Once a year, Shanghai enters its warmest and most atmospheric season. Crowded streets glow with festive lights, towering illuminated trees brighten the skyline, and the comforting scent of mulled wine drifts through the cold air.

These familiar signals announce the arrival of the city's winter and festive market season, when Shanghai becomes lively and irresistibly magical.

Christkindlmarkt Shanghai

The winter market at Rockbund is often regarded as the most international in Shanghai. Set among historic century-old buildings, it combines classical European architecture with German-style wooden stalls, creating the illusion of stepping into an old European film.

A beautifully lit retro carousel spins gently at the heart of the market, offering a rare sense of childlike joy found nowhere else in the city. Nutcracker figures, symbols of good fortune in European folklore, appear throughout the venue, quietly enhancing the fairytale atmosphere.

Most stalls in this market sell food, making it a global culinary hub. Visitors naturally gather around barrel-shaped tables to enjoy warm dishes and drinks, while handcrafted goods and design stalls line the quieter ends of the market. It seamlessly blends indulgence, nostalgia, and relaxed socializing.

Date: November 26-December 28

Venue: Rockbund 洛克外滩源

Address: Yuanmingyuan Rd Pedestrian Street & Beijing Rd E. | 黄浦区圆明园路步行街,北京东路

JAKC "Music in Motion" Rotating Carnival

Just steps from Jing'an Temple Station, this winter carnival plunges visitors into festive excitement. Nordic-style angel figures fill the space, dancing, playing trumpets, and squeezing accordions as if preparing for a long winter celebration. Their lively presence brings charm and motion to every corner of the market.

The centerpiece is Shanghai's only 20-meter-tall rotating festive tree, which slowly turns while crowds gather below with raised phones. The food stalls are constantly busy, with the air filled by the fruity aroma of mulled wine and the comforting smell of fried snacks. Freshly made dorayaki pancakes are especially popular, warm and soft in hand, and simply offer pleasure against the winter chill.

Date: December 5, 2025-January 1, 2026

Venue: Jing'an Kerry Center (JAKC) 静安嘉里中心

Address: 1515 Nanjing Rd W. | 静安区南京西路1515号

Paulaner Christkindlmarkt

Classic and beloved, the Paulaner Christkindlmarkt is in its 19th year. One of the best views of the city is from an open-air terrace, where Lujiazui's towers and the Bund's illuminated buildings seem almost touching. After sunset, the city lights illuminate the river in a moving panorama.

Holding a cup of steaming mulled wine here feels essential. Infused with citrus and spices, it warms both hands and heart, perfectly matching the calm yet celebratory atmosphere. The combination of city views, winter flavors, and gentle music makes this market especially memorable.

Date: December 5-December 28

Venue: Paulaner Wirtshaus North Bund | 宝莱纳北外滩店

Address: 500 Dongdaming Rd | 虹口区东大名路500号

Panlong Waterfront Ice & Fire Wish Season

Panlong Tiandi showcases one of the most distinctive winter scenes in Shanghai, featuring a festive tree that rises directly from the water. Its reflection ripples softly on the surface, blending bridges, wreaths, and lights into a dreamlike vision where reality and fantasy seem to merge. Every angle feels designed for photography, and every step offers a new perspective.

The experience extends beyond the market itself. Visitors can glide across a large outdoor real-ice skating rink set on open green land, feeling speed and freedom under the winter sky. Afterward, the cozy Winter Wish Town invites guests to slow down, where soft lights, warm decorations, and even gentle deer encounters create a peaceful contrast to the excitement.

Date: November 27, 2025-January 11, 2026

Venue: Panlong Tiandi 蟠龙天地

Address: No. 8, Lane 123, Panding Rd | 青浦区蟠鼎路123弄8号

Admission: 50 yuan (Free entry to children up to the age of 10)

Winter Wonder Bund

The romance of West Bund reveals itself quietly, often while strolling along the Huangpu River. Seasonal decorations appear throughout the area, but the most eye-catching feature is a brightly lit pink landmark tree glowing against the night. The bright color gives the riverside scene a dreamlike quality.

