Prime time to admire the lotus blossoms at the Tianshan Park

The lotus flowers in Tianshan Park are currently in their blooming season. The lotus pond is filled with pink and white lotus blossoms and lush lotus leaves, creating a truly enchanting scene in the height of summer. After nearly a year of renovations, Tianshan Park has not only removed its walls and given itself a fresh new look, but it is also open 24 hours a day, inviting the public to step into this urban oasis to enjoy the lotus flowers and cool off.

The lotus flowers are mainly located in two areas. On one side of the large lawn, a stone arch bridge spans the lotus pond, providing the best viewing platform. Standing on the bridge, one can take in the entire lotus pond: delicate pink blossoms stand amidst green leaves, and a family of moorhens frolics among the leaves and darts in the water, a harmonious blend of movement and stillness, full of vitality. In the pavilion by the pond, locals often play traditional Chinese string and wind instruments, creating a charming synergy between the beautiful scenery and the elegant music.

Another excellent spot for admiring lotus flowers is located near the children's playground. The lotus flowers here are particularly abundant, with lotus leaves swaying in the wind like dancing skirts. Strolling along the winding paths, the fragrance of lotus flowers fills the air, instantly dispelling the summer heat.

The lotus blossoms in August are neither like the buds of June nor the profusion of July; a few pink and white flowers bloom sparsely among the green leaves, exuding a sense of tranquility. A gentle breeze stirs the lotus leaves, carrying a faint fragrance. What's most precious is that this scenery is readily available. The renovated Tianshan Park is open 24 hours a day, so whether passing by at dawn, dusk, or even late at night, you can enter at any time, sit alone by the pond, watch the lotus shadows under the moon, and listen to the chirping of insects. This readily accessible poetry is perhaps the most touching and genuine gentleness of a city park.

Address: No. 1731, Yan'an West Road, Changning District

Transportation: Exit 1 of Yan'an West Road Station on Metro Line 3 or 4; Bus routes 71, 127, 925, etc.

Admission: Free

Locations for lotus viewing: The lotus pond on the east side of the large lawn, and the lotus pond around the Peony Pavilion.

12 foreign friends witnessed a romantic Chinese-style wedding ceremony on Xingfu Road

As the Qixi Festival fell on August 19, the Xingfu Road (Happiness Road) is even sweeter than usual. Early in the morning, couples were already queuing in front of the "little pink building" of the Changning District Civil Affairs Bureau's Marriage Registration Office. Meanwhile, 12 foreign "Happiness Witnesses"—foreign friends from the "Foreigners' Storytelling Club"—came specifically to participate in Changning's "Happiness Street" themed event, and they also experienced the romance of the Chinese Valentine's Day and searching for happy stories along Happiness Road…

On August 19, the Marriage Registration Office of the Changning District Civil Affairs Bureau held a special themed event, "Lotus Breeze on Qixi Festival: Harmonious Union and Blissful Marriage." The venue was meticulously decorated with lotus flowers, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere for couples to register their marriages. At the registration window, newlyweds were presented with lotus fans, symbolizing purity, happiness, and a harmonious union. Staff members, acting as "Matchmakers," led the couples through a stamp collection challenge, attracting foreign friends to listen to the "Matchmakers" explain the Chinese legends of deities who govern marriages.

Inside the "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon" marriage certificate hall, newlyweds solemnly recited their wedding vows, promising to stay together for life, witnessed by the "Happiness Witness" and guests. Some couples even wore traditional Chinese attire to commemorate this special moment. Ms. Peng, dressed in qipao, said that the occasion was very formal, "I chose to wear traditional qipao clothing to add to the festive atmosphere." The thoughtful decorations and romantic activities at the marriage registration center also made Ms. Peng and her partner very happy and blessed.

Foreign friends attending the ceremony experienced firsthand the solemnity and romance of a Chinese wedding ceremony. After the ceremony concluded successfully, guests warmly applauded and cheered, offering their blessings to the newlyweds. During the interactive session, the couple distributed wedding candies to the "witnesses of happiness" and guests, allowing those who had traveled from afar to experience the Chinese wedding culture of sharing joy and celebrating a happy union.

