As the Chinese Year of the Horse approaches, Shanghai's top attractions are rolling out seasonal programs including family-friendly exhibitions, animal encounters, cultural performances, and traditional celebrations. Here are some highlights:

 

Oriental Pearl Tower

During Chinese New Year, the Oriental Pearl Tower teams up with Hasbro to turn the landmark and its surrounding plaza into an immersive My Little Pony–themed space. Visitors can expect character installations, interactive zones, family workshops, live performances, and a themed market selling licensed merchandise.

When: Feb 6 to 27

 

Shanghai Wild Animal Park

The park's Chinese New Year program focuses on animal encounters and interactive experiences. Highlights include horse-themed activities for the Year of the Horse, appearances by panda twins Qianran and Qianyi, and opportunities to spot well-known animal residents such as chimpanzees, spider monkeys, kangaroos, and red pandas, with both on-site and online engagement.

When: Now until March 31

 

Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China

This one-day event at the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the CPC blends live performances with hands-on cultural activities. It includes face-changing acts, tai chi demonstrations, traditional music, and themed showcases, alongside workshops such as papercutting, printmaking, knitting, lacquer fan making, and sugar painting. Food stalls, shadow puppetry, simple traditional games, and a stamp-collecting activity offering gifts complete the experience.

When: Feb 17

 

Xisha Pearl Lake Scenic Area

Set in a wetland park, this Chinese New Year fair combines outdoor leisure with festive traditions. Activities include stamp-collecting games, dragon and lion dances, God of Wealth parades, traditional craft workshops, and interactive food-themed experiences.

When: Feb 17 to 21

 

Shanghai Zoo

Shanghai Zoo's Chinese New Year program features a series of educational activities focused on horses. The program explores their biology, evolution, conservation, and cultural symbolism, linking wildlife protection with traditional zodiac culture in a public-friendly format.

When: Feb 10 to March 3

 

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

At the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, Chinese New Year comes with an all-day lineup that runs from marine animal viewing to evening shows. The program combines animal exhibitions with intangible cultural heritage performances, themed parades, lantern markets, immersive interactive experiences, and fireworks, creating a vibrant holiday atmosphere.

When: Through March 1

 

Shanghai Happy Valley

At this amusement park, visitors can enjoy festive markets, fire performances inspired by traditional crafts, blessing fireworks, drone light shows, and animation-themed carnival activities.

When: Feb 17 to March 3

 

Shanghai Grand View Garden

Inspired by Dream of the Red Chamber, the Chinese New Year program at the Shanghai Grand View Garden brings the classical novel into a garden setting. Costumed performers portray characters from the story, inviting visitors to interact, play traditional games, collect stamps, and exchange them for themed festival gift packs, all within a traditional Chinese garden environment.

When: Feb 17 to 22

 

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Across Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, the holiday comes alive with cultural performances, traditional markets, local food, and hands-on activities, creating a rich Chinese New Year atmosphere in a historical water town setting.

When: Feb 12 to 21

 

Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World

This festival highlights the public debut of Maomao, a newly born penguin chick at Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World. The program combines close-up observation with basic scientific explanations and family-oriented activities, offering visitors an engaging introduction to penguin care, early development, and marine conservation.

When: Through Feb 28

 

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