Searching for weekend plans in Shanghai? Here are three superb options: a Spanish food and wine market, a matcha-themed festival, and live waterfront music by the Huangpu River. They offer a great mix of culture, cuisine, and entertainment for an enjoyable, memorable weekend.

Spanish food, wine, and shopping

A Spanish-themed market at Xintiandi will feature more than 100 wines from Sept 11 to 13, offering visitors the chance to sample a diverse range of wines from different regions of Spain.

The lineup includes CVNE, a century-old winery known for its Rioja wines; Freixenet, one of the world's largest cava producers; and Tarongino, an orange-based wine from Valencia known for its citrus notes, light body, and fresh aroma.

Visitors can taste any three Spanish wines for 88 yuan ($13.11). The market also serves up Spanish culinary treats such as 5J Iberian acorn-fed ham, tapas, Basque cheesecake, small chili peppers, and grilled mushrooms.

In addition to food and drinks, the market features Spanish-inspired jewelry, fragrances, home goods, olive oil, and skincare products.

When: Sept 11 to 13, noon to 9 pm

Where: Along Madang Road and Zizhong Road, Xintiandi Style II

Matcha festival at Crystal Plus

The festival is currently underway at Crystal Plus in Jing'an district, featuring more than 60 brands from across China. Running through Sept 13, the event focuses on matcha desserts, drinks, and other treats.

Rabbit & Rose is renowned for its handmade savory breads and offers matcha drinks in various strengths to suit different tastes.

Bakeology 1997 offers a unique twist on classic pineapple buns by filling them with either matcha pudding or Thai milk tea pudding. The buns pair a crisp pastry crust with a smooth pudding filling.

When: Sept 9 to 13, 1 pm to 9 pm

Where: Crystal Plus, No 68 Yuyuan Road, Jing'an district

Waterfront music at North Bund

Students and teachers from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music are scheduled to perform at the North Bund waterfront from Sept 10 to 12.

The event will also coincide with the N'BUND BAR program at the North Bund International Passenger Center. The program features the resident bar Herbar and guest bars from across China on selected weekends. From Sept 11 to 13, Goen Cocktail Bar from Chengdu, Sichuan province, will be the guest bar. It will be followed by Mushroom from Dali, Yunnan province, from Sept 18 to 20, and Bar Seeds from Dunhuang, Gansu province, from Sept 30 to Oct 7.

When: Sept 10 to 12, 7 pm to 8 pm

Where: Waterfront platform between entrances 3 and 4 of the North Bund International Passenger Center

Sources: WeChat accounts of Huangpu, Jing'an, and Hongkou district governments