Weekend Fun | Flower show to take over Shanghai

Late in April, Fuxing Park — Shanghai's only fully preserved French-style garden — will burst into a floral symphony. Over 1,500 square meters of blooming roses will quite literally create a sea of pink and white, forming an impressionistic dreamscape worthy of the French master painter Monet himself.
Just a short stroll away lies Sinan Mansions, a landmark within the Hengshan Road-Fuxing Road Historical and Cultural Block. As the only large-scale protected garden residential complex in central Shanghai, Sinan Mansions feels like a living, breathing cipher of the city's much-storied past.
This spring, Sinan Mansions will serve as a key venue for the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show — running from April 18 to May 11 — and on April 25 will host the debut of the Nature Life Festival, a celebration of nature, design, wellness and creativity.

Nature Life Festival
When: 1 pm to 7 pm, April 25-28

Where: Sinan Mansions (No 509 Middle Fuxing Road, Huangpu district), Fuxing Park (No 516 Middle Fuxing Road, Huangpu district)

01 Three immersive indoor exhibitions
The Nature Life Festival presents three indoor science and culture exhibitions, each exploring the connection between nature and humanity from unique perspectives.
Inside the century-old villa at Sinan No 49:

• The first floor, in collaboration with Xiaohongshu Design Week, features an exhibition where multimedia art and floral installations highlight the symbiotic relationship between design and nature.
• The second floor, co-curated with the Shanghai Botanical Garden, presents a biodiversity showcase that illustrates urban ecological conservation efforts and displays a gallery of rare plant and animal species.

At the Sinan Time Zone Gallery:

• The festival partners with Shanghai Translation Publishing House to launch the "Ficciones 2.0" Literature Exhibition. Inspired by the poetic universe of Argentine short story writer, essayist and poet Jorge Luis Borges, the exhibition uses symbolic elements like mirrors and mazes to create a dreamlike literary space — inviting visitors to wander through a surreal world where reality and imagination blend in a dance of philosophical reflection.

        

02 An outdoor design playground
The streets of Sinan Mansions come alive with five interactive art installations:

• Time Music Box: A nostalgic installation awaits you at the Chongqing Road entrance.
• "... de la vallée" Bear Installation: Created by French artist Fabrice Hyber and presented by the Power Station of Art, this whimsical bear sculpture is expected to brighten Huaqiang Plaza at Sinan Mansions.
• Retro Time TV Booth: Step inside this vintage simulated television set and capture your own Sinan Mansions moment.
• Mobile Flower Houses: Scattered throughout the block, these creative pop-up greenhouses combine poster art and potted plants to form an ever-shifting landscape.
• "Fluffy Ginger Cat" Wall Installation: Inspired by the beloved orange tabby, this soft, oversized cat's paw reaches over a balcony rail to greet all who pass by — an embodiment of nature's gentle presence.

03 The Nature Life Market
A sensory feast inspired by the five elements — gold, wood, water, fire and earth — the Nature Life Market features:

• Over 100 brands: From heritage crafts and zero-waste designs to organic snacks and artisan goods.
• Four music stages, more than 40 performances: Featuring handpan drums, didgeridoos, saxophones and more.
• "Wood Zone" at Fuxing Park: This forest-inspired area brings together spring floral and lifestyle brands in a fresh, minimalist setup that soothes the soul. Explore plant-based skincare, handmade soaps, floral candles, fresh-baked bread and eco-chic accessories — all under white stalls, French parasols and bamboo chimes. Every corner of the market is a vibrant slice of spring that's come to life.

04 Blossom & Breathe Yoga Festival
In partnership with lifestyle brand BYMB, the Nature Life Festival will host a special yoga festival at Fuxing Park. Highlights include:

• Mass yoga sessions and gong baths (a form of sound therapy that involves the use of gongs and other resonant instruments to create a soothing and immersive auditory experience): Led by renowned yoga teachers and sound healing artists from around the world.

• Star instructors including Japbir Kaur — Asia's first Kundalini Research Institute-certified gong healing master — and Brazilian wellness diva Renata.
• Additional offerings include early morning rooftop meditations, sound bowl healing with essential oils and nature-based mindfulness workshops — all set against the timeless backdrop of historic villas and spring blossoms.

  

05 Special nature-themed communications events
This year's Nature Life Festival also features three special communications events focused on nature:

• A presentation of the latest floral innovations from the Yangtze River Delta region.
• In collaboration with Shanghai Media Group's special team, a voice-based WeChat account at "ceersh" created by SMG TV News Center hosts an event designed to bring poetry to life.
• In partnership with DocuChina Co Ltd, an important public welfare platform and documentary industry complex owned by SMG presents screenings of compelling documentaries, followed by insightful forums.

(Sources: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Huangpu district committee at "shhuangpu", Sinan Mansions, ShanghaiWOW)
Source: Intl Services Shanghai