The annual Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival in Gucun Park is one of Shanghai's most anticipated spring events. This year, the park has unveiled a nighttime cherry blossom viewing experience on its Cherry Blossom Island.

With the tagline "Butterflies and Blossoms", the park blends cutting-edge light and shadow technology with traditional Chinese performances and natural landscapes, offering both daytime and nighttime cherry blossom viewing opportunities.

Day&night: two distinct experiences

During the day, visitors can enjoy elegant traditional Chinese dance performances and immersive anime-themed activities.

As night falls, the park transforms into a spectacle of light, where visitors can capture the beauty of illuminated cherry blossoms and witness glowing fireflies in a dreamlike fantasy.

Additionally, the park hosts a variety of performances, including lantern parades, Chinese cultural shows, and live music performances.

Picture-perfect hotspots

Cherry Blossom Island is packed with scenic spots, offering both fun and picturesque settings for photography.

• Cherry Blossom Shrine Tree: An 8-meter-high artificial cherry tree on the island's west side, featuring a stunning display of white and pink blossoms enhanced by artistic lighting, creating a romantic and dreamlike atmosphere.

• Light & Shadow Show: Designed by the original team behind the Bund Light Show, this immersive light experience brings cherry blossoms to life with a dazzling interplay of light and color.

• Lantern Parade: A team of performers in traditional Chinese attire leads visitors through a world of glowing lanterns, creating a sense of stepping back in time.

• Vine Swing: Nestled in a lush green corner of the island, this beautifully crafted swing offers a tranquil escape where visitors can sway gently and enjoy the spring breeze.

If you need a break from sightseeing, the Cherry Blossom Market offers a delightful mix of food and souvenirs.

Nighttime experience

A few early-blooming cherry blossoms on the island are now entering their final stages, while Yoshino cherry buds are beginning to swell, showing hints of soft pink among fresh green leaves. By late March, the park will reach peak bloom, transforming into a sea of cotton-candy-like cherry blossoms at its most picturesque moment.

If you go

◎Hours:

🕕 6 am – 9:30 pm

🔹 Daytime admission (6 am – 5 pm)

🔹 Evening admission (5 pm – 9 pm)

◎Ticket details (Ticket package for Gucun Park and Cherry Blossom Island)

The good news is that from March 23 to April 15, Cherry Blossom Island will be open free to all visitors daily from 6 am to 3 pm.

The ticket for the rest of times is 50 yuan for adults, 30 yuan for students and 36 yuan for seniors aged 60-64.

Individuals who are eligible for free entry, such as seniors aged 65 and above and children under 1.3 meters in height, can also visit Cherry Blossom Island without needing to purchase a separate ticket for it.

📌 Where to buy tickets:

Tickets can be purchased via Gucun Park's official WeChat account or platforms such as Meituan, Douyin, Ctrip, Bilibili, and Damai.

⛔ Note: To ensure a quality experience, the daily visitor limit for Cherry Blossom Island is 20,000, with 4,000 reserved for night sessions. Tickets are available exclusively online; on-site ticket purchases are not available. Visitors must redeem e-tickets for physical tickets at the park ticket counters before entering.

📌 Ticket redemption:

• 6 am – 5 pm: Redeem tickets at park entrances 1, 2, or 3.

• 5 pm – 9:30 pm: Ticket redemption is only available at park entrance 2.

◎How to get there

By Metro

• Nearest Station: Gucun Park Station (Line 7 & Line 15), located near park entrance 2.

By Bus

• Entrance 1: Jiatai Line, Nos 963, 527, 528

• Entrance 2: Baoshan No 3, Baoshan No 29, Nos 1604, 1605

• Entrance 3: No 1604

By Car

• The park and surrounding areas offer 6,000 parking spaces, with electronic payment required.

Sources: Baoshan district government, Gucun Park, Shanghai Observer