Friends share a treat and a smile at the Lujiazui Coffee Festival. [Photo/whb.cn]

The ninth Lujiazui Coffee Festival is underway, running from Oct 23 to 27.

Over 260 selected brands from more than 70 cities worldwide, over 100 boutique coffee shops, and over 20 globally influential figures in the coffee industry, have gathered at the largest open lawn in the heart of Shanghai to celebrate the world of coffee.

Among the notable figures in the coffee industry in attendance so far are Emi Fukahori, Agnieszka Rojewska, and Boram Um.

The festival features 12 international brands, including Manhattan Coffee Roasters from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Ghostbird Coffee Roastery from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Proud Mary Coffee Roasters from Melbourne, Australia. It is also highlighting 12 Chinese boutique coffee shops, presenting a variety of signature coffees and unique creations.

Lujiazui's festival combines coffee with culture, creativity, and tourism. Its lineup includes over 50 lifestyle and cultural brands, 37 culinary brands, 22 bean roasting brands, 18 coffee equipment brands, and unique cross-industry collaborations.

The Lujiazui Coffee Culture Industry Center was unveiled during the opening ceremony on Oct 23. The center, located at No 288 Pudong Avenue, serves as a platform to incubate emerging brands in the coffee industry, foster industry talent, and showcase coffee culture through various exhibitions and experiences.

Established in 2016, the Lujiazui Coffee Festival has attracted over 850,000 cumulative participants.

"China's annual coffee consumption reached 280,000 metric tons in 2023, with a total of about 157,000 coffee shops, and Shanghai continues to rank first with 9,553," according to the Global Coffee Industry Development Trends Insight Report and Index released during the opening ceremony.

How to get there:

Date: 10 am - 8 pm, Oct 23 to 27

Venue: Lujiazui Central Greenland

Address: No 717 Lujiazui Ring Road

Tips: Please make an online reservation in advance through the "Coffee Around" WeChat official account. Scan the QR code below to follow the WeChat account.

Sources: eastday.com, whb.cn, chinadaily.com.cn, WeChat account of Lujiazui Coffee Festival at "LJZ-COFFEE-FESTIVAL"