Changning District launches new initiatives to nurture global talent

Changning District unveiled a series of new programs on September 20 to cultivate international talent and support local companies expanding into global markets, strengthening its comprehensive ecosystem for outbound business professionals.

The district hosted the Changning Global Talent Ecosystem Summit and the closing ceremony for its New Global Youth Talent Training Camp at the IBP International Conference Center. Government officials, enterprises, universities and social institutions gathered to review training outcomes and advance collaborative mechanisms for international talent development. 

During the summit, Changning launched a youth talent program and issued a global recruitment initiative for outbound professionals. The new framework aims to bridge youth training resources with real corporate overseas demand, building a sustainable talent reserve system tailored to the district's export-oriented economy.

Structured as a government-led collaborative platform, the program partners with top global universities, professional service organizations and outbound enterprises. It adopts a demand-driven training model where companies raise practical business needs while universities and specialized institutions select and train young talent.

The mechanism reinforces a multi-party cooperation pattern in which governments build platforms, universities develop talent, enterprises employ professionals and the society supports talent growth. It targets young professionals with global vision, cross-border expertise and international rule awareness, fostering a new generation of versatile talent skilled in global storytelling, technology, regional research, international compliance and industry operations.

The first global recruitment drive released more than 60 positions covering cross-border trade, overseas operation, international market expansion and global technical services. The opening offers young professionals hands-on global experience while supplying stable, high-caliber new talent for Changning's outbound enterprises.

Officials also announced the establishment of the Hongqiao Global Talent Alliance. The alliance integrates resources from international universities, business associations and overseas service hubs to deliver industry-oriented training and deepen industry-education integration. It extends practical training scenarios to real global business environments and builds a long-term talent pipeline for outbound industries.

Six leading Shanghai enterprises were named the first batch of Changning International Youth Talent Practice Bases. These companies will provide overseas business training environments to help young practitioners transform theoretical knowledge into practical global operational capabilities.

The second session of the New Global Youth Talent Training Camp concluded during the ceremony. Since its launch, the program has attracted more than 800 applicants from nearly 30 countries and regions across five continents. More than 100 young professionals completed the full practical training curriculum.

The camp arranged company visits and field research at leading outbound enterprises. International participants worked in multicultural teams to complete industry research and design global market expansion proposals, forming a diverse cross-border learning community.

Yuyuan Road: Changning's century-old tree-lined street embodies district's 'cool' global honor

Changning District has earned global recognition as one of the world's coolest neighborhoods, and Yuyuan Road, its century-old sycamore-shaded historic lane, stands out as a top destination blending heritage architecture, trendy flagship stores and seasonal cultural events.

While new popular spaces including Sunday Park and C-PARK Music Park draw crowds of visitors, Yuyuan Road continues to showcase the district's unique charm. A string of flagship retail openings and autumn cultural activities bring together classic Shanghai style and contemporary youth culture, forming an ideal autumn urban wandering route.

Yuyuan Road has attracted a lineup of high-profile first stores, injecting constant trendy energy into the historic block.

Converse's first China creative space recently opened at 1175 Yuyuan Road, featuring limited-edition global merchandise and exclusive Shanghai custom services. PALOMOVE, the sports lifestyle brand under GOODBAI inspired by tennis culture, launched its first Shanghai store at 1364 Yuyuan Road, offering visitors an immersive retro tennis experience.

Cubic 3 debuted its nation's first online-offline integrated member experience space at 1429 Yuyuan Road. The nearly 500-square-meter venue combines coffee roasting, fresh bread baking and themed merchandise. The national flagship store of Saturnbird Coffee is located at 1107 Yuyuan Road. It creates a full coffee experience zone with a flavor shop, roast flight space and a workshop.

In September, MOUHOOLAND opened its first street-front store nationwide at 1044 Yuyuan Road. The light luxury accessory brand, which integrates delicate art into daily life, moves closer to consumers from online platforms and shopping malls. MOALA's national flagship store will open at 1384 Yuyuan Road in October, letting visitors try the popular yogurt favored by celebrities.

Yuyuan Road hosts creative pop-up exhibitions all year round. The recent Zootopia 10th-anniversary installation featured a 4.5-meter giant donut and life-sized statues of Judy, Nick, Flash and Chief Bogo, transporting visitors straight into the animated world. Story Shop presented its new art exhibition, a bright urban sanctuary designed to offer emotional comfort for passersby.

More major art, market and cultural events are scheduled ahead. A limited-time pop-up by an international luxury brand will launch at Yuyuan Department Store, marking its return to Yuyuan Road after 2022 with a new cultural and consumption experience.

The Back to Forest Market takes place on three lawns along Yuyuan Road from September 24 to 27 and October 1 to 7. More than 50 original nature-inspired handicraft brands gather there, accompanied by live music, DIY workshops and natural art installations, turning the street into a refreshing green autumn retreat.

As one of Shanghai's 64 "never-to-be-widened" roads, Yuyuan Road preserves authentic community life amid urban renewal, balancing century-old architecture, trendy flagship stores and diverse cultural programs.

Shanghai's first immersive physical radio landmark, Yuyuan Road Radio, sits at 984 Yuyuan Road. Combining live broadcast studios and a coffee reading lounge, it serves as a public cultural venue to promote Shanghai-style culture and collect community voices.

High‑level dialogue, digital‑art debut highlight Changning's digital crossover event

A high‑level dialogue on digital‑intelligent humanities and innovation, together with the Asian premiere of the ACM SIGGRAPH DAC Urban Public Digital Art exhibition, opened on September 24 at the City Reception Hall on Wuyi Road in Changning District.

