Ever thought of a shot of yourself on the sky bridge by the West Lake?
The Culture and Commerce Group of Shangcheng District just rolled out a fresh way to snatch memories. Partnering with Heiba and Wasu, they launched the “West Lake Spotlight” program - a fun, interactive experience where anyone can shine on the big screen at Xizi Sky Bridge. Here’s how it works: Snap a photo, upload it via the official mini-app, pay a small fee, and a 15-second self-shot reel will get pictured during the weekend slots (12 PM, 5 PM, or 8 PM). No fancy credentials needed - just everyday people turning from spectators into the stars of the city.
The screen now bursts with life: a girl twirling in a flowing hanfu (an old-time Chinese-style costume), couples sharing sweet embraces, kids flashing toothy grins, and friends freezing goofy moments in time. Gone are the days of stiff, “high-end” content - now this is a stage for real, unfiltered joy. Against backdrops of “Hangzhou” and “the West Lake,” these ordinary yet radiant moments become part of the scenery itself.
“Here, everyone gets to be the main character in their own city’s story,” says a rep from the Group. Since last year, Xizi Sky Bridge has hosted pop-up events like the mystery concert’s blind boxes, but the ”West Lake Spotlight” goes further - it transforms public spaces into a shared storytelling hub. “We’re redefining travel experiences - join the landscape, share the landscape, and make the landscape. It’s a new trail from passive sightseeing to active co-creation. This isn’t just about watching the West Lake; it’s about making it your lake.”
Visitors are loving it. “I came all the way here just to take a selfie with my face on that screen,” gushes Ms. Chen, grinning up at her 15-second debut, seeing herself part of the magnificent West Lake view.
Crowds linger with their phones aloft below the bridge, snapping pics with themselves or cheering as their friends flash by on the screen overhead.
The Culture and Tourism Group hopes these tiny-but-mighty moments will keep weaving warmth and connection into the city’s fabric - one shared smile at a time.
