Changning's top commercial districts unveil vibrant horse-themed decor for Chinese New Year

As the Chinese New Year approaches, four major commercial districts in Changning District have unveiled distinctive Horse Year-themed installations, creating a festive and vibrant consumption atmosphere. Leveraging its strengths in spaces like historical conservation buildings, lawns, and plazas, Changning aims to use artistic installations to empower new Spring Festival consumption scenes.

L’Avenue

Address: 99 Xianxia Road

An equestrian sculpture in a leaping pose graces the outdoor plaza of L’Avenue. Inspired by the power of a horse's jump and the clean lines of fencing, it presents an immersive art scene. The atrium features a warm horse-themed setting, allowing consumers to enjoy high-quality shopping within an elegant and romantic ambiance.

Jinhongqiao Mall

Address: 179 Maotai Road

Jinhongqiao Mall's nearly 8-meter-tall giant apple has received a festive makeover. The "Apple Town" area is adorned with Chinese New Year elements like Spring Festival couplets, lanterns, and firework lights. Apple-shaped tables, chairs, and a seesaw create a leisure setting for families. During the holiday period, the mall will further activate the festive experience with activities like auspicious lion dances, Lantern Festival handicraft making, and balloon giveaways.

Shanghai Takashimaya

Address: 1438 Hongqiao Road

Shanghai Takashimaya has created a "Steed and Rose Bouquet" installation at its main entrance. This artistic display not only serves as a beautiful sight but also conveys new year greetings for the upcoming Horse Year. Additionally, a new giant sculpture of a horse-shaped shopping bag has been added inside the mall, promoting environmental awareness in a novel and approachable way.

Livat Shanghai 

Address: 788 Jinzhong Road

Livat Shanghai blends Nordic design inspiration with traditional new year elements to create a warm and relaxed festive gathering experience. A "Good Luck Horse Market" is about to be launched, where visitors can explore intangible cultural heritage stalls and shop for new year goods all in one place, experiencing over 50 interactive festive activities.

Changning reports significant green space expansion in 2025

Over the past year, Changning District added 17,800 square meters of new parks and green spaces, constructed three new pocket parks, increased vertical greenery by over 25,000 square meters, and refreshed green belts along a number of roads.

By the end of 2025, 95.68 percent of the residents in Changning can find a park with a size of at least 3,000 square meters within a 500-meter radius. The per capita park and green space area consistently ranked among the highest in Shanghai's central urban areas. Projects for opening and sharing parks and green spaces advanced actively, with the green coverage rate reaching 34.33 percent. 

Tianshan Park and Huashan Green Space were newly opened last year. Additionally, three unit-affiliated green spaces, including the one at the Urban Construction Archives, were opened for shared public use. Two parks, including Hami Park, began operating 24 hours, and a batch of habitat gardens, such as Xiemeng Habitat Garden, were newly established.

For 2026, Changning District has set clear objectives:

Ensure the 500-meter service radius coverage rate for parks and green spaces larger than 3,000 square meters exceeds 99 percent, and maintain the leading position in per capita park and green space area among central urban districts.

Develop 2.24 hectares of new public green space, promoting the implementation of projects such as the greening for the west zone of the Hongqiao Talent Apartments and the public green space on Plot F1-01.

Create 5,000 square meters of new vertical greenery and 0.4 kilometers of new greenways. Add one new urban park and two new pocket parks. Complete the opening and sharing of two additional unit-affiliated green spaces.

Changning District will actively explore new models for the composite utilization of green spaces. Using several new public green space and underground parking garage projects as pilots, the district plans to build multi-functional pocket parks that integrate ecological leisure with convenient public parking functions.

Changning unfolds rich Spring Festival cultural tourism feast

The 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival Spring Festival series of cultural and tourism events kicked off on January 26. 

Integrating the three regional characteristics of fashion, art and life, the event has created seven themed sections, namely “Appreciating Art Exhibitions,” “Experiencing Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH),” “Watching Performances,” “Visiting Horse-themed Gardens,” “Seeking the Fortune of the Horse Year,” “Shopping in the Horse Year” and “Tasting Delicacies.”

“Appreciating Art Exhibitions” has linked up with municipal and district-level art galleries to present high-quality exhibitions such as the Dunhuang Culture and Art Public Welfare Exhibition. 

Centering on the festival nodes from Laba Festival to Lantern Festival, “Experiencing ICH” has promoted a series of activities including lantern lighting, street parades to welcome the God of Wealth and interesting riddle parties into business districts.

