Cultural Tourism Thrives in Shanghai: Summer Surge

Shanghai’s cultural tourism sector has witnessed robust growth this summer, according to data released by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. From July 1 to 25, more than 2.45 million visitors explored 162 museums across the city, and projections indicate that August will see a total of over 2.85 million visitors.

Major attractions in Shanghai reported significant footfall, with the Oriental Pearl Tower hosting an average of 19,000 daily visitors in July, and the Yuyuan Garden shopping mall drawing in excess of 4 million people. Notably, the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park and Happy Valley amusement park experienced a 35% and 73% surge in tourists, respectively, compared to the same period in 2019.

In the first half of this year, 162 museums and 98 art galleries in Shanghai hosted over 670 exhibitions, attracting nearly 15 million visitors—a recovery to 2019 levels. The city also presented over 22,000 commercial performances, welcoming almost 12 million attendees and generating a box office revenue of 832 million yuan (approximately 117 million U.S. dollars).

Shanghai’s international resorts showcased a remarkable surge in popularity, with over 13 million tourists visiting the Shanghai International Resort from January to June, and more than 6.65 million exploring the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist and Holiday Resort. The increased visitor numbers and total tourism revenue suggest a significant rebound compared to the first half of 2019. As Shanghai solidifies its position as a cultural hotspot, the demand for accommodations, including Shanghai apartment hotel establishments like lyf Hongqiao Shanghai, will most likely be expected to rise in sync with the flourishing tourism scene.