Many foreign friends said that they witnessed many Chinese-style ceremonies and customs during the event, which not only left the newlyweds with many beautiful memories but also left a deep impression on them. "I really like it here and the whole ceremony, I like the colors and flowers, everything is beautiful, and I also saw the newlyweds wearing beautiful clothes, which were very charming," said Melissa, a foreign student. She added that although she has only been in China for two weeks, she has seen many beautiful love stories and felt a different kind of romance.

Since the Changning District Civil Affairs Bureau Marriage Registration Office moved to its new address at No. 50 Xingfu Road on New Year's Day 2026, as of July, 8,337 couples have registered for marriage in the district, including 2,932 couples who registered nationwide.

The total number of registrations increased by 26% year-on-year, with couples from other provinces and cities accounting for 35%. The total number of registrations ranks third in the city and first among central urban districts. The number of marriage registrations involving foreigners, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese also ranks first in the city.

During the Qixi event, the foreign friends continued their stroll through the Happiness Street: at the "M+ Happiness Lane" market, artisans demonstrated the craft of making embroidered balls, an intangible cultural heritage, and explained the cultural significance behind this traditional Chinese token of love; at Shangsheng Xinsuo, they experienced the fun of pizza DIY and perfume appreciation, feeling the fusion of urban life and historical heritage in the renovated urban space.

In recent years, Changning District has linked distinctive neighbourhoods such as Xingfu Road, Xinhua Road and Panyu Road into a cohesive area. Cultural landmarks including the Shanghai Film City, Columbia Circle and the László Hucec architecture in the neighbourhood have infused the "Happiness Neighbourhood" with the artistic flair of Shanghai’s unique cultural style, transforming it into a new landmark in the city for everything from marriage registration to romantic photo opportunities, cultural leisure and fashionable shopping.

Changning successfully transformed from a district with "large number of digital platforms" to a "digital and intelligent application powerhouse"

For over two decades, the "Digital Changning" strategy has taken root and flourished thanks to the internet, transforming Changning into a major district in the digital economy. With the changing tides of change, artificial intelligence is reshaping industrial logic, and a profound transformation is quietly taking place on the banks of the Hongqiao Bridge. How can AI reshape the entire chain of production, distribution, and services? How can artificial intelligence be integrated into real-world scenarios, and how can an innovation network be woven through talent, policy, and computing power? Changning is exploring its own path to digital transformation and reaching new heights in the central urban area.

At the recently concluded World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Changning's science and technology innovation enterprises stood out: Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology's COFE+, the world's 7th generation fully intelligent robot coffee shop, provides 24-hour unmanned freshly ground coffee service; iFlytek showcased its independently controllable AI achievements, offering full-scenario translation support.....

Dozens of companies demonstrated Changning's innovative vitality in artificial intelligence. Shifting focus from the exhibition to the front lines of industry, Black Lake Technology, located in "Shanghai's Silicon Alley”, leverages its "Black Lake Intelligent Manufacturing" industrial collaboration platform to export digital intelligence solutions to the global supply chain; Westwell Technology, with its "physical AI + operational AI" dual-drive model, has deployed driverless commercial vehicles in over 30 countries and regions worldwide.

Behind these effective application scenarios lies Changning's systematic layout across multiple tracks of "AI+": AI+e-commerce platforms empower the entire life cycle development of e-commerce platforms; AI+industrial internet promotes the intelligent upgrading of industrial software; AI+transportation industry supports the digital transformation of base airlines and resident units; and AI+professional services promote the standardization of service products and the platformization of knowledge management. Furthermore, Changning is accelerating the pace of embodied intelligence technology research and development and industrialization, relying on platforms such as IBP Hongqiao Smart Domain and the International Robotics Industry Collaborative Innovation Center to promote the implementation of demonstration scenarios.

To date, Changning has gathered more than 7,000 digital economy enterprises and 34 e-commerce platforms with transaction volumes exceeding 100 million yuan. The total transaction volume of e-commerce platforms and the scale of the software and information service industry rank first and third in the city, respectively. More than 80 Changning-based embodied intelligence enterprises have formed a complete industrial chain encompassing "general-purpose facilitiesand host equipment—dexterous hands and core components—practical training and scenario applications—supply chain and ecosystem." Similarly, more than 80 Changning-based large language model embodied intelligence enterprises have built a comprehensive industrial ecosystem.

