Shanghai Draws Millions As Golden Week Lights Up the City

Shanghai kicked off China's National Day holiday with a tourism surge, drawing 3.58 million visitors on October 1 alone, an 18.5 percent jump from last year, according to the city's culture and tourism administration.

The eight-day holiday has turned Shanghai into a giant open-air festival of light, art, food and culture. From float parades to fireworks, day-to-night attractions are fueling the city's tourism economy.

At the Shanghai Expo Culture Park, 25 floats from the Shanghai Tourism Festival are on display alongside a night market, garden tours, and moon-viewing events running through October 6.

On the West Bund, a glowing "Full Moon" art installation created with White Rabbit is lighting up the riverside, paired with themed pop-ups selling Tang Dynasty-style White Rabbit figurines and handmade crafts until October 8.

Shanghai Disneyland is staging a limited-edition castle projection show through October 3, blending fireworks, flames, lasers, and water curtains with Disney classics.

At Lingang's Dishui Lake, a massive fireworks spectacle has transformed the waters into a screen of light and shadow.

Historic and cultural sites are also joining the celebrations. Yuyuan Garden has launched night tours featuring 24 scenic stops narrated along a 50-minute walk.

Nanxiang Ancient Town's Guochao Convention is offering lantern-lit streets, long-table xiaolongbao (small steamed buns) feasts and live cultural shows.

The China Art Museum in Pudong has unveiled "Amazing Zhulong," the first naked-eye 3D immersive installation based on mythological creatures from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," paired with live dance performances.

Art and pop culture span across the city.

Life Hub @ Anting has opened its "Art Meets the Future" season with five major exhibitions, more than 10 family-friendly dramas, 100 hours of live music and themed parties.

In Jing'an Joy City, Kayou and Hasbro have launched a "My Little Pony Wish Party" pop-up, drawing young fans with interactive stamp collections and a treasure-hunt game.

Green spaces are drawing big crowds, too.

Gongqing Forest Park welcomed more than 25,000 visitors to its Urban Forest Carnival on October 3 with a mix of sports, culture and leisure.

Shanghai Grand View Garden in suburban Qingpu District is offering an immersive night tour "Illusory Past," recreating dreamlike scenes from "A Dream of Red Mansions."

The Shanghai Natural History Museum and Shanghai Astronomy Museum have extended opening hours, adding themed events such as "Chinese Dragon Wonderful Night" and moon-watching activities.