The temperature is good and there is still a month to go before the plum rains arrive, making it the perfect time to be out and about. Global Times has compiled a range of activities that are especially suitable for family trips.

Cosplay events at China Maritime Museum Photos: Courtesy of the organizers

Off to sea 

China Maritime Museum in Pudong New Area, the nation's first and largest museum of its kind, has launched a series of themed activities that will last until June 22.

While appreciating the splendid permanent collections, which include real ships and models from different periods in China, visitors can participate in the 'Crazy Guess' game, in which they will be asked to find certain ships in the venue with the help of cards bearing partial descriptions. The cards are given out at the service center on the second floor, and winners will be awarded a prize.

During weekends in April and May (except May 4), the venue will hold family day events, which include a cosplay guided tour, a maritime knowledge quiz and a handcraft workshop.

A carnival of animation and aviation at China Maritime Museum

Meanwhile, the venue is playing host to an ink painting exhibition featuring some 50 pieces by artist Yu Lanyin with the theme of marine conservation. Yu will participate in the Family Day activities on Saturdays until June 22 (except May 10 and 17), teaching painting to children.

Some special workshops will also be put on during public holidays, such as one on folk beading art from May 1 to May 3, and one on Shanghai-style dough sculpture during the Dragon Boat Festival (May 31 to June 2.)

Reservation one day in advance is needed for family day activities and workshops. The reservation line is 021-3828777 ext 8315.

A carnival of animation and aviation at China Maritime Museum

Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4 pm (closed on Mondays except for national holidays)

Tel: 6828-3691

Admission: 50 yuan for adults, 25 yuan for students and 10 yuan for seniors

Address: 197 Shengang Avenue 申港大道197号

Picking activities at the vegetable garden

Around the garden

It's not surprising to find that many city dwellers often don't even know the names of the vegetables and grains they eat every day. If you want to boost your knowledge of food while enjoying a pleasant trip to a farm, then Shanghai Urban Vegetable Garden in Fengxian district is an ideal choice.

It includes a farming cultural exposition, which covers an area of nearly 4,000 square meters, vividly reproducing the countryside of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River. This includes vegetable, grains and fruit plantations, farmhouse architecture, agricultural tools and food workshops.

There are also a number of spacious gardens open to visitors, which not only grow common vegetables but also showcase advanced agricultural technologies. There are vegetables that have been cultivated without soil and arranged in striking structures that create a beautiful visual experience. There is also vegetable and fruit whose seeds have been experimented on in space to serve as ornamental plants, as well as dozens of fruits exported from tropical and subtropical areas.

There are also picking activities in which visitors are guided in harvesting some of the seasonal crops, which can then be bought and taken home. The venue also has its own restaurant where visitors can sample the food grown onsite. The shop also offers a delivery service.

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Tel: 3757-1006

Address: No.1, Lane 888 Haixing Road, Haiwan town, Fengxian district 奉贤区海湾镇海兴路888弄1号

Admission: 45 yuan for adult, 40 yuan for seniors aged above 70, 30 yuan to children above 1.3 meters and free to children below 1.3 meters

Animation and aviation carnival

Located at the former site of the World Expo 2010, Aviation Theme Park covers 40,000 square meters and has more than 500 aircraft, ships and tanks on display. The venue has cooperated with several cultural institutions to present a carnival of animation and aviation that lasts until May 31.

During the carnival, hundreds of ball joint dolls with different costumes and postures will decorate the park, while man-sized cartoon figures from popular animation series will amuse visitors with daily performances in and around the venue.

The interactive animation and game section offers cosplay shows as well as a series of electronic game competitions, in which people can form their own teams (one to six people per team) to compete over prizes.

Model aircraft workshops as well as soups in cartoon figure shapes are also available, while comic publishing house Tianwen Kadokawa from Guangzhou will be displaying their latest books.

Opening Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Tel: 3127-9696

Address: 311 Guozhan Road 国展路311号

Admission: 110 yuan per adult, and 60 yuan for children under 1.3 meters and seniors