The 2026 Shanghai Tourism Festival summer season runs from July 8 through Aug 31, featuring 170 cultural and tourism events at venues across the city.

This guide focuses on local lifestyle experiences, highlighting traditional seasonal customs and intangible cultural heritage. The program connects iconic sites, including Shenyuan Garden, Guyi Garden, and historic towns, offering engaging activities such as summer garden tours, heritage markets, and hands-on workshops.

Summer night tour at Shenyuan Garden

Shenyuan Garden has launched a seasonal program that blends traditional summer customs with a special lotus exhibition. Visitors can enjoy scenic lotus pond views, nighttime garden tours, an intangible cultural heritage market, moonlit gatherings, and traditional summer-cooling experiences.

When: Through Aug 30

Where: Shenyuan Garden, Pudong New Area

Tickets: Available through the Shanghai Expo Culture Park WeChat account or mini program.

Longhua Hui heritage market

Located along the waterfront, this night market takes advantage of Longhua Hui's open, walkable layout. Operating from Friday to Sunday evenings, it features a "coffee by day, drinks by night" offering and a selection of intangible cultural heritage crafts. The event coincides with the Chinese solar terms of Minor Heat and Major Heat.

When: July 17 to Aug 31

Where: Longhua Hui, Xuhui district

Admission: Free

Qixi Festival celebration at Chuansha Ancient Town

In mid-August, Chuansha Ancient Town will host a romantic Qixi Festival celebration. The event features traditional Qixi folklore and creates an elegant atmosphere along the historic streets. Visitors can experience Qixi customs and the beauty of Eastern culture.

When: Mid-August evenings

Where: Chuansha Ancient Town, Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

13th Shanghai Lotus and Water Lily Exhibition

The exhibition's main venue is Guyi Garden, which showcases a wide range of lotus varieties, including the garden's first internationally registered cultivar. Visitors can also enjoy interactive heritage experiences and lotus-themed delicacies, blending lotus culture with garden and intangible cultural heritage traditions.

When: Through July 28

Where: Guyi Garden, Jiading district

Tickets: Available through the Guyi Garden WeChat mini program.

Cangcheng summer night fair

Set by the Dacang Bridge, the fair features traditional cooling snacks and drinks such as sour plum soup and tuckahoe cake. Visitors can make herbal sachets and try their hand at grinding tea powder. The event also features a traditional Chinese medicine consultation area for summer wellness advice, as well as evening folk music performances.

When: July 25 to 26 and Aug 8 to 9

Where: Cangcheng Langyuan Bridge, Songjiang district

Admission: Free

Zhujiajiao arts and culture series

Local artists and heritage practitioners take part in this continuous program. They perform pingtan storytelling and Kunqu Opera on boats, at Fangsheng Pavilion, and in teahouses across the historic water town, offering visitors a glimpse of Jiangnan's sophisticated artistic ambiance.

When: July to September

Where: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Qingpu district

Admission: Free

19th Shanghai Zhuanghang Mutton Festival

This annual festival celebrates the local summer tradition of eating mutton with shaojiu, a Chinese distilled liquor. Drawing on resources and folk traditions from Inner Mongolia and other regions, the festival features nearly 30 activities across five themes: cultural exchange, musical performances, food, entertainment, and market fairs.

When: Through Sept 10

Where: Zhuanghang town, Fengxian district

Tickets: Available through the "享游庄行" (Xiangyou Zhuanghang) WeChat mini program.

 

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, tourist attractions mentioned above