As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the streets of Shanghai are filled with the aroma of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and the city is gearing up for a festive celebration that combines tradition with modern flair. This year's holiday offers a diverse range of activities, from traditional customs to trendy experiences, providing residents and visitors with numerous ways to enjoy the 3-day break.

Traditional and Modern Fun in the Suburbs

Shanghai's suburbs offer a perfect blend of traditional customs and modern entertainment. Visitors can experience the joy of making rice dumplings at the Dongping Forest Tourism Resort on Chongming Island, where a rice dumpling-making competition will be held from May 31 to June 2. The event features free registration, professional guidance, and the opportunity for participants to take home their creations. Additionally, the Luodian Dragon Boat Festival in suburban Baoshan District will host sticky rice dumpling-making contests and dragon boat races, showcasing the region's unique dragon boat culture.

For those interested in more hands-on activities, Dongping Forest Park will offer bamboo boat weaving and dragon boat painting experiences. Visitors can also enjoy water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking, adding a modern twist to the traditional festival.

Also, as the scent of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for the Dragon Boat Festival drifts over the rippling waters of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, the prosperity of the "Jiaoli Waterfront Market" will be revived.

From May 30 to June 2, the water town will host a waterfront market and a Han-style night event. The event, centered on hanfu culture, will use the town's winding waterways as a "display stage," blending Han aesthetics with the night charm of the watertown. It will integrate Han rituals, music, and market vibrancy with immersive night tours, offering tourists a cultural feast spanning a thousand years.

Performances such as ancient zither and flute music, elegant Kunqu opera, and flower goddess parades will be scattered along the entire ancient town's waterways. Visitors can stroll in hanfu, lanterns in hand, and to the melodious tunes of "Han rituals and music," experience the immersive romance of "boats sailing on water, people touring in a painting."

The 2025 Lin-gang Dragon Boat Festival will take place in Shanghai in May 31, inviting overseas talents to join in the celebration. Organized by the Lingang Special Area Management Committee, the event aims to promote cultural exchange and integration among international talents in the area. The festival will feature exciting dragon boat races, traditional Chinese cultural performances, and various festive activities. It is a great opportunity for overseas talents to experience Chinese culture and traditions. Scan to register.

Vibrant Markets and Festivals

The holiday also features a variety of markets and festivals across the city. The Duanyang Carnival at Hongqiao Tiandi will host a grass-themed market with over 40 traditional stalls, offering cultural products and wellness items. Visitors can participate in traditional Chinese medicine consultations, enjoy a variety of local delicacies, and even rent hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere.

Another highlight is the Longzhou Shanghetu event at Tian An 1000 Trees, which will replicate the bustling commercial scenes from the ancient painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." The event will include interactive experiences, traditional games, and a variety of local products and handicrafts.

Water-Based Fun and Adventure

For those seeking water-based activities, several water parks and beaches are set to open. The Shanghai Playa Maya Water Park in suburban Songjiang District features a Thai-themed beach experience with various water sports and live performances.

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park will host a series of marine animal interactions and performances, including orca shows and a special "ocean chef" activity where visitors can make zongzi for the marine animals. Jinshan City Beach will offer beach motorbikes, jet skiing, and other water-based activities, providing a perfect spot for a relaxing beach day.

Community and Cultural Events

Various city districts are also organizing community events to celebrate the festival. The "Zizai Life Festival" in Jing'an District will feature a variety of outdoor, handmade, organic food, and lifestyle brands.

The 14th Shanyang Dragon Boat Race in suburban Jinshan District will host 24 teams competing in traditional dragon boat races, accompanied by a water-themed market. The "Silk and Bamboo Harmony" music event in the Pudong New Area will offer a traditional Chinese music performance and cultural exploration activities.

"Embroidery Beyond Definition," an embroidery art exhibition of Zhou Xueping, a fourth-generation intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritor, kicked off at the Xuhui Art Museum and will run through June 15.

The exhibition signifies breaking traditions, free from limitations, and creating new-era embroidery art with Chinese and Western methods. Guided by Shanghai's "inclusive" city spirit, the exhibition aims to inherit ICH and inspire exploration.

Zhou, representative inheritor of the representative ICH item of "embroidery art" in Xuhui District, using needles and threads as a medium, is revitalizing ancient silk threads in embroidery. With avant-garde awareness, she turns embroidery into a medium of dialogue between tradition and the future, local and global.

On June 14, which marks "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day," the museum will host ICH experience activities, enabling audiences to experience the everlasting charm of embroidery art.