Sports and Activities Destinations in Yangtze River Delta Region

Aside from being the urban center of China, the Yangtze River Delta also offers a variety of sport and activity destinations—like Shanghai Oriental Greenland, Jiabei Country Park, and Qinhu Lake Scenic Area—making it a great spot for those seeking adventure and a well-rounded lifestyle.

In this Pacific Prime article, we’ll provide you with a list of scenic destinations in the Yangtze River Delta Region for outdoor sports and other activities. We will also explain how obtaining health insurance can benefit individuals who are traveling to or residing in the YRD region.

What is the Yangtze River Delta?

The Yangtze River Delta, or YRD, is a metropolitan region located in the east of China. Its coverage extends across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui and encompasses 27 cities, with a center in Shanghai municipality.

Accounting for around 20% of China’s GDP, the YRD region is looking to improve its infrastructure to enhance its global competitiveness. A key part of this plan is developing the natural environment—enhancing and utilizing it for sustainable tourism.

To become a world-class sports city, the YRD is promoting sports tourism across its waterscapes.

The construction of the Lingang Water Sports Center in Shanghai is being accelerated, and several exciting tournaments will be held this year as part of the 2025 Yangtze River Delta “Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains” Sports Games.

Join the government’s efforts to improve living standards and tourism by exploring these sports destinations around the YRD, and make the most of the warm spring and summer with some outdoor adventures.

Where to Visit for Sport Activities in the YRD Region?

As warm, balmy days arrive and colorful flowers begin to bloom, it’s a good time to get outside and enjoy nature. Here we’ve put together a list of outdoor destinations around the YRD Region, where you can enjoy various sports and activities with your loved ones.

Oriental Land

Oriental Land, located in Shanghai’s Qingpu District, is one of China’s large eco-leisure tourist destinations, offering over 30 activities for visitors of all ages, including cycling, hiking, and rock climbing, as well as access to sports facilities like tennis and volleyball courts.

The diverse landscape, spanning 56 square kilometers, allows for all kinds of outdoor experiences. For instance, the Dianshan Lake is suitable for aquatic activities like boat pedaling and kayaking while also offering a good setting for lakeside walks and camping.

Lush with greenery, Oriental Land is known as “the urban green lung” and is a good escape for city dwellers and tourists looking to reconnect with nature. Away from the glaring city light, stargazing is a popular activity here.

Admission Fees: CNY ¥50 / Children under 1.3 meters may enter free of charge
Opening Hours: 8:30–16:30

Address: 6888 Huqingping Highway, Qingpu District

Jiabei Country Park

Jiabei Country Park is a haven for cyclists, as it features an outdoor sports hub with a professional BMX pump track and a forested mountain bike trail. On top of cycling, the park offers service areas for camping, paddleboarding, and other pet-friendly activities.

Moreover, the landscape design of Jiabei Park is highly celebrated for smoothly blending modern elements—such as bridges and waterways—with the existing landscapes like farmland, wetlands, and bird habitat forests.

In addition to the more adventurous activities, visitors may walk around the park and admire the natural and cultural components that coexist beautifully throughout the area.

Admission Fees: Free, but activities may require a fee
Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00 daily, extended to 18:00 from May to October

Address: 5051 Huyi Highway, Jiading District

Yellow Mountain

Located in Anhui province, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of China’s beautiful mountains and features good trails for cycling, mountain climbing, and hiking.

The Lotus Peak, standing 1864 meters high, is a good destination for visitors to Yellow Mountain. Along the way, you will encounter stunning rock formations, ancient pine trees, and breathtaking views. From September to May, visitors can often witness the stunning sea of clouds phenomenon.

Admission Fees: CNY ¥190
Opening Hours: ~ 6:30–17:30 (Depending on the season)

Address: Huangshan Scenic Area, Huangshan City, Anhui Province

Qinhu Lake Scenic Area

Qinhu Lake Scenic Area in Jiangyan District, Taizhou, has plenty of outdoor adventures, from wetland rafting and horseback archery to obstacle races, golf, camping, and more. With activities often available, it’s a good spot for both families and nature lovers.