The dialogue aims to build sustainable exchange mechanisms for digital‑humanities collaboration and create channels for international cooperation, industrial partnerships and talent recruitment.

Changning's strengths involve its roots in the Hongqiao initiative, international outlook, digital‑intelligent development and high‑quality positioning. The district hosts more than 6,200 foreign‑funded firms and over 7,300 digital‑economy enterprises. Digital‑economy core industries account for one‑third of its economic output. Changning is advancing the SiliconAlley Shanghai sci‑tech block while preserving its historic architecture and cultural heritage.

The district will foster a creative urban environment and it welcomes global digital‑art professionals to support its growth as a digital‑intelligent economic hub, open connectivity gateway, quality‑of‑life destination and innovation‑driven area.

Three discussion topics were featured, future impacts of the digital economy, positive guidance for digital humanities and urban development, and opportunities for digital and technology enterprise ecosystems. Experts from economics, urban governance, humanities, architecture, art and industry joined panel discussions.

The ACM SIGGRAPH DAC exhibition, running through October 8, centers on "Digital Re‑imagination of Cultural Heritage" and "AI, Media and Urban Life." Works by artists from 17 countries and regions are projected across building facades and public screens throughout the district, blending physical urban space with digital art and bringing technology‑infused art into public life and Shanghai's modern consumption landscape.

New urban landmark Crystal Bridge opens in Changning District

Crystal Bridge, a new comprehensive urban landmark in Changning District's Hongqiao-Tianshan business circle, opened on September 24, debuting a lineup of new stores and first outlets across dining, retail and wellness sectors.

Integrating commerce, ecology, culture and community services, the venue serves as a new public lifestyle hub built on urban renewal. It combines commercial upgrading and public art cultivation, creating a park-style commercial destination and a fresh urban cultural carrier that attracts crowds of local residents and tourists.

To mark the grand opening, the city's first Sandwich Festival and a time-honored brand market launched simultaneously. The events feature specialty catering, local Shanghai heritage snacks and creative handmade products, paired with immersive live performances. The vibrant market atmosphere blends traditional charm and trendy creativity, offering a brand-new nighttime consumption experience for visitors.

Young office workers and local families have become frequent visitors. Many young white-collar workers stop by after work to enjoy casual meals and live music. Local residents said the venue's accessible location near metro and relaxing outdoor spaces provide a cozy leisure option for daily walks and weekend outings. Foreign residents living nearby also explored the heritage market, experiencing authentic Shanghai food and handmade culture.

Crystal Bridge has introduced multiple national first stores and regional flagship outlets to meet diverse consumer demands. Its dining portfolio covers high-end Fujian cuisine, casual light meals and local specialty catering, catering to business banquets, fine dining and nighttime social scenarios.

The retail zone includes themed stores for gifts and creative toys, while the wellness sector features fitness centers and professional stretching studios. Supporting daily lifestyle brands complete the full-range commercial ecosystem.

Coinciding with the Changning venue of the 3rd Shanghai International Light Festival, the complex's building facades, sky walkways and square lighting were fully illuminated on opening day. The Asian debut of ACM SIGGRAPH DAC international digital art exhibition landed at the site, showcasing cutting-edge global digital creations themed on AI media innovation and digital cultural heritage.

A customized large-scale light art installation "Wandering Clouds" by renowned artist Liu Yi was unveiled, alongside themed light sculptures and art displays. The project brings professional digital art out of exhibition halls and into public daily spaces, realizing inclusive art popularization for citizens.

Located at 688 Tianshan Road, Crystal Bridge boasts a prime TOD location connected to Metro Lines 2 and 15, with an overall greening rate of 30 percent. It functions as an industrial carrier, consumption hub, ecological lounge and cultural window for the district. Regular weekend markets, art performances and handcraft salons will be held on an ongoing basis, allowing citizens to encounter art, cuisine and performances during daily commutes and casual walks.

The project has gained strong market feedback since its soft launch in July. It has accumulated more than 10,000 registered members and exceeded 50 million online exposures, ranking top on local business district recommendation lists with a 4.8-star public rating.

The immersive light show at Crystal Bridge will run from throughout the National Day holiday period. The venue combines culture, business, sports, exhibitions and ecological landscapes, showcasing the unique autumn charm of Changning District.

Changning showcases skills at 48th WorldSkills Competition

The Changning District skills exhibition concluded its run at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, held in Hall 1.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

Shanghai's only district‑level skills display, the booth offered five interactive experience zones for skill demonstrations, vocational hands‑on activities and craftsmanship outreach, attracting more than 16,000 visitors.

In cooperation with Buy Quickly Group and Shanghai Mao Geping Vocational Skills Training Co Ltd., the venue staged live‑stream e‑commerce and image‑customization activities. Visitors could try professional livestream sales and receive on‑camera makeup training that connects beauty expertise with broadcast settings.

A low‑altitude‑economy area showcased drone‑industry capabilities via flight simulation and equipment assembly. Overseas WorldSkills competitors tested the simulators, highlighting the fine motor control needed for stable drone flight.

Tea‑and‑coffee displays blended traditional hand‑crafted tea art with modern coffee culture. Changning's tea‑art team gave a 20‑minute original performance in the "One Province, One Skill" program, one of just two Shanghai‑selected entries.

The artificial‑intelligence and autonomous‑driving exhibit used an interactive sand table to show unmanned port logistics, explaining workforce needs for industrial advancement. A fitness station staffed by Shanghai vocational‑skills competition gold medalists delivered free posture and fitness assessments for all age groups.

The exhibition acted as a platform for international guests to observe China's vocational‑skills development. Changning will keep advancing its skilled‑talent development after the event closes.