A vibrant celebration of music, art, and romance officially opened at the INLET in Hongkou District on May 20, marking the start of the “Sweet Love Season,” a citywide cultural campaign that will continue through the end of June.
Hosted at Life Hub @ Bund Central, the event kicked off with the first of 23 themed concerts in a rooftop spectacle that combined classical music, dance, and light under the evening sky.
As night fell over the INLET, 36 giant pink heart-shaped installations lit up the rooftops of the historic shikumen, or the city’s unique stone-gate alleyways, casting a warm glow across the open square.
A string quartet began performing from a rooftop stage, and a spotlight followed dancers who glided through the plaza below.
The immersive performance opened the curtain on the “Haipai in Motion: A Season of Sweet Stars,” a seasonal campaign blending Shanghai’s cultural heritage with modern lifestyle experiences.
The event introduced the “Sweet Love Corridor,” a four-story terraced walkway designed as a romantic urban trail.
As visitors ascend the pathway, they take in sweeping views of the INLET’s 66 preserved historic buildings.
The heart installations appear to rise directly from the rooftops, creating a striking and whimsical skyline.
The corridor is also home to the “Sweet Galaxy Art Exhibition,” which centers on themes of love and fuses Haipai architectural motifs with contemporary art, injecting new vitality into the century-old urban landscape.
The opening night concert featured 10 young artists who performed over ten Chinese and international classics, including “City of Stars,” “One Step Away,” and “Autumn Glance.”
The performance spanned multiple levels and architectural forms—rooftops, arcades, courtyards, and terraces—woven together through music, lighting, and movement.
The Sweet Love Corridor served as the best vantage point for the audience, offering a dual sensory experience of sight and sound that immersed viewers in the romance of Shanghai.
The corridor is not only a performance space but also a new urban destination. Its curved design, green plant walls, and ambient lighting invite both daytime and nighttime visits.
Visitors paused on the terrace to photograph the blend of old alleyways and modern art, while many couples toasted to the evening on the rooftop patio.
The scenery, described as “time travel through a century,” has quickly become a favorite backdrop for social media.
The Life Hub @ Bund Central is capitalizing on the momentum of the “sweet economy” by turning the Sweet Love Corridor into a core venue that combines entertainment, retail, dining, and lifestyle offerings.
Music, dance, pets, cycling, immersive dining, and gift shops are brought together into a holistic consumer experience.
The goal is to establish the INLET as one of Shanghai’s top romantic destinations for dates, celebrations, and cultural outings.
Over the next six weeks, the venue will host a variety of experiences themed around “Experience: Artistic Encounters,” “Immersion: Musical Love Notes,” and “Crossovers: Dimensional Fantasies.”
Concerts will take place each week with different themes. Additional attractions include the “Pink Paw Prints” pet fair by Da Wang Pet Store, a Dragon Boat Festival food market titled “Sweet and Savory Nonstop,” rotating cultural and creative markets, and the 20th Shanghai Wine Festival.
The Xinglin Universe venue will continue to stage concerts and theatrical performances. Jeep Exploration Base will present the “Mega Earth Book Fair,” an interactive urban adventure that connects exploration with literature and city life.
Family-friendly activities are also on the calendar, including pet birthday parties, children’s tennis clinics, parent-child sports events, and traditional handcraft workshops.
These diverse offerings aim to encourage residents and tourists alike to engage more deeply with local culture and to explore the INLET’s unique blend of heritage and innovation.
In conjunction with the city’s “Double Five Shopping Festival,” Life Hub @ Bund Central will launch additional themed events for upcoming holidays such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Children’s Day, and the Summer Solstice.
These include exhibitions, markets, performances, and DIY workshops. Organizers aim to use the synergy of culture, tourism, business, sports, and exhibitions to activate new consumption scenes and transform ticket stubs into powerful economic drivers.
By reimagining a historic neighborhood through a lens of romance, creativity, and interactivity, the Sweet Love Season is redefining what it means to celebrate culture in a modern metropolis.
As a showcase of Haipai style and spirit, the INLET is writing a new chapter in Shanghai’s story—one where tradition meets passion, and the past glows brightly alongside the future.