The 1st "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season has kicked off, presenting a series of pioneering events. As a classic branded festival event in Shanghai with a history of 35 years, the Shanghai Tourism Festival stands out as a major attraction. Scheduled from September 14 to October 6, this year's festival will feature a revival of its iconic traditions: the opening parade, the float parade, the Shanghai College Student Tourism Festival, the Jiangnan Foodie Festival and the Half-Price Public Welfare Week, all reimagined with a modern twist. First-time events such as the "Suzhou Creek Twelve Colors of Traditional Chinese Paintings" Waterfront Music Festival, the Night Art Tour and the Street Art Exhibition Week are designed to showcase the urban temperament. The festival also embraces rich intangible cultural heritage with China chic events such as the Nanxiang China Chic Conference, the Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Tourism Festival, the Yu Garden Mid-Autumn Moon Goddess Tour and the Fengjing Water Town Wedding Ceremony, each breathing new life into the city's past. As the Shanghai Tourism Festival draws near, which classic event holds the most cherished memories for you?

Shanghai College Student Tourism Festival

On September 17, 2013, the 1st Shanghai College Student Tourism Festival kicked off in Yangpu. This was the first of its kind in China, showcasing the vibrant spirit of Shanghai's college students.

Yangpu has been steadfast in nurturing the brand of Shanghai College Student Tourism Festival. Performances by students from Shanghai's universities captivated audiences with their lively dances, resonant melodies and diverse instrumental harmonies, painting a vibrant picture of youthful energy.

Float Parade

The luminous parade of floats, the exuberant marching formations...Originating in 1993, the float parade is the longest-running and most widely influential celebration within the Shanghai Tourism Festival.

The autumn of 1993 witnessed a spectacular float parade that captivated the entire city, and it has since become an emblematic highlight of the year in Shanghai.

In 2023, the float parade made a strong comeback.

Half-Price Public Welfare Week

As a festival for the general public, benefiting the people has always been the eternal theme of the Shanghai Tourism Festival. Commencing in 2011, the festival has introduced a week-long 50% discount on admission tickets to scenic attractions annually, which has been warmly received by residents and tourists.

In addition to well-known tourist destinations, an array of trendy places along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, popular new landmarks, and cultural and museum venues have enthusiastically embraced the half-price initiative.

All-Media Livestream

During the 2021 Shanghai Tourism Festival, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism partnered with Shanghai Media Group to present a special program titled "Architecture Can Be Read", a grand all-media livestream that spanned across 12 hours.

In 2022, the "Essence of Shanghai: Suzhou Creek" 12-Hour All-Media Livestream presented the vibrant waterfronts of the Suzhou Creek.

In 2023, the opening ceremony of the 34th Shanghai Tourism Festival took place at the confluence of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek in the North Bund, Hongkou, with a synchronized livestream on Dragon TV and across all media platforms.

Rose Wedding

The Rose Wedding, initiated in 1998, has taken place in more than 20 countries and regions.

All along, the design of the Rose Wedding has been innovated, featuring distinctive wedding experiences such as aerial weddings, Shikumen weddings, exotic weddings...Couples participating in the ceremony share their love stories in Shanghai, leaving their romantic footprints and creating sweet memories at iconic locations.

Mid-Autumn Dream Gala

In 1989, the 1st Osmanthus Festival took place in Guilin Park. In 1990, it was upgraded to the Shanghai Osmanthus Festival, marking the emergence of one of the first cultural tourism festivals in Shanghai during the reform and opening up period. In 2001, the festival was transformed into the Mid-Autumn Dream Gala.

Today, the Mid-Autumn Dream Gala has developed into a distinctive brand, celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and the tradition of admiring osmanthus in the autumn to promote Chinese traditional festivals and cultural events. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, visiting Guilin Park to admire the moon and osmanthus has long become a major folk custom in Shanghai.

Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival

The Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival uses tea as a bridge to gather tea connoisseurs and enthusiasts in Jing'an to appreciate the aroma and charm of tea. Originally established in 1994 as the "Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival", it was renamed the "Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival" in 2011.

As an important part of the "Shanghai Tourism Festival", this year's Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival will continue to feature selections such as the "Top Ten Famous Teas in China", the "Ten Most Beautiful Tour Routes of Tea Villages" nationwide and "100 Best Tea Houses in Shanghai".

Shanghai German Beer Festival

Sausages, roasted pork knuckles, mashed potatoes, and of course, German beer...The Shanghai German Beer Festival at Radisson Collection Hotel, Yangtze Shanghai brings the authentic Bavarian beer festival experience to Shanghai as part of the Shanghai Tourism Festival series.

Jiangnan Foodie Festival

First introduced in 2020, the Jiangnan Foodie Festival aims to use the culinary delights of Jiangnan as a medium to build a platform for cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, food experiences, and the display and sale of cultural and creative products in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Nanxiang China Chic Conference

Beyond the traditional small steamed bun feast and craft workshops, the ancient town of Nanxiang has taken on a "youthful" new image through the National China Chic Conference, offering citizens and visitors a fresh way to experience the ancient town's national style.