As the Chinese New Year approaches, Shanghai continues to create its festive atmosphere. Streets, historic neighborhoods, and shopping areas are being transformed with lantern displays, art installations, and seasonal events. Together, they offer residents and visitors a glimpse of how tradition and contemporary urban life come together during the Spring Festival holiday season.

Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival

Preparations are underway for the annual Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival, one of Shanghai's most established Chinese New Year traditions. For the upcoming Year of the Horse, horse-shaped lanterns have already appeared around the Yuyuan Garden Malls area and have quickly become popular photo spots.

For the first time, the festival footprint will extend to Fuyou Road and Middle Fangbang Road and continue toward the Bund Finance Center. The expanded layout is designed to create a more immersive walking experience that links classical architecture with the city's contemporary skyline.

Beyond lantern displays, the festival period will also feature Chinese New Year markets and cultural performances, reinforcing Yuyuan Garden's long-standing role as a focal point of Spring Festival celebrations in Shanghai.

Sinan Mansions

At Sinan Mansions, festive installations return for the holiday season, blending illuminated carousel-style designs with winter-themed street scenes that complement the area's historic architecture.

A central installation is on display at the small square on South Chongqing Road through March 4. From Jan 23 to Feb 1, Sinan Mansions will collaborate with Shanghai Floriculture Group to present an immersive floral exhibition, bringing the atmosphere of a traditional Chinese New Year flower market into the city center.

Additional holiday activities are scheduled throughout the period, including dragon and lion dances on Feb 17 at 2:30 pm and a God of Wealth walkabout event on Feb 20 at 1 pm, during which performers will interact with visitors along the streets.

Flower market

• Open: Jan 23 to Feb 1
• Address: Room 101, No 1 Alley 507, Middle Fuxing Road

Longhua Hui

At Longhua Hui, an open commercial neighborhood next to the historic Longhua Pagoda, the holiday season brings together intangible cultural heritage practices and contemporary art.

The program includes dragon and lion dances, performances of Nanjing Baiju, a traditional dialect-based vocal art that combines storytelling and singing, and evening fish lantern parades that move through the neighborhood.

Yuyuan Road

As one of Shanghai's historically protected roads that has never been widened, Yuyuan Road is known for its ability to embrace seasonal decorations without losing its original character.

Festive elements have gradually appeared along the road, with shops and public spaces adding their own interpretations of the Year of the Horse, creating a neighborhood-level celebration rooted in everyday urban life.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and venues mentioned above