Shanghai offers a compelling urban escape in the form of hidden indoor oases where the temperatures remain comfortably above 20 degrees all year round.

Step inside and you are met by the warm, moisture-laden air of a tropical rainforest, turning winter into an unexpected and delightful seasonal retreat.

Shanghai Greenhouse

Where: No 1750 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area

Located in the south section of Shanghai Expo Cultural Park, this garden is Asia's largest greenhouse complex. Spanning 22,000 square meters, it lies beside a central lake at the foot of Twin Hills.

Inside, you'll find China's tallest baobab tree, an 800-year-old olive tree, a 12-meter-long tropical aquarium, and a diverse collection of cacti and succulents.

Walking through the garden feels like stepping into a faraway tropical world, with towering plants rising beneath a gentle mist that creates an enchanting, dreamy atmosphere.

Shanghai Greenhouse features a wide variety of tropical plants and flowers. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism]

Shanghai Botanical Garden conservatories

Where: No 1111 Longwu Road, Xuhui district

Shanghai Botanical Garden's conservatories are organized into two distinct sections, spanning approximately 6,000 sq m. One section vividly recreates a lush, colorful tropical landscape, while the other brings together a collection of cacti and rare succulents from around the world.

The succulent and cactus conservatory. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism]

In addition, the complex features a dedicated four-season flower garden, along with two greenhouses in its northern wing devoted to montane and sub-alpine flora.

The two greenhouses in the northern section of the Shanghai Botanical Garden. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism]

Chenshan Botanical Garden greenhouses

Where: No 3888 Chenhua Highway, Songjiang district

Chenshan's greenhouse complex is split into three thematic halls: tropical flowers & fruits, succulent plants, and rare plants.

Moth orchids and cacti at the Chenshan Botanical Garden. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism]

The rare plants hall, standing 16 meters tall and spanning 2,767 sq m, hosts over 1,400 exotic species, including rainforest flora, carnivorous plants, cycads, orchids, and ferns.

The succulent plants hall brings together more than 1,000 varieties from the Americas, Australia, and Africa, many covered in sharp spines as a natural form of self-defense.

Note: The tropical flowers & fruits hall is currently closed for renovation and will reopen after Jan 30.

Mega Incity

Where: No 2299 Chenxiang Highway, Nanxiang town, Jiading district

Connected directly to Chenxiang Highway Station on Metro Line 11, Mega Incity in Jiading district is Shanghai's largest standalone shopping mall, big enough to spend an entire day exploring its seven floors.

At its heart lies a five-story indoor garden, home to over 200 plant species from around the world and anchored by a soaring 14.5-meter-high banyan tree.

Floating above the greenery is the Super Moon, a 6-meter-wide installation by artist Luke Jerram, created using NASA lunar imagery and offering a strikingly realistic celestial centerpiece for your photos.

The five-story garden is crowned by a Super Moon installation floating overhead. [Photo/Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism]

Source: International Services Shanghai (https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/)

International Services Shanghai is an upgraded, multilingual portal for the Shanghai municipal government. It offers detailed policies, news updates, and useful tips for expats in Shanghai who are seeking information on business, employment, travel, education, or shopping.

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Oh, definitely! The Shanghai Tower has an awesome observation deck, or check out the Power Station of Art for cool exhibits. Tea houses are nice too—warm up with a cup of hot tea!

Excellent options include the Shanghai Museum, the Planetarium, Power Station of Art, or traditional teahouses like those in Yu Garden. Bookstores such as Zhongshuge offer cozy reading spaces. Indoor markets (e.g., AP Plaza) or historic mansion tours also provide cultural warmth away from the chill.

Legoland

big shopping malls