Strolling through the ancient pavilions of Yuyuan Garden, British tourist Alfie Oliver pauses to admire an elaborate floral installation that complements the traditional architecture.

"The flowers are beautiful and enhance the gorgeous architecture of Yuyuan Garden perfectly," says Oliver, a first-time Shanghai visitor. "I've seen flower installations throughout the area. There's nothing like this back home."

Oliver is among many attending the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show, which opened on April 18 and will run through May 10.

"We're reimagining the concept of the traditional flower show to create a comprehensive urban experience," says Zhu Xinjun, deputy director of Shanghai's landscaping and city appearance administrative bureau.

"Citizens and tourists are not just spectators of the floral world, but participants," Zhu explains. "Professional horticulture enhances urban living environments throughout the city."

The festival centers around two main venues — the Shanghai Botanical Garden and Huangpu district — complemented by 10 sub-venues spanning Pudong New Area, Xuhui, Jing'an, and Changning, among others. Beyond these dedicated spaces, the celebration extends into commercial areas, parks and green spaces across all of Shanghai's 16 districts.

At the 40-hectare Shanghai Botanical Garden, visitors can discover over 400 new and superior plant varieties across four designed sections: new plants, edible plants, community gardens, and rare plants.

"We've selected 18 varieties for debut from 28 organizations' 78 new varieties, including seven new international varieties," says Yan Wei, head of the Shanghai Botanical Garden. "Through this festival, we aim to promote horticultural innovation by launching new varieties on a global stage."

Visitors can see cutting-edge horticultural achievements featuring the China rose, azalea, dwarf petunia, iris ensata, and many other domestic and international cultivars making their debut.