UU Center blends trends from food hall to pet festival

The mixed-use complex UU Center in Changning's Zhongshan Park business district has achieved an 80 percent occupancy rate with a diverse mix of tenants.

Integrating commercial, office, and hotel functions, UU Center is situated at the intersection of Changning Road, Dingxi Road, and Yuyuan Road with direct access to Metro Lines 2, 3, and 4. 

As the year-end approaches, UU Center has installed decorative installations both inside and outside the mall and organized various themed markets. 

Several restaurants have opened recently: POPEYES on the first floor offers trendy fried chicken, while Cono Gelato serves a rich variety of ice cream flavors. Catering establishments on the second and third floors are suitable for family gatherings and business dining.

"We are focusing on optimizing the food mix to give consumers more choices," said a manager from UU Center. The mall is developing a nearly 1,000-square-meter "Food Gravity Field" on the B1 level, expected to be completed in January 2026. 

"Capitalizing on trends like the pet economy and IP economy, and focusing on fitness and parent-child activities, we have specially introduced related stores. Some new stores will open in early next year," the manager added.

Throughout December, UU Center has hosted numerous pop-up events. A recently concluded "Random Dance" session invited a million-follower influencer to enjoy time with dance-loving citizens. Upcoming events will include singing and dancing performances, hands-on workshops, New Year's concerts, and children's theater shows.

From January 16 to 18, 2026, the mall will host the 3rd Tamei Pet Life Festival, featuring over 50 booths covering pet product retail and public welfare adoption of stray animals. Furthermore, UU Center plans to organize a series of Shanghai Shenhua football gatherings in 2026.

UU Center  

Address: 823 Changning Road  

Hours: 10:00–22:00  

Transport: Exit 8, Zhongshan Park Station, Metro Lines 2, 3, 4

Leading cycling app opens first rest stop in Changning's greenway

The global flagship store of "Rider's Home," a rest stop brand under China's leading cycling app "Xingzhe," has opened at the No. 1 rest station on the Outer Ring Ecological Greenway in Changning, providing outdoor enthusiasts with a place for rest and exchange.

This professional station integrates rest and replenishment, equipment maintenance, and sports guidance. Indoors, it offers a comfortable resting area and a light food zone serving coffee, specialty quick meals, and other refreshments. Outdoors, it is equipped with professional repair tools and common spare parts, meeting basic maintenance needs for bicycles.

In the future, the "Rider's Home" will regularly organize activities such as cycling exchanges and skills training, aiming to transform the greenway space into an "outdoor living room" that integrates sports, leisure, and social interaction.

In recent years, Changning District has kept improving the functionality and services of the Outer Ring Ecological Greenway. Previously, the greenway introduced a professional operator to create “You Man Tang,” a comprehensive service space at No. 5 station, combining public services, sports replenishment, and brand experiences.

The district greenery authorities said that it will continue to uphold an open and cooperative philosophy, supporting the implementation of more high-quality projects to further develop the Outer Ring Ecological Greenway into a complex outdoor space with improved functionality, richer experiences, and greater ecological diversity.

A father’s dream: ‘Land of Wilderness’ playground arrives in Changning mall

This winter, The Place has collaborated with folk singer and "wild architect" Qiao Xiaodao to present the East China debut of the national tour exhibition "Land of Wilderness." The exhibition is free to the public and will run until March 1, 2026.

On site, a 10-meter-tall giant mail truck installation named "Desert Post Office" serves as the most distinctive "dreamscape coordinate." Over 30 "Turen Kingdom" cabin installations are thoughtfully arranged. A concurrent pop-up shop brings quirky goods from the foothills of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain directly to visitors.

"Land of Wilderness" originated in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, and is a playground built by Qiao in 2020 for his daughter. What is even more touching than its fantasy charm is the original aspiration behind it—"a father building a dream for his child."

During the exhibition, the giant mail truck will activate a romantic snowing mode at specific times. The whimsical Weird Car Parade Carnival gathers more than 10 movable "weird cars," setting off slowly along Fengshang Street and leading visitors on a moving exploration of a wonderland.

