Shanghai has rolled out the red carpet for Jay Chou fans this fall. As one of the highlights of the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival, a citywide celebration featuring Jay Chou's official cartoon character Chou Chou kicked off on Sept 13 and will run through Oct 12, perfectly coinciding with his concerts in the city.

Giant Chou Chou installations and themed pop-up stores have been unveiled across six iconic locations: the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Museum, Jing'an Joy City, Yongyuan Road, Metro City in Xujiahui, and Suzhou Creek Half Marathon Park.

A special Jay Chou-themed bus line connects all six landmarks. A single ticket covers the entire route and includes discounts at partner stores as well as entry into lucky draws. Six collectible tickets, each with its own design, also serve as souvenirs, with some concealing surprises that give lucky fans the chance to win autographed Jay Chou merchandise.

The buses themselves are impossible to overlook. Six limited-edition vehicles wrapped in giant Jay Chou designs are on the road, turning every journey into a moving tribute.

Note:

The special line runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout September. From October 1 to 12, including the National Day holiday, it operates daily from 10 am to 8 pm, with departures every hour, on the hour, in both directions.

Tickets can be purchased online or on-site at the Oriental Pearl Tower (available from Sept 15) and the Shanghai Museum (from Sept 30).

The celebration extends beyond the streets. Cruises along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, as well as the city's ferries, have all been given Jay Chou-themed makeovers. Even the skies are joining in, with a Shenzhen-Shanghai flight redesigned as a Jay Chou-themed journey, creating a seamless network of air, water, and land experiences.

Across Shanghai's malls and public spaces, fans can explore themed campsites, hotel experiences, pop-up stores, and even a robot store. Exclusive Jay Chou merchandise, including Shanghai-only designs, is drawing eager collectors.

Adding to the excitement, three hidden easter eggs are scattered across the city. One of the biggest surprises is a collaboration with the Rolex Shanghai Masters tennis tournament, running from Sept 29 to Oct 12, where Jay Chou's brand intersects with world-class sports through co-branded tennis figures and limited-edition merchandise.

Jay Chou's influence in Shanghai is undeniable. In 2023, his four-day concert run generated 200 million yuan ($28.08 million) in ticket sales and boosted local spending on dining, shopping, lodging, and tourism by 3.2 billion yuan. This year's citywide celebration promises to be even grander, turning Shanghai not just into Jay Chou's stage, but into his entire world.

Source: Shanghai Observer