The most breathtaking scene, however, lies within the dock area. Stepping inside feels like entering an endless river of stars, where rows of glowing six-pointed lights stretch into the distance. Known by visitors as Shanghai's "Angel Street," the scene shifts dramatically from deep blue dusk to full night darkness, offering two distinct yet equally stunning moods. An open-air skating rink beneath the sky completes this immersive winter experience.

Date: November 20, 2025-January 4, 2026

Venue: Gate M West Bund Dream Center 西岸梦中心

Address: 2266 Longteng Ave, Xuhui District 徐汇区龙腾大道2266号

Qiantan Starlight Kingdom

Qiantan blends fantasy installations with playful lighting to create a glowing Starlight Kingdom that feels straight out of a storybook. Every corner invites photos, with dreamy structures reflecting light and color across the space.

For many visitors, the highlight lies in the limited-time Chocolate Festival. As Shanghai's first chocolate-themed festive market, it gathers dozens of brands in one place, turning the venue into a paradise for dessert lovers filled with rich aromas and creative sweetness.

Date: December 1-March 6, 2026

Venue: Qiantan Park Lane 前滩公园巷

Address: 12 Qianjiatan Rd | 钱家滩路12号

LIVAT Nordic Snow Festival

LIVAT transforms itself entirely for the winter season, bringing a Nordic snow kingdom into the city. From indoor spaces to open rooftops, every level is designed for exploration and photography, creating the feeling of walking through a winter film set.

The core winter market runs for a full month, where wooden stalls serve warm drinks, handcrafted desserts, and carefully designed lifestyle items. Seasonal performances and themed activities make the venue immersive and continuous.

Date: December (Weekends & Special Dates)

Venue: LIVAT 上海荟聚

Address: 788 Jinzhong Rd | 金钟路788号

Hongqiao Light & Shadow Market

Hongqiao Tiandi's Light & Shadow Market will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a festive new look. Wooden chalets make up the market, and large-scale light installations add drama.

Snowfall, themed parades, roaming performers, and regular activities keep the season lively. Shanghai's winter market concludes splendidly, with each visit being unique.

Date: November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026

Venue: Hongqiao Tiandi 虹桥天地

Address: 33 Shaohong Rd | 闵行区绍虹路33号

XINTIANDI Skication Dongtai Roaming Festive Market

Newly opened on historic Dongtai Road, Xintiandi Dongtaili brings a fresh winter-night destination into the city, blending local heritage with a modern lifestyle scene. As evening falls, the celebration comes alive beneath a spectacular 6,500㎡ panoramic canopy, where an immersive "Aurora & Snow Town" lights up in shifting colors and glowing winter details.

Echoing the surrounding festive performances, the Dongtai Roaming Festive Market opens warmly for an eight-day celebration, transforming the area into a cozy snow-themed market scene. Nearly thirty carefully selected brands gather within the market, where wooden cabins and soft, warm lighting weave together a distinctly comforting winter atmosphere.

From handcrafted floral works and scented accessories to warming drinks and thoughtfully designed lifestyle goods, every corner offers sparks of seasonal inspiration and small discoveries that invite visitors to slow down and explore.

Date: December 16-January 11

Venue: Xintiandi Dongtaili 新天地东台里

Address: 111 Ji'an Rd | 吉安路111号

Jiashan Lane Holiday Market

The Jiashan Lane Holiday Market is a cozy Christmas gathering filled with festive flavors and childlike wonder. As bells echo through the narrow streets, the air carries the sweet scent of honey waffles, instantly signaling the arrival of a classic Christmas market atmosphere. Designed as a warm, neighborhood-style celebration, the market invites visitors to step into a space where Christmas cheer, food, and simple joy come together naturally.

The market centers around seasonal treats and playful experiences. Freshly made honey waffles, hot chicken wraps, warming Christmas drinks, specialty coffee, and holiday baked goods create a comforting winter feast. Children and families can enjoy festive face painting, while handcrafted ornaments, jewelry, scented candles, and Christmas decorations offer meaningful gifts to take home. Throughout the market, live Christmas carol performances fill the lanes with familiar melodies, encouraging visitors to sing along and fully immerse themselves in the festive spirit.

Date: December 20-21, 12pm-6pm

Venue: Jiashan Lane Market 嘉善老市

Address: No.37, Lane 259, Jiashan Rd | 嘉善路259弄37号