"This exhibition comprehensively upgrades the scale and immersive experience. While preserving the original artistic essence and creative logic of the 'Land of Wilderness,' it organically bridges natural imagination and urban order through new expressions in space utilization, flow design, and visual narration," said the project manager from The Place.

To welcome the New Year and the Spring Festival, The Place will launch a series of cultural and festive events. Starting in late January 2026, the mall will present more open and accessible art dramas and dance performances. As the lunar New Year approaches, it will feature traditional Chinese celebrations, such as folk performances, intangible cultural heritage skills, and dragon and lion dances.

“The Land of Wilderness” national tour exhibition – East China debut  

Address: The Place, 100 Zunyi Road  

Dates: Until March 1, 2026  

Transport:   

Line 2: Loushanguan Road Station (Exit 2)  

Line 10: Yili Road Station (Exit 1)  

Lines 3/4: Yan'an Road W. Station (Exit 1)

New tourist information center opens on historic Yuyuan Road

A new tourist information center has opened on the first floor of the Changning District Library at 1188 Yuyuan Road.

The Yuyuan Road Tourist Information Center provides comprehensive services including access to tourism materials, guided information for inbound tourism in Changning, displays of local cultural and creative products, luggage storage, and a visitor rest area. It is also equipped with facilities offering free Wi-Fi, drinking water, and charging.

Located within the nationally recognized Yuyuan Road Tourism and Leisure Block, a key feature of this center is its focus on inbound tourism. Visitors can obtain free materials here, including the newly released 2025 "Changning District Inbound Tourism Demonstration Block Construction Guidelines," four themed Citywalk routes, maps highlighting "food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment" spots, as well as guides and information on various urban architecture, culture, and art exhibitions in Changning.

In addition to the new Yuyuan Road location, the tourist information center at Zhongshan Park has also undergone functional upgrades.

During the New Year holiday, Changning will launch a special New Year stamp-collecting activity featuring the district's newly introduced cartoon images, "Maoning" and "Naite." Visitors can collect stamps at both information centers and leave their New Year messages and wishes on a dedicated display wall.

Activity details:

Dates: January 1 to March 8, 2026

Time: 9:00–17:00

Locations:

  1. Changning Tourist Information Center · Zhongshan Park  (near Gate 1 of Zhongshan Park, 780 Changning Road)

  2. Changning Tourist Information Center · Yuyuan Road (1st Floor, 1188 Yuyuan Road)

Meanwhile, the greening renovation project around the Changning Culture and Art Center has been completed.

With "Art Infiltrating Daily Life" as its core concept, the redesign features a prominent "I♥ART" themed entrance, complemented by sleek landscape installations that harmonize with the surrounding greenery.

As part of the refresh, manhole covers in the adjacent green spaces have also received a makeover. By recruiting local manhole cover designers, the center has adorned the covers with themes like spring flora, Changning's streetscape architecture, and the Year of the Horse zodiac, transforming ordinary utility fixtures into a "ground art exhibition."

Columbia Circle launches cozy winter cultural series

Starting December 24, a series of winter cultural activities will take place at Columbia Circle, featuring a themed bazaar, a public art exhibition, New Year concerts, and comedy shows.

This winter program is centered around the theme of "warmth," emphasizing the fusion of art and daily life. The "Cozy Winter FUFU" themed bazaar brings together over 60 stalls offering handmade crafts, seasonal foods, and creative designs.

An outdoor art exhibition titled "Irregular Growth" also debuted in the public space on the first floor of Building 10 at Columbia Circle. Created in collaboration with over a hundred families, the exhibition showcases artworks made by children, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of growth and change. The exhibition is scheduled to run until March next year and is free to the public.

In addition, from now until February 8, 2026, Xiaoguo's annual Year-End Show is returning with an upgraded edition. Over 50 performances will be held at Building 11 of Columbia Circle.

As a flagship project for Shanghai's urban renewal and historical preservation, Columbia Circle consistently strives to go beyond the physical transformation of space. Through sustained, high-quality programming, it fosters a deep integration between architectural heritage and contemporary urban life.