Guangdong province will shine as the guest of honor at this year's 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF 24) with a special Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Cultural Week.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Guangzhou on September 11, attended by officials from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Shanghai. Starting on October 18, the event will feature performances, exhibitions, and cultural showcases from the GBA in Shanghai, highlighting the region's rich artistic traditions, innovative creativity, and strengthened cultural ties with the Yangtze River Delta.
Poster of the GBA Cultural Week
Stage performances
Seven premier GBA productions will perform in Shanghai, blending traditional and contemporary art forms. Highlights include Odes to Heroes, a Yingge-inspired dance drama; Shuang Xiu Yuan, a new Cantonese opera based on the legend of Guangzhou embroidery; and Left Unsaid, starring Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress Cecilia Yip. These performances reflect the region's artistic diversity and experimental spirit.
Visual arts
The Guangdong Art Centennial Exhibition, organized by Guangdong Museum of Art, will feature more than 700 works by over 350 Lingnan artists, spanning Chinese painting, oil, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor. Covering over 20,000 square meters across 19 galleries at the China Art Museum in Shanghai's Expo Park, the exhibition will run from October 18, 2025, to January 18, 2026, making it the largest Guangdong art exhibition to date. Archival materials and rare footage will provide context and enrich visitors' experiences.
Intangible cultural heritage
Lion dances, Yingge performances, and other intangible cultural heritage shows from the Lingnan region will take place across museums, shopping centers, and public cultural spaces in Shanghai. These interactive performances will engage audiences directly and offer a multifaceted experience of the GBA's cultural charm.
Selected posters from the GBA Cultural Week
About CSIAF 24
The China Shanghai International Arts Festival is one of the most influential arts festivals in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting over 750 international and domestic artistic organizations and more than 50,000 artists from over 80 countries and regions, reaching a global audience of over 70 million since its inception in 1999.
Held from October 17 to November 27, this year's festival plans more than 500 performances and exhibitions, totaling over 1,200 shows. Among the 55 main stage productions, nearly 60% come from overseas, with almost 90% premiering in Shanghai.
Through the dedicated GBA Cultural Week, a vibrant mix of performances, exhibitions, and heritage showcases from the region will bring the GBA's creative excellence to a global audience.
Schedule of events for the GBA Cultural Week
Reporter | Li Muzi
Photo | CSIAF 24
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
