Louis Vuitton’s landmark “The Louis” in Jing’an District is a magnificent, boat-shaped facility that combines luxury retail and immersive culture. It is the brand’s first three-story building, spanning 1,600 square meters.
The sleek silver structure, located outside the HKRI Taikoo Hui, is reminiscent of both a ship’s prow and the iconic Louis Vuitton travel trunk, reflecting the brand’s 19th-century heritage and Shanghai’s legacy as a global commerce hub. Visitors are greeted by an eye-catching Monogrammed hull and layers of what appear to be stacked trunks, establishing the tone for a venue that values exploration and craftsmanship.
Inside, the first two floors are dedicated to “Visionary Journeys,” a comprehensive exhibition with over 140 artifacts ranging from vintage baggage and historical sketches to statement apparel and modern purses.
The second floor features a Louis Vuitton boutique, while the top floor is home to Le Café Louis Vuitton, an elegant establishment that serves luxurious pastries and drinks.
Yao Lei, director of the Jing’an Commerce Commission, said the project reflects three trends: global brands’ confidence in the Chinese market, younger generations’ growing demand for immersive, culturally rich experiences, and Jing’an’s status as a magnet for high-end brands. More than 2,000 prominent domestic and international brands, 70 percent of which are foreign, have opened on Nanjing Road W.
Yao cites “The Louis” as a case study in speed and efficiency. The project progressed from concept to completion in three months, with permissions and construction taking less than 10 weeks, demonstrating Shanghai’s simplified government and business-friendly environment.
Jing’an’s expanding significance in Shanghai’s “debut economy,” which promotes firms to launch innovative experiences and concepts, is reflected in the flagship. In the first five months of this year, the district witnessed the opening of 59 stores, including 14 national flagships. Over the past five years, Jing’an has seen 1,186 first stores, including 21 global and 17 Asia launches. It had 234 new first stores in 2024, the most in Shanghai.
Retail and culture thrive in Jing’an. The district has staged over 100 themed events since early 2025, attracting 20 million visitors and 14.3 billion yuan (US$2 billion) in economic activity. As an “International Consumption Center” and “Global New-Launch Demonstration Zone,” the area attracts major fashion, cuisine, and tech brands.
This includes “The Quest,” an immersive display by Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, which recently opened in Zhangyuan to mark the company’s 270th anniversary and 75 years of Sino-Swiss diplomatic ties.
The exhibition, which is part of the city’s “Shanghai Summer” international consumption season, spans seven themed rooms and includes over 100 unique timepieces, including commissions from 19th-century Chinese collectors. A standout is the Louvre cooperation line, which features watches inspired by ancient Egyptian, Roman, Persian, and Greek art. Guests can even design their own star maps using an interactive “celestial” display.
This summer, Jing’an is also experiencing a surge in music and pop culture. The 2025 Jing’an Music Festival, which began on July 8, has included a diverse range of genres in venues around the area, from riverside jazz to downtown electronica.
The festival’s opening night featured Hong Kong singer Karen Tong, Shanghai pop artist Yuan Chengjie, and renowned Kunqu opera performer Zhang Jun.
Another standout moment was the “Waterfront Light & Shadow Live” at Suzhou Creek, where projections of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies danced to live jazz under the open sky.
Beyond the big stages, pop-up performances continue across Jing’an’s malls and plazas, from lunchtime concerts at Citic Square and evening dance sets at Life Hub@Daning to alfresco jazz at Fengshengli and temple-side gigs near Jing’an Temple.
On the pop culture front, Jing’an Joy City has teamed up with Bilibili to bring “Joy Universe,” transforming the mall into a paradise for ACG (anime, comic, and games) fans.
More than 30 IPs are making their national debut through themed pop-ups, including Detective Conan, World of Warcraft, Bleach, and Sakamoto Days. Upcoming appearances by top-tier anime characters, musical artists, hit dramas, and major game brands are expected to draw huge crowds and drive retail buzz.
Late last month, 65-year-old Yang Benshan arrived early at the newly constructed Pengyi residential complex on Wenxi Road in Jing’an District. Despite the sweltering heat, his excitement was palpable — he was finally coming home. Yang is one of the first 2,110 households to receive keys to their newly renovated apartments as part of the Pengyi housing redevelopment, the largest project of its kind in Shanghai.
The move marks the culmination of an ambitious effort to transform aging, overcrowded homes — once shared by multiple families with communal kitchens and bathrooms — into modern, livable spaces. An outdated workers’ village has now been transformed into a vibrant, well-equipped neighborhood with contemporary facilities.
Originally built in 1958, the Pengyi complex in Pengpu Xincun was a hub for workers in mid-20th-century Shanghai. Like many others of its time, the apartments were cramped and lacked basic infrastructure. "I was born in Pengyi and have lived in Pengpu all my life," Yang recalled. "In the past, our family lived in about 26 square meters, sharing a kitchen and bathroom with another family."
