Shanghai Rings in 2026 with 'First Tour of the New Year'

As the clock ticked to midnight on December 31, the city was fully draped in a festive glow.

Every corner of the city came alive with excitement, laughter and anticipation, as citizens and tourists from home and abroad gathered to bid farewell to the old year and embrace the dawn of 2026.

In its 37th edition since its inception in 1989, Shanghai's "First Tour of the New Year" set its main venue at dual locations—Gate M West Bund Dream Center in Xuhui District and Shanghai International Cruise Tourism Resort in Baoshan District for the first time.

On the evening of December 31, the main street of Gate M West Bund Dream Center was ablaze with starlight, with the waterfront outdoor ice rink, the dock and the silos fully decorated for the New Year celebrations.

The 1,500-square-meter waterfront ice rink was transformed into a New Year's Eve stage, featuring a dazzling array of performances that blended various cultural elements.

From the ice piano performance to the pop-up dance, and from the Dunhuang-inspired drum performance to the dynamic ice dance show, the audience joined in the chorus of "Happy New Year" to celebrate the arrival of the new year together.

A magical riverside parade unfolded along the Huangpu River waterfront, spreading joy throughout the entire Dream Center.

Visitors enjoyed the thrill of gliding at Shanghai's largest outdoor waterfront ice rink and checked in at the world's largest-scale Crybaby pop-up exhibition.

At the limited-time New Year Post Office, they collected Year of the Horse limited-edition postcards and New Year commemorative postmarks, and visited river view cruise check-in spots and the kaleidoscope silo market, featuring a wide range of New Year gifts.

The excitement in Xuhui extends far beyond New Year's Eve.

The Huangpu River cruise from Longhua Wharf operates three daily sailings during the New Year's Day holiday between January 1 and 3, including the newly added night cruises, leading tourists to admire the stunning scenery and glittering night views of the West Bund.

At "Neo World," a large-scale metaverse-themed block, the Diecai Road and Youjiang Road will show limited-time "snowfall," creating a romantic winter atmosphere.

The Longhua winter fair and a series of exciting performances including folk music concerts, band shows and Sichuan Opera face-changing will be staged at Longhuahui, a cultural-commercial complex in Longhua, during the holiday.

A dazzling fireworks show at Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal of the Shanghai International Cruise Tourism Resort ushered in the Year of 2026 in Baoshan District, another main venue of the Shanghai's "First Tour of the New Year," offering a stunning visual feast.

An immersive pop-up performance featuring Jiangnan sizhu (string and wind music) and dance shows and a cross-cultural musical feast showcasing Shanghai's openness and inclusiveness through global melodies and vibrant rhythms were also part of the celebrations.

ACG (animation, comics, and games) idol girl groups delivered energetic stage performances, and student associations from Donghua University presented a Chinese-style fashion show on New Year's Eve, featuring traditional Chinese costumes with innovative designs to create a moving fashion landscape.

A trendy ACG themed bazaar is set up during the New Year's Day holiday for the first time, with dedicated stalls showing various popular IP goods including Ultraman models and limited-edition anime merchandise.

Meanwhile, 48 intangible cultural heritage projects from the Yangtze River Delta debuted along the Baoshan riverside.

In addition, Baoshan set up three installations featuring interactive light show, horses and firework trees alongside the waterfront.

During New Year's Day holiday, the festive vibe of the cruise tourism resort will continue. A New Year's fun run and a vertical ascending race kicked off the dynamic new year.

At the Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park, a variety of activities will be held during the holiday, including a wetland adventure, New Year trunk market, port concert, bird watching, drone science popularization and a sunrise photography exhibition.