Prepare to Have a Blast During Shanghai's New Year Celebrations

As the lights along both banks of the Huangpu River sparkle for the year-end, Shanghai's New Year celebration fever is already on in full swing!

Whether you are a culture buff, a nature lover, a shopaholic, or a foodie, Shanghai has everything to offer. From the drone shows on the riverside to the ice-and-snow carnivals in business districts, and from the dazzling fireworks by the sea to the spectacular galas at amusement parks, tourists from home and abroad are invited to attend a New Year gathering that is both ceremonial and vibrant.

A total of 120 boutique routes cover all 16 districts, offering options ranging from half-day trips to multiple-day tours. They center around six distinctive themes on architecture, intangible cultural heritage (ICH), riverside walks, starry-night camping, parent-child tours, and health trips. Each route is unique, promising a distinctive New Year's journey in Shanghai.

Among these, Xuhui District offers two-way travel options for day and night, based on the ICH experience and river views of the West Bund. During the day, visitors can stroll around Longhua Temple and Pagoda Shadow Space to feel the cultural heritage; at night, they can take a cruise to admire the magnificent night views of the Huangpu River.

Changning District combines the artistic atmosphere of the ongoing Dunhuang exhibition and Columbia Circle to create a two-day art tour, while Hongkou District links the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, the New Year market at Waitanyuan (the Bund Origin), and Peace Hotel, unlocking a three-day in-depth tour.

Yangpu District presents a three-day New Year celebration itinerary for Generation Z, featuring the historical heritage of former industrial areas and the trendy businesses on Daxue Road.

Holiday routes in Shanghai's suburbs are equally fascinating. Qingpu District connects Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Panlong Xintiandi, and Bailian Outlets Plaza to depict the flavor of the New Year in the Jiangnan region (areas to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River).

The beach fireworks in Jinshan District blend the romantic New Year's Eve experience into its annual traditional celebration "Sunrise over Jinshan".

To enhance travel convenience and comfort, all routes are equipped with supporting services. Multi-day tours provide vehicle transfers, accommodation, and some routes include scenic spot tickets and shuttle bus transfers. Short tours are accompanied by professional tour guides for explanations and guidance on connecting scenic spots with application available at major travel operators such as Trip.com, Shanghai Spring Tour, and Jinjiang.

Don't miss a lineup of exciting activities that present a citywide cultural and tourism feast.

The limited-time New Year Wishes Gala at Shanghai Disney Resort features a castle projection and fireworks show. Dazzling fireworks paired with dreamy light projections above the castle create an unforgettable atmosphere.

On the West Bund, Chinese-style lion dance and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered song performances, as well as figure skating and light shows will ignite winter passion on New Year's Eve. There will also be a pop-up New Year Post Office, bazaars and more.

Shanghai L*SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort will stage a highly anticipated high-altitude snow show, blending aerial acrobatics, dance, and cutting-edge multimedia technology presented by an internationally acclaimed foreign performance troupe. Performers will show a series of breathtaking, visually stunning moves on aerial rigging.

A group of Antarctic gentoo penguins will meet visitors on New Year's Day. People can observe the penguins up close and join the limited-time penguin parade. A collection of ice sculpture artworks made from acrylic material will be showcased for the first time.

Shanghai Happy Valley is staging a festival that blends animation, hit mobile games, ACG (animation, comics, games) interactions and immersive shows. From December 31 to January 3, magnificent fireworks shows and 3D drone light shows will send the first blessings of 2026 to all tourists.

At Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, six original art parade dramas will be staged, together with Shanghai's first 100-performer ICH bench dragon dance set against a marine backdrop. Drone and fireworks shows and live concerts are also part of the celebration.

On New Year's Eve, the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal will stage a grand drone fireworks show, presenting a visual feast to usher in the New Year. Dozens of spectacular activities will be launched, such as a New Year concert, riverside pop-up music shows, an ICH showcase of Yangtze River culture, Chinese-style fashion shows, and an anime-themed market.

Special reminder:

If you are seeking more information on all these routes and activities, a curated special issue of the 2026 Shanghai New Year holiday cultural and tourism events was published on December 23. It consists of 56 pages with all the information you need.

The special issue has been distributed on a citywide scale, covering major public cultural venues across the city (such as libraries, cultural centers, museums, art galleries and theaters) and tourism service outlets (including tourist information centers and partner hotels).