[Hai Guide] What To Eat, Do, and See During October Holiday

For the sophisticated-ren who have no inkling to depart with the masses during the October Holiday, we have a curated list of things for you to do, see, and eat.

Curiously, part of Shanghai's charm during National Holiday is that things get quiet... however, it seems like there is loads to do.

In this guide, we'll be covering F&B, Nightlife, and Art & culture.

Go See Swan Lake... Finally

Open for only two days...Golden Week gets a dose of high drama as the Shanghai Ballet hauls out Derek Deane's Grand Swan Lake – the full spectacle with a literal flock of ballerinas filling the stage. This isn't the minimalist, "student recital" cut; this is the anniversary production with all the Tchaikovsky swell, tragic romance, and synchronized arm-flapping you can handle.

Tickets start at a very democratic 80 yuan and climb to 680 yuan if you want to really see how they bend and curve up close.

Basically: perfect Golden Week counter-programming – a cultured flex that still lets you hit the Bund after.

Head to Pasha for a Turkish BBQ on the First Day of October Holiday

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Golden Week = grill week. Turkish spot Pasha is firing up the terrace for a one-day BBQ Party on October 1, 4–8pm. Expect a mezze spread (hummus, muhammara, shaksuka, zucchini pancakes), a carnivore's wish list (lamb chops, sucuk, skewers, wings, beef tenderloin), and free-flow deals to keep you lubricated (Estrella Galicia beer, wine, gin, soft drinks).

Pricing is pretty straightforward: 398 yuan for the full food + drink free flow, 288 yuan if you just want to eat, 188 yuan for drinks only (3 hours). Kids under six eat free, which means you can bring your toddler and still get your money's worth.

If you go...

125 Nanchang Rd, near Ruijin Rd No.2

南昌路125号

Go Sober Yourself Up (or not) At The Cannery for Brunch

A ridiculous deal that is not to be passed up. The Cannery has become one of Shanghai's favorite haunts. It's always buzzing, and it would be unusual to not see any pups chilling inside.

If you're new to Shanghai, The Cannery is a gastrolounge on Yuyuan Road in Changning with an ocean-meets-West Coast culinary aesthetic (think Vancouver ↔ Northern California). More than 50% off on brunch and bottles. What could go wrong? Or... shall we say, what could go right!

Rolex Shanghai Masters, September 29-October 12

Shanghai's getting its yearly fix of baseline grunts and Rolex logos again. The Rolex Shanghai Masters is back, September 29- October 12, at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center – aka that spaceship-flower-petal stadium way out in Minhang District. The world's top tennis cyborgs will be whacking fuzzy neon balls at each other for obscene amounts of prize money while you decide if you're more into Federer-adjacent nostalgia or just there for the Häagen-Dazs kiosks. It's the only ATP Masters 1000 stop in Asia, which is a big deal if you're into that sort of thing. Tickets range from affordable nosebleeds to "you should probably expense this." Expect the usual: drama, sweat, million-dollar forehands, and that one uncle loudly explaining the rules in Chinese to his date.

Information on how to get tickets, click here.

South African Rock Royalty Lands in Shanghai, Live Music at La Burg

This October 7, La Burg is turning into a Cape Town dive bar … except you don't have to fly. Karen Zoid (queen of SA alt rock, acoustic-raw and glam-grit) teams up with Francois van Coke (punk meets arena swagger) for a night of Afrikaans punch, electric guitars, and lyrical storytelling that'll make your windpipe register.

If you go...

Venue: 5/F, Gate 2, YueXing Home Mall,

Address: 168 Aomen Rd, near Moganshan Rd 澳门路168号

(Yes, it's inside that huge furniture mall, on the top floor).

The Vienna Boy's Choir will be in Shanghai

Shanghai's getting a visit from Austria's most angelic export – the Vienna Boys Choir – who've been at this gig for, oh, about 500 years. This round they're toasting Johann Strauss II's 200th birthday, which means lots of swoony waltzes, some operatic chestnuts, a handful of folk tunes, and probably a few left-field surprises just to prove they're not stuck in the 18th century.

It's basically a night of pure, weaponized cuteness: perfectly trained voices floating out of kids in sailor suits who can sing Strauss better than you can hum along to Coldplay. If you're into goosebumps, history flexes, or just want to feel cultured while secretly timing your intermission wine, this one's a safe bet.

