The 2025 Food Festival in Featured Streets kicked off in grand style on May 30 at EKA Tianwu — a former marine equipment factory now transformed into a new landmark for urban renewal in Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

Running from now to June 29, the festival is uniting eight specialty shopping areas under a "food+" theme — blending cuisine, culture and lifestyle to offer immersive experiences for both locals and tourists.

Highlights:

- Daxue Road is celebrating graduation season with exclusive student deals at 20 restaurants. The area is featuring discounted combo meals via UnionPay Cloud QuickPass, photo opportunities and chef-led workshops — creating a vibrant send-off for college graduates.

- At the Yuyuan Art and Lifestyle Block, families and trendsetters can enjoy Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf-themed parties, with pop-up stores offering colored sparkling drinks, limited-edition merchandise and secret menus. Outdoor activities include wine tastings, yoga on the grass, open-air movies and craft beverages.

- Xintiandi is hosting a Hong Kong-style rendezvous, co-organized with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and local partners. Nostalgic TVB (a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong) catchphrase walls, heritage workshops and craft cocktail displays foster cross-city cultural exchanges between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

- Laowaijie, or Laowai Street, transforms into a Mexican Fiesta — complete with traditional performances, food markets and workshops. Highlights include Day of the Dead face painting and children's pinata games — offering a deep dive into Mexican culture through music, cuisine and handicrafts.

- Qibao Ancient Town presents a night market featuring floral parades, traditional food stalls and folk performances such as Suzhou Pingtan — a form of storytelling — and incense ceremonies. Visitors can sample time-honored treats like Qibao rice balls while enjoying riverside live music in a fusion of modern and traditional Chinese culture.

- Nanxiang Old Street hosts the 19th Nanxiang Xiaolong Culture Festival, anchored by a grand 100-table street banquet. The event showcases Shanghai's signature xiaolongbao, or steamed stuffed buns, along with lion dances, martial arts and folk music — spotlighting the combination of culinary heritage and modern creativity.

- Back at the festival's hub, EKA Tianwu — the "100+ Tianwu Market" — brings together over 100 vendors featuring regional delicacies, independent designers and lifestyle brands. Spanning 39 buildings in the block, the market includes beverage tastings and hands-on workshops — positioning the area as a lifestyle destination for urban aesthetes.

- Feng Sheng Li blends playfulness with heritage, combining the Japanese hit manga series Chibi Maruko-chan with a Chinese calligraphy exhibition. Celebrating the character's 35th anniversary, the area hosts nostalgic food markets and themed cafes, while local calligraphy students showcase works inspired by traditional Shikumen architecture and poetry — merging childhood memories with cultural depth.

To further stimulate local consumption, UnionPay's Shanghai branch has launched a special campaign across participating merchants.

Shoppers using Cloud QuickPass will enjoy additional stackable discounts and access to special food vouchers, available from mid-June to Oct 31.

With three tiers of coupons — 10 yuan ($1.39) off 50 yuan, 20 yuan off 100 yuan and 40 yuan off 200 yuan — each user can redeem one per week, valid for seven days.

Spanning nearly five months, the initiative aims to enhance Shanghai's street food economy throughout the summer and fall.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Observer, WeChat account of Changning district information office at "shchangning", WeChat account of publicity department of the CPC Minhang district committee at "minhangnews", WeChat account of publicity department of the CPC Pudong New Area committee at "pdnews"