The 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival is set to dazzle visitors with a spectacular grand parade kicking off on the evening of Sept 13 along East Zhongshan No 1 Road in Huangpu district, according to Zhong Xiaomin, director of the city’s culture and tourism administration.
This year’s parade will feature 25 floats from China and abroad and 24 performance troupes from 15 countries and regions, highlighting global cultural exchange through music, dance, and art. The floats will tour 10 districts from Sept 14 to 28, while international troupes will give special shows at venues like the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Life Hub Daning.
The festival will close on Oct 6 with an immersive traditional-style night tour at Shanghai Expo Culture Park, where parade floats will be displayed around the lake in a setting that blends ancient heritage with modern festivity.
Running since July 5, the festival has already fueled tourism growth. Shanghai’s tourism transaction volume reached 152.4 billion yuan ($21.36 billion) in July and August — a 27% increase year-on-year.
The festival’s “Classic Events Season”, which began Sept 1, features six themed activities connecting culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. From Sept 13–19, over 60 attractions — including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai Wild Animal Park — will offer half-price tickets, while top companies and destinations such as Shanghai Disneyland and L+SNOW Indoor Ski Resort are rolling out discounts across dining, travel, shopping, and entertainment.
In collaboration with the Shanghai International Light Festival, more than 100 night-view check-in spots and 30 themed night tour routes will be launched. The festival will also sync with the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, featuring concerts, musicals, and street performances, and expand regionally with events in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Xizang.