Building a solid foundation: strengthening the base of development elements and establishing a firm root for AI development

To support industries in climbing to higher levels, the foundation for development must first be more solid. Changning has adopted a systematic approach to coordinate the supply of resources, building a comprehensive support system from organizational mechanisms and computing networks to technological carriers.

Inceptio Technology, recognizing the unique industrial ecosystem of Changning District and the dual advantages of its location and application scenarios in the East Hongqiao area, has established its headquarters in the East Hongqiao Center, deeply rooted in Changning's smart transportation AI sector.

To empower the transformation and upgrading of the entire producer services industry chain, Changning has established a special task force for "AI + Producer Services Industry". Led by district leaders and with the collaboration of multiple departments, the task force focuses on four major areas: industrial internet, transportation, energy internet, and professional services. It has built a closed-loop promotion mechanism of "special task force in overall management, departmental leadership, and participation of sub-districts and towns" to ensure the effective implementation of policies.

Changning continues to enhance the service capabilities of the "Hongqiao Data Valley," launching inclusive computing power services for SMEs, one-person companies (OPCs), and other market entities, and attracting computing power service companies to build a regional computing power operation center. In addition, Changning is accelerating the deployment of "dual 10-gigabit" networks, 5G-A applications, and edge computing power, strengthening the whole-process governance of data security and algorithm security, and safeguarding the bottom line of development with inclusive and prudent "sandbox regulation."

With the comprehensive incubation support of the aforementioned platforms, a number of innovative cases of "small teams with big output" are emerging rapidly: for example, a three-person team has achieved monthly service revenue of millions of yuan by using AI tools provided by the incubator, and the cycle from solution design to prototype verification for some entrepreneurial projects has been shortened by 30%, with innovation vitality keep booming.

Ecological empowerment: improving service support and cultivating a rainforest of scientific innovation that attracts visitors from near and far

At the East Hongqiao International Youth Science and Technology Innovation Center, an entrepreneur who had returned from studying abroad said that the center provided him with a free workspace for six months, as well as five free support policies including financial, tax, and legal assistance.

Entrepreneurs can just focus on starting the business and leave the rest for the innovation center to take care. Such stories are not uncommon in Changning. The District Talent Work Bureau and the District Science and Technology Commission jointly launched "Ten Measures" to support innovation and entrepreneurship among science and technology talents, creating the "Hongqiao HaiChuang Bay" innovation and entrepreneurship platform and promoting the construction of five distinctive entrepreneur hubs. 

To meet the development needs of the AI industry, Changning has built a comprehensive professional service system: AI + law service  provides tools for smart contract review, intellectual property protection, and international compliance assessment; AI + Advertising covers the entire chain from creative generation and intelligent placement to compliance review; and AI + Finance deepens innovation in supply chain finance, inclusive finance, and cross-border finance.

Leveraging the advantages of the Hongqiao International Open Hub, Changning has established a digital overseas service network, providing full-chain services such as cross-border data processing and compliance consulting. Leading local enterprise Feishu Meetsocial, relying on its independently developed intelligent overseas marketing system, has provided full-chain AI marketing solutions to over 170,000 Chinese companies.

Seizing the opportunity and taking the lead: Grasping the strategic initiative to achieve a key leap in the city's development level

From a major digital economy district to a leading digital and intelligent economy district, this seemingly minor change represents a profound restructuring of development logic and a crucial leap in the district's overall capabilities.

Changning continues to ride the wave of digitalization to reach new heights and leaping towards intelligence. With a focus on the in-depth implementation of the "Digital Changning Reaching New Heights" strategy, Changning is proactively embracing the wave of artificial intelligence, consistently adhering to the development philosophy of "technology in Changning, applications globally." It is also promoting high-standard advancements in artificial intelligence technology innovation, application breakthroughs, resource support, and service guarantees, striving to achieve a crucial leap from a major digital economy district to a strong digital and intelligent economy district, injecting Changning's momentum into Shanghai's construction of an artificial intelligence innovation hub.