The local government has also taken part in developing the area into a lively sports hub. In May 2024, Qinhu hosted the Asia Triathlon Cup, in which 800 athletes from across the globe participated. This event reinforces the lake’s position as a good destination for sports tourism.

Every spring, the Qintong Boat festival, featuring an exciting dragon boat race on the scenic lake of Qinhu, also takes place here.

Admission Fees: high-season CNY ¥120 / off-season CNY ¥80
Opening Hours: 8:30–17:00 (Last entry 15:30)

Address: Qinhu Lake Scenic Area, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province

Jubaoshan Park

Located at the foot of the Zijin Mountain in Nanjing, Jubaoshan Park boasts a landscape separated between the west forest area and the east leisure and entertainment area. On the east side, outdoor sport lovers may find facilities for kayaking, fishing, go-karts, and counter strike games.

With its pleasant scenery combining lakes, forests, and grasslands, people can stroll or cycle around the park during spring and appreciate flowers in full bloom, and during autumn, there are red and golden layers of trees.

For a more challenging exercise, a hiking trail to the top of the mountain will reward you with a beautifully contrasting view of Nanjing city and nature.

Admission Fees: Free
Opening Hours: 6:00–23:00

Address: 96 Xuanwu Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

Hongze Lake Guyan Scenic Area

The scenic area of Hongze lake is built around a thousand-year-old historical dike from the Han Dynasty to create a space for relaxation and fun sport activities, including cycling, hiking, and jogging.

In the evening, the lake provides an idyllic view of the pine tree forests, the lakeshore, and its surface reflecting the luminous sunset. When migratory birds return, the captivating scene of soothing nature is treasurable.

Overall, the place combines elements like cultural experience, health and leisure, and sightseeing together, which reflect the modern trend of tourism in China.

Admission Fees: Free
Opening Hours: Open all day

Address: 1 Xunhe Rd W., Hongze District, Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province

Tiantai Shiliang Sports Tourism Destination

Located in the Tiantai mountain, the destination consists of many individual attractions and offers various sport activities of different experience levels. There are snow sports, yoga, mountain climbing, cycling, and canyoning down the waterfalls.

At an average 670 meters elevation, the mountain here has beautiful and rare natural scenery, making it a popular fitness trail in China.

Admission Fees: Depends on each attractions
Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00

Address: Tiantai Shiliang Scenic Area, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province

Ningbo Longguang Town Scenic Area

Longguan town has 86% forest coverage, which boasts a beautiful environment suitable for light adventures like stream tracing and jungle crossing. Additionally, hiking is a popular activity in the scenic area, as the trail passes through bamboo forests and ancient villages.

For a more memorable experience, the mountain cherries will bloom in the spring, reviving nature and creating a picturesque view along the trail.

Admission Fees: CNY ¥40
Opening Hours: 07:30-16:30 (May 1–Oct 7) / 8:00–16:00 (Nov 8–Apr 30)

Address: Longguan Village, Haishu District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province

Securing Health Insurance for Your Travels

In the past decades, China has been launching campaigns to promote tourism in nature and heritage sites across the country by bringing in management and adding value to those attractions. This includes sports tourism destinations, which are growing in line with the more active lifestyle trend.

For expats and travelers to participate in adventurous activities, safety is an important factor to consider, as you are not familiar with the local healthcare system. Luckily, in this case, securing comprehensive health insurance and short-term insurance can lend you peace of mind.

As an insurance intermediary, Pacific Prime can assist you in comparing plans that offer benefits and coverage, such as emergency medical evacuation and telemedicine services, to help you avoid financial ruin in the event of any unfortunate incidents.

Contact us today to pick out the option that strikes a good balance between your budget and needs.

Disclaimer: Pacific Prime solely represents, operates, and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products, or otherwise stated written or verbally, is for introduction purposes about our overseas network only, as each entity is fully independent.