A Design Tour of Shanghai Spanning 4 Districts
As part of "Design Shanghai 2026," Asia's premier design event, the festival has introduced its signature citywide public initiative, "Design in the City."
This initiative takes the form of a curated tour that spans key locations throughout the city, inviting the public to engage in an immersive urban design journey, which will continue until March 22.
Since 2020, Design in the City has challenged the traditional exhibition hall. This year it is focusing on distinct local characters and cultural heritages of Huangpu, Jing'an, Xuhui, and Changning, four key districts of Shanghai.
Each district has its own themed neighborhood to reflect its identity. The program hosts over 30 design events and connects over 100 carefully selected creative destinations with forward-thinking brands, professional institutions, and emerging design studios.
The project has four well-known designers and creative figures who serve as "city explorers," acting as interpreters and storytellers of urban culture. Through guided explorations of each neighborhood's creative core, they lead the public to discover hidden gems and vibrant stories embedded in the city.
As a core area of Shanghai-style culture, Huangpu District brings together spaces such as Baixin Book, INS Land, the Molteni&C flagship store, fashion brand Ricostru, and the art space Singchan. Visitors can experience design narratives that transcend time, as historic streetscapes intertwine with contemporary commercial spaces.
In Jing'an District, spaces including Bitmatcha, Sandriver, Studio 9 and Fotografiska shape a neighborhood centered on the theme of "social pathways illuminated by design."
Creativity blends into everyday social life here, showing how well-designed spaces can turn simple gatherings into immersive experiences.
In Xuhui District, lifestyle spaces weave materials, scent, and sensory experiences into daily life.
Brands such as Moooi Shanghai Flagship Store, Liangmu, handhandhand, and casacasa connect history with the contemporary, where the collision of traditional craftsmanship and avant-garde ideas creates a unique aesthetic tension.
Changning District has community interaction and sustainability at its core. Through spaces such as Dongliang, P Café, Barque, and naze naze, visitors can explore the important role design plays in shaping a greener urban future.
In particular, Design in the City 2026 has carefully selected over 10 design events and 20 open studio days.
The 2026 City Design Guide is also available. The guide details three major activity categories and more than 100 design-forward, lifestyle-oriented spaces in Shanghai. It is available at over 100 offline event locations and at the exhibition venue.
