The “Most Hangzhou” new-year performance series, made public from the dawn of the New Year to the joyous Lantern Festival, has concluded. The event was organized by Shangcheng District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports, in collaboration with all sub-districts of Shangcheng, and sponsored by Shangcheng District Cultural Center. The performers are all from Hangzhou Drama Art Center.

As a cornerstone of Shangcheng’s 2026 Spring Festival “sightseeing for more spending” campaign, the series deeply rooted itself in the district’s Song Dynasty heritage while weaving in the spirited motifs of the Year of the Horse. It featured 16 meticulously curated shows, ranging from the Confucius Temple’s stele forest to the international vibes of the Cross Golden Street. 

Spanning a diverse array of formats, including song and dance, acrobatics and magic, folk music, and interactive fun, the performances transformed varied urban landscapes into stages. Commercial towers, community squares, historic cultural blocks, and neighborhood parks all played host, injecting fresh momentum into local markets, sales promotions, and garden festivities. The result was an eye feast for residents and visitors alike, perfectly blending the city’s profound cultural depth with the festive spirit of the New Year.

Throughout the event, Song Dynasty musical dances shared the spotlight with trendy pop hits; and traditional instruments, like the gu-zheng and suo-na, breathed new life into modern melodies, creating a fusion of tradition and contemporary interpretation. Clown interactions invited audiences to join the stage, while trivia quizzes kept the gifts flowing, drawing crowds who lingered to watch and capture memories. Flash mob celebrations by Hangzhou Drama Art Center electrified the atmosphere, effectively converting their interest into foot traffic. Core business districts saw significant year-on-year growth in visitor numbers, continuously expanding the ways and scenarios for consumption.

Additionally, each sub-district launched parallel activities featuring New Year markets, traditional folklore, fun garden parties, cultural heritage experiences, and tech-driven interactions. These diverse offerings unlocked joyful holiday experiences, simultaneously recreating a bustling Southern Song marketplace “packed with carriages and horses” — an auspicious imagery of “a horse galloping in the spring breeze.” Together, they’ve sustained a new wave of shopping fevers.

By crafting a novel “Culture + Shopping” protocol, this event injected vigorous energy into the Year of the Horse, further activating the city’s vitality. It made traditional culture visible, appreciable, and experiential, ensuring that the hustle and bustle of daily life was filled with atmosphere, warmth, and the true flavor of the New Year.