Starbucks’ world-first ‘Bearista Town’ opens in Changning

Starbucks has launched its first ever “Bearista Town,” an immersive urban block blending coffee, trendy collectibles, and lifestyle, at Changning Raffles City. 

The pop up experience is open to the public free of charge from now until May 14.

The “Bearista Town” is a themed pop up space featuring Starbucks’ Bearista mascot. Born in Seattle in 1997, Bearista has created countless joyful moments with customers over the years.

On the outdoor lawn of Changning Raffles City, Bearista steps out to hang out with young visitors. The adorable bear has even climbed up the old bell tower, spreading cheer to everyone who looks up.

At the pop up, the world’s first Bearista Museum makes its debut, showcasing Bearista’s 29 year journey of growth through an exhibition.

“More than 500 Bearistas from over 100 countries and regions are displayed here, many of them from fan collections,” said a Starbucks partner surnamed Xu. “Bearista carries a rich and diverse cultural heritage and tells a poetic dialogue between Eastern craftsmanship and coffee culture.”

In the central area of the lawn sits the largest Starbucks merchandise store in the country, making its first appearance with over 60 limited edition items, including coffee brewing equipment and a new Shanghai exclusive collection.

Five new Bearista characters also made their debut, representing hospitality, elegance, trendiness, sunshine, and cuteness.

According to Starbucks, more than 1 million Bearista merchandise items were taken home by customers in 2025. The launch of this themed pop up space is part of the brand’s exploration of “building proprietary IP, innovating product categories, and creating experiential scenarios,” with the aim of crafting a new narrative for young lifestyles.

Starbucks’ First “Bearista Town”

Time: From now until May 14

Address: Outdoor Lawn, Changning Raffles City, 1139 Changning Road

Changning’s holiday consumption heats up

According to the Consumer Market Big Data Laboratory (Shanghai), Changning District’s consumer market boomed from April 30 to May 4, with both of its major business districts achieving double digit growth. 

Zhongshan Park Business District saw consumption increase by 13.74 percent year on year, while Hongqiao Gubei Business District recorded a 16.93 percent rise.

The core activities of the Changning sub venue of the Shanghai International Flower Show began with a Pokémon “Flower Path Stroll” pop up, launching a surprise filled Citywalk in Changning. Check in points and pop up stores were set up at The Place, Livat Shanghai, and Brilliance West Shopping Mall, driving synchronized growth across catering, retail, and cultural creative sectors.

The Place created a Rose Garden; Archwalk Mall launched its first self owned IP, “Neighbor A Jin’s Weekend Market”; and Livat Shanghai presented three themed art exhibitions, attracting nearly 60,000 daily visitors.

Major commercial venues across Changning rolled out IP pop ups, themed markets, and nighttime events, precisely targeting different customer segments with abundant holiday experiences, becoming key growth drivers for the holiday economy. Cloud Nine Shopping Center introduced a night market stage and the EASYBOT robot pop up.

Changning Raffles City, featuring Starbucks’ world first “Bearista Town,” created an immersive urban block blending coffee, trendy merchandise, and lifestyle.

Yuyuan Road block continued to host new pop up events and contemporary art exhibitions, with sales increasing by 13.53 percent year on year, boosted by numerous debut activities.

Columbia Circle held the 6th Coffee Theater Festival and launched a creative market. Haishu Cultural Plaza created Shanghai’s first underground music park, introducing flagship tenants such as Yuyintang Music Town, and saw sales grow by 17.35 percent year on year.

Takashimaya Department Store presented a themed window exhibition, showcasing traditional Eastern aesthetics through art installations featuring Nishijin-ori and lacquerware.

In the future, Changning District will continue to roll out more themed events and innovative consumption scenarios, unlocking the market potential.

Century old rose garden at Zhongshan Park reaches peak bloom

The century old rose garden inside Zhongshan Park has entered its best viewing period. 

Spread across 3,300 square meters, hundreds of Chinese rose bushes are bursting into full bloom, adding a splash of brilliant color to Changning’s early summer.

One of the 12 scenic highlights of Zhongshan Park, the rose garden was first established in 1916 and has been expanded twice since then. Today, it has developed into a comprehensive floral zone that blends botanical beauty with cultural landscape features.

Several rose varieties are now in full flower. The “Hiogi,” whose blossoms reach 15 centimeters in diameter, displays a fiery red color with layered, spreading petals. “Juicy Terrazza” offers a natural charm with its gradient orange hues. Among them, the variety “Festival Color” has drawn many visitors who stop to take photos, thanks to its unique red and white striped petals.

