Golden Week is here. Technically, it's the National Day holiday (Oct 1–7), celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China. In practice, it means the entire country is off work, the trains are full, and scenic spots are swarming. It's usually a great time to flee the city -- or just lie flat at home with snacks and Netflix.
If you're sticking around, we've rounded up the best stuff to actually do. Skip the Bund, dodge Disneyland, and remember: Oct 10 (Saturday) is a make-up work day. Plan accordingly.
EVENTS & MARKETS
Zao Chun Le Shi Ji Vol. 29: Enjoy Light in Autumn @ Columbia Circle (Oct 1–6) – The 29th edition brings 20 handmade Hejin Turning Lanterns from Shanxi, including a 4.5-meter centerpiece, alongside 120+ independent vendors, craft workshops, and seasonal activities.
Back to Forest: A Green Market on Yuyuan Lu @ Creator Space Huge (Sept 24–27, Oct 1–7)– A forest-themed market along Yuyuan Lu with 50+ independent brands, handmade goods, ceramics, upcycled finds, live music, and DIY workshops.
Amazing Farm: A 700 sqm farm in the City@ Crystal Plus (from Sept 25) – A 700sqm farm installation at CP Jing'an with real vegetable plots, six themed areas, a 4-meter-tall giant radish, farm activities, a market, live music, and pop-ups running through autumn.
Nowalls Women Creators' Pop-Up Store @ Livat Shanghai (until Nov 16) – A multi-brand pop-up bringing together 30+ female-led fashion, lifestyle, and creative brands for its Shanghai debut.
LIVE MUSIC
Shanghai Independent Music Week Opening Night @ LIVERSE (Sept 30-Oct 6) -- Seven nights of indie rock, psychedelia, funk, emo, post-punk, reggae, dub, dancehall, bass, and more, with live bands from 9pm, followed by DJs and other sounds from Shanghai's independent music scene. Free entry.
Vaudlow (US), Summer Fades Away @ Star@ Culture Center (Sept 30) -- Nashville post-rock duo Vaudlow joins Changsha instrumental rock band Summer Fades Away, back with a new LP after 13 years, for an atmospheric night of cinematic guitar-driven instrumentals.
YĪN YĪN (The Netherlands) @ Modernsky Lab (Oct 3) -- Dutch quartet YĪN YĪN brings their mix of West Coast psychedelia, Southeast Asian sounds, cosmic disco and vintage synths back to China on tour for their latest album Yatta!.
Starstar 星之星 @ Cedar Land (Oct 3) -- Kunming singer-producer Hu Jie moves from the cold wave of Cephalosis into loose, experimental electro pop under the Starstar moniker, with a showcase of her latest release, Five Little Pigs.
Destroy the Redemption, Dissolution, CIVILSTRIFE 火并, Oroborus, Heterogeneousrectalecho, K.A.P. @ Coven by Cave (Oct 5) -- A six-band metal bill spanning thrash, hardcore, grindcore, brutal death metal and crossover thrash, with acts from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Xiamen.
Long Arm, Cat Swimming @ Yuyintown Basement (Oct 5) -- Russian producer Long Arm brings his blend of electronic beats, hip hop, jazz, house and funk, joined by Xi'an duo Cat Swimming for a set of fuzzy ambient textures and more propulsive electronics.
Torturing Nurse, Shu Ride, 屎壳郎推屎, Extreme John, XDISTR, SCAR, KEIII, ArchBus, UmiNoOku, TripleWood @ FENRIR (Oct 5) -- DARK HAZE takes over FENRIR with a mix of harsh noise, hard techno, metal and experimental sounds, featuring live sets from Torturing Nurse and Shu Ride alongside a long lineup of DJs, producers and performers.
Sweet Tie @ Yuyintown Basement(Oct 6) -- Ningbo instrumental rock band Sweet Tie tours its new LP Ananke, leaning into heavier distortion and expansive post-rock built around themes of fate, mythology and fictional tales.
Brandt Brauer Frick (GER) @ REACTOR (Oct 7) -- Berlin trio Brandt Brauer Frick bring their live take on "acoustic techno," combining classical instruments, analog synths, strings, piano, horns and bass into club-oriented electronic music. Back in Shanghai after last year's show, this time at C-Park's REACTOR.
Comedy
SpicyComedy English Stand-Up Showcase @ SpicyComedy (Xintiandi) (Oct 2–3, 6–7) -- Five or six local and visiting comics take the stage for 8–15-minute sets of English stand-up, with rotating lineups ranging from headliner showcases to open mics.
Jazz & Shows
The Choir! Live — Good Times Coming @ JZ Club (Oct 2) -- Five vocalists join keyboards, bass and drums for a night of Soul, harmony and rhythm, using tight vocal arrangements to turn everyday emotions into music.
