Shanghai doesn't really have many underground spaces open to the public, which is part of what makes Fengxian's Nanqiaotang Civil Defense Relics Park feel so strange. Opened late last year, the former air-raid shelter sits about five meters below ground and dates back to the 1970s "deep digging" era, when cities across China were building underground wartime infrastructure. The tunnels later turned into a suburban entertainment complex nicknamed the "Underground Great World" before being abandoned for decades and recently reopening as a heritage site.

It's less a polished museum and more an atmospheric underground maze. The nearly 500-meter tunnel still keeps much of its original look: curved concrete corridors, worn terrazzo floors, faded walls, old storage rooms, and shelter spaces that make the whole place feel somewhere between Cold War bunker and retro film set. There are also a few small exhibition halls about Fengxian history and civil defense culture, plus odd nostalgic details like old funhouse mirrors and stamping stations scattered through the tunnels.

Above ground, Shen Jia Garden is basically the opposite mood. The restored Republican-era villa is said to be the only relatively intact Haipai-style garden residence left in Fengxian, with red-brick architecture, quiet garden paths, and small exhibition spaces spread through the property. Nearby, there's also a cluster of red-brick buildings that look very much like a future café-and-creative-park project waiting to happen.

Neither place is really worth a dedicated cross-city trip on its own, but together they make for a pretty good Fengxian wandering day. You can easily pair them with nearby spots like Guhua Park, Fish of Shanghai (Jinhai Lake), Nine Trees Future Art Centre, or Fengxian Museum if you're already heading out that way. Both sites are free and don't require reservations.

Getting there by public transport is doable but slow, around two hours from downtown Shanghai via Line 5 and a bus connection. Driving is significantly easier, usually around an hour from central Shanghai without traffic.

Nanqiaotang Civil Defense Relics Park

40 meters southwest of the intersection of Keji Lu and Xiyuan Lane, near Nanqiao Lu, Fengxian District