Shanghai Zoo blossoms with flowers and animal charm in April

Following an April drizzle, Shanghai Zoo is wrapped in fresh greenery, subtle fragrance of plants, and blooming seasonal flowers.

Wisteria drapes gracefully across the zoo, creating a spectacular purple waterfall especially near the baboon area. The baboons themselves are unusually lively—some playfully chase each other, while others rest in quiet embrace. Together, flowers and primates weave a vivid spring scene.

If wisteria is a long-time star, then the Chinese snowball viburnum is the rising new favorite. It has quickly gained popularity in recent years and can now be seen near the zoo entrance and by the Lion-Tiger Hill. Its flower heads turn from light green to pure white as they mature.

Other white blossoms competing for attention include Eight Immortals flower, spirea, photinia, and Rosa banksiae.

Of course, spring offers more than just white. Azaleas are at their peak, blazing in red, soft in pink, and pure in white. On the lawns and under the woods, Chinese violet cresses look like woodland fairies, while irises, slender and graceful, are in full bloom by mid-April.

The cool, moist weather also suits the animals perfectly. The young South China tiger Yiyi, a baby giraffe, and ever-adorable giant pandas and red pandas are either foraging in this floral wonderland or enjoying a peaceful nap in the shade.

BASF’s trinamiX shares cutting-edge tech at Changning exchange

The Electronics Materials and Chemical Industry Technology Exchange was held in Changning District on April 16, featuring a keynote speech by trinamiX GmbH, a wholly-owned innovation subsidiary of global chemical giant BASF. 

The event aimed to pool innovative resources and support the Shanghai Silicon Lane in building an open, win-win innovation community.

Founded in 2015, Germany-based trinamiX employs over 220 experts and specializes in software development, machine learning, and sensor production, serving industries worldwide in material analysis and health monitoring.

Lothar Laupichler, senior vice president of BASF and president of trinamiX, delivered a talk titled “Cooperation and Opportunities with BASF trinamiX Technology,” showcasing the company’s advanced technologies and offering new pathways for local industries to upgrade toward high-end, intelligent, and green development.

During the interactive session, representatives from more than 20 tech enterprises spanning electronic materials, AI, life sciences, and smart manufacturing, along with research institutes from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, engaged in lively discussions with the trinamiX team on technical details, application scenarios, and potential collaboration.

A promotional video highlighting Changning District’s investment environment was also screened, showcasing the district’s recent achievements in industrial development, office economy, and business environment optimization.

The United Front Think Tank Federation of Changning District, which organized the exchange meeting, hopes that such events will facilitate more substantive cooperation between internationally leading technology firms like trinamiX and local tech companies and R&D platforms, accelerating the transformation and implementation of innovation outcomes in the Shanghai Silicon Lane area.

Snowball viburnum is in full glory in Zhongshan Park

In Zhongshan Park, the woody snowball viburnum has reached its most spectacular moment of the year. 

Along the Wanhangdu Road side of the park, the trees are laden with clusters of white flowers that look like snow piled on branches, attracting many residents who come specifically to take photos.

Each flower cluster is compact, with individual blooms exceeding 10 centimeters in diameter. Twenty to thirty small flowers huddle closely together, contrasting beautifully with the lush green leaves and bending the branches. Passersby can also catch a faint, delicate fragrance in the air.

The flowering period of the snowball viburnum lasts from March to May, with the current period being the best time for viewing. 

It is important to note that the woody snowball viburnum is different from common hydrangeas. The snowball viburnum is a shrub or small tree, while common hydrangeas are mostly herbaceous plants whose flower colors often change with soil pH levels.

Shanghai Table Tennis Carnival kicks off in Changning with star power and community fun

The Changning District qualifiers (eastern division) of the 2026 Shanghai Table Tennis Carnival Mixed Team Championship opened at the Changning District Workers’ Cultural Palace on April 18.

Shi Zhihao, former head coach of China’s national women’s table tennis team, gave a live demonstration of table tennis-based therapeutic intervention at the opening ceremony. Wang Yihan, former world champion in badminton, was invited to serve as the carnival’s cheerleader for Changning District.

A total of 16 teams competed in the eastern division qualifiers. On May 16, the top three teams from the eastern, central, and western divisions will gather at IBP Hongqiao Upper Town to compete for the district championship title. The strongest team from Changning will then enter a round robin tournament against teams from other districts.

On the same day as the qualifiers, a sports market was launched on the south side of the Workers’ Cultural Palace along Yuyuan Road, blending food experiences with fun interactive activities. Residents enjoyed strolling and playing while watching the matches, immersing themselves in a springtime “sports + lifestyle” atmosphere.

Hongqiao's community festival brings together cultures and cultivates a better life

The second International Community Festival for a Better Life has opened on Huangjinchengdao in Hongqiao Subdistrict. Chinese and foreign residents, as well as students from international schools, gathered to celebrate cultural exchange and embed a better quality of life into the community.

At the opening ceremony, children from the Shanghai Hong Qiao International School performed together. Chinese and international students jointly presented the “Earth Man Show,” creatively responding to the theme of Earth Day. The children transformed old clothes into delicate costumes and used body language to convey the message of green and low carbon living.

“We are so happy to host this event every year. It’s great to see people from so many backgrounds coming here together to celebrate our beautiful planet,” said HQIS Upper School Principal Tomasz Talarczy.

On the opening day, two bustling bazaars – the International Cultural Exchange Market and the Better Life Market – attracted large crowds. Residents from around the world stopped by to chat, try traditional handicrafts, and make new friends. Different languages and cultures intertwined, painting a vibrant picture of a diverse yet harmonious international community.

Hongqiao Subdistrict covers about 4.08 square kilometers and is home to expatriates from over 50 countries and regions. At the event, the International Community Better Life Service Alliance was launched, enabling residents to enjoy high quality cultural services right on their doorstep.

Alongside the alliance, the subdistrict also unveiled the city’s first “15-Minute Reading Life Circle Map” and the 2.0 version of the “15-Minute Convenient Life Circle.”

The International Community Festival will run for two months, featuring nine major thematic activities covering nature, exhibitions, tennis, reading, and more.