2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Shanghai's cultural and tourism scene! The city will debut several new landmarks, including the Shanghai Grand Opera House, West Bund Grand Theater, Shanghai Long Beach Music Hall, and more. Take a sneak peek!

Shanghai Grand Opera House

Construction on the 30-meter cantilevered main building of the Shanghai Grand Opera House is nearing completion, resembling a white Chinese fan when viewed from above.

Located in the Houtan Riverside area near the Huangpu River, the building offers rooftop access and features a year-round open rooftop plaza.

It will serve both as a performance stage and a public square and is set to open its doors to the public soon.

West Bund Grand Theater

Located in Shanghai's Xuhui Riverside area, next to Gate M, Tank Shanghai, the West Bund Dome Art Center, and the West Bund Museum, the West Bund Grand Theater is set to open in spring 2025.

Covering 23,000 square meters over four above-ground floors and two underground levels, the building accommodates a 1,673-seat grand theater and a smaller 208-seat one.

The design, inspired by the moving waters of the Huangpu River, offers a public art space blending artistic experiences with a waterfront lifestyle.

Fengxian Science Museum

The Fengxian Science Museum is located along Jinhai Lake, also known as "The Fish of Shanghai" due to its goldfish shape. It bears the poetic Chinese name "By the Waterside" (在水一方) and is located next to several parks and the Fengxian District Museum. Its elegant two-story structure harmoniously blends with the surroundings and is nearing completion.

Shanghai Long Beach Music Hall

The Shanghai Long Beach Music Hall in Baoshan district is the largest music venue in northern Shanghai, with its design drawing inspiration from the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea in the classic novel Journey to the West.

The exterior features a distinctive diamond grid texture created by transparent glass and metal frames that shimmer in both sunlight and moonlight. Within, soft lighting further enhances its ethereal charm, mirroring a crystal dragon palace. The start of 2025 was celebrated with a New Year concert at the venue.

Shanghai Literary Museum

Next to the lifestyle hub The Inlet in Hongkou district, the 14,000-square-meter Shanghai Literary Museum incorporates historic buildings, including Yihong Garden, and is set to open later this year.

The Ba Jin Library, housed within the museum, debuted in late November with its first exhibition — The Ba Jin and Shanghai Literature Photo Exhibition — an immersive experience linked to the library's functions. Visitors can explore the exhibition in detail and experience the unique contributions of Chinese literary master Ba Jin (1904-2005) to Shanghai's cultural development.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism