Shanghai's Fengxian district celebrates May Day holiday with cultural tourism carnival

During the May Day holiday, the Fengxian district in Shanghai launched an extensive cultural tourism carnival by integrating culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions, and agriculture to boost the holiday economy.

This initiative included one opening ceremony, six main themed events, 43 sub-district and town festivals, and numerous district activities, attracting 1.42 million visitors. Hotel occupancy averaged 68.54 percent, while homestays averaged 58.87 percent.

In collaboration with the Nine Trees Future Art Center, Fengxian hosted over a hundred activities, including the adorable Pet Waterfront Carnival and the traditional Chinese performance "The Legend of White Snake," drawing 47,700 visitors.

Opening ceremony of the Shanghai Shopping Festival Fengxian district event. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

Bubble Park, the venue for the Fengxian Event of 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

The district capitalized on the pet economy through attractions like Shenlong Pet Adventure Island and various pet-themed events, becoming a social media sensation. Meanwhile, Zhuanghang Town's MG Anime Carnival boosted local tourism, significantly increasing visitor numbers at Huami Zhuanghang and Zhuanghang Countryside Park.

Shenlong Pet Adventure Island. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

MG Anime Carnival in Zhuanghang town. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

Tomato-picking activity offered to parents and children. [Photo/WeChat ID: fengxian310226]

Focusing on rural tourism, the district offered activities like tomato picking and crayfish fishing to enhance family travel experiences. Leveraging popular hotspots that have gone viral on social media platforms, the district introduced multi-themed experiences. Popular hotspots included Qingxi Old Street and villages of Wufang and Liyao, which saw substantial visitor growth.

Efforts to stimulate market activity included partnerships with local businesses for discounts and promotions. The district also distributed 1,500 scratch-off vouchers for homestay discounts, valued at over 100,000 yuan ($14,700), to further boost holiday consumption.