In 2021, after years of waiting, Yang temporarily moved to an apartment on Baode Road while the redevelopment project began. Now, he’s back in a new two-bedroom unit featuring a private kitchen and bathroom, as well as a balcony with unobstructed views. Compared to his old apartment, the new home offers more space and modern amenities, including a larger kitchen and extra storage.
Yang is already planning renovations to make the most of his new space. He plans to fit a full-sized refrigerator in the kitchen and partition the larger bedroom into a small living room. By the end of the year, he and his wife, along with his elderly mother, will settle into their new home.
The redevelopment of Pengyi began in May 2019 with public consultations, followed by the demolition of all 41 old buildings by November 2021. The project then moved forward quickly — construction began in December 2021, with apartment selections made in September 2024. By June 29, 2025, all residents had received their keys.
The new complex consists of 17 elevator-equipped mid- and high-rise buildings, offering over 1,600 parking spaces in a two-level underground garage. The area also features green spaces, tree-lined walkways, and a children’s play area. Nearby, a six-story nursing home with 172 beds and a community service center are under construction, further enhancing the area’s facilities.
This transformation is part of a larger, ongoing urban renewal effort in the Pengpu Xincun Subdistrict. Over the past two decades, the area has undergone comprehensive renovations that have benefited more than 4,900 households.
The redevelopment of Pengyi signifies the completion of this long-term project, which began in 2005 and included the upgrading of 102 old residential units across Pengwu, Pengqi, Pengsan, and Pengyi.
The project introduced the "Pengpu Model," which strikes a balance between infrastructure improvements and cultural preservation. For example, it carefully protected and relocated historical elements, such as old fortresses, to maintain the area’s heritage.
Jing’an remains committed to advancing its urban renewal initiatives in the coming years. By 2032, the district plans to complete the renovation of all non-self-contained employee housing, further reinforcing its commitment to creating a "people-centered" city.
With the opening of Louis Vuitton’s new landmark “The Louis,” HKRI Taikoo Hui has kicked off its summer season. Central to the celebration is “Ocean Encounters,” a cross-cultural art initiative created in partnership with Meta Media, featuring artists from China, the UK and Japan.
The project transforms the busy complex into a vast seascape, positioning the venue as a global cultural hub where art fosters connections between people, cities and nature.
British artist Liam Gillick showcases “Perpetual Discussion Platforms,” a minimalist installation of four colorful acrylic platforms inviting visitors to explore human relationships and social tensions.
Japanese artist Nobuaki Takekawa presents “Galley in the Age of Great Knowledge,” a boat-shaped piece inspired by the Age of Discovery, symbolizing humanity’s search for meaning amid a sea of ideas.
Chinese visual pioneer Chen Tianzhuo’s large-scale “Ocean Whisper” spans four escalator zones with immersive installations representing sea creatures — a nautilus, sea slug, giant squid and sea butterfly — inviting viewers to reconnect with their inner vitality through ecological storytelling.
A group of teenagers from Europe and the US spent 15 days in Shanghai’s Jing’an District, immersing themselves in local culture. They visited heritage brands Longfeng Qipao and Lei Yun Shang, tried dragon dancing and shadow puppetry at Qiyi High School, practiced calligraphy, and lived with local families — deepening cross-cultural understanding through hands-on experience.
Yanfu Park has reopened after a six-month upgrade, transforming a simple green space into Jint’an’s first "habitat garden" urban park.
Located at the intersection of Yan’an Road E. and Fumin Road, the 6,800-square-meter park now features more than 1,000 native plants, including crape myrtle and hibiscus, creating a layered, biodiverse landscape. It has shaded walkways, a children’s zone, scenic terrace, and eco-friendly highlights such as a self-cleaning pond, insect hotel, and dry stream bed.
Wildlife is returning — hedgehogs and white wagtails were spotted in the first week — making the park a new hotspot for nature lovers and urban biodiversity research.
Daning Park's annual lotus-themed summer fair started this month. With over 10,000 square meters of lotus ponds in full bloom, the park offers a dreamy backdrop of pink-and-white bowl lotuses glistening in the rain. A creative market set amid the lotus greenery offers family-friendly fun, shopping perks and shaded spots to relax. By night, a music fountain show featuring fire and water dazzles visitors.
Jing'an has kicked off its 2025 summer care program for primary school students, welcoming over 1,300 children across 41 sites in the district. More than 500 volunteers are leading hands-on classes that blend traditional culture and modern science - from making scented sachets and playing with traditional toys to watching science experiments. The program offers fun, educational experiences while easing summer childcare challenges for working parents, standing out as a key community initiative in Jing'an.
