Shanghai's retail sector posted steady growth in the first half of this year, according to the city's Municipal Commission of Commerce.

Retail sales across 50 key shopping areas rose 2.7 percent year-on-year, one percentage point higher than the city's overall growth in consumer goods retail sales. Nineteen of these areas achieved double-digit growth, with Shibo Qiantan, Yuyuan Garden, and Zhenru leading the way.

Yuyuan Garden was a standout performer, reporting a 41.6 percent increase in retail sales and more than 20 million visits. Young shoppers and international tourists made up a growing share of its customer base, with overseas visitors accounting for about 20 percent.

According to the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau, the city's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 955.18 billion yuan ($133.39 billion) between January and July, up 2.5 percent year-on-year. Shopping areas in particular saw robust gains, with clothing, shoes, and textiles up 3.3 percent, cosmetics up 5.0 percent, jewelry up 1.5 percent, and communication equipment up 9.2 percent.

The ongoing Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season is further boosting foot traffic and enriching consumer experiences. At Yuyuan Garden, the Summer Nights: Yu-inverse Made by Bilibili program brings together popular Chinese animation with traditional craftsmanship.

During the event, long-established brands collaborated with animation IPs to launch co-branded products, generating an estimated 40 million yuan in sales. Lao Miao Gold's jewelry line inspired by Heaven Official's Blessing sold out 1,000 pre-sale sets on Tmall and drew strong in-store demand. Restaurants including Ningbo Tangtuan and the century-old vegetarian eatery Chunfeng Songyue Lou introduced themed menus that have been selling out almost daily.