Golden Week is here. Technically, it's the National Day holiday (Oct 1–8), celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China. In practice, it means the entire country is off work, the trains are full, and scenic spots are swarming. It's usually a great time to flee the city -- or just lie flat at home with snacks and Netflix.

If you're sticking around, we've rounded up the best stuff to actually do. Skip the Bund, dodge Disneyland, and remember: Oct 11 (Saturday) is a make-up work day. Plan accordingly.

EVENTS & MARKETS

Early Spring Market @ Columbia Circle (Oct 1–5) -- 27th edition adds a "Heritage Theater" with Zhangzhou glove puppetry and over 100 artists mixing traditional craft with modern design; by Early Spring.

Ugly Clothes Market @ Hai550 (Oct 1–8) -- A debut fashion market that celebrates remake culture, retro weirdness, and intentionally bad taste; hosted by Hai550.

Wonder Flea 2025 @ 1933 Shanghai (Oct 1–3) -- 150 booths of fossils, folk crafts, and vintage curios split into "Natural History" and "Human Treasures"; curated by Wonder Flea.

LIVE MUSIC

T.O.S. & Storytellers @ FENRIR (Oct 1) -- Suzhou's dirtiest exports drop black metal and crust sludge in a basement built for chaos.

Yanyu & Alone Together @ Mosh Space (Oct 2) -- Bedroom pop and 90s-tinged indie rock from Hangzhou and Shanghai, respectively.

Diadem of Death, Eviscerator, Impure Injection @ Cave Art Venue (Oct 3) -- Arcana XIII's touring metal showcase with death, grindcore, and local mosh fuel.

Menjadipesakit, Goble Discount Center, YAMAHAHA, Torturing Nurse @ trigger (Oct 4) -- Malaysian noise artist headlines a night of harsh electronics and sonic destruction.

oNEwAY & The Grinding Ear @ Bandai Namco Shanghai Base (Oct 5) -- 1724 Records' post-rock showcase with long-haul veterans and folk-infused ambience.

Ellogibirth, Anonymous Annoyance, SPREE @ Mosh Space (Oct 6) -- Local indie, synth wave, and electro-funk to close the holiday stretch.

Comedy

SpicyComedy Showcase @ SpicyComedy Lounge (daily) -- Rotating lineup of English-language comics and open mics in Xintiandi; high-energy and reliably packed.

Herlarious Club @ Soda Comedy (Sept 27, Oct 5) -- Li Ying hosts a female-led comedy night with sharp sets and a cult following.

Jazz & Shows

The Choir of Man @ Shanghai Center Theater (daily until Oct 19) -- Nine singers turn a pub into a stage with powerhouse vocals, live instruments, and chart-topping anthems from Queen to Adele, mixing music, dance, and actual pints in a feel-good show that's equal parts concert and party.

Nicole Zuraitis Quartet @ Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai (Oct 3,4, 6, 7, 9, 12) -- Grammy-winning jazz vocalist brings soul, pop, and serious pipes to her China debut.

Nirvana Tribute Concert @ The Pearl (Oct 3) -- Red Stars band channels grunge icons with loud, flannel-soaked covers from Nirvana to Alice in Chains.

Malstrom @ Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai (Oct 8) -- German-Swiss trio fuses jazz, post-metal, and free improv into one raw, bass-free vortex.

Offbeat

Shanghai Sports Museum @ People's Square -- China's first sports museum blends vintage memorabilia, Olympic history, and some weird interactive tech in a riverside warehouse that smells faintly of new sneakers.

Alien Park @ Suzhou Creek -- A former electro‑chemical plant turned tranquil green space and photo magnet, once home to China's first MSG factory and now Shanghai's most quietly sci‑fi park.

STAGE & Concerts

Molière @ Shanghai Culture Square (daily until Oct 5) -- French musical reimagines the playwright's life with rap, dance, and theatrical flair.

Bayerisches Staatsorchester @ Shanghai Grand Theatre (Oct 3) -- German heavyweights do Wagner, Strauss, and Wesendonck Lieder with full romantic excess.

Swan Lake (Grand Version) @ Shanghai International Dance Center (Oct 4–5) -- Shanghai Ballet's "Swan Ocean" returns with massive scale and anniversary polish.

Otello in Concert @ Shanghai Grand Theatre (Oct 2, 5) -- Verdi's tempestuous tragedy sung in Italian by Bayerische Staatsoper's touring cast.

Richard Wagner Opera Der Fliegende Holländer @ Shanghai Grand Theatre (Oct 1, 4, 6) -- Wagner's ghost ship tale, complete with doomed love and dramatic overtures.

Vienna Boys Choir @ Shanghai Oriental Art Center (Oct 5) -- 500 years of harmony meets 200 years of Strauss in this anniversary concert.

