Shanghai Daily News

As the roar of the Formula One engines fade away for another year, visitors to Jiading are quickly realizing that the northeastern district has much to offer besides auto racing.

Last month, the district's Huating Renjia Park opened its doors to visitors to let them experience its excellent and unique sight-seeing agricultural attractions.

Covering an area of 86 hectares, the ecological sight-seeing park inside the Jiading Modern Agricultural Park features various attractions. Among them is a fishing island, a wrasse pond, teahouse, vineyard, a long stretch of rice paddy, melon and fruit sheds, a large area of vegetable plots and a pool of terrapin.

One can view and admire the stretch of green fields, smell the fragrance of the paddy and even relish the croak of the frogs at night. The setting provides an ideal escape from the busy concrete jungle and a chance to enjoy tranquil village life if only for a brief while.

Variegated carp Pond

These large fish come in various colors with patterns on their back and can sometime live for more than 200 years. This species is considered as a symbol of longevity and good luck in Eastern culture.

The carp pond, which is designed and operated by Japanese, features low brick walls, neutral and natural colors, woven wicker, stone paths, maple chairs and tranquil running streams.

The variegated carp, all imported from Japan, cost from 2,000 yuan (US$250) to a staggering 50,000 yuan. They are only to be admired and are not for sale. That said, small carp on display at the entrance are on offer for 20 to 100 yuan.

The pond is currently being expanded from four hectares to 13 hectares and will be completed late next year. A hot spring is also under construction.

Heart link Bridge

This bridge was built in 2004 at a site that was once a nunnery, a place for Buddhist worship and to divine the future. Measuring about 50 meters long with a central span of about 37 meters and a width of nine meters, the bridge is a replica of the Zhaozhou Bridge, the world's earliest known open-span segmental arch bridge that was constructed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

Looking at the span from a distance, it appears just like a rainbow stretching over the water. By renting a boat, one can have a panorama of the whole park from the water.

Xia xiyang Organic Vegetable Base

Covering about 133 hectares, the base is the largest place for organic vegetable planting in the city. Free of chemical fertilizers and insecticides, the vegetables grown here are quite popular among some big hotels and city dwellers.

It is said that some of the seeds planted here were brought back by Zheng He in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The famed sea explorer sailed to many places throughout the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and Africa in seven epic voyages between 1405 and 1433, some 80 years before Columbus' voyages.

In addition, the base offers a special service for visitors to rent a plot to plant vegetables. Annual plot rentals are 1,200 yuan for 66 square meters.

Melon shed

This farm, owned by Wu Mingzhu, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the hami-melon queen of Shanghai, is well known for its juicy fruit which enjoys a reputation both at home and abroad.

The melons, known in the West as cantaloupe, come in four varieties here - Xuelihong, 9818, Fengweisuan and Xianguo. These were carefully selected from 20 different hami-melon types and were tested numerous times to see if they could grow properly in Shanghai weather conditions. Several months ago, the melons were rated as Green Food (A-Rate) by the national government body.

A yong Farmhouse

This restaurant features dishes traditionally associated with village life. Food lovers may indulge themselves in such delicacies as salted sliced pig's nose, pheasant soup and duck soaked in beer, among others.

Address: 518 Shuangzhu Road

Tel: 5997-5015

Getting there: The trip takes about 45 minutes along the Hujia Highway, or by bus on the Beihua Line.