If you go:

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, near Century Ave. 丁香路425号

Opera and Orchestras at the Shanghai Grand Theater

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October in Shanghai is basically a built-in excuse to escape your own apartment. The Shanghai Grand Theatre is leaning fully into it this year, rolling out surgical doses of Wagner, Verdi, and full-blown Bavarian orchestra swagger to help you feel cultured (or at least convincingly pretentious).

• Der Fliegende Holländer – Oct 1, 4 & 6, 7:30pm – Get ready for stormy seas, wandering ghosts, and doomed sailors as Wagner's cursed mariner haunts the stage.
  
• Otello in Concert – Oct 2 & 5, 7:30pm – Jealousy, betrayal, crowning arias: the Verdi-Shakespeare combo lands in its most theatrical form.
  
• Bayerisches Staatsorchester – Oct 3, 7:30pm – Symphony meets opera pit: Jurowski leads Wagner + Strauss, featuring Wesendonck Lieder and the mischievous pranks of "Till."
  

What to Expect:

• Prices range from the "I'll treat myself" bracket (180 yuan) to the "Yes, I am a monster for art" zone (1,080 yuan), depending on the show and seating.
  
• All performances are in the original language (German, Italian), with Chinese subtitles.
  
• Staging and casts lean prestige – we're talking Bayerische Staatsoper caliber.
  
• It's not just opera. The orchestra night gives you orchestra-only fare (Strauss, Wagner overtures) without the full staging so you can breathe (or nap).
  

Sing, Dance, Have a Jolly Good Time at The Pearl

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The Pearl's October Holiday Spectacle: Cabaret, Hits & Vintage Flash

This Golden Week, The Pearl in Hongkou is throwing down more than just cocktails and velvet ropes – it's back with a full throttle program of cabaret, tribute concerts, and dark-glam performances to drag you out of your apartment and into something weirdly gorgeous.

A Night of Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 & Lady Gaga

Oct 1 & 2 – 8:30pm

Get ready for chart nostalgia: the hits that made you scream-sing in cabs and in your shower. The Pearl's Red Stars band blasts through Swift's hooks, Maroon 5's pop-rock grooves, and Gaga's electro-pop anthems. It's polished, familiar, and absolutely sing-along worthy.

Nirvana Tribute Concert

Oct 3 – 8:30pm

Flannel out. This is raw, loud, and unapologetic. The Pearl takes you deep into '90s grunge: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains. Expect distortion, angst, power chords, and the kind of energy that floors your eardrums in the best way.

Imagine Dragons & 2000s Pop Tribute Concert

Oct 4 & 5 – 8:30pm

Neon nostalgia meets arena anthems: Imagine Dragons' stadium hooks, Gaga's pop ferocity, Coldplay airs it out, plus the pop-punk you always pretended to hate. Big choruses, flashing lights, energy for days.

Ticketing:

Ticketing: Presale and door prices (eg, 150 yuan presale / 180 yuan door for the Imagine Dragons tribute). You can buy tickets in English here:

If you go...

Address: 471 Zhapu Rd, near Wujin Rd

乍浦路471号

Rooftop Parties at Mykonos During Golden Week 3-4 October

Don't waste your national holiday sunsets... spend them on a rooftop that pours Shanghai's skylines into you.

The Mykonos pop-up by Unite is opening for two days during the National Holiday, Oct 3 and 4. Think afro-house beats, flowing cocktails, Mediterranean bites, and the Bund skyline working overtime as your Instagram backdrop. For one 2 days only, they're promising a slice of Greek island hedonism dropped onto the North Bund. Wear white if you must, but really just bring your sunglasses and your best "yes, I party on yachts" energy.

If you go...

Venue: 6/F, Bellagio Hotel

Address: 188 Bei Suzhou Rd 北苏州路188号

Specter's, Shanghai's favorite alternative dive bar, is open throughout the October holiday. We're re-using Morgan Short's direct invitation from last year:

Stuck in Shanghai for the holidays? So are we! Come down and drown your sorrows with us! Specters, the good times rock and roll dive bar is open every damn night of the Golden Week, serving up quality tunes on the stereo, libations aplenty, free hugs, posi-vibes, life and career advice, shoulders to lean on, shelter in the storm, ummm… yeah! That's pretty much it. We'll be having our regular DJs coming down to help us out with music – could be a bit of punk rock, could be a little indie pop, could be a little vintage 50s/60s R 'n' R, could be 40 Oasis songs all in a row, could be all those things! No cover ever and the doors open daily at 8pm. Close at 4am – Morgan Short

If you go:

Address: Bldg D, 753 Yuyuan Rd, near Zhenning Rd 愚园路753号近镇宁路

Pro-Tip: The entrance isn't exactly on Yuyuan Road, but rather down an alley on the street.

