The city is set to dazzle this fall with the second Shanghai International Light Festival, running from Sept 19 to Oct 18.

This year's festival will feature a main venue at Xuhui Riverside, alongside 16 sub-venues, offering a month of immersive light and art experiences that blend creativity, technology, and urban culture.

A major highlight will be the opening ceremony and lighting show, where representatives from international lighting organizations, major cities, and the global lighting industry will witness Shanghai's cutting-edge light art, including architectural projection shows and drone performances.

Each sub-venue will offer distinct attractions:

- Xuhui district: The popular Tank Shanghai and Gate M West Bund Dream Center will debut upgraded installations. Gate M's dockyard will host an immersive modern dance performance featuring water-screen projections and laser effects.

- Huangpu district: After two months of renovation, the Bund's multiple waterfalls and surrounding landscape lighting have been upgraded, featuring smoother water flow, larger cascades, and more vivid lighting effects.

- Minhang district: Qibao Old Street will feature a three-minute light show centered on its iconic clock tower.

To help residents and visitors navigate the festival, organizers will release a detailed map through online platforms and WeChat mini programs. The map will highlight activities across all venues, recommend over 100 nighttime photo spots, and suggest more than 30 night tour routes.

Driving culture, commerce, and tourism

Last year's inaugural festival drew nearly 27 million visits to 20 participating shopping centers from Sept 30 to Oct 6, marking a 12.7 percent increase year-on-year.

Building on that success, this year's edition will further integrate light art with commerce, culture, sports, and tourism. Highlights include:

- Over 30 city- and district-level shopping areas, including Xujiahui and Nanjing Road, will host light-themed night markets, pop-up shops, and cross-brand promotions. Companies such as lululemon, L'Oreal, Pinduoduo, and JD.com will launch more than 50 campaigns with special coupons.

- Partners, including Jiushi Group, Trip.com, and Shanghai International Port Group, will offer themed travel routes, cruises, and river tours.

- More than 50 tourist attractions, including the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, will host light art events, some featuring ACGN culture.

- Overseas visitors arriving through entry ports will receive "Shanghai surprise blind boxes" containing festival coupons.

- Global artists, new media creators, and university students are invited to contribute ideas. Selected works may become permanent installations at landmarks such as Xuhui Riverside, Lujiazui, and the Bund, or be incorporated into historic buildings, cultural venues, and sports arenas.

Source: Shanghai Observer