Shanghai Binggang: Recommended Lantern Festival and Light Show for National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival

A Wonderful Blend of Century-Old Alleys and the Silk Road

I stepped onto a tile right after getting off the subway at the Sichuan North Road Line 10, and as I looked up, I saw that row of old Shikumen houses on Wujin Road split in half by a “time tunnel”—century-old Haipai alleys and thousand-year Dunhuang murals actually sharing the same frame. The snake-themed installation that went viral last year is still there, but this time it’s got a chubby jade rabbit by its side, keeping watch over the rooftop like a guardian, and if you’re not careful, you might step right into someone else's picture.

I arrived half an hour early, and by 6:45 PM, there was already a line at the alley's entrance. The staff handed me a little lantern-shaped check-in map with a route marked on the back: from the Wujin Road entrance → Dunhuang Light Wall → Flying Apsaras Interactive Area → Silk Road Market → Rooftop Rabbit Lantern → Exit. The map isn’t big, but every step is marked with a photo spot, which is super friendly for socially anxious folks.

A Lantern Festival and Activity Feast

First, I headed to pet the rooftop rabbit. It was lying on the old villa’s ridge, with its belly glowing like a warm yellow moon, you can see it from the Sichuan North Road street corner. An aunt nearby said, “Last year was the dragon cubs, this year it’s a rabbit; will it be a panda next year?” I took a couple of snaps, framing the rabbit's ears along with the three towers of Lujiazui in the background, the magical vibe of Shanghai shot right up.

As I walked inside, the alleys were adorned with hexagonal lanterns, featuring silhouettes of flying apsaras, nine-colored deer, and Hu Xuan dance; when the wind blew, the shadows danced on the blue brick walls, like giving the old walls a layer of dynamic wallpaper. I counted—in a lane less than 200 meters long, there were a whopping 88 lanterns. The official reason behind this? The pun on "fa fa," which works for us Shanghai locals.

Market stalls were squeezed into the side alleys, with Dunhuang themes taking the center stage: Mogao ice cream, Flying Apsaras blind boxes, and nine-colored deer tattoos, priced from 15 to 89. I bought a “Cave 220” limited ice cream; it was strawberry-flavored and melted all over my hands in just 5 minutes of taking pictures, so I quickly gobbled it down and lined up to see the light show.

Immersive Light Show

By 7:25 PM, the Flying Apsaras Light Wall was packed inside and out. I managed to snag a spot in the second row, right in front of the projection wall, but my height advantage was gone, and I had to hold my phone above my head. At exactly 7:30 PM, all the lights went out, and the wall "ripped" open, letting out a stream of golden flowing sand, the 3D effect so lifelike that the kids next to me reached out to grab it.

The show lasts 20 minutes and is divided into three segments:

1. Wall Painting Revival: Flying ribbons whipped out of the wall synchronized with the drum beats, creating a gust of wind that flipped my bangs.
2. Silk Road Caravan: Silhouettes of camels, Hu people, and musical instruments dashed across the tops of the alleys, look up and you’re under a starry sky and desert.
3. Interactive Egg: In the last minute, the projection prompts, “Turn on your flashlight and wave,” and as the whole audience shines their phone lights, the wall turns into a sea of golden flowers, even the socially anxious couldn’t help but wave.

According to the official info, from October 1 to 4, there’s a show twice a day (7:30 PM/8:30 PM). I stayed for the second show after watching the first one and found that the second show had way fewer people, probably because everyone went out to eat. Fellow sisters who know about avoiding the crowd will get what I mean!

Practical Information and Travel Guide

I've packed the potential pitfalls I encountered into a handy guide, just copy and you can slide right in:

I left at 9:15 PM, took the subway back to Xujiahui, and still made it to the 10 PM fitness class, timing was spot on. In one sentence: don’t bring the whole family and arrive right on the dot; half an hour early is the most comfortable.

After that, it’s all about enjoying the early autumn breeze in Shanghai, gazing at the flying apsaras in the old wall, and letting the rabbit lantern guard you into a night of sweet dreams.