Spring Festival guide to the city

Illustration by Yu Yige

EDITOR'S Note:

The city will be quieter than usual during the next seven days as many people have left town for the holiday and some public services operate reduced schedules. Here's a list of useful information and getaway options to welcome the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

Weather

It will be a mild Spring Festival holiday, weather forecasters said.

With sufficient sunlight during the day, the mercury climbed quickly to 6 degrees Celsius around lunchtime yesterday from a low of minus 2 degrees before daybreak, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau said.

Temperatures are expected to climb further over the next eight days, with highs up to 16 or 17 degrees as the weather stays mostly cloudy, the bureau said.

More fog and haze is forecast on Friday through Monday as humidity intensifies under the influence of southern winds, the bureau said.


Holiday weather forecast:

Feb 2 (Wed) sunny to cloudy 1-12 °C

Feb 3 (Thu) cloudy to overcast 3-13 °C

Feb 4 (Fri) overcast to cloudy 4-13 °C

Feb 5 (Sat) cloudy to sunny 5-14 °C

Feb 6 (Sun) cloudy 8-15 °C

Feb 7 (Mon) cloudy to overcast 9-16 °C

Feb 8 (Tue) overcast to cloudy, slight drizzle 10-14 °C

Outing Options

China Pavilion

Huge crowds are expected at the China Pavilion during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, officials said yesterday.

The pavilion will open daily from 9am to 5pm during the holiday.

Long queues are likely from Friday until the end of the holiday with the peak hours from noon to 2pm, the organizer said.

The pavilion may also extend its hours if too many visitors are waiting outside, said Qian Zhiguang, director of the China Pavilion Department of the Expo Bureau.

Traditional decorations including red lanterns, Chinese knots and paper-cuttings will be added to the pavilion. Two giant cartoon rabbit sculptures will welcome visitors at the entrance.

Mercedes-Benz Arena

The former Expo Culture Center will open an outdoor corridor to the public for free from tomorrow. The corridor circles the arena and was known to have the best views of the Expo site. The venue on Shibo Avenue is open from 10am to 10pm every day.

Zoo and wildlife park

The city's zoo and wildlife park may be the best place to watch some bunnies. Nearly 10 breeds, including lops and long-haired rabbits, will be exhibited at Shanghai Zoo and Shanghai Wildlife Park. Children can pet the bunnies and feed them cabbage or other vegetables, officials said.

Both the zoo and wildlife park will also hold lectures to promote knowledge about raising rabbits.

"Although rabbits are not rare animals, they are difficult to raise," said Pan Xiuwen, an official with the zoo. "We want children to learn how to correctly raise rabbits,"

Yuyuan Garden

Traditional Spring Festival activities will take place at several venues in the city. Yuyuan Garden is expected to be the busiest as a huge rabbit lantern has been set up. The time-honored temple fair will be open everyday during the holiday.

Guyiyuan Garden

Guyiyuan Garden in suburban Jiading District will hold a lantern event. Each lantern will feature a riddle. The garden staff will be on hand to give out prizes to those who correctly solve some riddles. People will also be able to play traditional Chinese games.

Transport

The city's Metro operator said there is no plan to extend subway services late at night, but extra trains will be available to handle huge passenger turnout.

Officials said six escalators will be out of use at People's Square Station during the holiday. Guides will be in the station to help people transfer between Lines 1, 2 and 8.

Additional long-distance bus services will be added to nearby provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang for the holiday.

A shuttle bus at Shanghai South Long-distance Bus Station will be available to take passengers to the China Pavilion.