The 2025 Shanghai Gift Design Competition, a two-decade benchmark in cultural and tourism creativity, has concluded with a showcase of standout entries. After rounds of open calls, workshops, field visits, and guided incubation, the competition selected works that combine practical use with strong cultural expression. Here are some of the highlights.

1. Five-chapter aromatherapy set

Inspired by an ancient Chinese system that connects nature's cycles with human well-being, this aromatherapy set translates that philosophy into five pivotal chapters of Shanghai's history. Crafted around the signature scent of the city's flower, the magnolia blossom, the set evokes Shanghai's distinctive character, offering a sensory journey through the city's past.

2. Stretchable Shanghai lantern

Drawing on the form of the Oriental Pearl Tower, this lantern features a stretchable design. When pulled upwards, the light illuminates gradually from bottom to top; when pushed down, it dims section by section, folding neatly into a portable keepsake.

3. Deep-sea oil-and-water ship model

This decorative ship model incorporates deep-sea water collected from 1,865 meters in the South China Sea. The number also echoes the year 1865, when the Jiangnan Shipyard was founded, subtly linking China's maritime heritage with its progress in deep-sea technology.

4. Zenless Zone Zero-themed desk collection

Inspired by the action-adventure game Zenless Zone Zero, this series of desk accessories promotes a modern "healthy, refined, and innovative" Shanghai lifestyle. The collection includes an electronic calendar alarm clock, phone stand, charging kit, and more.

5. Modern Shanghai denim collection

This original denim series from a local Shanghai brand uses a pioneering cold-transfer printing process that reduces emissions by 90 percent. Patterns combine the city's magnolia flower with traditional vine motifs, incorporating landmarks such as the Bund and Shikumen architecture to express a uniquely Shanghai modern Eastern aesthetic.

6. Blue-and-white porcelain lidded bowl with Oriental Pearl Tower motif

This tea set blends the city's iconic tower with classic blue-and-white porcelain. The gift box features a blue-and-white pattern with a pull-open lid centered on the tower motif. On the bowl, the tower is framed within a traditional lattice-window design and surrounded by floral patterns, creating an elegant dialogue between heritage and modernity.

7. Magnolia-scented wind chime

Crafted using ancient glass-making techniques, the chime takes the form of a magnolia blossom. A replaceable scented magnolia-shaped pendant hangs below, gently swaying with the chime to release a subtle fragrance into the air.

8. Dragon-phoenix bangle set

This pair of bangles draws on the mythical imagery of the dragon and the phoenix from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Crafted using intangible heritage techniques such as agarwood inlay, filigree, and kingfisher feather art, the product blends Eastern craft aesthetics with contemporary design, showcasing the elegance and innovative force of Shanghai culture.

9. Chinese embroidery folding fan

The fan's ribs feature an abstracted form of the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, precisely carved using laser engraving. The fan surface draws inspiration from the museum's silk embroidery exhibits, reinterpreting these traditional patterns into a contemporary layout.

10. Objects of Light and Shadow cup set

Inspired by the ornate facade of the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, this cup and saucer set translates architectural details such as arched windows, balustrades, and columns into delicate metallic elements. The design brings the refined elegance of Shanghai-style architecture into a functional object that is both a pleasure to use and a joy to collect.

11. Soap making

This is a hands-on carving kit recreates patterns from classic exhibits at the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts as carving templates, paired with informative cultural cards that explain their origins. Makers can carve their own soap while learning the stories behind the museum's treasures.

Source: WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism at "shanghaitourism"