From "small and beautiful" to "refined and strong", Changning's urban renewal takes on a new view

In recent years, Changning District has taken the lead in exploration and continuous urban development, leveraging the creation of historical blocks such as Yuyuan Road and Wuyi Road as models, and the revitalization of key areas such as the Suzhou Creek area and the Columbia Circle as driving forces, thus forging a distinctive path of high-quality urban renewal.

Space revitalization and infrastructure upgrades: Urban renewal unfolds in a three-dimensional manner 

Urban renewal is never about "large-scale demolition and construction," but rather about "organic growth." The transformation of the Columbia Circle is a vivid example of this concept.

As one of the landmark urban renewal projects in Changning District, the Columbia Circle adheres to the concept of "respecting historical context, preserving urban memory, promoting diversity and coexistence, creating public space, and stimulating urban vitality." 

The first phase of the project involved the protective restoration of historical buildings such as the Columbia Country Club and Sun Ke Villa, introducing diverse businesses including Tsutaya Bookstore, boutique hotels, and art exhibitions, transforming the century-old buildings from "closed factory areas" into "open neighborhoods."

The second phase continues the low-density style, offering a high proportion of greenery with garden-style landscape, while adding five new multi-story buildings. Visitors can drop by the Columbia Circle to enjoy a coffee by the Navy Club swimming pool, browse a picture book at Tsutaya Bookstore, or appreciate a contemporary art exhibition at Sun Ke Villa, experiencing the unique charm created by the interplay of old architecture and new spaces.

Hongqiao Tiandu has been transformed into Xiansuo Creater MIX, revitalizing existing spaces with a composite format of "office + commerce + social interaction"; Bailian Xijiao Shopping Center and Paris Spring (Tianshan Road Store) have completed their renovation and upgrades, effectively enhancing the vitality of traditional business districts through business restructuring, spatial reconstruction, and experience reshaping; the existing land resources of municipal state-owned enterprises, such as the Feile plot and the Yidian plot, have been successfully revitalized, and composite ecological projects such as LINK New Star Plaza and Wuyi MIX320 have been launched, realizing the functional iteration from "industrial rust belt" to "industrial show belt".

Delightful surprises can be found everywhere as renovations take place from industrial parks and commercial buildings to public spaces hidden in streets and alleys

The waterfront spaces along the Suzhou Creek have been continuously connected, and public open spaces such as Zhongshan Park and Hongqiao Park have been upgraded in quality, transforming the landscape from "no river to be seen" to "walkable waterfronts". Seven bridge-underground space renovation projects, 14 pocket parks, and 30 habitat parks have been completed, turning once forgotten "gray spaces" into "golden corners and silver edges" in the city, allowing citizens to encounter greenery around every corner and enter parks right outside their doors.

Neighborhood network, boutique communities, and harmonious coexistence of urban renewal.

In Changning, the renovation of every inch of space answers the same question: What do the people living here need? Yuyuan Road provides a vivid and concrete answer.

Since 2014, Changning District has launched the Yuyuan Road historical and cultural street renovation project, using "artistic integration, cultural implantation, and community building" to revitalize the faded street with color and warmth. Yuyuan Road has now become a well-known "Instagrammable" street in Shanghai, attracting both foot traffic and long-term residents. 

The renovation of the Wuyi Road historical district has followed a path of "government coordination, state-owned enterprise leadership, and market collaboration." The Wuyi MIX320 project was rapidly facilitated thanks to the pooling of various property rights, including those of the street health service center, public housing, and district-owned state-owned enterprises. The renovation project of the Municipal Dermatology Hospital explored a path of exchanging the right to use state-owned assets at both the municipal and district levels, overcoming the biggest obstacle in the renovation process: property rights. These multiple approaches, operating in parallel, have allowed this historic district to preserve its unique character while achieving functional upgrades.

The renovation extends beyond the neighborhoods, reaching into the entire community. Jiangsu Road Subdistrict pioneered the "Lane Chief System" by integrating diverse parties, bringing together residents, businesses, and professional organizations. 

In the Qishan Village housing and sanitation facility renovation project, a "one-household-one-plan" approach was adopted, completing 204 renovations and benefiting 582 households. This allowed the new-style lanes to retain their historical features while possessing modern living functions.

