Jing'an sparks summer fun and global talent push

Light & music performance

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Jing'an District put on a stunning light-and-music show at the Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial.

The performance told the story of 14 years of struggle, heroic figures and peace using cutting-edge lighting and music on the warehouse's bullet-scarred wall. "Ode to Red Flags" and "Yellow River," classics reimagined to capture Chinese resistance and resilience, were highlights.

Jellycat Fun

Plaza 66's first-floor atrium now houses Jellycat Café and a fourth-floor pop-up.

As an open dessert workshop, visitors can meet Jellycat favorite Bartholomew Bear, now a pastry chef, and new friends as they demonstrate dessert-making. Joyful surprises and playful interactions create an immersive atmosphere.

Fun props like Leola Bear holding a strawberry cake, peach desserts and lattes, and teapots and teacups complement a fresh "menu." New Bunny's ear pattern incorporates Shanghai's magnolia, combining local charm with Jellycat's style.

Summer camp show

Children stole the show at Jing'an Theater on August 30 for the cultural center's summer camp showcase. Young performers entertained families and friends with stage plays, Yueju Opera and comedy. This year's camp offered 11 themed events and 12 courses in four tracks: science exploration, theater creation, arts workshops and intangible cultural heritage, attracting approximately 1,500 participants.

Autumn events

On September 12, Jing'an Moho began its autumn-themed events, offering locals, visitors and expats a lively mix of culture, cuisine and community. The series runs through early October.

Global flavors characterized the September 12–14 MOHOXJS fair, co-curated with Jiashan Old Market and Changping neighborhood of Jiangning Road Subdistict.

Dutch waffles, German breads and New Zealand ice cream were served while guests browsed Persian rugs, artisanal candles and creative illustrations. Locals and expats enjoyed a taste of the world without leaving Shanghai at the market, which offered a new shopping and social space. This partnership turns the mall into a "community living room," connecting commercial and residential space.

Overseas talent package

Jing'an launched a new overseas talent support package to attract foreign talent. A tailored living guide and an English-language handbook detail local talent support, entrepreneurship and career development policies.

The district also launched the "Star Alliance," bringing together alumni associations from six top universities – Cambridge, Imperial College London, Columbia, NYU, City University of Hong Kong and University of Macau – to recruit, exchange and share talent.

Bain & Company (Shanghai), Shanghai Shiqing HR, Yingke Law Firm (Shanghai) and Shanghai Blue Gold Cultural Technology are "Global Innovation Ecosystem Partners" to promote international talent exchange and cross-border business services.

Jing'an also appointed its first "International Experience Officers" – Hungarian, American, French, and British professionals – to test public services and advise on making the district more international.

Left Bank festival

The Shenyuli shikumen (stone gate) complex at Suhewan MIXC World hosted the 2025 Suhe Left Bank Lifestyle Festival. The three-day extravaganza combined leisure, science, intangible cultural heritage, art and bustling markets to create a modern urban riverside experience. Visitors were invited to experience the left bank of Suzhou Creek, a vibrant place to live, work, explore and enjoy the city.

Perfume popup

Parisian perfumery maison Diptyque opened a temporary experiential space in Zhangyuan Garden until October 8. The "Un Air de Paris" pop-up is a boutique and exhibition.

A multisensory "fantasy city" blends the maison's 64-year history with Shanghai's shikumen (stone gate) architecture. Rare manuscripts, sketches and archives sit alongside Parisian rooftop-inspired installations and fragrance-inspired coffee.

The pop-up showcases Diptyque's craftsmanship with 49 classic candles and luxury collections like Les Essences de Diptyque, inspired by nature's hidden treasures like lotus, desert rose, bark and mother-of-pearl. Guests can create an "olfactory diary," and a Shanghai-exclusive osmanthus-green tea city candle is a unique souvenir.

In 2015, Diptyque opened its first China mainland store at Plaza 66.