WITH the weather warming up there may be a little extra spring in your step. Stretch those legs in suburban Songjiang District as it hosts its annual Spring Outing Festival until early June. The district is home to Sheshan Hill, a national forest resort and various theme parks.

Shanghai Daily runs down the events taking place during the festival.

• Shanghai International Orchid Festival

Orchid flowers are now in bloom at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanic Garden.

The garden’s seven exhibition halls feature more than 1,000 orchid species from 12 regions in China and 15 countries.

Lectures on orchid growing and appreciation are being given on weekends during the festival.

Chen Longhui, a Taiwan orchid expert, will give practical advice on growing orchids at home.

And the festival hasn’t forgotten the little ones. Children can learn to paint with orchid petals and tree leaves.

Date: Through April 20, 8am-5:30pm. Greenhouses close at 5pm.

Tel: 3779-2288 Ext 800

Admission: 60 yuan (US$9.8)

Address: 3888 Chenhua Rd

How to get there:

Take Metro Line 9 and get off at Dongjing Station. Take Songjiang Bus No. 19 to the garden’s Gate 1. Or you can borrow a bike at the Metro station and cycle 3 kilometers along Linyinxin Road to the garden.

During the orchid festival, there will be free shuttle buses between the Metro station and botanic garden on weekends and national holidays. Buses will depart every 20 minutes.

• Bamboo Shoots Festival

Crispy, fresh and extremely tasty when cooked in soup, bamboo shoots are a sure sign of spring and an important ingredient in many Shanghainese dishes.

Most of the city’s bamboo shoots originate from Sheshan Hill.

During the festival, which ends on Sunday, people can dig up their own shoots daily from 10 to 11am and from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Only 50 people are accepted per slot.

Farmers will teach people how to dig up bamboo shoots. Everyone is allowed to dig up a maximum of 3 kilograms, which you can take home to eat.

Hotels and restaurants on Sheshan Hill will be serving a variety of bamboo dishes worth checking out.

Date: Through April 6

Tel: 5766-8324, 5765-7231

Admission: 100 yuan per person (including Tianmashan Hill Park admission and bamboo digging-up)

150 yuan for an adult plus one child

200 yuan for two parents plus one child

Address: 460 Liujiashan Village by the eastern gate of Tianmashan Hill Park

How to get there:

Hushekun Bus Line: Shanghai Western Bus Traffic Center – Sheshan Hill – Tianmashan Hill

Huchen Bus Line: Shanghai Western Bus Traffic Center – Sheshan Hill Bus Station – No. 90 Songjiang Bus Line – Tianmashan Hill

Shangshe Bus Line: Shanghai Sports Stadium – Sheshan Hill Bus Station – No. 90 Songjiang Bus Line – Tianmashan Hill

Metro Line 9: Sheshan Hill Station – No. 92 Songjiang Bus Line – Sheshan Hill Bus Station – No. 90 Songjiang Bus Line – Tianmashan Hill

• Windmill Exhibition at Happy Valley

Happy Valley theme park is now decorated with 200,000 windmills of various shapes, sizes and colors.

During the Qingming Festival holiday from April 5-7, a hip-hop dance competition will be held at the park. During the Labor Day holiday from May 1-3, the theme park will host a singing contest featuring university students.

From May 31 to June 2, the China Joy final will attract more than 3,000 competitive gamers to the park.

Tel: 3355-2222, 3779-2222

Admission: 200 yuan

Address: 888 Linhu Rd

How to get there:

Metro Line 9 – Sheshan Hill Station – free shuttle bus to the park

• Flying-Car stunt show at Shanghai Film Park

A flying car show is being performed everyday through May 12 at Shanghai Film Park, an outdoor studio featuring sets of 1930s Shanghai. Visitors can watch cars and motorcycles shuttling back and forth in a giant iron ball.

In addition, more than 110,000 movie props and 200,000 costumes worn by big stars are on display.

From April 1, a three-dimensional painting show is being held in the park.

Date: Through May 12

Tel: 5760-1166

Admission: 80 yuan

Address: 4915 Beisong Rd, Chedun Town

How to get there:

By car: Huhang (Shanghai-Hangzhou) Highway – Xinqiao Exit – Turn left to Xinche Road – Turn left at Beisong Road

By public transport:

Lianshi/Lianjin/Shangshi bus lines at Lianhua Road Metro Station – Chedun Station

Metro Line 9 – Songjiang New City Station – Songmin Bus Line – Chedun Station

Jinshan Railway – Chedun Station

• Thames Town Art Festival

Award-winning calligraphy works and oil paintings will be on display at Songjiang Art Gallery in Thames Town. Tongji University students will give a piano concert, while a Songjiang-themed photography exhibition is being held at the same time.

Date: April 5 - May 11

Tel: 3778-6665

Admission: Free but book in advance

Address: 1431 Wencheng Rd

How to get there:

Huhang Highway – Songjiang New City Exit – Jiasong Road – Sixian Road – Yushu Road N. — Wencheng Road