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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Recap of the "Shanghai Summer" Global Campaign
OSAKA, Japan, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of May 21, 2025, the "Shanghai Select – Made in Shanghai Showcase" and the Osaka edition of the "Shanghai Summer" global promotional campaign officially launched at Grand Green Osaka in Umeda, Japan. Mr. Fang Wei, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka, attended the event and delivered remarks. He noted, "Shanghai and Osaka share close ties and both serve as major commercial and manufacturing hubs. We sincerely hope the two cities will continue to work hand in hand and elevate our friendship to a new level." Nearly one hundred brand representatives, designers, and media professionals from both Shanghai and Osaka gathered to witness the official opening of the event. As one of the flagship initiatives supporting Shanghai's ambition to become an international consumption hub, the "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season brings together resources across the city to create a festive and immersive consumer experience. Held annually from the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, the campaign offers a global invitation with diverse, interactive, and delightful activities, capturing the spirit of "Come, Play, and Shop in Shanghai." The 2024 edition delivered remarkable results. According to China UnionPay, overseas card spending increased by 68.2% year-on-year during the campaign period, while total offline consumption reached RMB 815.9 billion. Over the recent May Day holiday, the city recorded 615,000 cross-border entries and exits, with inbound spending surging by more than 211% year-on-year. At the opening ceremony, Ms. Yi Zhaojun, General Manager of Shanghai Design Week, introduced key highlights of this year's campaign, including over 100 citywide events and the launch of the "240-Hour City Experience" product series. A special announcement was also made: the debut of the Shanghai Pass, a co-branded card introduced by Jiushi Group for international visitors. Similar in function to Japan's Suica card, the Shanghai Pass offers seamless access to public transportation, over 40 tourist attractions, and more than 2,000 participating merchants, enabling visitors to explore the city with ease and convenience. China Eastern Airlines shared upcoming plans to launch four new European routes and release over one million discounted tickets, reinforcing Shanghai's position as a gateway to Asia. Visa introduced the "Shanghai Summer Visa Payment-Friendly Zone" initiative and outlined future collaboration with the Osaka Prefectural Government ahead of Expo 2025, including exclusive cardholder privileges. UnionPay International announced a new Shanghai Summer-themed card and detailed a network of over 100,000 Shanghai-based merchants offering exclusive deals for international consumers. The Osaka event generated strong interest among the local public and media. Attendees praised the campaign's practical and user-centric approach, particularly its integration of travel and payment solutions. From curated lifestyle experiences to customized shopping routes, the campaign offers a seamless and enjoyable way to explore Shanghai. As the campaign continues to expand its global reach, Shanghai warmly welcomes travelers from around the world— with dedicated services and curated experiences especially designed for Korean visitors.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Tax refund policies spur inbound tourism
People walk on a street with food shops during the five-day Labour Day holiday in Shanghai, China, May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura BEIJING: China witnessed a vibrant surge in inbound tourist spending during the recent May Day holiday as more foreign visitors flocked to attractions and left with full shopping bags, driven by the country's recently optimised tax refund policies. Central bank data revealed that the number of transactions made by inbound visitors and processed through card payment giant China UnionPay or NetsUnion Clearing Corp, a Chinese online payment clearing house, increased nearly 245% over the five-day holiday, with the total transaction value up over 128% year-on-year. On mobile platforms, popular Chinese payment app Alipay reported a 180% rise in inbound tourist spending between May 1 and 3, while WeChat Pay recorded nearly triple overseas user transaction volume and value figures in the Chinese mainland compared to the same period last year. This rise in inbound consumption is the fruit of China's latest push to encourage foreign tourist spending. China is also accelerating its development of international consumption centre cities to stimulate inbound spending further. — Xinhua/ANN
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Breaking Borders, Building Bridges: How "Shanghai Summer" Is Redefining Global Consumption
