Changning hosts Italian business matchmaking event to boost bilateral ties

A dedicated business matching event focusing on Italian enterprises was held in Shanghai Silicon Lane on March 16 as a side event of the city's global investment promotion conference.

The Investment Promotion Office of Changning District delivered a presentation on the district's business environment. As a key window for Shanghai's opening-up, Changning has been actively integrating into multi-faceted Sino-Italian cooperation. Renowned Italian companies including RINA, Amplifon (China) Investment, and Chiesi Pharmaceuticals have taken root and grown here. 

The district expects more enterprises to come and share development opportunities arising from strategic upgrades, industrial transformation, and business environment optimization, officials said.

The Shanghai Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development Service Center introduced the city's cultivation of specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises and internationalization services.

Serving as a bridge between Italy and China, the Sino-Italian Innovation Center (SIIC) provided an overview of Italy's industrial landscape and cooperation prospects. Italy boasts outstanding advantages in three key areas—high-end handmade artworks, pharmaceutical chemicals and precision instruments, and specialty agriculture and food culture—which are highly complementary to the Chinese market. 

The center looks forward to more collaborations, such as digitalizing Florentine handicrafts, partnering with Changning in urban renewal projects, facilitating exchanges for young Changning artists and designers to study in Florentine studios, and introducing Italian craftsmanship workshops.

Representatives from several Italian enterprises in green energy, digital transformation, and cybersecurity sectors, along with Chinese multinational corporations and specialized "little giant" firms, discussed concrete cooperation scenarios and scheduled follow-up exchanges.

Changning District has launched strategic investment promotion cooperation with the SIIC. In the future, the district will continue to improve its business environment, establish more high-level international cooperation platforms, and promote deeper and broader practical cooperation between Chinese and European enterprises in areas such as technological innovation and industrial upgrading.

Prior to the meeting, the Italian delegation visited Shanghai Silicon Lane.

International Accordion Week to bring spring melodies to Changning

The 2026 "Shanghai Spring" 8th International Accordion Culture and Arts Week will take place in Changning District from March 30 to April 6, bringing together top accordion artists from six countries—Russia, Moldova, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Finland—alongside outstanding performers from the Yangtze River Delta region. 

This spring, visitors can encounter melodies at Hongqiao Airport, hear rhythms at Shanghai Zoo, freely hum along on Yuyuan Road's lawns, and experience artistic resonance in professional concert halls.

Robots will make a surprise appearance, ballet troupes will lend their support, original compositions will debut, and new breakthroughs in East-West fusion await audiences.

Section One: Grand Celebrations

1. "Best Hongqiao" Spring Celebration Concert

Centered on the theme of "fusion of tradition and modernity," this concert will weave together traditional classics with contemporary pop, diverse styles with regional cultures, and international perspectives with local heritage, delivering a high-quality audiovisual feast.

• Time: 19:15, Saturday, April 4

• Venue: Hongqiao Art Center

2. Yangtze River Delta and National Outstanding Accordion Program Exhibition

• Time: 19:15, Sunday, April 5

• Venue: Hongqiao Art Center

Section Two: Accordion Journeys Through Changning

3. Hongqiao Airport Inbound Tourism Themed Performance

• Time: 15:00-16:00, Thursday, April 2

• Venue: Arrival Hall, T2 Terminal, Hongqiao International Airport

4. Shanghai Zoo Special Performance

• Time: Monday, April 6 — 9:00-10:15 (flash mob), 10:30-11:30 (performance)

• Venue: Shanghai Zoo

• Participation: Valid Shanghai Zoo admission ticket required

5. Street Open Mic Event

• Time: 9:30, Sunday, April 5

• Venue: Changning District Children's Palace Lawn

6. "Best Hongqiao•Wisdom Accordion" Themed Exchange Forum

• Time: 9:30, Sunday, April 5

• Venue: District Children's Palace

7. Shanghai School for the Blind Exchange Performance

• Time: 10:00, Wednesday, April 1

• Venue: Shanghai School for the Blind

Changning culture and tourism authorities have also partnered with Spring Tour and Shanghai Airlines Travel to launch an "Accordion Art Map" themed tourism product that can be heard, enjoyed, and purchased during the Arts Week.

Yuyuan block leads Shanghai's debut economy

As one of Shanghai's first batch of "global new product debut landmarks," Yuyuan Art and Lifestyle Block has become a vibrant hub for inaugural events, pop-ups, and exhibitions, with a growing number of first stores enriching the area's dynamic mix of offerings.

