Peach blossoms burst into color at Zhongshan Park

More than 60 peach trees have burst into bloom at Zhongshan Park, creating a vibrant sea of flowers along the main roads near the amusement area. 

Unlike the common impression of peach blossoms being simply pink, the park’s peach grove features red “chrysanthemum peaches” (Prunus persica 'Juhuatao') and multicolored “variegated peaches” (Prunus persica 'Versicolor') alongside traditional pink varieties, offering visitors a refreshing floral experience.

The most eye-catching are the variegated peach blossoms. Known for their high ornamental value, these flowers have pure white petals tinged with light pink, and some blossoms display a striking mix of red and white, resembling shy maidens. The slender petals of the chrysanthemum peach resemble those of chrysanthemum flowers, and when in full bloom, the trees look like fireworks bursting in the night sky.

According to park officials, the peach grove, carefully maintained over the years, has become one of the park’s signature spring attractions. The blossoms are now at their best, with the flowering period expected to last until mid-April.

With spring in full swing, residents are invited to Zhongshan Park to enjoy the breathtaking floral display and capture beautiful memories.

International accordion artists sail along Suzhou Creek

On April 1, more than a dozen accordion musicians from across the globe set off on a boat tour from the Suzhou Creek Zhongshan Park Pier, enjoying the scenic views along the creek while playing melodious accordion tunes that bridged Chinese and Western cultures.

Before embarking on the Suzhou Creek cruise, Zhang Shujia, a municipal-level representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of dough figurine making from Changning District, gave the musicians a lively and engaging experiential lesson on the traditional craft.“They were all very attentive, and you could tell they have a strong interest in Chinese culture,” said Zhang. To make the experience enjoyable for the foreign guests, she and her team carefully chose China’s national treasure, the giant panda, as the creative subject for the dough figurines.

Kimmo Mattila, secretary general of the World Accordion Alliance, said Chinese traditional culture is deeply fascinating. He was very happy to have the chance to personally take part in making dough figurines. He hoped there will be more activities like this in the future to promote cultural exchange between China and the West.

After the intangible cultural heritage experience, the musicians boarded the Suzhou Creek cruise and began a musical journey along the water. The unique “floating concert” became a moving, picturesque highlight of the creek.

The event was part of the 8th International Accordion Culture and Art Week, held under the 2026 “Shanghai Spring” music festival. Over the following week, the Changning District Bureau of Culture and Tourism will join hands with the international musicians to present a series of concerts and flash mob performances.

Accordion festival brings surprise performances to Hongqiao Airport arrivals

A special themed performance of the “Shanghai Spring” 8th International Accordion Culture and Art Week took place on April 2 in the arrival hall of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport’s Terminal 2. 

The event offered a musical journey blending traditional Shanghai tunes and contemporary pop music to passengers arriving in the city.

At 3pm, the beautiful melody of “Hawthorn Tree” slowly filled the arrival hall, giving international travelers an immediate sense of Shanghai’s artistic and humanistic warmth.

“I didn’t expect to see such a wonderful flash mob performance right after returning home. This performance is original and helps bring public culture more closely into daily life,” said a passenger surnamed Chu, a local resident returning to Shanghai from a business trip.

The musical journey used accordion performances to showcase the inclusive and open character of Shanghai-style culture, enriching the city’s public tourism services through art.

Moldovan accordionist Lev Solomonovich, one of the invited guests of the accordion festival, said that although he had only been in Shanghai for four days, his performances during that time had given him an unforgettable artistic experience, allowing him to feel the city’s rich cultural atmosphere.

In addition to the music flash mob, Changning District’s culture and tourism authorities broke the traditional mold of tourism promotion by teaming up with the Shanghai Tourist Information & Service Center to offer intangible cultural heritage displays and hands-on experiences. Inside the center, crafts such as Shanghai silk embroidery, Shanghai paper-cutting, Shanghai-style embroidered ball making and egg carving attracted the attention of both domestic and international visitors. Several representative inheritors of these items were present to introduce and teach their skills in person.

Livat Shanghai turns into a ‘city garden’ with free exhibitions and floral displays

Since the launch of the Livat Shanghai Blossoming Life Design Festival, the mall has been hosting a series of creative events including floral art installations, art exhibitions and themed pop-ups, transforming the venue into a "city garden." 

The stunning flower-filled landscapes inside and outside Livat have become a must-see highlight, drawing crowds eager to take photos.

Outside the mall, a white treehouse resembles a castle from a fairy tale, with a purple flower "waterfall" cascading from its roof. Next to Ikea's iconic little monkey sculpture, a newly added spring garden bursts with colorful blooms.

Inside, winding floral displays add a touch of romance to the Nordic-style spaces.

The cherry blossom forest in Livat's outdoor west plaza is now in full bloom, with layers of pink and white petals creating an exceptionally romantic atmosphere.

At the entrance on the first floor of Ikea Shanghai Linkong Mall, a new exhibition titled "Home is My Spiritual Garden" offers visitors special life inspiration, turning home spaces into a personal garden that nourishes the soul. The exhibition runs until May 5 and is free to the public.

At the L1 Mountain Atrium, a pop-up art event called "Fluffy Me," co-organized by Livat and Erma New Art, has created a warm and adorable pet-friendly healing space. Artists from different countries use pets as their creative inspiration, soothing the weary hearts of urban dwellers with their warm artistic touches. 

From now until June 1, in addition to immersive photo spots and cultural merchandise, the pop-up also offers surprises such as stamp collecting with purchase, pet portrait drawing, and limited-edition signed prints by artists.From April 4 to 25, the SHOKAY × SIVA Alpine Azalea-Themed Knitting Exhibition will be held at the mall, incorporating highland elements such as yaks, flowers and grasslands into yarn knitting, using fiber art to depict the ecological beauty of Tibet.

The Blossoming Life Design Festival will run until April 30.

Spring meets skyscrapers: Kaitian Road’s cherry blossoms in full bloom

These days, over a hundred cherry trees lining both sides of Kaitian Road in Changning District have reached peak bloom, creating a soft pink cloud stretching for hundreds of meters. Dubbed the district’s “Cherry Blossom Avenue,” the street offers a unique urban spectacle.

Unlike cherry blossoms found in parks or on campuses, the backdrop along Kaitian Road consists of office towers. The glass curtain walls of IM Shanghai complement the delicate pink branches, trading tranquility for a vibrant, city-life atmosphere.

As a gentle breeze blows, petals drift down like a dreamy “cherry blossom rain,” filling the neighborhood with romance.

The distinctive landscape is the result of careful planning by IM Shanghai. The landscape design team planted about 120 Japanese early-blooming cherry trees and mountain cherry trees along the project area and Kaitian Road. These trees not only enhance the greenery of the development but also add a touch of spring romance to the surrounding environment.

One side of Kaitian Road runs close to a metro line. As a subway train passes by, it looks from a distance like a train running straight into spring — a picture-perfect scene.

According to forecasts, the most concentrated period of falling petals on Kaitian Road arrives this week. Since cherry blossoms have a short blooming season, residents are encouraged to take advantage of the fine weather in the coming days to stroll along this cherry blossom avenue hidden among office buildings.