Shanghai never stops evolving. Just when you think you've seen it all, the city unveils something new — stunning architecture, innovative cultural spaces, and fresh experiences waiting to be explored.

Whether you're a longtime resident or just passing through, 2025 is bringing a wave of exciting new landmarks that will redefine the skyline and add even more energy to this dynamic city. From futuristic urban spaces to hidden cultural gems, here's a sneak peek at what's coming next!

Shanghai Grand Opera House

Set for completion in 2025, the Shanghai Grand Opera House will soon open its doors to the public, bringing world-class opera and cultural experiences to the city.

Located within the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park along the Huangpu River, the Shanghai Grand Opera House is a landmark venue where visitors can walk onto its rooftop.

From an aerial view, the building features a striking white staircase that spirals upward, resembling an elegantly unfolding Chinese folding fan. The distinctive fan-shaped rooftop plaza is open to the public year-round, offering a unique space for leisure and cultural experiences.

The opera house spans 146,000 square meters and features three theaters: a 2,000-seat grand hall, a 1,200-seat mid-size hall, and a 1,000-seat hall for various shows.

The design incorporates a vast outdoor space, which serves as both a performance stage for large-scale events and a public plaza where visitors and art enthusiasts can gather, relax, and explore. The space can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

Shanghai West Bund Grand Theater

Shanghai will welcome the West Bund Grand Theater as a new cultural monument this spring. It will open with the presentation of the Chinese opera "March of the Volunteers" at its inaugural festival.

The theater is located in the Xuhui riverside area and is surrounded by well-known art and cultural venues such as Gate M, Tank Shanghai, West Bund Dome Art Center, and West Bund Museum.

Designed by Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, the theater's exterior features undulating lines inspired by rippled water, mirroring the shimmering surface of the Huangpu River.

The theater has four above-ground floors and two underground levels, totaling around 23,000 square meters. It offers a unique space for concerts, social activities, and public interaction by seamlessly blending artistic brilliance and modern riverside living.

The venue houses a 1,673-seat grand theater and a 208-seat smaller theater, positioning itself as a world-class waterfront arts center that delivers an exceptional viewing experience.

Shanghai Changtan Concert Hall

Located on Yunhai Road in Baoshan District, the Shanghai Changtan Concert Hall is the largest concert hall in northern Shanghai, resembling a dazzling crystal set at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Inspired by the mythical "Dragon Palace" from Chinese classical culture, the hall's architectural design blends tradition with modern aesthetics, creating a truly mesmerizing visual effect. Its façade features a combination of transparent glass and intricate metal framing, forming a distinctive diamond-patterned texture.

Like rippling water, the surface shimmers under sunlight and moonlight, casting an enchanting glow. At night, the hall is transformed into a dreamlike spectacle by the soft illumination from within, evoking the image of a "crystal palace beneath the sea."

The concert hall recently hosted a New Year's concert to welcome the year ahead. The venue consists of three levels — B1F, 1F, and 2F — with 1,027 seats, accommodating large-scale symphony and traditional Chinese music performances.

Above the stage, a massive circular acoustic reflector can be adjusted up or down to optimize sound quality for different performances.

Changtan Observation Tower

Rising 180 meters, this cylindrical tower redefines the city's skyline.

Positioned at the confluence of the Huangpu and Yangtze rivers, its design draws inspiration from the Journey to the West, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels.

Created by the renowned DLR Group, the tower fuses traditional Chinese cultural elements with modern architectural flair, establishing a remarkable visual landmark. Golden rings adorn its "waist" and "neck," evoking the legendary Golden Cudgel (Ruyi Jingu Bang) wielded by Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), symbolizing both power and grace.

With three underground levels and 19 above-ground floors — equivalent to a 60-storey residential building — it is the tallest structure in Baoshan District. The tower's deep-blue cylindrical body is adorned with a steel mesh façade, echoing the design of the Shanghai Tower. Its exterior is composed of 72 triangular panels, arranged to form 36 diamond-shaped sections.

Once completed, visitors will enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the waterfront, explore Shanghai's highest One Step Garden, and experience unique attractions like sky swings and aerial wedding venues. Whether day or night, the tower is set to become a prime spot for photographers and adventure seekers alike.

Shanghai Literature Museum

Located near the trendy landmark INLET in Hongkou District, the Shanghai Literature Museum spans approximately 14,000 square meters.

It comprises three preserved historic buildings, including Yihong Garden and a newly constructed facility.

