Your Guide to Shanghai Public Pools
There are plenty of pools to choose from in Shanghai, at gyms, hotels, member clubs etc. but most of these come with a pretty high price tag. If you’re not up for signing your life away (half a month’s salary) to join a club, or you don’t want to pay RMB 150 plus to use a pool for a day, then have no fear. We have an alternative. Introducing Shanghai’s public pools!
Now before you shudder and begin imagining cholera at every turn, give me a second to explain, most of the swimming pools are large, spacious (especially if you’re not using them at peak times) and pretty clean. They may not have the fanciest changing rooms, or supply you with gorgeous shampoos and body lotions, but they are great if you want to take a dip and only part with 20 kuai. So let’s break down how you use them and where they are.
Step 1. Medical certificate
Most pools say you need a ‘medical certificate’ to use them. What this actually means is you just need to sign a piece of paper saying you don’t have skin disease or heart disease or bird flu or generally anything nasty. Not that it really matters because chlorine kills everything anyways. But never mind, you have to sign it. If you don’t speak Chinese I recommend doing lots of smiling and thumbs up and mime having a healthy heart, then sign where the receptionists point. These health forms normally cost under RMB10 and last for a year.
(Side note: sometimes they take you into a small room and make you fill out the forms there. Don’t panic, they’re not actually going to test you for anything.)
Step 2. Sessions
Normally the swimming sessions are split into blocks of 90 minutes, so you pay for 90 minutes and if you stay longer you need to pay extra. The extra fees are pretty low and it’s not really policed in most places. Remember to take cash as most of these places are allergic to Alipay etc.
Step 3. Changing
The changing room situations vary from place to place, but set your expectations low and be ready to be pleasantly surprised. We recommend taking plastic flip flops for walking around and be ready to face a few curious glances as you will probably be the only Laowai.
Step 4. The correct apparel
Swimming cap. Haha. But seriously it’s fine and you need to wear one and when everyone looks like a walking, talking condom it’s very leveling. Wear a swimsuit/bikini for girls, and guys you need to ditch the trunks and dig out your speedos.
Step 5. Flounder to your heart’s content
You are good to go! So locate your nearest public pool and get swimming! Here are a bunch of options...
Shanghai International Gymnastics Center Swimming Pool
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB30-40 depending on time of day and then RMB10 for every additional 30 minutes.
Children: Children under 1.3m cost RMB15 per session and RMB5 for every additional 30 minutes, must be accompanied by an adult.
Opening times: Monday to Friday 3:30-9:30 (July and August opens at 12:00pm) Saturday 8:30am- 9:30pm Sunday 6:30am to 9:30pm
Address: 777 Wuyi Road
Tel: 021-51083186 / 021-51083183
Shanghai Swimming Club
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB35-40 depending on the time of day and then RMB10 for an extra 30 minutes, for every additional 30 minutes it’s RMB10.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB20 per session and must be accompanied by an adult)
Opening times: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am-9:30pm (July and August opens at 12:00pm and is open all week) Saturday and Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm (July and August from 9:00am to 9:30pm)
Address: 1300 Second South Zhongshan Road
Tel: 021-64386902
Sanlin Sports Center
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB35-RMB40 depending on the time of day and then RMB10 for an extra 30 minutes, for every additional 20 minutes it’s RMB10.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB 20 per session and must be accompanied by an adult)
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 4:00pm-9:00pm (July and August opens at 1:00pm) Sunday 9:00am to 9:00pm
Address: 201 Yunlian Road
Tel: 021-68389208/ 021-68389218
Jing'an Sports Center
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB35-RMB40 depending on the time of day and then RMB10 for an extra 30 minutes, for every additional 20 minutes it’s RMB10.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB 15 per session and must be accompanied by an adult)
Opening times: Monday to Friday 3:30pm-9:00pm (July and August opens at 1:30pm) Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Address: 151 Kangding Road
Tel: 021-62727277
Shanghai Pudong Swimming Arena
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB20 for weekdays and RMB40 for weekends and then an additional RMB10 for every 20 minutes.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB20 per session and must be accompanied by an adult)
Opening times: Monday to Friday 6:30am-8:30am the pool then shuts and reopens 1:00pm to 9:00pm Saturday and Sunday 8:00am- 9:00pm open all day.
Address: 3669 South Pudong Road
Tel: 021-58705330
Yuan Shen Natatorium
Adults: 90 minutes per session at RMB20-35 for weekdays and RMB40 for weekends and then an additional RMB10 for every 20 minutes.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB20 per session and must be accompanied by an adult)
Opening times: Monday to Friday 7:00am-9:00am the pool then shuts and reopens 3:30pm to 9:00pm (July and August opens at 1:00pm) Saturday and Sunday 8:00am to 9:00pm open all day.
Address: 1458 Zhangyang Road
Tel: 021-58525881/ 021-58857797
Shanghai Oriental Sports Center
Adults: 3 hours per session at RMB40 for weekdays and RMB60 for weekends and then an additional RMB10 for every 30 minutes.
Children: Children under 1.3m are charged RMB 15 per session and must be accompanied by an adult
Opening times: 1:00pm-9:00pm daily, in July and August this extends from 9:00am-9:00
Address: 701 Yaoti Road / 30 Yongyao Road
Tel: 20238305
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