Community is about finding people that share the same vision as you. — Anonymous

New complex highlights former site

A boutique commercial complex - also known as the Joyu Center, will debut at the end of this year. On the former site of the Ramada Plaza at the intersection of Dingxi Road, Changning Road and Yuyuan Road, the center will features office buildings, retail space and hotels.

Fullshare Holdings Ltd partnered with Gong Shukai Architects (SKL), Ricardo Bofill and the well-known landscape designer DLC to launch the project, which involves the renovation of more than 100,000 square meters.

Renovated cinema to reopen in time for SIFF

The newly renovated Shanghai Film Art Center, one of the largest cinemas in China and an iconic cultural landmark in the city for over 30 years, will reopen on June 8 with multiple functions and serve as the main site for the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival from June 9 to 18.

Built in 1991, the theater located at the intersection of Xinhua and Panyu roads in downtown Changning District has borne witness to the flourishing and rapid development of Chinese cinema.

The renovation started in early 2022. Before that, the theater had already hosted about 1,000 special film screenings and conferences.

It also welcomed numerous film celebrities including Italian actress Sophia Loren, French actresses Sophie Marceau and Juliette Binoche, and US actress Meryl Streep and actor Edward Norton.

The renovated theater is equipped with an intelligent cinema control system and electronic control management system to support new digital functions of a “smart cinema,” such as unmanned screening and automatic scheduling.

The lobby of the cinema is equipped with a huge LED canopy 29 meters long and 6 meters wide, which has naked eye 3D effects and immersive stereo for trailers of blockbuster movies and new fashion releases.

Raffles City showcases more ‘city’ types

Raffles City Changning has launched a series of markets and activities. In June, around themes such as outdoor sports and 10,000 types of coffee, the “hot sweating city” and the “beautiful city” will meet with everyone.

At the end of April, Raffles City Changning held its sixth anniversary celebration. In addition to multiple shopping benefits such as food group coupons, membership card gifts, member point redemption gifts, and parking discounts, the market and activities jointly launched by independent flea market operators and well-known domestic brands have become a key link in this anniversary celebration series. This is also a major exploration and innovation made by Raffles City Changning, which sets it apart from previous years’ activities.

Through a series of markets and activities, Raffles City Changning hopes to further strengthen the social gathering place attribute of the mall, expand people’s imagination space for art and cultural creation beyond concepts such as urban outdoor, family play, and pet friendliness, and bring ordinary and precious life experiences to consumers who pursue quality.

The “hot sweating city” met with outdoor enthusiasts on June 3, aiming to jointly try to create a more resonant and interactive commercial “new ecology” and “new gameplay” with customers.

From June 16 to 18, a complete presentation of the process of a coffee bean “from its origin to a café” will be presented onsite at the “beautiful city” to the more professional coffee community and enthusiasts.

New product launch season unveiled at Columbia Circle

The 2023 Shanghai Global New Product Launch Season began at the Columbia Circle in downtown Changning District on June 2 along with a fashion customization week.

A series of events, including exhibitions, new product releases and creative cultural activities are being held at the Columbia Circle to boost consumption and promote the customization lifestyle.

During the opening ceremony, famous local fashion customization brands such as Grace Chen, Hekan and OUTFITTERMEN, released their latest products with performances and fashion shows.

Changning has gathered a large number of high-end customization brands, especially on the historical Yuyuan, Wuyi and Xinhua roads as well as the Columbia Circle and G﹒ART.

Changning has incubated multiple original brands and designers, integrating Shanghai’s fashion with global trends to meet the diverse shopping and high-end social experience needs of consumers.

Habitat garden a practice of co-governance

A habitat garden at 2222 Hongqiao Road was open on June 2.  

The garden in a narrow and long alley is well utilized. Due to the intact preservation of the original vegetation, after careful carving and embellishment, it has achieved multiple composite functions such as green carbon sequestration, ecological protection, rainwater storage, health healing, and natural education. 

This habitat garden, which covers approximately 950 square meters, has a total of 10 interdependent and integrated functions and landscapes, including “five themed classrooms and five characteristic spots.” 

The location of the habitat garden is unique, with five residential communities, four schools, and a library surrounding the block. Therefore, during the garden construction process, Chengjiaqiao Community where the garden locates adheres to fully integrating the major concept of people’s democracy throughout the entire process into the planning, design, construction, and operation of the project; advocates for new fashion of green and low-carbon living, and promotes the formation of a green circular development mode, which effectively integrating community school co-management, resident autonomy, and community co-governance.

Edited by Shanghai Daily