Exploring new performance spaces such as the International Dance Center and Haisu Culture Plaza, “Watching Performances” has played the magnificent movement of the new year concert. 

In cooperation with Shanghai Zoo, “Visiting Horse-themed Gardens” has designed a science popularization and research tour for the Year of the Horse and launched cute cultural and creative products. 

Jointly with Spring Tour, “Seeking the Fortune of the Horse Year” has organized a new year hiking activity, inviting tourists to measure the city on foot and capture happy moments with their cameras.

“Combining with horse year-themed cultural and creative products, “Shopping in the Horse Year” meets consumers' one-stop festival shopping needs. 

Focusing on the theme of "Jiangnan local products" and centering on the characteristic restaurants of hotels, “Tasting Delicacies” has upgraded the Spring Festival Food Festival with a new look.

Columbia Circle launched the Spring Festival ICH Market on January 23, featuring nearly 20 special stalls offering activities such as Spring Festival couplet writing, woodblock new year picture making and Shanghai-style embroidered ball experience. In addition, the event has also linked up with multiple commercial complexes including The Place and Livat Shanghai, hosting various folk custom festivals such as the "Warm Laba Porridge Giving" activity.

At the same time, the 17th International Children's Chinese Zodiac Painting Exhibition is displaying about 530 childlike works, covering flat paintings, three-dimensional sculptures, installation art and ICH-related works. Running until March 10, the exhibition is held across five venues: Shanghai Hongqiao Contemporary Art Museum, Columbia Circle, The Place, Shanghai Zoo and Shanghai Hongqiao Performing Arts Center.

Inaugural Shanghai Silicon Lane Competition connects startups with ecosystem

The finals of the inaugural Shanghai Silicon Lane Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition were held at WYSH on Wuyi Road on January 30. Twelve shortlisted teams competed fiercely in cutting-edge technology fields such as chips, quantum technology, and satellite communications.

During the event, the Shanghai Silicon Lane Innovation Academy was established. The academy brings together experts from corporate resources, industrial investment, and related fields, aiming to foster and incubate innovation and entrepreneurship projects by sharing industry insights, providing professional guidance to startups, and facilitating in-depth exchanges.

The competition served not only as a platform for rivalry but also as an opportunity for enterprises to connect deeply with Shanghai's industrial ecosystem. Many participants were attracted by the innovation resources linked through Shanghai Silicon Lane and the advantages of the Yangtze River Delta industrial chain, seizing the opportunity to accelerate their local presence and strategic layout.

Despite being registered in Hunan Province, Hunan Qiangxin Technology Co Ltd has its primary clients and industrial chain in the Yangtze River Delta. General Manager Mei Feng said that the company has already established a production base in Suzhou and plans to set up its R&D center in Shanghai Silicon Lane.

The company has already benefited from the competition. "During the preliminary round, judges learned about our business and recommended matching clients, which led to partnerships," Mei said. "This efficient industrial connection is precisely the support that enterprises need most."

After the competition, Huayang Road Subdistrict will establish a tracking and matching mechanism for participating projects. "Whether enterprises need space, funding, or industrial chain resources, we will provide precise services to ensure that promising projects can enter, stay, and thrive in the Silicon Lane," said Chen Xin, director of the Subdistrict General Office.

Jinhongqiao Mall launches Chinese New Year celebration

As the Chinese New Year approaches, Jinhongqiao Mall has launched a comprehensive festive celebration, positioning itself as a one-stop destination for traditional experiences, cultural activities, shopping, and dining.

Themed events will run through early March. The centerpiece is an nearly 8-meter-tall giant apple installation, ingeniously integrated with zodiac horse motifs and the symbolic meaning of apples ("ping an" or peace and safety) in Chinese culture. Adorned with the message "Happy New Year," it dominates the mall's atrium.

The mall's "Apple Town" area will host a new year season market featuring themed pop-ups and stalls from various merchants and brands. Retailers are rolling out exclusive holiday products. For instance, TAYOHYA has launched the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala plush mascots—four adorable, trendy horses blending traditional symbolism with modern design. Home goods stores have introduced tableware, decorations, and bedding featuring Year of the Horse elements, while the supermarket is stocked with diverse gift sets of snacks, nuts, and health products.

A packed schedule of interactive events will kick off on February 14, including balloon giveaways, festive lion dances, and a Lantern Festival DIY workshop.

Jinhongqiao Mall

Address: 179 Maotai Road

Transport: Near Loushanguan Road Station, Metro Line 2