Rain and cooler temperatures are forecast for Shanghai this week. The North Bund Forum opens on Oct 20, while international performances and cultural events continue across the city. Registration for the ninth China International Import Expo also closes on Oct 20. Here's what to expect this week.

 

Weather outlook

Showers are expected on Oct 19 and 20, followed by mostly cloudy weather on Oct 21 and 22. Rain is forecast to return from Oct 23 and may continue for several days.

A new cold front will bring stronger winds and lower temperatures from Oct 21, with temperatures dropping below 20 C.

 

Frost's Descent solar term

Frost's Descent, or Shuangjiang, falls on Oct 23 this year. It is the 18th of China's 24 solar terms and the last of autumn. It marks the approach of winter, when temperatures drop and leaves turn yellow and fall.

 

CIIE visitor registration closes on Oct 20

The ninth CIIE will take place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from Nov 5 to 10.

The expo will open to general visitors from Nov 8 to 10. Visitors can register to attend on one of the three days.

Registration closes by the end of Oct 20. Only a limited number of places remain, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Read more

→ 9th CIIE opens registration for individual visitors

 

North Bund Forum begins Oct 20

The 2026 North Bund Forum will take place on Oct 20 and 21 at the Grand Halls in Hongkou district.

The forum will convene representatives from the global shipping and aviation industries to discuss maritime safety, green development, digital innovation, finance, and international cooperation.

More than 60 related activities will take place, including the Shanghai Pudong International Shipping Week and the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit.

 

Sustainability conference takes place Oct 20-22

The 2026 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference will be held in Huangpu district from Oct 20 to 22.

The conference will bring together more than 300 guests from around the world, including representatives of United Nations agencies and other international organizations, Nobel Prize and Turing Award laureates, business executives, and think tank experts.

A Green Industry and Sustainable Consumption Expo will also take place during the conference, featuring exhibits and interactive activities from more than 30 companies.

 

Shanghai Chest Hospital opens Pudong campus on Oct 20

The Pudong campus of Shanghai Chest Hospital will officially open on Oct 20 in Tangzhen town, Pudong New Area. The new campus will provide specialized care for heart and chest conditions.

 

West Bund technology carnival begins Oct 22

The West Bund International Tech Consumer Carnival (WTCC 2026) will take place from Oct 22 to 25.

The event will feature eight themed exhibition halls and more than 400 technology products, with a focus on AI and emerging consumer technologies.

Scan the QR code below for visitor registration.

 

Historic signal tower reopens to public

The Gutzlaff Signal Tower, built in 1884, has reopened as a public space following renovations.

The first floor features a tourist information center, historical displays, and cultural products, while the second floor offers a cafe with views of the Bund.

Address: No 1A East Zhongshan Road Number Two, Huangpu district

Opening hours: 10 am–10 pm

 

Lujiazui Coffee Festival begins Oct 19

The Lujiazui Coffee Festival runs from Oct 19 to 25, bringing together nearly 400 coffee brands from around the world.

Visitors can sample coffees, attend masterclasses and live performances, and take part in cultural activities. Some areas will stay open until 10 pm.

Venues: Lujiazui Central Green and the Oriental Riverside Hotel

Admission: Free advance registration is required through the "陆家嘴咖啡节" WeChat mini program.

 

Performances to catch this week

Teatro La Fenice's Tosca

When: Oct 22 and 24

Where: Shanghai Grand Opera House

Venice's Teatro La Fenice will present the Asian premiere of its new production of Puccini's Tosca. Directed by Joan Anton Rechi, the production relocates the story from 1800 to the 1950s. The new staging features an open set and emphasizes the theme of freedom.

 

Robert Wilson's Moby Dick

When: Oct 23-25

Where: West Bund Theatre

Directed by Robert Wilson and performed by Germany's Duesseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Moby Dick will have its Asian premiere in Shanghai. Based on Herman Melville's novel, the production follows Captain Ahab's obsessive pursuit of the white whale that took his leg. German actress Rosa Enskat plays Captain Ahab, a role traditionally played by men.

 

Schaubuehne Berlin's The Marriage of Maria Braun

When: Oct 22-24

Where: Theatre Young

German director Thomas Ostermeier brings The Marriage of Maria Braun to Shanghai with Berlin's Schaubuehne theater company. Based on Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film of the same name, the play follows Maria Braun as she navigates love, marriage, and financial struggles.

 

Sources: General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism