The grand parade for the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival 2025 will leave from East Zhongshan No 1 Road in Huangpu district on the evening of Sept 13, Zhong Xiaomin, director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, announced at a municipal government news conference on Sept 5.

This year's parade will feature 25 floats from home and abroad, alongside 24 performance troupes from 15 countries and regions. These groups will showcase cultural exchange and integration through music, dance and other art forms.

The floats will tour 10 districts, including Jing'an and Songjiang, between Sept 14 to 28. Some international troupes will also stage public performances at venues such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Life Hub Daning.

On Oct 6, the festival's closing night, an immersive traditional Chinese-style night tour will be held at Shanghai Expo Culture Park. Parade floats will be displayed around the lake, creating a festive atmosphere that blends ancient and modern elements for both domestic and international tourists.

Beginning on July 5, the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival has seen an increase in spending. Preliminary data indicates that Shanghai's total tourism transaction volume reached 152.4 billion yuan ($21.36 billion) from July to August, marking a 27 percent increase compared to last year.

The festival entered its "Classic Events Season" on Sept 1, during which the city will run six themed activities to strengthen connections between culture, tourism, commerce, sports and exhibitions. These initiatives aim to enhance tourism experiences, provide public benefits, and boost Shanghai's urban soft power and global influence.

From Sept 13 to 19, the popular half-price ticket offer for over 60 attractions, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai Wild Animal Park, will return. In collaboration with companies like Bright Food, Jinjiang International Group, Bailian Group and Shanghai Spring International Travel Service, as well as destinations like Shanghai Disneyland Resort and Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort, comprehensive discounts will be available across the entire "catering, accommodation, transportation, tourism, shopping and entertainment" chain.

Cheng Meihong, an official with the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, announced that the festival will collaborate with the Shanghai International Light Festival. Key attractions will feature light art-themed activities, including over 100 night-view check-in spots and more than 30 night tour routes.

The festival is also connecting with major international sports events, partnering with nearby business districts and cultural-tourism enterprises to offer exclusive products, thereby expanding the "ticket stub economy" and extending consumption scenarios.

For art empowerment, the festival will synchronize with the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Six themed shows — including concerts, street dance dramas and musicals — will be held in districts like Jing'an and Hongkou.

In regional collaboration, five sub-events will be established in Zhejiang province's Ningbo, Jiangsu province's Yancheng, Sichuan province's Mianyang, Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Shigatse in the Xizang autonomous region. These will be organized in partnership with cultural-tourism departments of neighboring provinces and cities to showcase local resources and launch region-specific festival activities and products.