Yihong Garden (meaning “a rainbow reflected on a screen”) was built during the Qing Dynasty ((1644-1911) and is home to the Ba Jin Library, an essential part of the Shanghai Literature Museum. Named after the renowned writer Ba Jin, it serves as a “museum within a museum” and a cultural space dedicated to literature.

As a literary hub of 20th-century China, Shanghai played a crucial role in the development of modern Chinese literature, serving as its birthplace and driving force. The establishment of the Shanghai Literature Museum has been a long-cherished dream of generations of writers and literary professionals.

Construction of the museum began in 2022 on Wujin Road in Hongkou, a district historically known as a gathering place for literary giants. In the 1920s and 1930s, influential writers such as Lu Xun, Mao Dun, Guo Moruo, Ba Jin, Ding Ling, Rou Shi, and Shi Zhecun lived and worked here, shaping the course of modern Chinese literature. Their collective influence left an indelible mark on the city's cultural history.

Now, this century-old, historically preserved building is stepping into a new role in Hongkou, sparking excitement among literature enthusiasts eager to explore its rich legacy.

LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort

Located in Fengjing, Jinshan District, LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort spans approximately 318,000 square meters and is set to open this summer.

In addition to global LEGOLAND® favorites like The Dragon roller coaster, Driving School, LEGO® City Airport, and The Rescue Academy, the Shanghai park will feature several world's first attractions.

These include the LEGOLAND Creative World, an exclusive LEGO Monkie Kid™ themed area designed specifically for Shanghai, and LEGO Boat Ride, which recreates the charm of Jiangnan water towns using LEGO elements. Visitors can also look forward to the all-new LEGOLAND® Hotel, offering five uniquely themed rooms for an immersive stay.

Oriental Fantasy "24 Solar Terms" Cultural Tourism Town

Set to open in the second half of 2025, Oriental Fantasy is China's first cultural tourism town themed around the 24 Solar Terms. Located in the Lingang Special Area, it will be the district's first comprehensive destination integrating tourism, culture, commerce, and live performances.

Spanning approximately 120,000 square meters, the town is divided into six sections along both sides of a scenic waterway. Visitors can explore attractions such as a themed boat show, a Chinese-style boutique hotel, an immersive performance center, and a vibrant cultural street.

The Sanzaogang waterway will feature traditional and modern floating performances, including the world's first mechanical Kunpeng (a mythical giant bird inspired by Chinese folklore) boat. Comparable to the grand floating parades of international destinations, this spectacle will be free to the public.

Bringing ancient mythology to life, Oriental Fantasy will introduce a lineup of adorable cultural mascots based on legendary creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas: the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Scarlet Bird, and Black Tortoise. Their stories will unfold through digital media and live boat performances in the town.

Additional highlights include a towering 12-meter Green Dragon Wishing Tree, a Scarlet Bird Carousel, cyber-style lion dances, fire dance performances, and a breathtaking light and water show, promising an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Waterside Science Fiction Museum

Located by the shores of Jinhai Lake in Fengxian New City, the sci-fi museum is nearing completion and is expected to open to the public later this year.

The museum's architecture is inspired by Eastern sci-fi themes, with distinctive features such as cloud-inspired grassland and mini hills. The base of the building is surrounded by eight raised green hills and a lakeside greenbelt, while an undulating glass curtain wall wraps around the structure. From a distance, the building resembles floating "clouds" suspended in midair.

Situated within the Jinhai Lake, a vast urban park cluster, the museum is enveloped in lush greenery with a central island on the lake.

The museum boasts over 17,000 square meters of landscaped space, with the rooftop garden covering nearly 8,500 square meters.

The building's design is both elegant and futuristic, with two floors above ground and one basement level. The first floor, resembling undulating valleys, spreads between paths, while the second floor gently drapes over the valleys like a soft cloud. Surrounded by the tranquil lake, the structure appears light and transparent.

Qianwan Park Phase I

Spanning 76 hectares in the Qianwan area of ​​the Hongqiao Central Business District, Qianwan Park is set to become a premier waterside destination and a symbol of green and ecological development in the Yangtze River Delta, as well as in Shanghai.

The park will feature an impressive nine kilometers of scenic walkways along the water, 10 kilometers of running paths, and 18 kilometers of cycling lanes, all seamlessly integrated with 30 nearby community parks.

The park's first phase covers about 10 hectares and is expected to be completed later this year. The design focuses on a central axis and 10 distinct gardens, with a prominent 13,000-square-meter lawn at its heart. This space will offer opportunities for camping, concerts, and other community events.