Today — Feb 12 — marks the Lantern Festival, a time for enjoying lantern displays, festive markets and traditional celebrations.

But if you're in Shanghai and looking for a very special way to mark the occasion, why not visit a post office with a theme to it? Two standout locations worth exploring are as follows:

Post Coffee

Address: No 95 Qibao Old Street, Minhang district

Business hours: Daily, 10 am to 10 pm

Nestled at the entrance of Qibao Old Street — an historic town with a legacy that stretches back 1,000 years — near Bell Tower Square, Post Coffee stands out with its white walls and traditional black-tiled roof.

A striking green mailbox icon and prominent white-and-green sign reading "POST COFFEE" makes this two-story establishment instantly recognizable. As Shanghai Post's first scenic-area coffee post office, it blends coffee culture with the charm of an ancient town and postal traditions.

Inside, visitors can sip on a warm brew while listening to the rhythmic "thud" of commemorative postmarks being stamped on postcards. A popular activity among both locals and tourists, the stamps add a special touch to their keepsakes.

Post Coffee also features an interactive postcard printer, allowing guests to upload or take a photo, record a voice message and stamp their cards with Qibao Old Street's exclusive postmarks. When the recipient scans the QR code on the postcard, they can "listen" to the message, making for a truly personal touch.

Yu Garden Post

Address: No 128, Yuyuan Garden Old Street, Huangpu district

Business hours: Daily, 9 am to 7 pm

While enjoying the Lantern Festival at Yuyuan Garden, make sure to stop by Yu Garden Post, a recently upgraded themed post office by the Huangpu Postal Branch.

Since its renovation in June last year, this charming postal spot has become a hub for locals and tourists alike, offering an extensive collection of over 100 postcard designs featuring Shanghai landmarks, classical literature and beloved cartoon characters.

Since the official lighting of this year's Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival on Jan 1, the post office has welcomed thousands of visitors. To mark the Lantern Festival, Shanghai Post has introduced a special commemorative postmark, drawing crowds eager to stamp their postcards with this limited-edition design.

These postcards, destined for various corners of the world, carry with them the nostalgic charm of handwritten letters and a timeless memory of the Lantern Festival in 2025.

Source: Shanghai Observer