Spring days are perfect for gaining knowledge on the mountain, let's explore the secrets of Sheshan together

Sheshan National Forest Park This is the only natural mountain forest destination in Shanghai, covering an area of 401 hectares. The twelve peaks within the park stretch from southwest to northeast, winding for 13 kilometers, bringing a spirit of beauty and charm to the flat plains of Shanghai. Sheshan is divided into East Sheshan and West Sheshan, and neither charges an entrance fee. This time we start our climb from West Sheshan, following the trail up the mountain. If you walk fast, it will take about half an hour to reach the top. The greenery coverage is very high along the way, making it very suitable for a spring hike to breathe in the oxygen. The greenery on both sides surrounds you as if you've entered a magical land of green, serene and healing. Sheshan Observatory and Catholic Church This is the birthplace of modern astronomy in China, with the iconic white dome nestled among the bamboo forests. In the 26th year of the Guangxu era (1900), the Yushan Observatory was officially completed. The circular dome and the 0.4-meter astronomical telescope were both purchased from France. The architecture of the French-style villa seems to transport you back a hundred years. The observatory houses several exhibition halls, displaying the history of the development of astronomy in the world and in China. The meridian instrument, the most beautiful star chart, even the cold scientific knowledge seems a bit more romantic in this space. Fanfan keeps asking me what can be seen through this large telescope? Since most of the staff who founded the observatory were missionaries, the red-brick Catholic Church was built next to the observatory. A hundred years later, it still maintains this layout. This was also known as the 'largest hall in the Far East' at the time and is a symbol of Yushan. The building is uniquely shaped, longer in the south and shorter in the north, wider in the east and narrower in the west, round on the inside and pointed on the outside, with stone on the inside and brick on the outside. The exterior is very grand, and many people take photos with the church. You can also visit the inside of the church now. Shanghai Earthquake Museum After visiting the church, if you walk down the trail, you can visit the earthquake museum at the foot of the mountain, which is also free to enter. It is a relatively less popular place, but it has a significant background. The museum is located within the Sheshan Seismic Benchmark Station, which has a history of over 140 years, and is a combined facility that serves as both a science museum and a historical museum. The venue preserves the most and oldest historical seismic instruments and historical geomagnetic and seismic data from both China and abroad. Xiaokunshan Park Xiaokunshan is located at the southernmost end of the 'Nine Peaks' of East Sheshan. During the Jin Dynasty, the brothers Lu Ji and Lu Yun became famous here for their literature. The entrance fee is 6 yuan, and it takes about 15 minutes to walk from the foot of the mountain to the Er Lu Thatched Cottage. It is suitable for family mountain climbing and leisure. The mountain road is not as steep as Tianma Mountain, and the mountain is not large, walking on the forest mountain road is refreshing. Although Xiaokunshan is not high, it has many stories. Lu Ji's 'Ping Fu Tie' is one of the 195 cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroad.