Shanghai Festivals and Celebrations

Ⅰ. Shanghai Tourism Festival

Time: the second Saturday in September every year
Venue: Huaihai Road, Shanghai

Origin: In recent years, the economy and society of Shanghai have developed rapidly, and now the metropolis appears in front of the world with a completely new look. The Nanpu Bridge, Yangpu Bridge, magnetically levitated trains, the overhead inner ring road, the south and north overhead roads, the picturesque Bund, and the vigorous New Pudong Development Zone attract numerous Chinese and foreign visitors every day. To better display Shanghai's new features to the world, Shanghai sponsors the Shanghai Tourism Festival every year to allure both domestic and foreign tourists in fall, letting them feel the strong Oriental culture and enjoy the prosperous atmosphere of Shanghai.

What's On: During the festival, Shanghai organizes a series of activities, such as the floats parade, a square concert, the display of international music fireworks, the German Beer Festival, the Rose Wedding, parachute-jumping performances (known as "ballet dances" in the air), exchanges between Chinese and foreign tea cultures, international tourism symposiums, and the showcase of the culture and art of A Dream of Red Mansions (a classical novel). In addition, Shanghai also promotes a series of tourism projects, such as being a Shanghai citizen for one day, looking for the roots in Shanghai, and taking a boat tour on the Huangpu River at night.

Main Tourist Attractions: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Grand View Garden, Town God Temple, Zhouzhuang, Sun Island, the Huangpu River, the Bund, Pudong Development Zone, etc.

Transport: Shanghai has the Pudong and Hongqiao airports. It is very convenient for tourists to go to Shanghai by air.

Ⅱ. Ancient Zhujiajiao Town Tourism Festival
Time: September every year
Venue: Ancient town of Zhujiajiao, Shanghai

Origin: Commonly named "Jiaoli", Zhujiajiao is the best-preserved historical and cultural town in south China. The old town embraces several hundred residences built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, unusual and magnificent. The ancient and unadorned folk customs of the old town attract numerous domestic and foreign tourists everyday, thus giving birth to the Ancient Zhujiajiao Town Tourism Festival.

What's On: During the festival, Zhujiajiao Town organizes folk theatrical performances with strong local flavor, such as dragon and lion dances, rattle stick dance, waist-drum dance, land-boat dance and ensemble of traditional stringed and woodwind instruments of south China, in addition to a wide variety of local delicacies and snacks on display and sale, such as Granny tea pastries. Other recreational activities include dragon boat races, martial art performance on boats, traditional speedy boats, music boats, foating lanterns on the river, and the oping ceremony of the folk customs tour.

Main Tourist Attractions: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Grand View Garden, Town God Temple, Zhouzhuang, Sun Island, the Huangpu River, the Bund, Pudong Development Zone, etc.

Transport: tourists may go to Shanghai by air, and then go to Zhujiajiao Town directly by public bus, taking about 30 minutes.

Ⅲ. Chongming Forest Tourism Festival

Time: From September to October every year
Venue: Chongming Island in Shanghai

Origin: Located at the place where the Yangtze River empties into the sea, Chongming Island is the third largest island in China, only next to Taiwan and Hainan, as well as the largest alluvial island at the estuary in the world. The Dongping National Forest Park, a national AAAAA scenic area, is situated on the island. The annual large frest travel festival always attracts a great number of visitors from Shanghai and other parts in China, and tourists from all over the world.

What's On: Relying on the unusual forests, wetlands and beautiful rural scenery, the Chongming Forest Tourism Festival features "green, ecology and leisure," aiming to make tourists "return to nature," During the festival, a great variety of activities are held, such as the opening ceremony and "tour of Chongming Island"—the departure ceremony for a tour of the island by driving a car, a parade tour of floats on Chongming Island, a large music fireworks evening party, Chongming forest carnival, an activity of freeing captive fish and animals at Shou'an Temple and Gold Tortoise Mountain, and a series of happy farmhouse activities.

Main Tourist Attractions: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Grand View Garden, Town God Temple, Zhouzhuang, Sun Island, the Huangpu River, the Bund, Pudong Development Zone, etc.

Transport: Tourists may go to Shanghai by air, and then go to the island by bus, taking about 30 minutes.


Ⅳ. China Shanghai International Art Festival

Time: From mid December to mid November every year
Venue: Shanghai

Origin: With approval of the State Council, the China Shanghai International Art Festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, aiming to absorb excellent cultures of other parts of the world, develop the nationa art of China, accelerate cultureal exchanges between China and other countries, and prosper the culture art market of China.

What's On: Theatrical performances, exhibitions, mass cultural activities, a large performance fair, academic research and exchanges, etc.

Main Tourist Attractions: Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Grand View Garden, Town God Temple, Zhouzhuang, Sun Island, the Huangpu River, the Bund, Pudong Development Zone, etc.

Transport: Shanghai has the Pudong and Hongqiao airports. It is very convenient for tourists to go to Shanghai by air.