According to the park’s administration, a professional maintenance team has been formed to ensure the roses thrive. A four season care calendar is followed, covering every detail from organic fertilizer ratios in early spring and smart drip irrigation in summer to precise pruning in autumn and winter.

Currently, Zhongshan Park is hosting the Shanghai International Flower Show. While enjoying the roses, visitors can also take part in a variety of interactive check in activities.

Changning Double Five Shopping Festival kicks off with new consumption scenarios

The 7th Changning District Double Five Shopping Festival kicked off on May 8 at Archwalk. This year’s festival adopts a “1+3+6+N” framework, including one opening ceremony, three key consumption promotion projects, six integrated events spanning culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions, and green spaces, and numerous business district promotions.

At the launch ceremony, Changning unveiled shopping vouchers focusing on trendy brands and dining, offering 30 percent discounts across six tiers. The vouchers will be distributed in four rounds from May 29 to June 25, covering hundreds of merchants.

The event also featured a preview of Changning’s new consumption scenarios for 2026, with four major business districts sharing plans for new formats, models, and spaces.

Zhongshan Park Business District will accelerate the development of Cloud Nine Shopping Center as a 3A level scenic business district, integrating the riverside of East China University of Political Science and Law, Suzhou Creek pathways, and Zhongshan Park’s ecology with the commercial environment to create a benchmark “commerce + park + tourism” destination.

Hongqiao Gubei Business District will focus on Crystal Bridge’s night time economy. Leveraging its international strengths, the district will introduce upscale dining, trendy bars, cultural performances, and cross border experiences to build an international nighttime consumption hub.

Linkong Business District promoted the Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza project. Capitalizing on the Hongqiao International Open Hub’s location advantages, it will focus on duty free shopping, cross border e commerce, and business services, creating a premium consumption destination serving airport passengers and the Yangtze River Delta region.

Xinhua Business District will deepen its “happiness economy” consumption synergy, releasing the “Changning Happiness Passport.” It will link historic blocks such as Panyu Road and Xinhua Road to build a “15 minute happy living circle” consumption model.

From May to June, the festival will continue with three major consumption promotion projects and more business district events.

New landmark complex Crystal Bridge to fully open in October

Crystal Bridge, a landmark mixed-use development in Changning District, has achieved notable leasing success and is set to fully open in October, according to the developer.

With a total investment exceeding 8 billion yuan (US$1.18 billion) and a gross floor area of nearly 250,000 square meters, Crystal Bridge enjoys a dual TOD advantage, sitting atop Metro Lines 2 and 15. It serves as a key business gateway connecting Shanghai’s central urban area with the greater Hongqiao hub.

The project is jointly developed by Tishman Speyer, New Changning Group, and Mitsubishi Estate, with world-renowned architecture firm NBBJ leading the design and Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei handling interior and landscape design. Adhering to ESG principles, the project is built to LEED Gold certification and green building standards, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly community.

Five Grade A office towers are strategically arranged, complemented by 13,000 square meters of green space. The T1 office building exhibition hall features two large-scale display models for commercial and office areas, providing a comprehensive overview of the project’s spatial layout and business mix.

Crystal Bridge offers approximately 160,000 square meters of office space, focusing on the digital economy and international trade. It has attracted the East China headquarters of Huolala, JIA Petcare, ANA, UBE Corporation, and other enterprises. The first batch of office tenants has already moved in.

The 30,000 square meters of commercial space has gathered a range of quality brands, including upscale dining, specialty retail, lifestyle, and leisure social venues, many of which are debut stores, flagship stores, or concept stores.

The MODE Shanghai Fashion Trade Show for the Autumn/Winter 2026 season was held at Crystal Bridge in March, showcasing the complex as a stage for fashion creativity and a hub for efficient business matching, injecting continuous vitality into the city’s role as an international fashion capital.

Next, the project will collaborate with renowned public artist Liu Yi to present “Light Whisperer,” an art installation that weaves a unique artistic dreamscape with light and shadow, adding poetic charm to the urban space. 

Besides, in partnership with aesthetic retail brand Chapter, a pop up art experience featuring the healing IP “Flower Girl” will soon meet the public.

Crystal Bridge

Address: 688 Tianshan Road

Leasing Inquiries:

Retail: CrystalBridgeRetail@TishmanSpeyer.com

Office: CrystalBridgeOffice@TishmanSpeyer.com