetland Park.
It covers a large area and because of the Chongqi Bridge, many tourists come here to visit on weekends.
It takes about 3-4 hours to explore the entire park.
Many people were playing crab fishing and having a great time.
The wetland reeds are beautiful and it is very comfortable to ride a bicycle in it.
It is best to go in spring when the flowers are in bloom and the grass and trees are beautiful.
Dongtan Wetland Park, located in Chongming District, Shanghai, covers approximately 150,000 mu (approximately 1.5 acres). Designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International in 2008, the park's size is expected to shrink significantly due to urbanization. Tickets are 50 yuan on weekdays and 80 yuan on weekends.
After exiting the highway at Chenjia Town, we drove along Dongtan Avenue straight to the Dongtan Wetland. Arriving at Dongtan Wetland Park, we discovered that the park had completely enclosed the park. You must purchase a ticket to enter the wetland. Weekday tickets cost 50 yuan. You can take one of the electric carts to the end of the road, in front of the large rock marking "Chongming Dongtan Wetland." The round trip is 10 yuan per person. You can also rent a bicycle. The wetland park in spring offers a completely different view than in spring and summer. The reeds haven't even turned green yet. A deep yellow hue gives it the feel of a rich oil painting. The sky is a brilliant blue, with the occasional white cloud drifting by. There don't seem to be many migratory birds; I didn't see any flocks flying. When the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold, it's quite comfortable to walk through.
The natural scenery is very beautiful. I went there in autumn, which I think is the best season. The park is very large. The parking lot is a distance away from the ticket office. You can rent bicycles, but we didn't rent any since we had children with us. We walked all the way, stopping and playing for more than 4 hours, and didn't feel tired at all. The environment is so beautiful. There are not many public toilets along the way.
Dongtan Wetland Park is adjacent to the Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve and is the only wetland park in China adjacent to a migratory bird sanctuary. The lush vegetation of the second phase of the wetland park has naturally attracted many rare birds.
When I arrived in Chongming, I felt that the whole world was less crowded.
Very nice park, good ecological environment, good air, I want to go again after coming here
A group of people took their children there. There were lots of crabs and the children had a lot of fun catching them.
If you're traveling from Shanghai specifically to Chongming, I don't recommend visiting the Dongtan Wetland. There's really not much to see. Aside from sparrows, there aren't any other birds to be seen. The bicycles there are all single or double occupancy. After checking in, we bought boat tickets to Guanhai Tower. The boat seemed to run every half hour. The boat moved slowly, allowing you to enjoy the surrounding scenery, but there wasn't much to see. After getting off the boat and running up to Guanhai Tower, there was no view of the East China Sea at all. Many tourists complained that they felt ripped off. Below the Guanhai Tower, there's a feeding ground for sheep, swans, and fish, with feed costing 5 yuan per bag. While the wetland is large, there's not much else to do. To get out, you need to change to an electric scooter after a kilometer to the exit. Renting a bike allows you to ride all the way to the animal sanctuary, which is where the fun is. The reeds in winter are a vast expanse of yellow. There aren't many birds, most likely migrating, but you can hear birdsong, and if you look closely, you can see small birds among the reeds.
Chongming Island, located in Shanghai, has migratory birds passing by every year, and a field of reeds drifting in the wind.
The park is nice and worth a visit. The scenery is nice.
The first time I visited Chongming Island, I went to West Beach instead of East Beach because I heard it was crowded and required an entrance fee. Two years ago, my company planned a walking tour at East Beach, so I finally made the trip. It's quite large, with a section dedicated to birdwatching, where you can spot many rare migratory birds.
The scenery is beautiful, don't miss it if you want to see animals and plants
Dongtan Wetland Park is adjacent to the Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve and is the only wetland park in China adjacent to a migratory bird sanctuary. The lush vegetation of the newly constructed second phase of the wetland park has naturally attracted many rare birds. "From recent bird monitoring, we've seen new birds entering the park almost every month," Qiu Zhonghong told reporters. The second phase of the wetland park features a dedicated area for attracting wading birds. The park is planted with a large number of native Chongming plants, such as bamboo, red locust, Chinese tallow tree, water plantain, and calamus. This not only creates a well-proportioned landscape but also provides an ideal habitat for birds. The latest monitoring results indicate that 112 species of wild birds have been discovered in the wetland park, including the National Class II protected species, the Lesser Cuckoo, the White-breasted Moorhen, and the Black-bellied Swamphen, all of which are also found in large numbers.
It's a very fun place with parks, scenery and entertainment facilities. It's a good place for leisure and entertainment.
Very beautiful wetland with many birds, perfect for relaxing
The vast reeds make me feel more open-minded.
From Shanghai to Chongming Island, I only went to this place and it took a day. There is no entrance fee for the wetland, and there is a small bird museum inside.
When you go in and buy your ticket, tell them you have a dog and sign a guarantee. Everyone must keep their dog on a leash. It's nice for both people and dogs. Dongtan Wetland Park is huge, so plan your route well. You can't walk all the way with your dog, so plan to walk half of the way. Remember to bring water and get plenty of rest. Haha. We left late, so we went to a restaurant called Mama's Workshop near Dongtan Wetland for dinner. They are dog-friendly.