From the art of jewellery and pop-ups to lantern shows and flower marts, Shanghai's January is stuffed with activities to herald the start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year falling on January 29 this year.
Historic jewellery exhibits are a feature of the exhibition at Shanghai History Museum.
Jewellery Art Exhibition
The charm of historic jewellery lies not only in its intricate and exquisite design and masterful craftsmanship, but also in the accumulation of history and stories. Jewellery is a symbol of enduring beauty and emotion, and also a bearer of cultural changes through the ages.
Now, jewellery is shining at Shanghai History Museum.
"Awakening – V MUSE Collection Jewelry Art Exhibition" opened at the museum on Monday.
The exhibition comprises four sections and presents 110 pieces of exhibits spanning East and West. From the Renaissance to the present, the exhibits cross over 400 years and were created by both unnamed masters and legendary artists.
One of the necklaces on display at Shanghai History Museum.
Exhibits include a Napoleon gold leaf by Martin-Guillaume Biennais, dating back to 1804, the Starfish Brooch (around 1940) by René Boivin, and the "Arrow of Time" pocket watch (around 1800) by Le Roy.
The starfish brooch is crafted from gold, with a surface inlaid with cabochon rubies and amethysts, creating a striking sense of three-dimensionality. The naturally curled tentacles are a meticulously designed detail. The entire piece is connected through a hinge structure, allowing the tentacles to move flexibly and capture the dynamic motion of a starfish crawling.
Visitors admire items on display at the jewellery exhibition.
If you go:
Venue: Shanghai History Museum
Opening hours: 9am-5pm (closed on Monday), through May 5
Address: 325 Nanjing Rd W., Huangpu District 南京西路325号
Snake lanterns are a feature at Panlong Tiandi.
Lantern Fair
Panlong Tiandi, a renewal and upgrade of the ancient Panlong Town, has been illuminated by a dazzling light extravaganza.
To usher in the Year of the Snake, Panlong Tiandi has presented a giant waterborne snake lantern amidst the waterways of Jiangnan (south of the lower part of Yangtze River) region.
The spirit snake twines through the ancient Xianghua Bridge of Panlong, which has stood for a thousand years. Meanwhile, the streets and bridges of Panlong are adorned with 1,000 snake-shaped lanterns.
Traditional performances such as dragon and lion dances will be staged, and inheritors of the intangible cultural heritage lantern technique will show their skills of iron weaving and hand-painted lantern decorations.
Snakes and fish are both the earliest totems of the Chinese nation. In addition to snakes, people will find handmade red fish swimming amid the Hanchun Bridge, bearing auspicious meanings and best wishes for the Chinese New Year.
Panlong Tiandi is adorned with lanterns.
Panlong Tiandi reimagines the ancient Jiangnan watertown as a modern urban retreat. With a history dating back more than 1,000 years to the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618), Panlong Town is one of 32 historical protected zones in Shanghai. The project preserved and rebuilt the 10 traditional bridges, creating a three-kilometer river cruise route.
It has carefully preserved the town's water system and bridge culture, as well as its unique cross-street pattern.
If you go:
Venue: Panlong Tiandi
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, through February 12
Address: No. 8, Lane 123, Panding Road, Qingpu District 蟠鼎路123弄8号
"League of Legends: Wild Rift" images at the Yuyuan Garden scenic area.
Here's an invitation for both lantern enthusiasts and fans of "League of Legends."
A pop-up event is being held at Shanghai's iconic Yuyuan Garden scenic area during the ongoing Yuyuan Lantern Festival, a key part of Shanghai's Chinese New Year celebrations.
This year, it presents a surprise from the Summoner's Rift with colorful Yordle-themed lanterns and various activities.
Visitors are invited to follow the main route of the scenic area to discover carefully crafted lanterns inspired by the multiplayer online video game "League of Legends: Wild Rift" while checking various landmarks such as the Zhuyuan Square, Wenchang Street, and Jingrong Building where lanterns featuring mischievous Yordles and the adorable Poro are hidden.
A "League of Legends: Wild Rift" pop-up activity at the Yuyuan Garden scenic area.
Visitors can participate in the "Yordle Bonus Egg" activities and win gifts by accomplishing various tasks at 10 businesses in the scenic area.
A series of Spring Festival benefits, including Yordle-themed operations, dining, and exclusive privilege experiences of the game will be offered during the festival, inviting people to enjoy delicious food and experience the fun of gaming while admiring the dazzling lanterns.
If you go:
Venue: Yuyuan Garden Scenic Area
Opening: Through February 12
Address: 265 Fangbang Rd M., Huangpu District 方浜中路 265 号
A boy experiences rubbing techniques at Jiabei Country Park.
Flower Mart
Visiting a flower mart to pick some nianxiao (Spring Festival) flowers is a Chinese Lunar New Year tradition.
Nianxiao flowers, bloom at the end of the year and include moth orchid and narcissus.
For Chinese people, all things are renewed at Spring Festival, new clothes, new expectations, and a new photo. Many take a family photo to start the new year.
Nianxiao flowers are in full bloom at Jiabei Country Park.
At the flower mart, people are invited to follow all these Chinese tradition such as picking nianxiao flowers, taking a new photo, and sinking their teeth into popular winter delicacies such as sugar roasted chestnuts which are rolled in a hot pan, making a rustling sound, with waves of caramel fragrance lingering in the air, as well as cotton candy, babaofan ("eight-treasure rice" puddings), a must of nianyefan (the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner), and tanghulu (sugar coated haws on a stick).
They will also experience traditional Chinese Spring Festival customs such as writing "福" (fortune) picking a pair of Spring Festival couplets, and trying flower paper-cuts.
If you go:
Venue: Jiabei Country Park
Opening hours: 9am-4pm, through January 22
Address: 5051 Huyi Highway, Jiading District 沪宜公路5051号