Legoland Shanghai Resort's first seasonal celebration

Legoland Shanghai Resort is pulling out all the stops for its first seasonal celebration since opening.

The Golden Autumn Family Carnival mixes hands-on fun with a festive atmosphere that both kids and adults will enjoy. There are special Mid-Autumn Festival building activities under the theme "Let's Build Reunion," so you can literally create your own sense of togetherness, brick by brick.

Visitors can also taste limited-time festival snacks and join the "Little Monster Party," where playful characters and decorations transform the park into a colorful autumn playground.

Date: Through October 8

Venue: Legoland Shanghai Resort

上海乐高乐园度假区

Address: 999 Lebin Rd, Fengjing Town, Jinshan District

金山区枫泾镇乐缤路999号

Immersive Mid-Autumn Experience at Panlong Xintiandi

If you're looking for something atmospheric and cultural, Panlong Xintiandi's "Moonlit Panlong" Heritage Now Festival is a standout. The historic streets are transformed into a glowing, lantern-lit Jiangnan night scene.

Over two weeks, you can enjoy traditional music and dance performances, sip tea or wine at elegant banquets, join hands-on workshops, and check out a lively market. It's a way to relive Mid-Autumn as it was meant to be – full of ritual and community.

Date: Through October 8

Venue: Panlong Xintiandi

蟠龙新天地

Address: No. 8, Lane 123 Panding Rd, Qingpu District

青浦区蟠鼎路123弄8号

Shanghai Guyi Garden Intangible Cultural Heritage Month

Guyi Garden will transform into a vibrant stage for culture and light.

As the main venue for the Nanxiang Chinoiserie Festival and a new participant in the Shanghai International Light and Shadow Festival, the garden will present a captivating blend of exhibitions, performances and illuminated installations.

Walking along the classical pathways at night, with lanterns and projections illuminating the pavilions, the garden will offer a unique experience that harmoniously merges tradition and modernity.

Date: Through October 19

Venue: Shanghai Guyi Garden

上海古猗园

Address: 218 Huyi Highway, Nanxiang Town, Jiading District

嘉定区南翔镇沪宜公路218号

Open-Air Movie Season at Gate M West Bund Dream Center

West Bund Dream Center will host free outdoor screenings every Friday and Saturday evening, with two films playing back-to-back.

Bring a blanket, sit by the river, and let the night breeze set the mood. The nearby restaurants stay open late – some even until 2am – so you can grab a midnight snack or a drink after the credits roll.

Date: Through October 8

Venue: Gate M West Bund Dream Center

西岸梦中心

Address: 2266 Longteng Ave, Xuhui District

徐汇区龙腾大道2266号

Art on the Bund x Yao Chinese Folktales

The Art on the Bund seasonal event turns some of Shanghai's iconic buildings into an outdoor cinema festival. Every weekend, six of them screen Chinese animations, including "Yao Chinese Folktales," "Havoc in Heaven," "Nzha Conquers the Dragon King" and "Calabash Brothers."

It's part art installation, part movie night, and unique with the Huangpu River as the backdrop, the city lights glowing, and a little nostalgia mixed in. Tickets are affordable at 30 yuan (US$4.2), and the schedule is updated weekly via the event's mini-program.

Date: Through November 26

Venue: Fosun Foundation, BFC Bund Finance Center, Jiushi International Art Center, Rockbund, Shanghai No. 1 Shopping Center and Shanghai Concert Hall

上海复星艺术中心、BFC外滩金融中心、上海久事国际艺术中心、洛克·外滩源哈密大楼、第一百货商业中心、上海音乐厅

Address: At the Bund 外滩区域

Admission: 30 yuan

Jay Chou 'Zhou Tongxue' Citywide Experience

Jay Chou's animated persona "Zhou Tongxue" appears all across Shanghai, from a giant pink installation at Jing'an Joy City to themed Ferris wheel cabins, pop-up shops and even AR interactions at the Shanghai Museum.