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer consumer campaigns have long been a key engine for economic growth. Now, Shanghai is stepping into the global spotlight with a bold "urban consumption experiment." On 18 April, the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season was officially launched at Xujiahui Centre, unveiling innovative concepts such as "240-Hour Products" and City Customised Events, aiming to redefine the summer experience across retail, travel, and lifestyle. According to China UnionPay, foreign card spending surged by 68.2% during the 2024 campaign period. Key commercial areas stood out significantly: Huaihai Road saw a 208.6% increase in overseas card spending (with an average spend of RMB 1,597), while the Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road area rose by 119.9% (average spend: RMB 1,998). Total offline consumption in Shanghai reached RMB 815.9 billion, marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase, with dining consumption up by 26.9%. The "240-Hour Products" initiative will bring together top-tier city resources to provide overseas visitors with an immersive "starter kit" experience. China Eastern Airlines will offer direct discounts on group flight packages across 30 international routes, supported by smart mobility tools such as the English-language versions of Air Travel Assistant and AutoNavi Map. In payment, China UnionPay enables foreign card acceptance at 65,000 merchants across Shanghai. Visa is co-developing "Payment-Friendly Zones" to enhance QR code payments and tax refund experiences for international travelers. A "Shanghai Summer" themed card and spending promotions further support this multi-channel payment ecosystem. Visitors can unlock transport and retail perks with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, valid for metro, ferry, and sightseeing tunnel rides. Travel platform has launched a dedicated "Discover Shanghai" page, featuring integrated "Shanghai Express" free city tours to offer a seamless digital experience. The city's dining scene has also been elevated with multilingual menus and themed culinary campaigns from Marriott and Jin Jiang, available in Chinese, English, and Korean. Culture takes center stage in this year's 2025 edition of "Shanghai Summer" will spotlight global lifestyle IPs through immersive activations — including experiences from Shanghai Disney Resort, the LEGO China-hosted "World Play Festival," and POP MART's "Summer Trend Play" campaign. By blending global trends with food, music, and local creativity, the city will be transformed into a vibrant, multi-sensory celebration of summer, bursting with international flair and dynamic urban energy. The multilingual official website is now live, featuring an AI-powered travel assistant and virtual avatar, "Shanghai Xiaoxia," to help visitors plan itineraries and explore the city interactively. Global KOLs will take part in the campaign across platforms including Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and TikTok — bringing the essence of Shanghai's summer to audiences around the world. From the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, Shanghai offers a renewed invitation to the world — a thoughtfully curated urban journey that highlights the city's global charm as a destination to shop, enjoy, and explore. Media Contact: Lu media@ Photo - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Shanghai Design Week Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Expanding the Global Consumption Map: "Shanghai Summer" and Its International Experiment
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer consumer campaigns have long been a key engine for economic growth. Now, Shanghai is stepping into the global spotlight with a bold "urban consumption experiment." On 18 April, the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season was officially launched at Xujiahui Centre, unveiling innovative concepts such as "240-Hour Products" and City Customised Events, aiming to redefine the summer experience across retail, travel, and lifestyle. The inaugural "Shanghai Summer" delivered strong results. According to China UnionPay, foreign card spending increased by 68.2% during the 2024 campaign. Key commercial zones stood out: Huaihai Road recorded a 208.6% increase (average spend: RMB 1,597), while Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road rose by 119.9% (average spend: RMB 1,998). Total offline consumption across the city reached RMB 815.9 billion, up 8.2% year-on-year, with dining up 26.9%. In 2025, Shanghai will roll out a cluster of international-level summer events. "240-Hour Products" will integrate top-tier city resources to offer overseas visitors an all-in-one immersive "starter kit" experience. China Eastern Airlines is offering direct discounts on group flight packages across 30 international routes, supported by smart mobility tools such as English-language versions of Air Travel Assistant and AutoNavi Map. In payment, China UnionPay enables foreign card acceptance at 65,000 merchants across Shanghai. Visa is co-developing "Payment-Friendly