Alec Haavik — Jazz History Fusion @ JZ Club (Oct 3) -- Alec Haavik leads a seven-piece ensemble through a mix of modern Jazz and Rock, with saxophone, guitar, trumpet, keyboards, electric bass, drums and violin.
Yao Jiayu Quartet — World Fusion @ JZ Club (Oct 5) -- Singer-songwriter Yao Jiayu leads a multicultural quartet blending Chinese traditional music with Jazz, Pop and African rhythms, with musicians from China, France, Austria and Cameroon.
Sandra Samuel Quintet: This Is Ella Fun! @ JALC (Oct 3–4) -- Two nights of Ella Fitzgerald classics from a five-piece Jazz lineup featuring vocals, piano, saxophone, upright bass and drums.
Kevin Maxim Quartet: Reflections @ JALC (Oct 5–6) -- Soul, R&B, Jazz, Gospel and Funk meet personal stories and memories as Kevin Maxim's quartet explores the songs, people and moments that have shaped him.
When R&B and Soul Meet Contemporary Jazz @ JALC (Oct 7) -- R&B, Soul and contemporary Jazz collide on reworked Sade, Stevie Wonder and Lalah Hathaway songs, with warm vocals and Robert Glasper-inspired arrangements.
Vienna Boys Choir Concert @ SHOAC (Oct 6) -- The Vienna Boys Choir returns with Austrian classics plus opera, film, musical theatre and folk favorites, marking 100 years of touring and 55 years of China-Austria diplomatic relations.
Symphoniacs in Concert @ SHOAC (Oct 2) -- German classical-electronic crossover group Symphoniacs makes its Shanghai debut, mixing Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart with electronic beats and modern arrangements on its anniversary world tour.
Benjamin Grosvenor Piano Recital @ Shanghai Concert Hall (Oct 3) -- British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor runs through Mozart, Beethoven, Scriabin, Liszt and Chopin, including Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, in a solo recital spanning two centuries of piano music.
Offbeat
Yangshupu Power Plant Ruins Park -- We just featured this former power plant turned riverside park, with towering smokestacks, elevated walkways to explore, and coffee among the industrial leftovers. Free, open 24 hours, and a good excuse for a bike ride along the Yangpu waterfront.
Ju Qi Antique Market -- Three floors of jade, Mao portraits, old ceramics, and objects of debatable antiquity tucked behind a flower market. Go for a rummage; take the dynasty claims with a pinch of salt.
STAGE & Concerts
Candor Cabaret Presents: After Babylon @ Candor Cabaret (daily except Mon–Tue) -- The second chapter of Babylon brings new characters, elaborate costumes, choreography and immersive performances to a chaotic story of transformation and identity.
Say Dunhuang — Xuyan Immersive Dining @ Xuyan (North Bund) (daily except Wed) -- Step into Dunhuang with live performances, scenic installations and a curated meal recreating the Silk Road oasis through its grotto art, celestial murals and caravan-era atmosphere.
Immersive Virtual Reality Theatre: TAIXU DreamScape @ MIFA 1862 (daily) -- Strap on an Apple Vision Pro for 60 minutes of dancers, theatre and strange digital worlds as TAIXU DreamScape blurs the line between physical and virtual reality.
ERA2 — Spirit Of Shanghai @ Shanghai Circus World (daily) -- Shanghai's signature acrobatics show throws Chinese acrobatics, aerial stunts, dance and extreme sports together before ending with its legendary motorcycle globe finale.
Queen Tribute Concert @ The Pearl (Oct 1) -- The Pearl's live band brings Queen's biggest hits and anthems to the stage, from stadium rock and glam to Freddie Mercury's soaring vocals and Brian May-inspired guitar.
MFR Souls Live in Shanghai @ La Burg (Oct 3) -- South African Amapiano duo MFR Souls bring their Johannesburg sound to Shanghai, joined by DJs and live talent from across the city's Afro music scene.
PREP China Tour 2026 @ Star@ Culture Center (Oct 5) -- UK indie favorites PREP return to Shanghai with their expanded live show, blending R&B, Electronica, Funk and Jazz into their smooth, genre-hopping Pop sound.
ART & IMMERSION
Computer Worlds @ West Bund Museum (until Feb 14) – Nearly 180 works and archival materials trace the evolution of digital art from early computer experiments to AI, 3D printing, NFTs and machine intelligence.
Goldfish Theatre: Millennium Oriental Goldfish @ The Bund Finance Center (ongoing) – An immersive journey through Chinese goldfish culture, with live fish, digital projections, light, sound and 10 themed spaces.
Paradox Museum 2.0 @ The Central (ongoing) – 50+ interactive installations across five themed areas, mixing optical illusions, mirrors and playful spaces designed to mess with your perception.
