Shanghai's Qingpu district to boost cultural tourism in spring

As vibrant spring flowers bloom across Shanghai, the city's Qingpu district announced a diverse slew of seasonal activities on Thursday to boost its cultural tourism, widely including ancient town tours, music festivals, international sports events, local delicacies, shopping coupons and more.

Boasting a beautiful natural landscape and a profound culture, the district is actively building itself into a premium destination for inbound tourists seeking Chinese ancient town experiences, and for local urban residents seeking a short getaway. With combined efforts in sectors including agriculture, culture, commerce, travel, sports and exhibition, the district hopes to unlock unforgettable travel experiences for global visitors, according to Ye Jing, deputy head of the district.

Among the various events in spring, the district particularly invites global music fans to join the Shanghai Qingpu Waterside Melodies festival(水岸音乐节), which is set to take place at Shangda Central Park on May 2 and 3. From April 17 to 19, sports fans will gain an exciting experience in the 2026 Yangtze River Delta International Triathlon, where nearly 1,300 athletes from across the world are set to gather to compete.

Home to charming ancient towns and rural villages, the district also organizes food markets and prepares several selected tourist routes to immerse visitors in relaxing local life, integrating culture, sightseeing, shopping, fashion, family outing, local specialties and more.

To further unleash the potential of consumption, the district will offer visitors coupons with a total worth of 30 million yuan. The first batch of consumption vouchers of 8 million yuan will be released in April and May, covering aspects such as eating, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping and entertainment.

Qingpu has been drawing increasing visitors in recent years. Ye introduced that the district welcomed over 48.83 million visitors in 2025, and saw its total tourism revenue grow 22.04 percent year-on-year to about 12.94 billion yuan ($1.87 billion). In the first quarter of this year, tourists made nearly 13.98 million visits to the district in Q1, marking a 22.38 percent increase year-on-year. During the period, the district's tourism revenue exceeded 3.96 billion yuan, up 29.66 percent year-on-year.