Off&Relax opens first offline experience space

At Yuyuan Department Store, Asian scalp care expert Off&Relax has unveiled "Water Realm Healing Space," the brand's first offline experience venue. Using water as its narrative thread, the space invites visitors to slow down and find respite from urban life. The pop-up runs through the end of June, offering visitors the chance to try new products and explore a thematic gallery showcasing the brand's technology and stories.

Address: 1018 Yuyuan Road

‘Bus Travel Plan’ pop-up makes debut

Trendy toy brand RUNRUN RABBIT has teamed up with pet and lifestyle brand KAUDDLY to launch the "Bus Travel Plan," injecting a playful charm into this century-old street. Inside the warm orange-toned "bus," dozens of colorful plush pendants are on display, while KAUDDLY's pet apparel occupies another corner. As the first stop of the "Bus Travel Plan," the pop-up runs through May.

Address: No. 4 Lane 1112, Yuyuan Road

Sômthin’else opens first Shanghai store

Sômthin’else, a multifunctional space blending art, home decor, coffee, and lifestyle, has opened its first Shanghai location. A dedicated area showcases soft, plush toys from British brand Jellycat, featuring animals, plants, and food items. The store also stocks creative cultural products such as the BigGallery’s "Big Artist" blind box series and the quirky Powerpuff Girl Fuggler dolls.

Address: 1208 Yuyuan Road

Yuyuan Art and Lifestyle Block remains committed to its philosophy of "living art and artistic living," continuously introducing innovative pop-ups and global brand debuts.

"The momentum of the debut economy continues to surge along Yuyuan Road. A new wave of stores is expected to open by the end of this month," said a manager of the Yuyuan Art and Lifestyle Block. "We will also leverage observances such as World Water Day and International Day of Zero Waste to promote sustainable lifestyles through immersive interactive experiences and educational activities."

‘Release Your Dopamine’: Hongqiao carnival unveils season-long program of arts and joy

The 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival spring edition, themed "Release Your Dopamine," will launch on March 28, featuring a lineup of events spanning spring and autumn. 

From special performances and intangible cultural heritage experiences to interactive activities and creative workshops, the carnival promises to unlock the joy of culture and arts.

The launch day will feature a special performance lasting over 60 minutes, showcasing professional performers alongside local talent. Organizers will also announce details for talent recruitment in the first half of the year. From March 27 to 28, a Spring Tour Market will run on site for two consecutive days.

Event details:

Time: 3pm-4:30pm, March 28

Venue: Lawn of Xinhongqiao Center Park (2238 Yan'an Road W.)

Participation: Follow the "Shanghai Changning Culture and Arts Center (上海长宁文化艺术中心)" WeChat official account to register.

The spring edition will run from March 28 to April 25, with five weekly sessions held every Saturday from 2pm to 3pm at Xinhongqiao Center Park. Each session will feature a unique theme, combining special performances, interactive experiences, and themed workshops.

The 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival autumn edition is tentatively scheduled for September to October, with five themed sessions on Saturdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, covering topics such as color psychology, music rhythm, artistic creativity, and cross-disciplinary performances.

The "Release Your Dopamine" series is now open for long-term talent recruitment, welcoming individuals or groups living or working in Shanghai, with no age limits or genre restrictions. Anyone with talent and passion can take the stage in spring or autumn.

Street flower boxes get a spring makeover across Changning

As spring reaches its peak, flower boxes lining the streets of Changning District have donned their seasonal colors, adding a touch of romance to the urban landscape.

Along Hongqiao Road, clusters of pink and purple double-petaled flowers stand tall like delicate spires, their hues gradually shifting from light to deep, adding layers of visual texture to the floral displays.

On Huashan Road, a stretch of flower boxes winds gracefully along the street, softening the urban thoroughfare with a gentle, lively charm. Pink and purple blooms cluster together, while at the base, small bright yellow flowers dot the arrangement like scattered stars, lending a vibrant touch to the overall palette.

Along Changning Road, the flower boxes feature a thoughtful mix of heights and complementary colors, transforming city corners into spaces that are both elegantly structured and naturally inspired.

Sleek red tulips stand tall and proud, while clusters of marigolds glow like little suns, their bright yellow hues injecting energy into the scene. Delicate purple flowers provide a soft backdrop, harmonizing the bold reds and yellows to create a balanced, visually pleasing composition.