zaiShanghai

Strawberries are in season! So why not head to the outskirts of Shanghai and indulge in an intense strawberry-picking session?

Strawberry farms pervade the Qing Pu Zhao Tun (青浦赵屯) area. Spend a few minutes on the streets and you will be welcomed by the strawberry aroma that wafts from the hundreds of greenhouses nearby.

Depending on which farm you enter and what type of strawberry you choose to pick, each jin (500 grams) of strawberries can cost you ¥5 to ¥15. Most farms claim to grow organic strawberries and therefore charge a higher price. You are free to pick as many strawberries as you can, and venture as far and as long as you like. You can even snack on the fruit along the way!

Tip: Start from the end of the lane where people hardly walk to, then work your way to the front. Pick the reddest berries you see and check under the leaves for hidden ones.

Warning: Be sure to tread cautiously along the narrow pathways unless you want to be chased away by the owner.

It makes for a great escape from the city without having to travel too far, so consider digging into some berry goodness! You can also visit the picturesque neighboring old towns of Zhujiajiao (朱家角) and Qian Deng (千灯)!

Recommendation from the web: Cao Mei Le Yuan (草莓乐园). 33 Zhao Tun Luo Pu Road, Qing Pu District (青浦区赵屯罗浦33号). Detailed directions available online at http://www.cmly.net/ (in Chinese). Strawberry season lasts till May. Appointment bookings encouraged.

To on-campus students: Please help yourselves to the 2 boxes of strawberries in the refrigerator on the 4th floor!