Skate of the Art @ Fotografiska (until Oct 25) – Photography, video and multimedia works trace skateboarding from its California roots to the global skate culture of today, including China.
Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts @ Power Station of Art (until Oct 31) – BVLGARI jewelry, archival pieces and contemporary art explore color, cultural symbolism and the way light changes gemstones and metals.
Johnny Depp: Figures of the Fringe @ Modern Art Museum (until Dec 13) – Paintings, texts, videos and installations offer a look at Johnny Depp's work as a visual artist, beyond his better-known film career.
CLUBBING / NIGHTLIFE
Wigwam Soft Bunk 007 @ Wigwam (Sept 30-Oct 7) -- Bunk beds, ambient, downtempo and slow grooves for those who want to spend Golden Week horizontal.
Heim Invites: Ouri @ Heim (Sept 30) -- Montreal producer, cellist, and DJ Ouri brings her blend of house, bass, R&B, and ambient textures to Shanghai.
SHFT Presents: MADE IT DANCE with TOKiMONSTA @ REACTOR (Sept 30) -- LA beat scene pioneer TOKiMONSTA kicks off SHFT's new club night with a housier, dancefloor-ready set.
Heartbeats Future presents: BURNING VEHICLES @ Illum (Sept 30) -- Noise, punk, industrial, live electronics and hard-to-define sounds collide at Illum.
The Devil's Dancers @ Specters (C·PARK) (Sept 30) -- A night of post-punk, cold wave, darkwave, EBM and shoegaze, courtesy of DJ Velvet Robot.
Vocam00d @ Cedar Land (Oct 1) -- Vocaloid and internet-born sounds, from J-pop and hyperpop to rock, metal and experimental electronic music.
Defun First Anniversary @ Defun (Oct 3) -- Putuo's Defun turns one with dark melodic techno, live sets and hip-hop-leaning beats.
fRUITY Decks Open Decks w/DJ Conggor @ fRUITYSHOP Record Store (Oct 3) -- An afternoon of open decks and Asian rare groove at this Changle Lu record shop.
Hardcore Afters @ Abyss Club (Oct 5) -- Shanghai's harder electronic crowd goes late with hard techno, bass, and a local-heavy lineup.
The Yard @ ZUP Pizza Bar (Oct 5) -- A daytime Jing'an block party with hip hop, house, R&B, pizza, and five local DJs.
松风入户 Pine Wind Comes to Shanghai @ Slurp&Sip (Oct 5) -- Kunming musicians Starstar and Lihao bring a Yunnan food pop-up, drinks, and a little DJ session to Jing'an.
Explore the city
The Stage @ Sinar Mas Plaza (daily, 1:30–10pm) -- An open-air observation deck 320 meters above the North Bund with sweeping, glass-free views of the Huangpu River, the Bund, and Lujiazui. Multiple time slots, family-friendly pricing, and prime photo ops, especially at sunset.
Jinmao Tower Sky Walk @ Lujiazui (daily)— Strap in and circle the 88th floor of Jinmao Tower—340m up, 1.2m wide, no rails. The world's highest open-air skywalk, with serious bragging rights.
WITH KIDS
Hickory Dickory Dock — English Interactive Puppet Show @ Little Player Theatre (Oct 1–7) -- Two British actors play nearly 10 characters in an interactive adventure about time, mixing puppetry, comedy and classic English nursery rhymes for kids aged 3–8.
Paradox Museum (daily) -- Optical illusions, mirrors and mind-bending spaces take over 50+ interactive installations across five themed areas, with plenty of opportunities to explore, interact and take some very strange photos.
The Disappearing Pharaoh: VR Exploration of the Pyramid Builders' Mystery @ The VERS (daily) -- Travel into ancient Egypt through VR, exploring the Great Pyramid, its construction logistics and the mysteries surrounding the people who built it.
Peppa Pig World of Play @ LCM (daily) -- Indoor toddler paradise with ten themed zones, secret slides, and enough muddy puddles to satisfy any preschooler.
Madame Tussauds @ New World Building (daily) -- Snap pics with superheroes, pop stars, and VR-enhanced wax icons—plus a horror maze if your kids are brave.
LEGO Discovery Center @ Parkside Plaza (daily) -- 12 themed zones, 2–3 hours of brick-fueled chaos, and free entry for kids under 90cm.
Changfeng Aquarium @ Changfeng Park (daily) -- Shark tunnels, penguins, and a marine science playground 13m under a lake—plus it's near Joy City for post-fish snacks.
Zotter Chocolate Experience (by appointment) -- Tour, taste, and make your own bars at this Austrian bean-to-bar chocolate factory; 100+ samples included.
