The 15th Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival will take place at Gucun Park — located in Shanghai's Baoshan district — from March 15 to April 15.

A major highlight of this year's festival is the introduction of a nighttime cherry blossom viewing experience, which will run from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.

The new feature is designed to give more residents and visitors the chance to enjoy the stunning pink blooms during the peak of the season.

The evening hours are also expected to attract city workers looking for a relaxing after-work escape.

To engage younger crowds, especially those interested in ACGN — Animation, Comics, Games and Novels — the festival has planned several exciting collaborations. In partnership with Bilibili, a leading Chinese video-sharing platform, the festival will feature fun activities based on popular domestic animations such as Link Click and Fairy Albums.

The festival will also offer themed photo spots, stamp collecting stations and live performances by popular Bilibili creators — including Chinese-style dance shows and cosplay parades — bringing the worlds of anime and cherry blossoms together in a very special collaboration.

As the closest shopping mall to Gucun Park, Paradise Walk has become a major destination during cherry blossom season. It provides a one-stop experience for cherry blossom enthusiasts — combining flower viewing, shopping, dining and fitness all in one place.

Beyond the mall, the entire Baoshan district is gearing up for the festival.

The Baoshan district administration of culture and tourism — in collaboration with Shanghai Wusongkou Culture Tourism Investment (Group) Co Ltd — will introduce the Sakura Passport to encourage ticket-based shopping.

The passport will offer discounts and promotions at local attractions, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets — inviting visitors to explore the area's diverse offerings.

Additionally, the district is supporting the "sakura economy" by partnering with local businesses to release limited-edition cherry blossom-themed products. Companies like Yanzhong Beverage and Bainuo Foods will launch co-branded items to celebrate the season. In a sweet addition, Gucun Park will debut a new Sakura-themed ice cream.

Gucun Park

Address: No 4788 Hutai Road

Paradise Walk

Address: Alley 50, Danxiashan Road

Sources: Shanghai Observer, Zhu Jiayi