Between Sept 19 and Oct 18, Shanghai will host the spectacular 2024 Shanghai International Light Festival, showcasing more than 100 events.

Here is your guide to some of the festival's highlights.

I. Main venue

Dates: Sept 19-27

Location: Shanghai Exhibition Center

8 themed events:

1. Opening Ceremony (Sept 19): The festival will officially begin with the announcement of the event schedule, kicking off a series of exciting activities.

2. Architectural Visual Projection Show: This immersive show will use key architectural elements of the Shanghai Exhibition Center as projection surfaces, featuring such themes as National Day, traditional Chinese culture, Red Culture, Haipai Culture, Jiangnan Culture, fashion culture, and classic Shanghai Film IPs. It will debut during the opening ceremony.

3. Light Art Installations Exhibition: Opening on Sept 19, this exhibition brings together works from renowned light art designers from around the world, combining both aesthetic appeal and interactivity.

4. Expert Forum: Bringing together 64 prominent lighting and art experts from 12 countries and regions, including cities like Paris, London, New York, and Sydney, this forum will explore key topics in lighting and art innovation.

5. Global Landscape Lighting Industry Exhibition: Launching alongside the opening ceremony, this exhibition showcases 19 cutting-edge works from top domestic and international brands, highlighting new technologies, processes, and products in the global lighting industry.

6. Exhibition of Shanghai's Urban Lighting Achievements: Through 18 multimedia-themed scenes, this exhibition highlights the development of Shanghai's urban lighting, tracing the city's evolution through light art.

7. Light Map Release: A panoramic light map will be unveiled, pinpointing over 100 nighttime-viewing attractions and recommended routes, with an English version available for international tourists.

8. "Fashion Light" Event: In collaboration with Shanghai Fashion Week, this event will take place in commercial areas like Xintiandi and Bund Origin, featuring light and fashion shows, interactive visual spots, and a celebration of Shanghai's fashion culture.

How to attend main-venue events:

While admission is free, real-name registration and reservations are required for entry. Both domestic and international visitors can book tickets through platforms like Damai, the "Shencheng Guangying" WeChat mini-program (dedicated to the festival), and Xiaohongshu.

On-site services:

The main venue will offer convenient services such as information desks, emergency medical stations, and volunteer support. Bilingual assistance will also be provided to accommodate international visitors.

 

II. Parallel venues

Dates: Sept 21-Oct 18

Locations: 12 parallel venues hosting 129 themed events

Events:

Pudong New Area: Large-scale naked-eye 3D architectural projection show

Huangpu district: "City of Light" immersive digital light interaction show

Jing'an district: "Traveling in Light - Sanxingdui Fantasy Carnival" series of activities

Xuhui district: "Jiangnan Wonders: Chinese-Style Scenery" projection show at Tank Shanghai

Changning district: "Light Adventure" show at Columbia Circle

Putuo district: Light-themed boat event at Half-Marathon Suzhou Creek Park

Hongkou district: Architectural projection show at The INLET

Yangpu district: "Show Time" series of events

Songjiang district: "Huanghe Road" lighting event at Shanghai Film Park

Qingpu district: "The Splendor of Time" light and water show

Fengxian district: "Fantasy Forest" architectural projection show

Lin-gang Special Area: "Lin-gang Moments" lakeside light and water show

 

III. Additional features

Light Map: Available at main and parallel venues, as well as at airports and train stations, this map is free for both domestic and international visitors.

WeChat Mini-Program: The "Shencheng Guangying" mini-program, dedicated to the festival, allows visitors to book tickets, explore events, and discover popular photo spots. It also offers a virtual City Walk tour of "Nighttime Shanghai".

Top Influencers for Nighttime Tourism: Visitors can log in to the WeChat mini-program during their night tours to check in at designated nighttime-viewing landmarks. Those with the most check-ins will be selected as top influencers, receiving a special night tour gift package and an invitation to the festival's closing ceremony.

Xiaohongshu: A light map is also available on Xiaohongshu, highlighting popular nighttime-viewing check-in spots, where domestic and international visitors can browse influencer posts.

 

Sources: The Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administrative Bureau, eastday.com