Yuyuan Lantern Show Expands to the Bund Now
The Yuyuan Lantern Show expanded its footprint on Sunday, with six lantern zones near the Bund lighting up at the same time for the first time.
The festival stretched beyond the usual Yuyuan Garden malls this year to include BFC Bund Finance Center, Fangbang Road M., Fuyou Road, Gucheng Park, and parts of the Bund.
The move is to create a city walk route for the Spring Festival, which links history, modern city life, and future ideas through light displays.
At a ceremony on Sunday evening, community members, security guards, construction workers and service staff joined the festival hosts to turn on the lights.
At BFC, the festival has partnered with Pop Mart, a popular Chinese toy brand. A large palace-lantern-style carousel stands in the north plaza of BFC.
The carousel combines traditional red lantern designs with Pop Mart characters. Horse-themed elements reflect the coming Year of the Horse.
Lantern displays also line Fengjing Road and BFC's main streets. Several Pop Mart figures appear on different floors of the complex, guiding visitors upward from the entrance to rooftop terraces.
Lantern artworks showcase views of the Huangpu River from a fifth-floor terrace of BFC. The art installations are part of an exhibition inspired by the Monkey King story and Chinese myths.
Warm white lights wrap around the nearby streets and trees surrounding BFC. At night, the area forms a "starry avenue" along the Bund. The Fosun Art Center facade also features light and music effects during the festival period.
This month, BFC will organize holiday markets that include food stalls, cultural crafts and traditional games.
Robot horses are included in the programs, with organizers stating that they reflect the combination of technology and tradition.
On February 14, Valentine's Day, robot horses and small ponies will parade through BFC and hand out flowers.
The 2026 Yuyuan Garden Lantern Show at the Yuyuan Garden Malls began on January 16 and will run through March 3. It marks the beginning of Shanghai's Spring Festival celebrations.
If you go:
Dates: Lanterns are on display through March 3. Some art installations will be on display longer.
Main areas: Fangbang Road M., BFC Bund Finance Center, Fengjing Road, Gucheng Park and nearby Bund streets.
Public transport: Take Metro Line 10 or Line 14 to Yuyuan Garden Station, then walk toward BFC and the Bund.