The "Travel Shanghai, Find Zhou Tongxue" bus line connects all locations, and themed cruises provide floating live music venues where bands play Jay Chou hits and fans sing along. If you grew up with his songs, it's a love letter to his music and a great afternoon or evening.

Date: Through October 12

Venue: Jing'an Joy City, Yongyuan Road, Half Marathon Suhe Cultural Park, Metro City, Shanghai Museum and Oriental Pearl TV Tower

静安大悦城、永源路街区、半马苏河公园、美罗城、上海博物馆、东方明珠

Address: Various locations across Shanghai

Wonder Flea 2025

Collectors and curiosity-seekers will delight in this fair, which features over 150 exhibitors from around the globe.

You can discover a wide array of items, including rare plant and animal specimens, fossils, antiques, folk artifacts and unique handmade crafts.

It serves as both a market and a museum, offering treasures that may resonate with you or simply providing an enjoyable atmosphere.

Date: October 1-3 (12pm-6pm, last entry at 5:30pm)

Venue: 4/F, 1933 Shanghai

1933老场坊四楼

Address: 611 Liyang Rd, Hongkou District

虹口区溧阳路611号

Admission: 50 yuan

Doggie Social Party for Humans and Pets

Held outdoors on the lawn at Bund Finance Center, it features a dog obstacle course, photography sessions, coffee, gift bags and even small contests for pets with prizes. It's easygoing and light-hearted; even introverts will feel comfortable here, thanks to the four-legged icebreakers.

Date: October 2-3, 3-5:30pm

Venue: Bund Finance Center

上海外滩金融中心

Address: 600 Zhongshan Rd E2, Huangpu District

黄浦区中山东二路600号

French Musical 'Le Rouge et le Noir' at Qiantan 31

This rock opera adaptation of Stendhal's "The Red and the Black" brings the passion and drama of 19th-century France to the stage. The story follows Julien Sorel, a young man caught between ambition and love, navigating the tension between desire, morality, and the strict class system of his time.

The production blends dramatic storytelling with a modern rock-inspired score, pairing intense emotion with bold stage design. It's a performance that is both visually striking and emotionally powerful, perfect for anyone looking for a holiday theater experience that feels fresh yet deeply moving.

Date: October 3-12

Venue: Qiantan 31 Performing Arts Center

前滩31演艺中心

Address: 777 Gaoqing Rd W., Pudong New Area

浦东新区高青西路777号

Tickets: 180-1,280 yuan

Nights at the Natural History & Astronomy Museums

Two of Shanghai's top science museums are keeping their doors open late this holiday. The Shanghai Natural History Museum is hosting its "Dragon Night" series from October 1-7, with themed evenings like patriotic concerts, kids' story nights, electronic music parties, cosplay shows, creative workshops, and even a mystery game in the dinosaur halls.

The Shanghai Astronomy Museum will also stay open until 8pm during the same period, offering space-themed guided tours, interactive storytelling, and outdoor stargazing sessions with telescopes. Perfect for families looking for a fun night out.

Date: October 1-7

Venue: Shanghai Natural History Museum

上海自然博物馆

Address: 510 Beijing Rd W., Jing'an District

静安区北京西路510号

Admission: 68-118 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Astronomy Museum

上海天文馆

Address: 380 Lingang Ave, Pudong New Area

浦东新区临港大道380号

Admission: 30 yuan

'Revolutionary Art' Exhibition at Long Museum West Bund

Art lovers won't want to miss this large-scale exhibition tracing the development of thematic art in New China. "Revolutionary Art: Special Exhibition of Thematic Art in New China" brings together more than 150 works, including oil paintings, ink works, prints, sculptures, propaganda posters and New Year pictures, spanning from the 1930s to today.

Organized into three sections: "The Leader and the Revolution," "The Yan'an Spirit" and "The Pulse of the Era." The show explores how art captured history, reflected ideology, and evolved over decades, from revolutionary prints to the diverse creative techniques of the Reform and Opening-Up period.

Date: Through November 2

Venue: Long Museum West Bund

龙美术馆(西岸)

Address: 3398 Longteng Ave, Xuhui District

徐汇区龙腾大道3398号

Admission: 200 yuan