As it gets ever closer to the Dragon Boat Festival holiday — from May 31 to June 2 — Shanghai's shopping malls are unveiling new experiences that blend art, design and consumer culture.

Xintiandi area

Starting May 30, the Xintiandi area will host a 10-day event entitled "Playful Bloom" that presents a fresh fusion of design, public art and interactive experiences.

The initiative is part of "Design Shanghai @ Xintiandi". It features two standout installations — Fake Holiday (inspired by the trendy Chinese internet term "niuma", which refers to "beasts of burden" or "corporate cattle") and Hua Qu (which literally means "floral fun" in English). They're designed to turn the area into a dynamic urban playground.

At the outdoor plaza, Fake Holiday transforms everyday office objects — such as desks, keyboards, and punch clocks — into whimsical artworks scattered across rolling green lawns.

Complete with seesaws shaped like cows and horses, the installation is designed to evoke a surreal scene of stressed office workers stumbling into a carefree day at the park.

With humor and charm, the artwork invites visitors to reflect on the tension between work and leisure, while offering a joyful space to unwind and rediscover their inner child.

Tucked into the alleys of the historic Shikumen area, Hua Qu takes a more poetic approach.

Created from recycled shared bicycles, the modular plant installations trace a route of exploration and interaction.

Each piece represents a memory of urban life, repurposed into vibrant green sculptures that seek to spark dialogue between art, sustainability and public spaces.

To further boost the holiday atmosphere, Xintiandi will also launch a three-day promotional campaign starting May 30, offering shoppers rewards such as coupons, 10 times of loyalty points and chances to win gold vouchers worth up to 10,000 yuan (about $1,389).

Lujiazui area

Across the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area, L+Mall recently launched its AT ART Gallery, a pioneering art space that seeks to "bring art into everyday life".

Located in the mall's central atrium, the AT ART Gallery is said to represent a major expansion of the mall's "art plus commerce" ecosystem.

The space features over 100 works, ranging from high-value paintings by Chinese painter Ding Yi to affordable art merchandise and quirky collaborative pieces co-created by Porsche car owners and artists.

The wide-ranging collection is said to underscore the concept of "art without boundaries" — making aesthetic experiences accessible to all.

More than just a gallery, AT ART Gallery aims to function as a hub for exhibitions, cross-sector collaborations and community engagement.

With upcoming solo shows and interactive events, the goal is to deliver a model of "collectible art meets everyday consumption" — making fine art an approachable part of urban life.

The initiative also reflects L+Mall's broader ambition to enhance cultural vitality across Pudong by embedding creativity and inspiration into the city's commercial landscape.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, WeChat accounts of Xintiandi Shanghai, Design Shanghai and AT ART Gallery