Changning has cumulatively promoted the renovation of approximately 10 million square meters of high-quality residential communities, implemented 127,000 square meters of sanitation facility renovation in new-style lane houses, and raised funds to construct more than 15,000 units of affordable rental housing. The Hongqiao Talent Apartment project has been implemented across the entire district in three plots, and the Urban Builders and Managers' Home at No. 290 Wuyi Road has been put into operation. From old lane houses to affordable housing, from high-quality residential communities to talent apartments, the warmth of urban renewal is reflected in residents' tangible sense of gain and the visible and palpable changes.

With blueprints drawn and goals set, urban renewal opens a new chapter 

Changning adheres to a holistic and in-depth approach and continues to promote high-quality urban renewal. Changning will coordinate business activities, residential and ecological spaces, continuously explore a path of intensive, efficient, and sustainable development, strengthen the application of urban assessment results, and drive the transformation of urban form from functional revitalization, from demolition and reconstruction to organic growth, and from "small and beautiful" to "refined and strong." 

Changning will focus on revitalizing development space resources, optimizing the living environment, improving the quality of public spaces, and activating key areas, using spatial restructuring to drive functional reshaping and quality improvement to meet the expectations of the people, striving to create a model urban renewal district.

The overall support and guarantee system will be strengthened to stimulate the vitality of the urban area. Changning will construct a working pattern of district-level coordination, inter-departmental collaboration, and tiered implementation to ensure that all tasks are assigned, managed, and effectively implemented; promote the establishment of Party organizations at the forefront of urban renewal and governance, transforming organizational advantages into governance effectiveness; and strive to create a vibrant atmosphere in which the whole society jointly creates a happy and beautiful home and builds a high-quality living environment.

Changning strives to achieve a leap from a livable and business-friendly home to a high-quality living paradise, better showcasing the image of Shanghai as the "western gateway" to a modern international metropolis, and delivering a "new" answer to the era's challenge of building a people-centered city.

Zootopia 10th anniversary pop-up event landed on Yuyuan Road

The 10th anniversary celebration of Zootopia recently kicked off at the Yuyuan Road lawn, showcasing immersive scenes and diverse interactive experiences that brought together the cultural, commercial, and tourism vitality of the century-old sycamore-lined street, attracting a large number of fans and citizens to visit and enjoy the event . The event will run until September 13th.

A giant 4.5-meter-tall donut installation immediately catches the eye upon stepping foot on Yuyuan Road, forming a striking "10" with a candle-shaped illuminated lightbox.

The event meticulously recreated classic scenes from the movie, with an elegant and refined overall setup. Familiar movie characters such as Judy, Nick, Lightning, and Officer Cheetah were scattered throughout the lawn, while photo spots like "Summer Ice and Snow Party" and "Lightning Supercar" created a vibrant atmosphere, making viewers feel as if they had stepped into the world of the film.

Ms. Li brought her daughter to check it out. She holds up the newly taken photo where her daughter was dressed in a bunny-themed dress.

Limited edition keychains, blind boxes of figurines, and co-branded hats and bags were neatly displayed, attracting many fans to stop and browse.

The century-old neighborhood full of vitality and vibrancy thanks to the integration of culture, commerce and tourism activates that drivers new formats of consumption.

This event is a city-customized themed activity launched by Disney China to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the film "Zootopia" and the latest content of "Zootopia 2".

According to Creator, the operator of the Yuyuan Road neighborhood, it has always adhered to the operating philosophy of "art in life, life in art," continuously introducing composite business formats such as art, creativity, and experiential activities. While preserving its historical and cultural heritage, it provides a unique and suitable environment for trendy brands to establish themselves. The open street nature of Yuyuan Road also allowed the influence of this event to naturally permeate the surrounding cafes and specialty shops. Many visitors and residents, after checking in, would stroll to the street's shops to make purchases, thus converting "check-in traffic" into "increased consumption."

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the event also attracted ordinary visitors who were not familiar with animation to stop and indulge, and many long-time residents were drawn in by the lively scene. "I usually like to take a walk on Yuyuan Road, and now there are always new activities here from time to time." Grandma Wang held her grandson's hand and took pictures in front of the donut installation. The two of them were having a lot of fun.

Event Info:

Opnening Time: From now until September 13th

Address: Creator SPACE, No. 1107 Yuyuan Road