The 2026 Shanghai Tourism Festival summer season runs from July 8 through Aug 31, featuring 170 cultural and tourism offerings across the city.

This guide focuses on local lifestyle experiences, highlighting activities related to five traditional solar terms and intangible cultural heritage. The program connects iconic sites, including Shenyuan Garden, Guyi Garden, and ancient towns, offering activities such as summer garden tours, intangible cultural heritage parades, and hands-on workshops.

Summer night tour at  Shenyuan Garden

Shenyuan Garden has launched a seasonal program that blends traditional summer customs with a special lotus exhibition. Visitors can enjoy scenic lotus pond views, nighttime garden tours, an intangible cultural heritage market, moonlit gatherings, and traditional ways of staying cool in summer.

When: Through Aug 30

Where: Shenyuan Garden (申园), Pudong New Area

Tickets: Available through the Shanghai Expo Culture Park WeChat account or mini program.

Longhua Hui summer night fair

Located along the waterfront, this night market takes advantage of Longhua Hui's open, walkable layout. Operating from Friday to Sunday evenings, it features a "coffee by day, drinks by night" offering and an intangible cultural heritage night market. The event draws on the Chinese solar terms of Minor Heat and Major Heat.

When: July 17 to Aug 31

Where: Longhua Hui (龙华会), Xuhui district

Admission: Free

Qixi Festival celebration at  Chuansha Ancient Town

In mid-August, Chuansha Ancient Town will host a romantic Qixi Festival celebration. The event features traditional Qixi folklore and creates an elegant atmosphere along the historic streets. Visitors can experience Qixi customs and the beauty of Eastern culture.

When: Mid-August evenings

Where: Chuansha Ancient Town (川沙古镇), Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

13th Shanghai Lotus and  Water Lily Exhibition

The exhibition's main venue is Guyi Garden, which showcases a wide range of lotus varieties, including the garden's first internationally registered cultivar. Visitors can also enjoy interactive intangible cultural heritage experiences and lotus-themed delicacies, while the exhibition blends lotus culture with garden culture and intangible cultural heritage.

When: Through July 28

Where: Guyi Garden (古猗园), Jiading district

Tickets: Available through the Guyi Garden WeChat mini program.

Cangcheng summer night fair

Set by the Dacang Bridge, the fair features traditional cooling snacks and drinks such as sour plum soup and tuckahoe cake. Visitors can make herbal sachets and try their hand at grinding tea powder. The event also offers free traditional Chinese medicine consultations on summer wellness, as well as evening folk music performances.

When: July 25 to 26 and Aug 8 to 9

Where: Cangcheng Langyuan Bridge (仓城·郎园Bridge), Songjiang district

Admission: Free

Zhujiajiao arts and culture series

Local artists and heritage practitioners take part in this continuous program. They perform pingtan storytelling and Kunqu Opera on boats, at Fangsheng Pavilion, and in teahouses across the historic water town, offering visitors a glimpse of Jiangnan's sophisticated artistic ambiance.

When: July to September

Where: Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (上海朱家角古镇旅游区), Qingpu district

Admission: Free

19th Shanghai Zhuanghang  Mutton Festival

This annual festival celebrates the local summer tradition of eating mutton with shaojiu, a Chinese distilled liquor. Drawing on resources and folk traditions from Inner Mongolia and other regions, the festival features nearly 30 activities across five themes: cooperation and exchange, musical performances, food, entertainment, and market fairs.

When: Through Sept 10

Where: Zhuanghang town (庄行镇), Fengxian district

Tickets: Available through the "享游庄行" (Xiangyou Zhuanghang) WeChat mini program.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Xuhui and Fengxian district governments, tourist attractions mentioned above