Festival sheds light on city's vitality and nighttime attractions

Where the city's arteries interweave amid light and shadow and colorful illuminations glow through art, Shanghai, the iconic city that never sleeps, will don a fresh nocturnal hue in the upcoming month.

Landscape lighting is a prominent symbol of the 2nd Shanghai International Light Festival, one of city's major public benefit events, which is set to dazzle from Friday to Oct 18 under the theme "Light Up Shanghai". It aims to activate urban spaces and showcase the city's vitality through an impressive array of artistic light installations.

The festival features one main venue and 16 sub-venues, hosting a total of 177 themed events. Highlights include a massive 3,000-square-meter naked-eye 3D dome projection at the West Bund Dome Art Center, a narrative architectural projection at the West Bund Grand Theatre, and an exhibition of 218 illuminated artworks from 19 countries. An international symposium will also be held, focusing on topics such as artistic lighting and AI, the night economy, and sustainable lighting.

"Building on the widely acclaimed water screen projection from last year, we have added technological elements, such as lasers and cold fireworks combined with live contemporary dance performances to create a highly tech-savvy light and shadow stage play that presents an in-person interpretation of 'the dialogue between humans and technology' along the Huangpu River," says Deng Dawei, deputy director of Xuhui district.

"Meanwhile, we will also cooperate with the Xujiahui food festival to upgrade the light festival from a visual feast to a comprehensive experience that integrates visual, auditory, and olfactory sensations," Deng adds.

The 16 sub-venues across different districts will host events that reflect their local characteristics, creating unique artistic lighting experiences.

Pudong New Area will feature laser and skyline light shows to accentuate its urban landscape, while Huangpu will combine light-themed markets and pet parks to boost the night economy. Hongkou will leverage its landmark buildings to narrate waterfront stories with light displays, and Yangpu will blend intangible cultural heritage with cyberpunk elements on Fuxing Island. Jing'an has crafted a Dunhuang-themed immersive block, allowing visitors to step into the grandeur of ancient Dunhuang art through innovative lighting techniques.

In suburban areas, Fengxian district is linking artistic lighting with the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship, while Jinshan is merging the area's coastal scenery with dynamic light performances to create a dazzling evening ambience.

For the interactive experience section, nine light installations have been selected from over 20 groups of international works. Integrating advanced sensing, algorithms and projection technologies, these installations will deliver highly sensitive and creative real-time interactive experiences.

"We hope this grand artistic lighting event will truly integrate Shanghai and the residents' daily lives, from clothing, food and commuting to sports activities," says Zhang Lixin, deputy director of the municipal landscaping and city appearance administration. He adds that the festival will also work closely with the departments of culture and tourism, commerce and sports.

Lu Lin, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, notes that September to October is Shanghai's prime sports season, featuring 16 international and domestic events, including the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 and the World Rowing Championships, which will allow visitors to enjoy sports during the day and experience the light art at night.

Last year, during the first Shanghai International Light Festival, the Shanghai Exhibition Center's main venue and 12 sub-venues across the city hosted 136 events, illuminated over 1,100 landmarks, attracted more than 16.2 million domestic and foreign visitors, and drove over 3.8 billion yuan ($534.6 million) in related consumption.