'Light Up Shanghai' as city gets ready for dazzling festival

The 2nd Shanghai International Light Festival will be held from September 19 to October 18, promising a monthlong spectacle of projection shows, installations and interactive experiences designed to transform public spaces after dark.

This year's festival includes one main venue and 16 sub-venues, and will feature 177 themed activities, presenting a light and shadow feast and immersive experiences for domestic and foreign tourists and local residents, a press conference heard on Tuesday.

Themed "Light Up Shanghai," the fest aims to revitalize urban areas, showcase the city's cultural vitality, and boost tourism and nighttime consumption.

On September 19, the opening ceremony will be held at the West Bund in Xuhui District, along with a series of activities such as projection shows, exhibition displays and seminars.

The West Bund Dome Art Center will present a 3,000-square-meter naked-eye 3D dome projection show for the first time.

At the West Bund Theater, a narrative architectural projection show will be staged, and an artificial intelligence tour guide will make its debut.

On the riverside show belt, 218 outstanding works created by light and shadow artists from 19 countries and regions around the world will be exhibited along the Huangpu River.

Other districts will stage site-specific light shows blending local culture and urban identity.

The Pudong New Area will unveil skyline laser and tower projections, while Huangpu District will combine light installations with a night market and pet-friendly events.

Jing'an District will spotlight a Dunhuang-inspired immersive project, while Yangpu District will mix intangible heritage with cyberpunk imagery.

Baoshan District will mount a drone, fireworks and water screen show themed on the Wusong River.

Qingpu District will highlight "five-color fireflies" to present a "light and shadow chapter" of the 6,000-year-old Songze Culture dating back more than 5,000 years.

Organizers highlighted a balance of continuity and innovation from the inaugural festival. Popular installations such as "breathing light bulb" and "Tyndall effect" will return in upgraded versions, while 360-degree immersive projections and interactive exhibits using sensors and algorithms will invite audiences to participate in real time.

This year's festival has enhanced the technological content by promoting the in-depth integration of a number of cutting-edge technologies such as high-precision sensing and self-luminous imaging with light and shadow art, said Shanghai Deputy Secretary-General Wang Weiren.

"The Shanghai International Light Festival is not merely a showcase of technology, but an expression of the city's urban vibe and culture," said Wang.