In the Sheshan National Tourist Resort in East China's Shanghai, there is a whole host of exciting and exotic architectural styles to explore. Let's take a look!
Tianma Mountain Park
The Huzhu Baoguang Tower has a history that spans nearly a thousand years. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyou]
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is world-famous for its tilt of about 3.99 degrees, but many people may not know that there is an ancient tower in Shanghai that is more inclined than it. Tilting an extraordinary 7.1 degrees, it's called the Huzhu Baoguang Tower and it has a history spanning nearly a thousand years.
There are many legends about it. One is that the Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) gave a relic to the tower, so that sometimes it would show a treasure's light. On the east side of the tower, there is an ancient ginkgo tree. The branches of the tree are shaped like dragon's claws and they face the leaning tower and seem to embrace it.
Tianma Mountain is the largest and highest mountain among the nine peaks and dozen mountains in the Sheshan National Forest Park. While admiring the Huzhu Baoguang Tower, you can also visit the Zhongfeng Temple and Shangfeng Temple ruins and other attractions.
Address: No 460 Liujiashan village, Songjiang district, Shanghai
Shanghai Yuehu Lake Sculpture Park
An awe-inspiring sight, the Giant Stone Forest is reminiscent of Stonehenge in the UK. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyou]
The Giant Stone Forest in the Yuehu Lake Sculpture Park consists of 26 giant granite stones that stand individually. The main body has three circular stone formations, with four stones in the center reaching 12 meters high. Each giant stone weighs more than 100 metric tons.
The Yuehu Lake Sculpture Park itself, is a place that combines natural scenery and modern landscape art. Yuehu Lake, alongside it, is divided into four sections. Their different landscapes and architectural styles are designed to denote the sceneries of the four seasons.
Address: No 1158 Linyinxin Road, Sheshan town, Songjiang district, Shanghai
West Sheshan Mountain Park
The Sheshan Catholic Church melds various architectural styles. [Photo/WeChat account: sheshanlvyou]
Sheshan Catholic Church is located on top of West Sheshan Mountain in the Sheshan National Forest Park. The church was built by French missionaries in 1871 and completed in 1935. The Pope canonized the place of worship as a papal basilica in 1942 – making it the first basilica in the Far East to be so recognized by the Pontiff. As such, it became a center for pilgrimage in the Far East region and was called the "First Temple in the Far East".
The church blends various architectural styles. Its arches and corridors are Romanesque, the columns are Greek, the spires are Gothic, while the olive-shaped dome of the bell tower has an Israeli style and the small dome at the east end is in the Spanish style. It also combines Chinese ethnic and palace styles.
Address: No 9260 Waiqingsong Highway, Songjiang district, Shanghai
