Editor’s note

This year is the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Shanghai metro. The subway has facilitated more than 13 billion journeys during its 20 years, and half of Shanghai citizens cite the metro as their favored mode of transport. To commemorate the anniversary, each week the Global Times will take an indepth look at one metro station and its surroundings. In the case of downtown stations, we will focus on points of interest within walking distance; while for suburban areas, we will cast our net a little wider.

Located right beside the magnificent Nanpu Bridge in Puxi, Nanpu Bridge Station on metro Line 4 is one of the closest stations to the Huangpu River. It is also one of the few stations in the city that features two-story departure platforms.

Nanpu Bridge was completed in 1991 and was the first bridge in downtown Shanghai to cross the Huangpu River. Photos: Cai Xianmin/GT

The station has three exits: exits 2 and 3 lead to Zhongshan Road South and exit 1 takes you to Lujiabang Road. Emerging from exit 1 affords the closest and best view of the bridge, which was put into use in 1991 and was the first bridge in downtown Shanghai to cross the Huangpu River. Just to the north of the bridge is the Lujiabang Road Ferry Terminal (1279 Waima Road), which runs a 24-hour ferry service from Puxi to Pudong. The boats come every 12 minutes from 6 am until 9 pm; at night the intervals are half an hour to an hour. Tickets are 0.5 yuan ($0.08) per person, 1.3 yuan for a bicycle, and 2.5 yuan for a motorcycle.

Of course, apart from the beautiful riverside scenery, there are many more interesting places to check out around the station.

Huangpu District Workers' Stadium

Huangpu District Workers' Stadium

Taking a right out of exit 1 and then a left at the end of Lujiabang Road for a stroll along Waima Road, you will not miss the newly built Huangpu District Workers' Stadium (1288 Waima Road).

The sandy-colored building, which began construction in 2010, is now home to a range of sport and game facilities, which opened for business this year.

The second floor is open to the public, where you can play ping-pong and billiards and go bowling. The facilities all come from high-quality brands that cater for international competitions, while the bowling alley, which is equipped with six lanes each featuring a neon-illuminated end, is the only bowling venue in the district.

Use of the ping-pong tables costs 30 yuan per hour on weekdays before 5 pm, and 40 yuan per hour on weekends and after 5 pm on weekdays. Billiards starts at 35 yuan per hour, while bowling starts at 10 yuan per round.

The first, third, fourth and fifth floors are managed by Megafit Fitness company. Buy a membership to access their swimming pool, game facilities, yoga and dance classes, and other gym facilities.

Silk Museum

Dream Wharf

North of the stadium on Zhongshan Road South is Dream Wharf (1029 Zhongshan Road South). Sitting near the bank of the Huangpu River, Dream Wharf is built on the site of a former motorcycle factory. Housing a series of slate gray, loft-style buildings, the compound aims to become one of the city's most important commercial and creative centers.

The two-story Silk Museum (Bldg 1, 1029 Zhongshan Road South, 3331-0030) welcomes hundreds of visitors each day. On the first floor, visitors can see silk worms in different life stages, samples of silks, as well as a lady using a silk weaving machine on-site. The second floor and part of the ground floor is a shopping area selling silk products, ranging from bedding to cushions, embroidered screens, as well as outfits for both men and women.

Opposite the Silk Museum, visitors will encounter the city's first flagship store of premium homeware supplier ViA, Poliform Shanghai (Bldg 2, 1029 Zhongshan Road South, 2281-8751), where they can view furniture and interior designs by the Italian brand.

At the back of the compound is X-Room (2/F, Bldg 6, 1029 Zhongshan Road South, 3302-3209), where fans of puzzle-solving have an hour to piece together a series of cryptic clues to escape the room (100 yuan per person on weekdays before 5 pm; 120 yuan on weekends and after 5 pm on weekdays).

Bafs Yachting

Bafs Yachting

Established in 2000, Bafs Yachting (1162 Waima Road, 3376-2376) was one of the earliest marinas in the city.

Bafs Yachting has a number of luxury yachts, including Lagoon, Jeanneau and Majesty models, which can be rented and also offers services to yacht owners.

At its waterside Jiangsu-cuisine restaurant, customers can rent yachts (from 2,000 yuan to 12,000 yuan per hour based on the yacht chosen and the time they sail). There are additional charges to have a catered event or party on the yacht, according to the assistant manager of the restaurant. For those who want to buy a yacht or become a member of Bafs Yachting club, the company offers a range of membership packages that start at 50,000 yuan, which covers docking and maintenance of yachts, and includes discounts for the yacht rental service.