On October 3, the key autumn event "Unleash Your Dopamine" of the 2026 Changning Premier Hongqiao Carnival Golden Autumn Celebration hosted by Changning Culture and Arts Center, kicked off at New Hongqiao Central Park. The activity fully integrates culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions and green space resources, creating an integrated National Day cultural-tourism consumption experience featuring art performances and themed markets.

This special National Day event marks the first of six installments in the "Unleash Your Dopamine" autumn series. Rooted in public participation, it features a rich and varied lineup of light, cheerful and uplifting performances open to residents free of charge.

The event started at 2pm. The Shanghai New Century Orchestra opened with string ensemble renditions of My Motherland and Me and Full Moon and Blooming Flowers, quickly warming up the crowd. A diverse roster of acts followed, which included a clown comedy show, a Yue Opera solo Praising My Husband, guzheng ensemble Battle Against the Typhoon, dances Music Rhythm, Joy in Rice Fields and Ode to Passion, vocal ensemble We Will Meet Again, magic show Paper's Magic Moment, zhongruan ensemble Mountain Ballads, youth vocal performances Like You Slowly, Sun Washed by Spring Rain and When I Think of You, hip-hop dance Girls' Energetic Beat, and the intangible heritage performance Young Rolling Lantern Artists.

Performers came from Changning Children's Palace and community dance troupes, as well as students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Intangible Heritage Club of Shanghai Institute of Tourism. Their participation embodies the vibrant grassroots cultural spirit of "Everyone Shines in the People’s City." Fun interactive games, National Day trivia quizzes and audience prize draws were interspersed throughout the show to boost engagement.

Beyond the stage, a themed market integrating culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions and green spaces opened concurrently. It brought together vendors including intangible heritage cultural and creative brands, offering a no-barrier, high-visibility showcase platform for micro, small and medium merchants and local specialty brands. Culture draws visitors, commerce retains them, energizing regional consumption.

To expand its influence, the event aligns with the 2026 "Immersive Art" Vitality Enhancement Initiative. Guided by a framework of full-region coverage, all-age empowerment, multi-scene integration and round-the-clock renewal, it leverages Changning's abundant green space resources to transform public cultural services from a supply-driven model toward experiential and empowering services. As a key practice under the "round-the-clock renewal" module, the event rolled out creative interactive activities such as dopamine-themed check-in missions, creative exhibitions by in-house art groups and QR-code group sign-ups on site. These efforts foster long-term cultural communities, encouraging residents to move beyond watching performances to market browsing and immersive experiences, forming a complete loop of cultural attraction, commercial coordination, consumption conversion and brand communication. Meanwhile, the event stays public-oriented, inclusive and accessible, putting ordinary residents center stage.

The six-session "Dopamine" series is scheduled for October 17, October 24, October 31 and November 7. This golden autumn, come to New Hongqiao Central Park and release your dopamine.