The Panlong Tiandi urban complex, a renewal and upgrade of the ancient Panlong town in Qingpu district, is hosting a 12-day cultural extravaganza called the Xinsheng Festival, which revives traditional Mid-Autumn Festival customs with a modern twist.

The event, which opens from Sept 6 to 17, is part of the Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season and features over 90 performances, 15 workshops, a lantern-lit four-day long-table banquet, and the participation of more than 50 brands.

On Sept 6, guzheng or plucked zither artist Chang Jing gave a resonating performance with soulful melodies at the Yuz Museum, presenting the ancient cultural heritage of the Book of Songs in a new way that listeners said transcended time and space.

A captivating guzheng performance at the Xinsheng Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: iloveqingpu]

The highlight of the festival is the upcoming long-table feast from Sept 14 to 17. Breaking geographical boundaries, the reunion feast will be moved from indoors to Jiangnan streets for the first time.

People enjoy a festive banquet at the Xinsheng Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: iloveqingpu]

Eight representative Mid-Autumn dishes from various cuisines will be served, with tables stretching hundreds of meters along the street. Red silk curtains and the clinking of cups will evoke cultural memories that have lasted for thousands of years.

More than 15 workshops will invite cultural enthusiasts to exchange ideas on topics such as tea and wine, silk and embroidery, and lanterns and wooden beam scales.

Activities will include rabbit lantern making, bamboo plaiting workshops, rice cake crafting, harvest experiences, and reading events.

Folk musicians will present multiple performances during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Sept 15 to 17, while over 90 public art performances – including quartets, ballet dances, and a cappella singing pop-up renditions – will be staged, adding beautiful melodies to the poetic ambiance of Panlong's streets, pavilions, and bridges.

A bazaar featuring food and goods from across the country will allow people to taste traditional Jiangnan delicacies such as Qingpu Zhuanggao – a glutinous rice cake – Jiangnan green plums and Shaoxing yellow rice wine.

Visitors can also take in traditional Jiangnan crafts such as cloisonne enamel work, kesi or silk tapestry work, and ancient fragrance making from Sept 15 to 17.

A guest engages in wine tasting at the Xinsheng Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: iloveqingpu]

The Xinsheng Festival adheres to the concept that "tradition is creation", drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese festival customs, blending the beauty of traditional culture with contemporary lifestyles, and reshaping the sense of ritual associated with traditional festivals.