Columbia Circle, a landmark urban renewal project in Shanghai, continues to evolve with a dynamic mix of pop-up markets, art exhibitions, IP-driven experiences, and upgraded business forms, offering citizens and tourists diverse cultural and consumer experiences.
From May 29 to June 1, the "Kiddie Land" event turned the entire site into a nostalgic childhood schoolyard for the post-80s and post-90s generations. Activities such as trading cards, arm wrestling, and a watermelon-eating contest — over 30 retro games — allowed adults to temporarily shed work-related stress.
Such pop-up fever keeps refreshing at Columbia Circle. The "POP MART SKULLPANDA – Flower's Four-Act Play Theme Exhibition" has landed at the fountain plaza. Meanwhile, an "Irregular Growth" theme exhibition invited more than 100 parent-child families to create home-based art experiments.
At the historic Sun Ke Villa, which carries the city's memory, the "City Hearts" workshop presented by La Strada Troupe has become a signature cultural event. On June 4, the troupe will present "If Time Could Flow Back," inviting audiences to share personal stories about time and life, allowing unfinished regrets to be seen anew and gently embraced on stage.
The Coffee Theater Festival, now in its sixth consecutive year, has introduced multiple immersive theater productions customized for the site's unique spaces. In May, Zhao Theater moved in for a long-term residency, presenting original Chinese-style musicals.
Today, Columbia Circle has transformed into a vibrant, multi-functional consumer destination. It offers a rich variety of dining options, from specialty coffee and artisanal bakeries to high-end cuisine, while also featuring emerging leisure formats such as immersive role-playing games and Hang healing experiences. Specialty retail is also well represented, including outdoor cycling gear, designer parent-child clothing, and original niche fragrances.
According to a manager of Columbia Circle, the site plans to launch a brand-new initiative in June called "Downstairs Drop-By," inviting tenants and brand partners to co-create a "neighborhood gathering" atmosphere.