ART & IMMERSION

Art Masters VR @ Jiushi International Art Center (until Oct 12) -- Prado classics reimagined in a quirky, headset-fueled VR trip through art history.

Paths to Modernity: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay, Paris @ Museum of Art Pudong (until Oct 12) -- 100+ works by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and more in a one-stop global exclusive.

Sony Pictures Roadshow @ Super Brand Mall (until Mar 3) -- 150+ props, Oscar statues, and glasses-free 3D tech in a Hollywood mega-installation. See here what to expect

The Greeks @ World Expo Museum (until Oct 26) -- 270 artifacts span 6,000 years of Greek myth, politics, and philosophy; a first for Shanghai.

Lin Tianmiao: There's No Fun In It! @ Power Station of Art (until Jan 4) -- Largest-ever solo show of China's feminist art pioneer, with 40+ works on gender and memory.

Fluxus, by chance @ West Bund Museum (until Feb 22) -- Fluxus meets Zen meets Duchamp in this Pompidou-backed survey of radical art history.

Balada Del Ouroboros @ Jiushi Art Museum (until Oct 22) -- Feminist Spanish-Chinese showcase exploring identity, memory, and the self-devouring serpent.

Maijishan Grottoes @ Shanghai Powerlong Museum (until Oct 26) -- Ancient Buddhist art meets modern interpretation in this major showcase of one of China's "Four Great Grottoes," with 137 relics and contemporary responses.

FASHION & SCENT

Diptyque: Un Air de Paris @ Zhang Yuan (until Oct 8) -- Multisensory perfume experience with rooftop gardens, Parisian craft, and 49 iconic candles.

Miss Dior: Stories of a Miss @ Fosun Foundation (until Oct 8) -- Dior's first perfume meets French Resistance history in this haute couture installation.

CLUBBING / NIGHTLIFE

CASA TRÈS @ The Shanghai EDITION (Oct 1) -- Space Panda's 12-hour rooftop-to-club marathon makes its Shanghai debut in style.

Caravel @ Dirty House (INS) (Sept 30 night) -- French DJ and Boiler Room alum brings raw energy and BPM overload to her Shanghai debut.

FinderShanghai: TRIPTYCH @ EXIT (Oct 3) -- FinderShanghai blends techno, body art, and AI visuals in this three-part culture mashup.

Tech-no-logical World @ EXIT (Oct 5) — Local legends and experimental live acts push late-night techno into surreal territory; free after 3am.

Explore the city

The Stage @ Sinar Mas Plaza (daily, 1:30–10pm) -- An open-air observation deck 320 meters above the North Bund with sweeping, glass-free views of the Huangpu River, the Bund, and Lujiazui. Multiple time slots, family-friendly pricing, and prime photo ops, especially at sunset.

Jinmao Tower Sky Walk @ Lujiazui (daily)— Strap in and circle the 88th floor of Jinmao Tower—340m up, 1.2m wide, no rails. The world's highest open-air skywalk, with serious bragging rights.

BRUNCH

Ocean's Table Brunch (Oct 1–8) -- Luxe set brunches (from 268rmb) with truffle-topped Portobellos, foie gras mini-burgers, and daily-limited melon parfaits.

Holiday Brunch Buffet @ Cages (Jiangning Lu, Oct 1–8) -- All-you-can-eat comfort food with carving stations, desserts, and Eggs Benny galore.

Golden Week Brunch @ Mr & Mrs Bund (Oct 1–8) -- Upscale riverside brunch with French finesse and Bund-side views.

Brunch @ Zeitgeist (Oct 4–8) -- Daily holiday brunch at this German favorite with rösti, waffles, and optional free-flow Bloody Marys, bubbles, and beer.

WITH KIDS

Zotter Chocolate Experience (by appointment) -- Tour, taste, and make your own bars at this Austrian bean-to-bar chocolate factory; 100+ samples included.

Paradox Museum -- Optical illusions, mind tricks, and selfie traps galore at Asia's first Paradox Museum—open daily through the holidays before closing for renovations.

Peppa Pig World of Play @ LCM (daily) -- Indoor toddler paradise with ten themed zones, secret slides, and enough muddy puddles to satisfy any preschooler.

Madame Tussauds @ New World Building (daily) -- Snap pics with superheroes, pop stars, and VR-enhanced wax icons—plus a horror maze if your kids are brave.

LEGO Discovery Center @ Parkside Plaza (daily) -- 12 themed zones, 2–3 hours of brick-fueled chaos, and free entry for kids under 90cm.

Changfeng Aquarium @ Changfeng Park (daily) -- Shark tunnels, penguins, and a marine science playground 13m under a lake—plus it's near Joy City for post-fish snacks.