JOGGING: Cold weather can be beneficial for runners. [Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

JOGGING

Running in cold weather can have some surprisingly beneficial effects, including improving energy levels, helping with weight loss or weight maintenance, boosting cardio fitness, and slowing down the aging process.

One downside of the sport is that trudging through ice or snow makes it potentially dangerous, but in Shanghai you are free from that problem because it rarely snows.

But it gets dark early in the winter season, and visibility in the street can be poor. So it is best to avoid jogging in the early morning or late afternoon.

Be sure to keep warm by dressing in layers of clothing. How many layers will depend on the degree of coldness, but in general, you want synthetic material close to your skin and an outer layer that fights off cold wind. Be certain to drink water before, during and after your jog.

Recommended jogging routes: Binjiang avenue of Xuhui district, along the Suzhou River, Laomatou, Fuxing Park area, Shibo avenue, and many more. 

HIKING

There are probably a few good reasons to hang up the hiking boots during winter, but think of all the reasons not to: the landscapes you won’t see in other seasons, no bugs, no rain, no leaves to block the view and perhaps the most enjoyable – real solitude.

Actually, the urban area of Shanghai and its neighboring villages offer good options to walk a few hours to discover the city or for a weekend adventure in the wildness.

As for hiking tips, we remind you to avoid cotton when choosing your clothes. When cotton gets wet, it takes a long time to dry. Wet cotton also freezes quickly and becomes useless almost immediately for the hike.

Recommended hiking venues: Dongping Forest Park on Chongming island, the 80-km-long ecological trail in Baoshan district, picturesque villages in nearby provinces of Zhejiang and Anhui.