The 2024 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai will transform into a coffee wonderland as the 2025 International Coffee Culture Festival launches with the theme "The aroma of coffee gathers guests, An appointment in Shanghai".
The main event, a citywide "coffee plus" activity integrating culture, tourism, commerce, and sports, will run from April 29 to May 2 along the North Bund waterfront, where the Huangpu River meets Suzhou Creek.
Spanning 2.3 kilometers of waterfront and 24,000 square meters of riverside space, the festival hub will feature a 300-square-meter beach-themed zone, along with more than 350 booths showcasing diverse offerings such as live performances, sports events, cultural exhibitions, and open-air cinema.
The 2025 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival is scheduled to kick off on April 30 in the North Bund. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Grand Halls, a new landmark on the North Bund, will offer limited public tours with 50 daily slots. Nearby commercial complexes including Sinar Mas Plaza and Raffles City will roll out membership perks and interactive experiences.
In addition to the rich offline activities, digital platforms will amplify the coffee celebration, with Meituan launching a guide to coffee shops and bars and distributing 10,000 daily vouchers, and Ele.me pledging to distribute 1.5 million free coffees annually through partner outlets.
The 2024 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Meituan will also host a tipsy market pop-up event at the main hub of the festival, giving away more than 10,000 cups of specially crafted cocktails and 10,000 bottles of beer for free.
During the event, a series of coffee-themed professional forums and competitions will be held. The opening ceremony will debut an annual coffee industry white paper analyzing market trends.
Later, the Hongqiao global coffee industry development forum on May 16 will convene industry leaders to discuss emerging trends.
Citywide celebrations will extend across all 16 districts, featuring specialized events including Huangpu's Sinan Nature Life Festival, Jing'an World Coffee Culture Festival, and Xuhui's West Bund International Coffee Lifestyle Festival.
The 2024 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The 2024 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
