On December 24, the Winter Art & Life Season kicked off at Columbia Circle. A series of events including a themed bazaar, a public art exhibition, New Year concerts, and comedy shows deliver a cultural feast filled with warmth and creativity for residents and visitors.

Four themed sections create immersive cultural experience

Centered around the theme of "warmth" and emphasizing the fusion of art and daily life, this event created a warm cultural space that is perceptible, participatory, and shareable through diverse and rich forms.

At Columbia Circle, the "Cozy Winter FUFU" themed bazaar debuted with sixty distinctive stalls, offering everything from handmade crafts and seasonal foods to creative designs. Despite light rain on the opening day, it didn't dampen the public's enthusiasm for browsing the market.

Leather goods and accessories retaining natural textures, handmade woven or crocheted items—every stitch, thread, rivet, and nail reflects craftsmanship. Creative ornaments that can brighten lives are small, exquisite, and soothing. Artists were on-site, capturing beautiful moments for visitors with their brushes. Illustrators brought original designs, integrating visual beauty into diverse mediums like prints, tableware, and refrigerator magnets. Cultural and creative products derived from Zhong Kui's inspiration carry folk culture and traditional New Year spirit. Diverse foods and drinks like egg waffles, Yunnan rice cakes, low-sugar toffee, ice cream, and hot lemon tea gathered to cater to all ages and consumer preferences.

The bazaar will remain open until December 28, featuring live music performances during this period, allowing visitors to experience the blend of everyday liveliness and artistic ambiance amidst the century-old architecture. Several meticulously created themed photo spots are also set up for easily capturing story-filled shots.

In the public space on the first floor of Building 10 at Columbia Circle, an outdoor art exhibition titled "Irregular Growth" caught many eyes. "Children's artworks possess a raw creativity and vitality that is truly touching." "The pieces act like a mirror, reflecting the same 'irregular' self deep within adults."

The exhibition collaborated with over a hundred families to conduct a unique family art experiment, displaying artworks created by children and guiding viewers to contemplate themes of growth and change. As a sustainable exhibition, all displayed items are available for reservation and customization. Through secondary processing, they are reborn as various home decor pieces and re-enter more families. An "Irregular Creations Shop" derivative market is also on-site, gathering various cultural and creative products inspired by the exhibition works. The exhibition is free and open until March 2026.

As a highlight of the year-end celebrations, a series of intimate New Year concerts will be held in the Navy Club on December 28 and New Year's Day. String and brass ensembles will offer visitors a serene and refined artistic enjoyment.

Additionally, from now until February 8, 2026, Xiao Guo's grand annual Year-End Show is returning with an upgraded edition. In Building 11 of Columbia Circle, over 50 performances will be held, covering various formats like specials, improv, and creative variety shows. Even more interestingly, it's not just about 90 minutes of laughter in the theater; there's also an ultra-soothing "second scene"—live podcast recordings, comedy workshops, board game corners, and pop-up events. Actors will stop to chat and meet friends, allowing residents and visitors to glimpse real-life facets behind their routines outside the stage.

Deepening operations to empower space, expanding urban renewal value

As a flagship project for Shanghai's urban renewal and historical preservation, Columbia Circle consistently strives to go beyond physical transformation. Through sustained, high-quality content operations, it promotes the deep integration of architectural heritage with contemporary urban life. The launch of the Winter Art & Life Season is another vivid practice of its operational philosophy: "activating space with content."

A manager from Columbia Circle explained that this event not only focuses on providing cultural content but also aims to build an integrated experience scenario of "art-life-consumption-social interaction." By embedding short-term activities into long-term operational context, it effectively enhances the district's round-the-clock vitality and appeal, boosting the integrated development of regional commerce, tourism, and culture. This model of gathering people through culture and promoting consumption through experiences is gradually forming a positive ecological cycle: "content empowers space, space accommodates life, and life stimulates consumption."

Since the beginning of this year, Columbia Circle has welcomed several first and distinctive stores, including the national flagship of renowned body care brand BATHFEEL, the first brand experience store in China for sports brand XTERRA, the emerging treasure shop Egret, and PARALLEL LURE. In this open block space, vibrant consumption scenes can be seen everywhere. As one of Changning's great places for nightlife, Columbia Circle focuses on night shopping, dining, shows, entertainment, tours, sports, and reading, continuously amplifying the advantages of "cultural creativity + historical features" to createa rich new experience of nighttime leisure life.

In 2026, Columbia Circle will continue to introduce cultural content like art exhibitions, coffee theater festivals, and public welfare performances within the area where nature and history blend, enriching the cultural demands of residents and visitors for urban spaces. PF3, under Changning-based company Zuczug Group, will create another new retail content experience space in Building 10 of Columbia Circle, bringing more new brands and projects in clothing, food, beverages, urban-rural initiatives, and agriculture.

Columbia Circle Winter Art & Life Season

Address: 1262 Yan'an Road W. 

Dates: Now until March 2026  

Transport: Take Metro Line 10 or 11 to Jiao Tong University Station, or Lines 3/4 to Yan'an Road W. Station, then walk or cycle to the destination.  

Driving: Search for "Columbia Circle Anxi Road Parking Lot." After entering the lot, turn right and proceed straight. After parking, take the passenger elevator in Building 10 to reach ground level.