Shanghai unveils 28 measures to upgrade services and expand demand

Shanghai has introduced a package of 28 targeted measures to promote coordinated development between service sector upgrading and demand expansion. The measures focus on six key service industries: financial services, information services, transportation, culture and entertainment, lifestyle services, and inspection, testing, and certification.

Key initiatives by sector

1 Financial services

Shanghai plans to further integrate financial services into consumer scenarios by supporting the development of consumer credit and commercial insurance products, enriching personal consumer finance offerings, and reinforcing financial support for consumer-related infrastructure.

2 E-commerce platforms

The city will guide e-commerce platforms toward competition based on quality rather than price, encouraging them to channel online traffic to brick-and-mortar stores and high-end offerings. The initiatives include promoting the well-regulated growth of the platform economy and supporting platform companies in directing traffic toward quality consumption experiences.

3 Transportation

Shanghai intends to enhance the quality of transportation services through refined management and a more diverse range of offerings, better meeting varied needs while encouraging closer interaction between passenger flows and related commercial activities. The city will expand the supply of high-quality transportation services and strengthen the integration of transportation with market development.

4 Culture, entertainment, sports, and exhibitions

Shanghai plans to further energize the market by enriching cultural offerings and supporting large-scale events.

Enriching cultural offerings: Shanghai will support venues in hosting high-level exhibitions. For example, the Shanghai Museum's On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt exhibition attracted over 2.77 million visits and generated over 760 million yuan ($108.92 million) in ticket and merchandise revenue, contributing over 35 billion yuan to overall urban consumption.

Amplifying sports impact: The city will better leverage the economic impact of major sporting events. In 2025, Shanghai hosted 182 international and domestic sports events, with sports-related spending up 35 percent year-on-year during major events. The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix alone drew around 220,000 spectators.

Promoting gaming and e-sports: Shanghai will continue to support the development of the gaming and e-sports industries, building a globally influential ecosystem.

Supporting micro-drama creation: The city plans to encourage the creation of high-quality micro-drama content.

Strengthening cross-sector synergy: Shanghai will further enhance coordination among the culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibition sectors.

5 Lifestyle services

The city aims to improve consumer services by promoting high-quality, diversified, and convenient offerings that better meet residents' needs. Measures include advancing the standardized development of employee-based domestic service enterprises, enhancing elderly care services, expanding the rollout of unaccompanied inpatient care services, and improving access to and the quality of medical and healthcare services across the city.

6 Inspection, testing, and certification

Shanghai will strengthen the role of inspection, testing, and certification services in supporting market confidence. Measures include enhancing brand certification, improving standard systems, and expanding inspection and testing capabilities.

Future plans

Moving forward

Shanghai will focus on the implementation of these measures through two coordinated approaches:

Aligning supply and demand: Adapting to cross-sector integration trends in the service sector by expanding digital, green, smart, and experience-driven consumption, while fostering the nighttime economy and other emerging formats.

Coordinating policy and environment: Implementing existing policies and introducing new ones to support the service sector, while enhancing quality management and brand building and removing unreasonable restrictions in related areas.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Shanghai Museum, F1 Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai Observer, VCG