Diversified activities such as exhibitions, music festivals and runs are on the agenda from September for parks across Shanghai, the local greenery authorities announced.

An autumn flower exhibition will be held at the Shanghai Botanical Garden in Xuhui District from September 27 through October 27, featuring an autumn courtyard display, creative plant designs showcasing environmental protection and nature education activities, according to the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau.

The Gongqing Forest Park in Yangpu District will host a forest beer festival including jazz concerts, Oscar classics, and eight performances of Huju, Yueju and Huaiju operas and puppet shows.

In addition, 30 beer types from Belgium, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands will be served, along with fun beer-drinking competitions.

The Guyi Garden in Jiading District, a classic Jiangnan-style garden with a history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), will offer free admission to visitors wearing traditional hanfu (a traditional Han Chinese dress) during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival between September 13 and 15. Visitors will be presented with red lanterns as gifts.

The Shanghai Zoo in Changning District will host a butterfly exhibition from September 28 to November 11. Flower arrangement landscapes will be displayed and lectures and quizzes on butterflies will be hosted.

Water lilies are in full bloom at the Chenshan Botanical Garden in Songjiang District, featuring 300 varieties. The water lily exhibition will run through September 18.

The lilies, including some rare and award-winning varieties, are in seven exhibition areas. About 160 are tropical varieties with 20 on display for the first time. Exotic varieties from India, Thailand and Australia are also on display.

A contest of jiuzi, the "nine games" traditionally played in Shanghai lanes 50 years ago, will take place at Jiuzi Park in Huangpu District on September 15.

A run will be held at Daning Park in Jing'an District on September 6, while Mid-Autumn garden parties will be hosted on September 12 and 13 at Guilin Park in Xuhui District known for its osmanthus. Chopin concerts will be held at Zhongshan Park in Changning District on September 8, 12 and 13.

Concerts will also be held in the Lujiazui central green area in the Pudong New Area every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through September, and a health run will be held at Century Park in Pudong on September 7.

The Zuibaichi Park in Songjiang District will host a painting exhibition, a Han culture display, guzheng, or Chinese zither, concerts, and Peking and Kunqu opera performances from September 8 to October 8, according to the bureau.  

(Cover: The Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai. /VCG Photo )