Shanghai's 10 Unmissable Events and Festivals this Summer
It may not come as a surprise, but there really is something for everyone this summer in Shanghai. From art installations to music festivals, every street comes alive with culture around this time, with the city’s famous Tourist Festival meaning everywhere showcases their finest exhibitions, performances and experiences for the massive and varied crowds. Join them, and discover the most exciting season of all in China’s cultural capital.
1. Theatre | Three Short Plays by Samuel Beckett
Art Gallery, Theatre
2. Art | The Ninth Wave
Art Gallery
3. Dance | World Ballet Stars Gala
Dance | World Ballet Stars Gala
9 August Another first for Shanghai comes courtesy of the Shanghai Grand Theatre, who are bringing their 2014 ballet season to a close in stunning fashion with this gala, featuring many leading lights of international dance who have never performed in Shanghai before. Chief among these is the Bolshoi’s prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, but also performing are principals and soloists from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Shanghai’s own Shanghai Ballet. All of these and more will be performing in this one night only show, which has been intriguingly titled Baiser Volé, or ‘stolen kiss’. Shanghai Grand Theatre, 300 Renmin Avenue, Shanghai, China, +86 21 6372 8701
4. Theatre | Revel’s World of Shakespeare
University
Theatre | Revel’s World of Shakespeare
28 – 31 August Joseph Graves (the co-founder of the Institute of World Theatre and Film at Peking University) brings his one-man show about his own Shakespeare-obsessed English teacher to Shanghai after ecstatically reviewed shows in Beijing; in fact, Time Out went so far as to say ‘Take the day off of work, change your holiday plans,reschedule your wedding, but don’t miss this show’. It is easy to see why it received such praise, with Graves seamlessly moving from comedy to haunting tragedy in mere moments. Find out for yourself this August whether these reviews are much ado about nothing or not when it finally comes to Shanghai. Lyceum Theatre, 57 Maoming South Road, Shanghai, China, +86 21 6217 8530
Culture | Shanghai Tourism Festival
15 September – 5 October Every year, eight million people visit Shanghai for this festival, taking place across 20 days in countless locations across the city. If the grand, awe inspiring floats, food, festivals and fireworks are not reason alone to visit, every major gallery and museum offers half price entry throughout the entirety of the festival, as well as many tour companies and hotels offering deals, meaning there is no reason not to see and experience everything the city has to offer during this time, from the famous Shanghai International Musical Fireworks Festival to the smallest, most hidden away treasures of the world’s most populated city. Event takes place in various locations across Shanghai, China, +86 21 2311 5559
Arts | China Shanghai International Arts Festival
27 September – 27 October Everyone from Andrea Bocelli to Beyoncé has graced the stage of this, the only state-run culture festival in China. Coming at the tail end of the Tourism Festival, the China Shanghai International Arts Festival presents a whole month of the world’s greatest music, drama, dance, and whatever other cultural discipline which can be thought of from all over the world. However, the festival is not all about the big names (although there are plenty of them performing,) with the stages showcasing local performers big and small attracting so far attracting 18 million visitors over its thirteen successful years. Event takes place in various locations across Shanghai, China, +86 21 6272 0346
Event | The Colour Run
27 September The organizers call it the ‘Happiest 5k on the Planet’, and it is certainly the most fun, with all participants beginning in white and being doused in colors at every kilometer, followed by further paint and a party at the 5k finish line. Last year, in 2013, over a million people took part across The Colour Run’s six China Locations, making it the biggest event series in all of China, and this year looks to be even bigger, with more runners, a bigger party, and, of course, much more paint! And with no race times recorded, you can focus on the fun rather than worrying about personal bests and finish positions. Location TBC, Shanghai, China
5. Music | Midi Festival
Park
6. Music | Storm Festival 2014
Nightclub, Chinese
7. Music | JZ Festival 2014
Park
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