Jiading's festival of food, fun and activities
Jiading District becomes a carnival resort when the annual tourism and shopping festival arrives in the district. From late September, a series of activities is presented to people of all ages, from night touring around old houses to pet shows and even a food banquet.
Here are some of the festival’s highlights picked by Shanghai Daily:
A night at Du’s Mansion
The mansion, combining Western and Chinese architectural styles, was the residence of Du Yuesheng (1888-1951), a mob boss in Old Shanghai.
The house was built in a prime area in Huangpu District, but was relocated in Jiading after the original land was used to build Yanzhong Greenbelt.
During the festival, visitors can book a night tour around the mansion. Two new museums are open for the festival, one features the war against Japanese aggression from 1931 to 1945, while the other is about the history of the sewing machine.
Visitors can enjoy a night view of Du’s Mansion during the tourism and shopping festival.
Outside the mansion, night fairs are being held at Xiyunlou Business Zone. Aside from shopping, visitors can also attend handicraft lectures and enjoy live shows at the fair.
Date: Through October 20
Address: 220 Hongde Rd
A night tour at Guyi Garden
As one of the oldest gardens in Shanghai, Guyi Garden is popular for its delicate layouts, well-preserved Chinese-style ancient architecture and a vast lotus pond.
Night lights have now been added to the garden to highlight its natural beauty, which creates a completely different atmosphere to the day.
During the day, a series of concerts, exhibitions and singing and dance galas will also add fun to the festival.
Date: Through October 21
Address: 218 Huyi Highway, Nanxiang Town
Long-table banquet in Nanxiang
The old town is known as the cradle of xiaolongbao, or Chinese mini steamed buns.
This month a banquet set on an especially long table will be held in Nanxiang as part of an exhibition on the xiaolongbao culture.
A long-table banquet held in Nanxiang
Visitors can even attempt to make xiaolongbao themselves, enjoy a traditional Nanxiang-style temple fair with Chinese opera performances and buy snacks that have been listed as Chinese intangible cultural heritage.
Date: September 28-October 28 (The long-table banquet will be on September 28 only.)
Venue: Nanxiang Old Street
Address: 206 Jiefang Rd, Nanxiang Town
Pet shows in Xiaozao Village
The village, partly decorated like the Shire in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Hobbit,” is a farm where children can experience what it is like to live in the country.
Visitors can try picking fruits and vegetables in the orchid or from the land, while a pet show is expected to enrich life on a farm.
A Shire-style house in Xiaozao Village
Llamas, peacocks, pigs and several other animals will be at the festival where children can pet and play games with the farm’s four-legged friends, ensuring they get as close as possible to a natural rural life in an urban city center.
Date: Through October 20
Address: 857 Taxin Rd
Automobile and bicycle fests
The festival will also feature several domestic car races, such as a Formula 4 Championship and a racing rally. It will be held at the Shanghai Circuit.
Meanwhile, a bicycle race for both adults and children will be held on October 2 at the circuit.
The HEROS Cyclist Festival
As the only domestic bicycle race taking place on an F1 circuit, the annual HEROS Cyclist Festival is expected to promote the concept of fitness to both participants and spectators.
Date: On weekends in October
Address: 2000 Yining Rd
Straw Culture Festival
Straw is so common that it is often neglected by most people, but it plays a key role in farming life.
Jiabei Country Park is expected to display agricultural culture through straw.
Straw is made into all kinds of features including scarecrows and other sculptures, while visitors can take on the maze challenge, built all with haystacks.
Date: Through the end of October
Address: 5051 Huyi Highway
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