On April 24, Shanghai was abloom with spring as the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Festival took place. The city transformed into a sea of flowers, with the main urban venue and various sub-venues each showcasing their own beauty.

At the Huangpu main urban venue of the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Festival, a garden named “Love · New Life,” centered on the theme “Praise of Life · Source of First Intentions,” integrated medical humanistic care into the urban public space, attracting many passersby to stop and admire.

The “Love · New Life” garden, jointly created by the Huangpu District Greenery and City Appearance Administration Bureau and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, was visited. The garden uses flowers to link five themes: Departure, Birth, New Life, Breaking the Cocoon, and Blooming, forming a complete narrative of life growth. The hospital’s director explained that the garden’s design uses floral art to visualize the process of life gestation, allowing people to appreciate the wonder and preciousness of life while enjoying the flowers.

Life begins with a tiny cell. At the garden’s entrance, pink bubbles floating among the flowers visualize the initial throbbing and enveloping sensation of life. New life “departs” from here. As visitors stroll through the “Birth” area, a space of graceful hanging plants, a private corner surrounded by rose walls contains a kaleidoscope-like seed installation, symbolizing the starting point of life. In the “New Life” section, a wall of children’s paintings titled “Children Have Something to Say” casts a colorful world of childlike innocence under light and shadow. These creative artworks were inspired by children who, after listening to the hospital’s themed science lectures, learned about the wonderful process of maternal gestation and the story of life’s beginning, then used their imagination to create them. In the “Breaking the Cocoon” area, a sound installation captures a baby’s first cry, the first call of “Mom,” and the powerful sound of a fetal heartbeat. In the “Blooming” area, a giant opening and closing flower art installation slowly opens and closes its petals, depicting the process of life from gestation to free growth.

Inside the garden, seed papers are occasionally distributed to visitors, embedded with sunflower seeds. Sunflowers symbolize sunshine and hope, representing new life and growth toward the light. The garden exhibition will continue until May 10. After that, some exhibits will be moved to the hospital to continue spreading beauty and warmth.

As one of the sub-venues of the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Festival, the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden features various orchids in bloom. An orchid diversity exhibition themed “Maritime · Orchid Charm” gathers rare orchid resources from around the world, offering a feast for orchid enthusiasts. The exhibition showcases about 60 genera and 260 species (including varieties) of orchids, totaling about 17,000 plants, covering rare resources from Asia, America, Africa, and Oceania. Over 20 species of nationally first-class protected and CITES Appendix I endangered orchids, such as Cypripedium flavum, Cypripedium candidum, and Cypripedium wenshanense, along with over 80 species of nationally second-class protected orchids, are on display simultaneously, providing a visual feast.

Central African Angraecum sesquipedale on display at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden.

In the Southeast Asian orchid charm exhibition area, Asian tropical epiphytic orchids are the core, combined with Southeast Asian styles to present unique landscapes: Songkran Orchid Ode, Vanda Future, and Rainforest Orchid Language. The Songkran Orchid Ode landscape mainly features Vanda and Mokara orchids, integrating Thai Songkran festival culture to showcase life’s resilience. The Vanda Future landscape tells the story of the birth of the Vanda ‘Miss Joaquim’ using the mother plant of Singapore’s national flower, blending technology to depict urban ecology. The Rainforest Orchid Language landscape restores the Indonesian rainforest ecosystem, displaying native orchids and species diversity while conveying conservation awareness.

The Yangpu Fux

Shanghai

Shanghai is a major global financial hub and one of China’s most populous cities, located on the eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Its history as a trading port began in the 19th century, and it became a key center for foreign concession settlements, which shaped its unique blend of Eastern and Western architecture. From its rise as a commercial powerhouse in the early 20th century to its modern status as a leading economic and cultural metropolis, Shanghai is known for landmarks like the Bund and the futuristic Pudong skyline.

Huangpu main urban venue

The Huangpu main urban venue refers to the central exhibition area of the Huangpu District in Shanghai, a key location for major events such as the China International Import Expo. Historically, Huangpu has been a vital commercial and cultural hub since Shanghai’s opening as a treaty port in the 19th century, blending colonial-era architecture with modern urban development. Today, it serves as a dynamic showcase of Shanghai’s economic vitality and global connectivity.

Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden

The Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, located in Songjiang District, is one of China’s largest and most modern botanical gardens, officially opened to the public in 2010. Its history is tied to the nearby Chenshan Hill, a historic site with ancient quarries and a Buddhist temple dating back to the Tang Dynasty, which were integrated into the garden’s design. The garden features a striking greenhouse complex, diverse plant collections, and a focus on conservation and education.

Southeast Asian orchid charm exhibition area

The Southeast Asian orchid charm exhibition area showcases the region’s rich diversity of orchids, highlighting their cultural and economic significance. Historically, orchids have been cultivated in Southeast Asia for centuries, prized for their beauty and used in traditional ceremonies. The exhibit features rare species and hybrids, offering visitors insight into the region’s botanical heritage and ongoing conservation efforts.

Songkran Orchid Ode

Songkran Orchid Ode is a cultural celebration in Thailand that combines the traditional Thai New Year festival, Songkran, with the beauty of orchids, which are a national symbol. The event typically features orchid displays, parades, and water-related festivities, honoring both the flower’s significance in Thai culture and the cleansing rituals of Songkran. Its history is rooted in modern tourism and cultural promotion, aiming to highlight Thailand’s floral heritage alongside the ancient water festival.

Vanda Future

Vanda Future is a sustainable, self-sufficient research station located in Antarctica, operated by India. Established in 2012, it serves as a base for studying climate change, glaciology, and renewable energy technologies in extreme conditions. The station is named after Vanda, a nearby lake, and represents India’s commitment to advanced polar research and environmental monitoring.

Rainforest Orchid Language

“Rainforest Orchid Language” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a poetic or metaphorical phrase. It could refer to the unique, intricate communication methods found in nature, such as the ways orchids and other rainforest flora interact with pollinators through scent, color, and shape. Alternatively, it might symbolize the rich, hidden knowledge of indigenous cultures living in rainforest regions, where plant names and uses form a complex language passed down through generations.

Yangpu Fux

“Yangpu Fux” likely refers to the Yangpu Waterfront area in Shanghai, China, a historic industrial zone along the Huangpu River. Once home to large-scale textile mills and factories during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has been revitalized into a cultural and creative hub featuring museums, parks, and preserved industrial architecture. The site now serves as a popular destination that blends Shanghai’s industrial heritage with modern urban renewal.