Li Qian
Think flowers, art, light, music and riverside fun. New Bund Chillout, a lifestyle festival in Qiantan, runs from September 20 to November 1, bringing a packed autumn program of floral displays, light shows, live music, pop-up markets and outdoor activities to Shanghai’s waterfront.
In Bloom
Qiantan Leisure Park will burst into color with cosmos, muhly grass, asters, globe amaranth and fragrant marigolds. An Impressionist-inspired pedestrian bridge will be covered in blooms, while a 3.3-kilometer flower train loops through the park.
Art meets nature in two immersive installations by Belgian creative director Tomas De Bruyne. At Crystal Plaza, “MoonBloom“ rises 9.9 meters, combining living plants with a golden structure. At M Focus, ”The Art of Design“ turns a 3.5-meter floral sphere into a kaleidoscope of seven perspectives — with an online “eighth perspective” for visitors to create themselves.
Lights After Dark
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When night falls, Qiantan will light up as a main venue of the Shanghai International Light Festival in Pudong.
Building facades will glow with dynamic projections, while the “Endless Bloom: Qiantan in Light” show will bring flowers and light from the Pudong Art Museum onto the riverside bridges. At Qiantan Leisure Park, 10 light installations will create a dreamlike nighttime trail.
Nearby, 800-meter Qianjiatan Road will become “Forest Spirits,” lined with 14 installations, nine illuminated arches and firefly-like lights among more than 100 trees. Austrian designer Georg Öhler’s award-winning work is among the highlights.
A light-themed double-decker bus will also shuttle around the area, with free rides for New Bund Lifestyle Passport holders. And keep an eye out for “Pumi’s Impressions of Time,“ an evening performance inspired by Pumi, a friendly orange tabby billed as a Qiantan “native.”
Jazz Flows
Jazz Shanghai 2026 takes over Qiantan from October 16 to November 1, with 100-plus musicians from more than 20 countries, 146 performances and forums, and free outdoor shows.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival will be its biggest edition yet, with music spilling into parks, shopping streets and other urban spaces. Five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten and soul singer Tia Ray headline the closing show, alongside Theo Croker, Wolfgang Haffner and other international and Chinese jazz names.
Markets & Eats
Food gets its own run of events, from Tea & Gelato on September 19–20 and the Qiantan Coffee & Dessert Carnival during the October 1–4 holiday to the New Bund Cheers Festival from October 22–25, featuring Asia’s Top 50 bars and world-champion bartenders.
The festival wraps with Puff Up Bread 2026, October 30–November 1, bringing more than 200 bakeries and brands from 37 cities to Qiantan.
More to Explore
From October 14–18, VALORANT will bring an immersive fan event to Qiantan Leisure Park, with interactive installations, live performances, fan activities and gaming merchandise.
Sports are also on the agenda, including a vertical marathon, football invitational and basketball challenge.
For the full festival experience, pick up a New Bund Passport through the Lujiazui Business Membership mini program. It includes the event calendar, suggested routes, photo spots and merchant perks — plus limited-edition rewards for completing designated check-ins.
