The 2025 Jinqiao Tea Culture Festival was recently held with style and panache at Jinqiao International Tea City in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, to the great delight of visitors.

The three-day event, which launched on May 16, offered a "tea plus" carnival that combined tea tasting, shopping, social activities and leisure — creating an immersive cultural experience for both local residents and tourists.

Visitors entering the tea city from Donglu Road were welcomed by lively crowds at tea shops and festive stalls lining the main walkway.

The riverside platform along the Caojiagou waterfront was illuminated with colorful lights, where guests enjoyed traditional handicrafts, trendy snacks and imported goods.

According to the organizers, the festival was organized around the concept of being "tastable, playable and purchasable".

Highlights included live performances by the Shanghai Light Music Orchestra, cultural displays by local teams and a wide range of tea-related experiences.

These included talks by tea masters, tea art demonstrations, pop-up tastings of six major tea types and interactive sessions featuring traditional crafts like powdered tea preparation.

To promote cultural tourism and boost spending, more than 50 market stalls were set up at the venue. Offerings ranged from modern tea beverages and regional snacks to specialty agricultural products.

Visitors were also able to explore traditional crafts such as sugar painting, lacquer fans and woodblock printing. They enjoyed tea-themed cultural and creative products and learned about tea through an educational tea corridor.

According to officials from Jinqiao town, the tea culture festival was held alongside the ongoing Shanghai Shopping Festival — running from May 1 to late June — and the Pudong Carnival • Neighborhood Life Festival, while also celebrating International Tea Day on May 21 and China Tourism Day on May 19.

Moving forwards, Jinqiao town plans to further develop its tea-related economy — aiming to boost local growth and better connect culture, tourism and commerce.

Source: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Pudong New Area committee at "pdnews"