Shanghai has launched nine themed offers for the 2026 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, giving international visitors more ways to shop, dine, travel, and explore the city.

 

Bailian Style

Bailian Group has partnered with Shanghai Museum to open a themed store on Nanjing Road inspired by the museum's major exhibition On Top of the World Tree: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas.

Visitors can also access special benefits through the LianlianGO (联联GO) feature on iBailian (i百联) WeChat mini program, using exhibition tickets to unlock related shopping discounts and cultural experiences.

The group is also working with China Eastern Airlines, Bank of China, UnionPay, Shanghai Culture Square, and major shopping areas to launch combined offers covering shopping, tourism, exhibitions, and sports events.

In addition, Bailian has invited the China National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Tan Dun to present concerts centered on Beethoven's Symphony No 9 at Bailian shopping centers.

During the season, Bailian will distribute consumer coupons worth around 100 million yuan (about $14.7 million) across about 1,000 stores.

 

Shanghai Summer 2026 Travel Benefits

China Eastern Airlines has launched three family travel benefits for the Shanghai Summer season.

The airline has launched several long-haul international routes, bringing its number of international destinations to 86. It has also introduced Shanghai Summer-themed flights to showcase the city's summer experiences to travelers worldwide.

A dedicated Shanghai Summer 2026 Travel Benefits section on its website offers flight discounts and bundled benefits covering business, tourism, culture, sports events, exhibitions, and other activities.

 

Departure tax refund 2.0 by Bank of China

Shanghai is upgrading its departure tax refund services to make the process faster, more accessible, and more digital.

The number of departure tax refund stores across the city will expand to 3,000, and the "refund-upon-purchase" services will be extended to more scenarios. Self-service tax refund terminals will be available in major commercial areas, while multiple electronic refund channels will improve efficiency.

A departure tax refund network covering 28 provincial-level regions has also been established across the country, allowing visitors to shop in one place and complete departure tax refund procedures at multiple departure points.

Paperless mobile tax refund processing and tax refund services linked with online shopping platforms are also being promoted.

 

UnionPay shopping benefits

UnionPay is providing international visitors with more convenient payment services through the Nihao China app, which supports users from more than 138 countries and regions.

Collaborating with Bank of China and other partners, UnionPay will improve departure tax refund services and upgrade its Shanghai Summer-themed card with more user-friendly benefits.

It will also roll out more than 10 million yuan in promotional offers covering over 100,000 merchants.

 

Visa payment services

Visa has introduced more convenient payment options in Shanghai, with tap-to-pay and scan-to-pay services available at restaurants, hotels, transportation services, tourist attractions, shops, and entertainment venues.

QR code payments are also available at more than 1,000 small businesses in key commercial areas, allowing overseas visitors to make payments without downloading additional apps.

As the exclusive official payment partner of the FIFA World Cup, Visa is working with five banking partners to launch FIFA World Cup-themed products and bring soccer experiences to Shanghai MovePARK, a sports-themed event at Zhangyuan in Jing'an district.

 

2026 Shanghai Gourmet Passport

Jin Jiang International Holdings has upgraded its 2026 Shanghai Gourmet Passport, combining dining and accommodation into one integrated experience.

The program connects more than 200 hotels and 30,000 rooms across Shanghai with over 90 global dining options.

The company has also launched the "Wandering Shanghai's Plane Tree-lined Neighborhoods" family package, inviting families to explore historic villas across the city.

International visitors can view benefits in both Chinese and English by scanning a QR code or tapping with NFC.

 

Shanghai Pass packages

Shanghai Pass, developed by Jiushi Group, has launched a range of travel packages for the summer season.

A one-day pass includes a Huangpu River cruise, a sightseeing bus tour, and Yuyuan Garden-related benefits, offering visitors views of the Bund.

A cultural museum pass provides access to more than 150 museums and exhibition venues, while an art museum pass covers 30 art institutions featuring exhibitions from China and abroad.

The overseas version of the Shanghai Pass NFC mobile transport card has also made its Shanghai debut, allowing international visitors to tap to use public transportation on a network covering cities across China.

 

Tap for Shanghai Summer with Ant Group

From July through September, Ant Group will equip more than 30,000 merchants across Shanghai with free tap-to-pay terminals.

It will also invest 60 million yuan in Alipay promotions, including instant discounts, prize draws, and digital red envelopes covering dining, retail, hotels, travel, and transportation.

The upgraded Easy Go platform has launched a Shanghai Summer section featuring Shanghai Style customization services, Shanghai Gifts, tax refund assistance, and popular attraction tours.

Supported by Ant Group's AI multilingual features, the platform is designed to help inbound visitors access services more easily.

 

Dianping Must Lists

Meituan has launched a Shanghai Summer edition of 2026 Must Lists on Dianping, featuring the Must-Eat, Must-Visit, and Must-Stay lists.

Users can search "Shanghai Summer" (上海之夏) on the Dianping app to access recommended guides covering dining, entertainment, travel routes, and accommodation.

 

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, participating enterprises mentioned above