The third Shanghai International Light Festival runs from Sept 17 to Oct 16, featuring light installations and performances at venues across the city.

As our first guide covered venues in Pudong New Area and the Jing'an, Xuhui, Hongkou, and Yangpu districts, this guide takes you to festival venues in Putuo, Minhang, Jiading, Songjiang, and Qingpu districts.

Putuo district

When: Sept 24–Oct 3, 7–10 pm

Where: TOP Central Park (TOP中央公园)

The Putuo program will take place at TOP Central Park, with an opening ceremony on Sept 24.

Highlights:

• Floating installation: A diamond-shaped structure will float above the water. It is Shanghai's first floating light installation.
• Water-screen shows: The upgraded musical fountain and water-screen show will feature the city flowers of Shanghai and eight cities along the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt, including Nanjing, Wuxi, and Suzhou. A separate show will use artificial intelligence to bring Jiangnan paintings to life. Special holiday features are planned for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.
• Along the route: Hot-air-balloon-shaped installations, representing cities along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor, will form a route through the park.
• Food market: A nearby market will feature foods associated with intangible cultural heritage.

Minhang district

When: Sept 24–Oct 7

Where: POPC (中庚漫游城) and selected locations in Maqiao town, Meilong town, and other areas

POPC will serve as the main venue, with a light show staged every evening. Activities will also extend to several commercial and residential areas across Minhang.

Highlights:

• Daily activities: Costumed cat and dog characters will tour POPC from 2 to 7 pm each day. A live duo will perform from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.
• Mid-Autumn Festival: A traditional Chinese clothing
• fashion show, moon-worship ceremony, and costume parade will be held on Sept 25. A mooncake relay race follows on Sept 26, while a lantern riddle event will take place on Sept 27.
• National Day holiday: From Oct 1 to 7, the shopping complex will host concerts, games, interactive challenges, and children's performances, with a different program each day.
• Maqiao town: The "Moon Over Maqiao" program will run from Sept 24 to Oct 18. A market will have 30 stalls and 10 hidden stamp-collecting points. Three themed bridge areas will offer lantern making, wish cards, AI-generated drawings, sports games, and a camping-style moon-viewing area. Some handicraft activities require booking through the "古藤马桥" (Guteng Maqiao) WeChat account.
• Meilong town: Visitors can scan QR codes at locations including the Lianhua Road pedestrian bridge (莲花路人行天桥) to follow a digital stamp-collecting route. Nearly 70 businesses in the surrounding commercial area will offer festival-related discounts.

Jiading district

When: Sept 23–Oct 3

Where: Jiading Xidajie Historic and Cultural Block (嘉定西大街历史文化街区) and other locations across the district

The Jiading program will open at Xidajie on Sept 23. Activities will extend to ancient towns, Guyi Garden (古猗园), Mamen village (马门村), and several shopping areas.

Highlights:

• Opening ceremony: A lighting ceremony will be held at Xidajie Historic and Cultural Block on Sept 23.
• Xidajie displays: A waterfront route will feature sensor-activated installations and small projections on key buildings. A night market will include separate areas for intangible cultural heritage products, local food, and light-art experiences.
• Ancient towns: Nanxiang Ancient Town (南翔古镇) will host traditional-style performances and markets. Anting Old Street (安亭老街) will combine water-town culture with automotive-themed products and activities. Zhouqiao Old Street (州桥老街) will feature a lantern matrix and host seasonal markets.
• Garden and village: Guyi Garden will hold an intangible cultural heritage month with exhibitions, traditional-style markets, and handicraft workshops. In Mamen village, art studios, cafes, and other rural venues will open at night.
• Commercial areas: Projection shows, handicraft markets, and other activities will take place at Jiading Powerlong Plaza (嘉定宝龙广场), IMIX Park (嘉定大融城), Xiyunlou (西云楼), and other shopping areas.

Songjiang district

When: Sept 30–Oct 7

Where: Thames Town (泰晤士小镇), Sijing Ancient Town (泗泾古镇), and other locations across Songjiang district

The main Songjiang program will run from Sept 30 to Oct 7. A separate series of activities in Sijing Ancient Town will run from Sept 25 to Oct 7.

Highlights:

• Thames Town: A 3D projection show will be staged on building facades, accompanied by interactive installations. The festival will also include coffee markets, street dance competitions, live bands, and family activities.
• Shanghai Film Park (上海影视乐园): The upgraded "Dreams of Huanghe Road" area will recreate the atmosphere of Shanghai in the 1990s with neon displays, live performances, and themed pop-ups.
• Guangfulin and Cangcheng: Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park (广富林文化遗址) will stage molten-iron fireworks over water and a parade around Fulin Lake. In the Cangcheng Historic and Cultural Block (仓城历史文化风貌区), projections and performances will recreate a Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) market centered on canal transport.
• Sijing Ancient Town: Centered on Anfang Pagoda and the waterways along the Sijing River, the program will feature a nighttime illumination show, Songjiang shadow puppetry, Guxiu embroidery, handicraft activities, tea demonstrations, traditional wellness experiences, and two markets.
• Other landmarks: The G60 Rafael Sky City (G60科创云廊), the Yunjian Huitang Cultural and Art Center (云间会堂), and the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (佘山世茂洲际酒店) will also be illuminated.

Qingpu district

When: Sept 21–Oct 7

Where: Bailian Outlets Plaza Qingpu (青浦百联奥特莱斯广场) and other locations across the district

The Qingpu program opened at Bailian Outlets Plaza on Sept 21. Three routes connect commercial areas, historic sites, water towns, villages, flower fields, and farms.

Highlights:

• Main venue: Bailian Outlets Plaza features a Songze culture wall, an illuminated forest, a light-transmission installation, a themed show, projections on building facades, art installations, and an aurora-style fountain.
• Songze history: At Songze Yingxiang (崧泽映巷), floor projections, water-screen images, and pottery-inspired designs trace the area's 6,000-year history and its place in early Shanghai civilization.
• Cenbu village (岑卜村): Illuminated rice fields and a traditional-style market are planned at Cenbu village. Low-intensity, cool-color lighting helps protect the local firefly habitat.
• Flowers and fields: Hongqiao Flower Valley (虹桥花谷) is holding flower-themed markets and food events. Huatianli (花田里) offers moon viewing, lantern walks, and family activities among its flower fields and rice paddies.
• Water towns: At Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (朱家角古镇), displays cover Kezhi Garden, Fangsheng Bridge, and historic streets. Xintiandi Panlong (蟠龙新天地) is hosting waterside lighting, music, and markets in its restored water-town setting.
• Across the district: Other participating locations include Hemu Water Street (和睦水街), Xihong Farmers Market (西红农夫市集), Huayuanli (绿洲智谷花园里), Modern Oasis (MO生活方式空间), Huijinli (汇金里), and Zhaoxiang Sports Park (赵巷体育公园).

Note: Schedules for individual displays and performances may vary. Check official announcements before visiting.

Source: Information offices of Putuo, Minhang, Jiading, Songjiang, and Qingpu districts