As one of Hongkou District's cultural landmarks, Tian'ai Road has long been known as "the most romantic road in Shanghai" among young people.
On the morning of August 9, the "Sea of Love" was officially launched, with the iconic romantic road sign permanently placed aboard the "Blue Dream" cruise ship, adding a new dimension of "sweet industry" to the cruise experience.
Coinciding with the Qixi Festival, the event featured a special "sweet" ceremony where 11 couples unfurled handcrafted wedding books, filling the air with a palpable sense of joy and romance.
One of the newlyweds, surnamed Hu, shared their excitement, expressing that this ceremony symbolizes their aspirations and commitment to a happy life together.
In recent years, Hongkou District has leveraged the "love" theme of Tian'ai Road to develop the "sweet industry," installing love-themed postboxes, cafes, and setting up romantic wedding photography spots.
The launch of the "Sea of Love" from the North Bund is not only part of the inaugural Shanghai International Cruise Festival but also represents an innovative step in the district's industrial development.
Hongkou, renowned as the birthplace of modern cruise industries in mainland China, is now focusing on creating a "cruise+" industrial chain, integrating the cruise sector with other industries like the "sweet industry."
This fusion aims to expand the customer base for cruises and enhance commercial offerings, while also enriching the "sweet industry" with new venues and activities.
This year, several cruise ships, including the "Blue Dream" and "Centurion Legend," have docked at the North Bund, further establishing the North Bund cruise terminal as Shanghai's maritime gateway.
To promote the synergy between the two industries, the "Sea of Love Industry Alliance" was also launched, comprising members from cruise, wedding services, photography, cosmetics, fashion, and alcohol industries.
Additionally, the event saw the unveiling of the "Sail the World" personalized stamps, featuring various iconic cruise ships and landmarks, symbolizing Shanghai's vibrant cruise culture.