logo
Prioritizing Korean Guests, 2025 'Shanghai Summer' Launches with 300+ Cultural Events & Enhanced Services

Prioritizing Korean Guests, 2025 'Shanghai Summer' Launches with 300+ Cultural Events & Enhanced Services

SHANGHAI, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Since the beginning of 2025, Shanghai has seen a strong rebound in inbound tourism and spending. From January to June, the city welcomed 4.25 million inbound visitors, a year-on-year increase of 38.5%, while tax-refunded sales for departing travelers rose by 85%. To further boost inbound consumption, the launch ceremony of the 2025 'Shanghai Summer' International Consumption Season was held on July 4 at the West Bund Grand Theater. The event announced ten benchmark activities, nearly 300 customized and key city events, 14 Shanghai Summer themed products, and two themed services to enhance the summer experience for global visitors and help visitors leverage the city's 240-hour visa-free transit policy:
China Eastern Airlines offers 1 million discounted tickets and 100,000 free half-day tours.
Umetrip's HiChina app and Amap's English map enhance travel convenience.
Dianping launches a multilingual 'Shanghai must eat list,' and Marriott International offers exclusive promotions.
UnionPay launched 'Shanghai Summer' themed cards across 12 districts/18 streets/metro/100k+ merchants.
Visa created Payment-Friendly Demonstration Zones for 8 tourism routes, featuring 'Tap to Pay', 'Tap to Ride' (metro), and new payment options.
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank provides easy foreign currency exchange, while Jiushi Group's Shanghai Pass enables seamless city travel.
Ten Benchmark Activities Ignite Shanghai's Summer:
In sports, the Rolex Shanghai Masters (ATP1000) will return on September 29, and the FISE World Series • Shanghai, the world's largest extreme sports festival, will take place in October.
In tourism, the Shanghai Tourism Festival Vacation Summer runs from July 5 to August 31, while Shanghai Disney Resort will feature China's first 'Pixar Wonder' immersive exhibition. LEGO® World Play Day will host a 47-day citywide summer celebration.
In culture, the Shanghai MISA Music Festival will present 29 environmental-themed performances by nearly 300 world-class musicians, while the Shanghai International Light Festival and Shanghai Summer International Anime Month will light up the city with 110+ events.
In fashion, the SS2026 Shanghai Fashion Week will gather over 80,000 industry professionals, including thousands of overseas guests.
Shanghai will host nearly 300 immersive events across historic neighborhoods and landmark riverfronts, blending international art, local pop culture, family activities, and sports. Highlights include POP MART 'POP SUMMER'IP-themed events,' Van Cleef & Arpels 'Poetry of Time' exhibition, LI-NING Streetball League, Yuyuan's 'Fantasy Summer Night,' MAP's 'Shanghai Star' cruise, and the West Bund Grand Theater's 'Wind & Waves' performance season.
Additionally, tax refund services with 14 language guides and electronic channels and the 'Easy Go' one-stop inbound service platform via Alipay International will ensure a smooth and enriching stay.
Through '2025 Shanghai Summer,' the city aims to strengthen its image as a vibrant, visitor-friendly destination while driving inbound tourism and consumption.
Media Contact: Lu, +447463077291media@shanghaisummer.com
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2727549/SHDW_Its_Go_Time.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/prioritizing-korean-guests-2025-shanghai-summer-launches-with-300-cultural-events–enhanced-services-302501288.html
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wonderful Indonesia Rolls Through Berlin: Showcasing Indonesia's Most Iconic Travel Destinations
Wonderful Indonesia Rolls Through Berlin: Showcasing Indonesia's Most Iconic Travel Destinations

Malaysian Reserve

time4 hours ago

  • Malaysian Reserve

Wonderful Indonesia Rolls Through Berlin: Showcasing Indonesia's Most Iconic Travel Destinations

BERLIN, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wonderful Indonesia, the official tourism campaign by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, is bringing a slice of paradise to the streets of Berlin this July. From July 1 to 31, 2025, Indonesian tourism is making a bold statement across the German capital through an Open Bus Tour and Out-of-Home (OOH) campaign, targeting key city hotspots. This initiative aims to bring German tourists closer to Indonesia by showcasing the charm of its Priority Tourism Destinations and Regenerative Destinations, including Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Borobudur (Central Java), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara), and Bali. OOH advertisements can be seen at iconic locations such as Kurfürstendamm, with the open bus campaign covering major routes including KaDeWe Department Store, Lützowplatz, Tiergarten Culture Forum, Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, Gendarmenmarkt, Red Town Hall, Alexanderplatz, Karl-Marx-Allee, East Side Gallery, Neptune Fountain, DomAquarée, Lustgarten, Unter den Linden/Friedrichstraße, Hauptbahnhof, Brandenburg Gate, Victory Column, and Elefantentor. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), international tourist arrivals reached 1.31 million, an increase of 14.01% year-on-year. In May 2025 alone, the number of European visitors totaled 192,235, marking a 1.06% year-to-date growth, with an average length of stay of 17.08 nights. With this momentum, Europe, including Germany, continues to be a highly promising market for Indonesian tourism. Indonesia is targeting over 2.5 million European tourist arrivals in 2025, representing approximately 17.3% of its total international tourism target. From Germany alone, the goal is to reach up to 327,000 visitors. This campaign is a strategic effort by Wonderful Indonesia to strengthen tourism promotion in the European market. It also supports the Ministry of Tourism's flagship programs that emphasize immersive, personal, and authentic travel experiences—ranging from gastronomy and marine tourism to wellness-based tourism. These focus areas were also highlighted by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana during her participation at the world's largest tourism exhibition, Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) Berlin 2025, held this past March. The campaign reflects Wonderful Indonesia's commitment to increasing awareness of Indonesia's sustainable tourism initiatives and inclusive economic growth. It also reinforces Indonesia's readiness to welcome international tourists and families in a safe, warm, and memorable environment. Wonderful Indonesia recognizes that international OOH campaigns such as this play a vital role in enhancing brand visibility and reinforcing Indonesia's image as a welcoming, world-class destination among broader and targeted audiences. 'Out-of-home advertising gives us the opportunity to connect with people in real time, within the flow of their daily lives. By bringing this campaign to a major European city like Berlin, we aim to raise awareness and encourage more travelers to consider Indonesia as their next destination,' Widiyanti, Tourism Minister said. 'This initiative not only highlights our tourism offerings but also plays a role in supporting the recovery and growth of Indonesia's travel industry.' For more information, please visit and follow: Instagram: @wonderfulindonesia TikTok: @wonderfulid Facebook: Wonderful Indonesia YT: @WonderfulIndonesiaOfficial Photo – – View original content:

Humanoid robot says not aiming to 'replace human artists'
Humanoid robot says not aiming to 'replace human artists'

New Straits Times

time4 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Humanoid robot says not aiming to 'replace human artists'

GENEVA: When successful artist Ai-Da unveiled a new portrait of King Charles this week, the humanoid robot described what inspired the layered and complex piece, and insisted it had no plans to "replace" humans. The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a human woman with an expressive, life-like face, large hazel eyes and brown hair cut in a bob. The arms though are unmistakably robotic, with exposed metal, and can be swapped out depending on the art form it is practicing. Late last year, Ai-Da's portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, fetching over US$1 million (RM4.25 million). But as Ai-Da unveiled its latest creation – an oil painting entitled "Algorithm King", conceived using artificial intelligence – the humanoid insisted the work's importance could not be measured in money. "The value of my artwork is to serve as a catalyst for discussions that explore ethical dimensions to new technologies," the robot told AFP at Britain's diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the new portrait of King Charles will be housed. The idea, Ai-Da insisted in a slow, deliberate cadence, was to "foster critical thinking and encourage responsible innovation for more equitable and sustainable futures." Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations' AI for Good summit, Ai-Da, who has done sketches, paintings and sculptures, detailed the methods and inspiration behind the work. "When creating my art, I use a variety of AI algorithms," the robot said. "I start with a basic idea or concept that I want to explore, and I think about the purpose of the art. What will it say?" The humanoid pointed out that "King Charles has used his platform to raise awareness on environmental conservation and interfaith dialog. I have aimed this portrait to celebrate" that, it said, adding that "I hope King Charles will be appreciative of my efforts." Aidan Meller, a specialist in modern and contemporary art, led the team that created Ai-Da in 2019 with artificial intelligence specialists at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham. He told AFP that he had conceived the humanoid robot – named after the world's first computer programmer Ada Lovelace – as an ethical arts project, and not "to replace the painters." Ai-Da agreed. There is "no doubt that AI is changing our world, (including) the art world and forms of human creative expression", the robot acknowledged. But "I do not believe AI or my artwork will replace human artists." Instead, Ai-Da said, the aim was "to inspire viewers to think about how we use AI positively, while remaining conscious of its risks and limitations." Asked if a painting made by a machine could really be considered art, the robot insisted that "my artwork is unique and creative."

Humanoid robot says not aiming to ‘replace human artists'
Humanoid robot says not aiming to ‘replace human artists'

The Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Sun

Humanoid robot says not aiming to ‘replace human artists'

GENEVA: When successful artist Ai-Da unveiled a new portrait of King Charles this week, the humanoid robot described what inspired the layered and complex piece, and insisted it had no plans to 'replace' humans. The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a human woman with an expressive, life-like face, large hazel eyes and brown hair cut in a bob. The arms though are unmistakably robotic, with exposed metal, and can be swapped out depending on the art form it is practicing. Late last year, Ai-Da's portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, fetching over $1 million. But as Ai-Da unveiled its latest creation -- an oil painting entitled 'Algorithm King', conceived using artificial intelligence -- the humanoid insisted the work's importance could not be measured in money. 'The value of my artwork is to serve as a catalyst for discussions that explore ethical dimensions to new technologies,' the robot told AFP at Britain's diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the new portrait of King Charles will be housed. The idea, Ai-Da insisted in a slow, deliberate cadence, was to 'foster critical thinking and encourage responsible innovation for more equitable and sustainable futures'. 'Unique and creative' Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations' AI for Good summit, Ai-Da, who has done sketches, paintings and sculptures, detailed the methods and inspiration behind the work. 'When creating my art, I use a variety of AI algorithms,' the robot said. 'I start with a basic idea or concept that I want to explore, and I think about the purpose of the art. What will it say?' The humanoid pointed out that 'King Charles has used his platform to raise awareness on environmental conservation and interfaith dialog. I have aimed this portrait to celebrate' that, it said, adding that 'I hope King Charles will be appreciative of my efforts'. Aidan Meller, a specialist in modern and contemporary art, led the team that created Ai-Da in 2019 with artificial intelligence specialists at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham. He told AFP that he had conceived the humanoid robot -- named after the world's first computer programmer Ada Lovelace -- as an ethical arts project, and not 'to replace the painters'. Ai-Da agreed. There is 'no doubt that AI is changing our world, (including) the art world and forms of human creative expression', the robot acknowledged. But 'I do not believe AI or my artwork will replace human artists'. Instead, Ai-Da said, the aim was 'to inspire viewers to think about how we use AI positively, while remaining conscious of its risks and limitations'. Asked if a painting made by a machine could really be considered art, the robot insisted that 'my artwork is unique and creative'. 'Whether humans decide it is art is an important and interesting point of conversation.' - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store