The 24-day Shanghai International Flower Show kicked off in style on April 18, with the hip Xintiandi area in Huangpu district — one of its main venues — quite literally festooned with blooms.

Featuring 22 stunning floral installations around Taiping Lake, the event is drawing large crowds eager to admire, photograph and shop amid the glorious springtime scenery.

On April 18-20, foot traffic in the Xintiandi area surged by 36 percent year-on-year, while retail sales rose 23 percent, thanks to the heady mix of culture, tourism, commerce and entertainment.

Expat resident Torres from Spain, who lives near Xintiandi, praised the "Iris Coffee" garden as his favorite installation and shared photos of it online. He also recommended the evening light show at Taiping Lake Park. The nighttime experience — combining lights, music, fragrance, and flowers — offered a magical sensory journey, he added.

Xintiandi has also introduced the Dongtai Market, just 500 meters from Taiping Lake. Over 100 seasonal flower varieties and 800,000 fresh plants are on display, elevating the experience of visitors.

Dongtai Market • Blooming Whisper

When: 11 am to 6 pm, April 18-20 and May 1-5

Where: Xintiandi Galleria, No 111 Ji'an Road, Huangpu district

Restaurants and retailers have quickly felt the positive impact of this event. "From April 18 to 20, waiting times hit an hour during peak dining periods — much longer than usual weekends," said Cao from the Chua Lam's Dim Sum restaurant, which also hosted a traditional lacquer fan DIY activity outdoors.

Meanwhile, luxury French perfume brand Parfums de Marly has unveiled its first-ever themed pop-up store globally in Xintiandi. The captivating More Than Roses art installation at the entrance has quickly become a photo hotspot.

"Traffic has been nonstop from morning to night and our sales have far exceeded expectations," a brand representative said.

Parfums de Marly pop-up store

When: Now to Sept 30

Where: Unit 02, North Area of Xintiandi, No 25 Alley 181, Taicang Road, Huangpu district

Sources: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Huangpu district committee at "shhuangpu", Shanghai Observer