Zones" to enhance QR code payments and tax refund experiences for international travelers. A "Shanghai Summer" themed card and spending promotions further support this multi-channel payment ecosystem. Visitors can enjoy transport and retail benefits with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, valid on the metro, ferry and sightseeing tunnel. Travel platform has launched a "Discover Shanghai" page with integrated "Shanghai Express" free city tours for a seamless digital experience. Dining has also been elevated through multilingual menus and themed culinary campaigns by Marriott and Jin Jiang, available in Chinese, English and Korean. Culture is central to this year's offering. The 2025 "Shanghai Summer" will bring together global lifestyle IPs such as immersive activations from Shanghai Disney Resort, the LEGO China-hosted "World Play Festival," and POP MART's "Summer Trend Play" campaign. Fusing trends, food, music, and local creativity, the campaign will transform the city into a vibrant, multi-sensory celebration of summer—bursting with global flair and urban energy. The multilingual official site is now live, featuring an AI assistant and virtual avatar "Shanghai Xiaoxia" to support itinerary planning and interactive exploration. Global KOLs will join the campaign across platforms including Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and TikTok—bringing Shanghai's summer vibe to the world. From the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, Shanghai extends a renewed invitation to the world—a meticulously crafted urban journey, showcasing the city's international appeal to shop, enjoy and explore. Media Contact: Lulu media@ Photo: View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"Shanghai Summer": A Living Case of a Next-Generation Consumer Hub
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season Global Launch took place on April 18. This year's campaign is scheduled from early July to the second weekend of October, covering the entire summer period. Centered around the "240-Hour Products" and "City Customized Events," the program aims to showcase Shanghai's consumer appeal as an efficient, international metropolis. With a focus on "diversity, convenience, and family-friendliness," Singaporean visitors are invited to experience a summer journey that blends urban quality with family enjoyment. According to China UnionPay, during the 2024 campaign, foreign card spending in Shanghai increased by 68.2%. Notably, Huaihai Road saw a 208.6% surge in overseas card usage, with an average transaction of RMB 1,597, while Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road rose by 119.9%, with an average spend of RMB 1,998. Total offline spending reached RMB 815.9 billion, including RMB 96.4 billion in dining—a 26.9% year-on-year growth—demonstrating the city's strong consumption momentum. This year, the campaign launches a "starter kit" ideal for short-term trips—offering standardized, bookable urban experiences under the "240-Hour Products." Bundled with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, the offering integrates metro transit, landmarks, and commercial privileges. A multilingual official website ( and AI assistant "Shanghai Xiaoxia" support visitors with a full-process, user-friendly service. Additionally, China Eastern Airlines provides special international group fares tailored for family travel. Xiaolong Yin, General Manager at Visa Mainland China, introduced that Visa will partner with industry partners to create the "Visa Zone for Shanghai Summer". The Visa Zone will focus on optimizing international card acceptance across all payment scenarios, deploying diverse payment methods and innovative acceptance terminals, enhancing payment security and driving consumption, with an aim to promote international cultural and people-to-people exchanges and contribute to the construction of Shanghai as an international consumption center city. Families will also find their place this summer. LEGO China is expected to begin trial operations of the LEGO Discovery Resort in Shanghai, featuring eight themed zones, more than 75 rides, shows, and attractions, and 2,889 models built with over 85 million bricks. LEGO China will also host the "World Play Festival" from June 11 to July 25, featuring interactive city playgrounds and themed urban installations. Additionally, the Jinshan LEGOLAND Resort is scheduled to open during the summer vacation, further expanding the family-friendly experience. POP MART will join with its signature designer toy IPs to launch themed exhibitions, pop-ups, and immersive installations. Disney China will present four themed summer events, including Zootopia, Disney Pets, Toy Story's 30th Anniversary, and Frozen's "Summer Snow Festival." Together, these leading global IPs will shape a vibrant CityWalk experience, blending culture, entertainment, and retail to create unforgettable moments for families of all kinds. Media Contact: Lulu, media@ View original content: SOURCE Shanghai Design Week Sign in to access your portfolio
