Best Events This Week​

Jul 31: Royal Opera House: The Queen of Spades (Screening)

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The penniless soldier Gherman falls in love with Liza. To make a fortune and marry Liza, Gherman decides to figure out the winning three-card formula from the Countess and sets himself on a dark path. Based on a short story from Pushkin, The Queen of Spades is a timeless classic from Tchaikovsky and his brother.

Wed July 31, 7pm. RMB100-200. Huangpu Theatre, see event listing. Book tickets here.

Aug 2-3: SAMAJAM: Kids Show 2 (Djembe)

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The sequel to China's most popular musical kids' show is headed to Shanghai. With brand new musical instruments, improved settings plus more vibrating rhythms, SAMAJAM 2 - Super Djembe is sure to grant families with 200% participation and 200% fun.

Aug 2 at 7.30pm, Aug 3 at 10.30am & 3.30pm, Aug 16 at 7.30pm, Aug 17, 10.30am & 3.30pm. RMB180-480. ET Space, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

Aug 3-4: Magic Drama: One Starry Night: Out of the Blue

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This magical event is the perfect way to introduce your little ones to the world of art, music and culture. One Starry Night: Out of the Blue takes you and your family on a journey filled with art, music and education. By exploring such a fun and joy-filled environment, your children will be inspired to explore the beauty of art and music.

Aug 3-4, 10.30am, 3.30pm & 7.30pm. RMB180-480. Shanghai Grand Theatre, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

All Month: Peppa Pig World of Play

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Peppa Pig World of Play is an indoor theme park built especially for preschoolers and their families. With 10 different play areas, children can immerse themselves in specific scenes and locations from the Peppa Pig TV series. This is an excellent choice for Peppa fans, young and old, to enjoy a special adventure with all the charters from the show. 

10am-7pm (Mon-Fri), 10am-8pm (Sat-Sun). One adult plus one child: RMB158 Mon-Fri, RMB210 Sat-Sun; Additional adult: RMB50 Mon-Fi, RMB70 Sat-Sun; Additional child: RMB100 Mon-Fri, RMB140 Sat-Sun. Peppa Pig World of Play, see event listing. Book tickets here.

All Month: The Starry Gallery of Shanghai

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Occupying dazzling light installations and creative photo booths, The Starry Gallery of Shanghai (check our Step Inside here), hidden within Pier 16 on the Bund, is your next spot to take striking photos. Even if you are not into photography, you can escape from the stresses of real life and simply have fun here with this interactive and interstellar installation.

10am-10pm. RMB68. The Starry Gallery of Shanghai, see event listing. Book tickets here.

Best Upcoming Events

Aug 23-25: Junior Valley Ecologist

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During the weekend of August 23-25, the Hong Kong-based Eco Education and Resources Center's environmental school will be hosting four special classes focusing on the exploration of Ningbo Valley in a way that's both fun and enjoyable for your little ones! The classes are specially tailored to kids aged 6-12 years old. They will learn things they can't learn anywhere else. By the end of the weekend, they'll have gained all sorts of knowledge that will even impress adults. The weekend excursion will be held at the beautiful Camphor Tree Valley in Lijiakeng Village, where visitors will spend two nights. Kids will get hands on experience and learn about the plants, forests and streams of Ningbo. They'll learn all sorts of factoids from how plants grow to how they are affected by climate change. 

Aug 23-25, 3pm; RMB4,081 (early bird before August 5), RMB4,490 (package price). Camphor Tree Valley, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

Sep 6-15: Evita

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Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice’s well-beloved 1978 West End musical is coming to Shanghai in early-mid September this year. Evita was conceived as a sung-through dramatic piece and ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ became the most popular single number from a show in many years. The production proved to be an artistic and popular success. This is a must-see show in Shanghai.

Sep 6-15, times vary; RMB480-1,280. SAIC Shanghai Cultural Square, see event listing. Purchase tickets here.

Sept 7: Pinocchio

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Kids love the story of Pinocchio... and for good reason! Pinocchio will be brought to life in Shanghai this September. The play tells the story a puppet named Pinocchio, who was created out of wood by a man named Geppetto. However, Geppetto wished that his puppet could be a "real boy." His wish was magically granted by the Blue Fairy. The play will take your kids on an adventurous journey with Pinocchio, as he learns how to navigate the world in an honest and truthful way. Whenever Pinocchio does lie, his nose grows longer and longer! Kids three and up are sure to be highly amused and entertained.

Sat Sept 7, 10.30am & 2pm; RMB99-250. Floor 4, Shanghai Mall, 1376, Nanjing Xi Lu, Jing'an district. See event listing. Purchase tickets here. (Mandarin language).

Sep 9-15: World Snooker Shanghai Masters 2019

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The greatest snooker players from around the world are back in town as world number one Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan bids to lift the Shanghai Masters trophy for the third year running. After becoming the richest invitation event in snooker history last year, expect arguably the most competitive field to date as the world’s top 16, plus eight players from China, fight it out for the prestigious trophy and for a share of the jaw-dropping RMB6 million plus prize fund. Running from September 9 to September 15, the Regal International East Asia Hotel will play host to one of the biggest events on the snooker calendar, with Chinese superstar Ding Junhui looking to win the competition for the third time in seven years.

Monday Sep 9 to Sunday Sep 15, RMB80-980. Regal International East Asia Hotel, see event listing. Buy tickets.

Oct 3-4 & 6-7: Le Rouge et le Noir - L’opéra Rock

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The French rock-opera musical Le Rouge et le Noir - L’opéra Rock (The Red and the Black - The Rock Opera) is heading to Shanghai in early-mid October this year. Experience stunning music and visuals as audiences witness the rigid religious and social structures of nineteenth-century France. Written in 1830 by the famous French author Stendhal, Le Rouge et le Noir tells the story of Julien Sorel. Sorel is the son of a carpenter, who is trying his best to work his way up in society, despite coming from a very humble upbringing. His view on the world starts out naive, romantic and idealistic. Although, things quickly change. Sorel and his adventures serve as a metaphor for the societal structure of France at the time. Along his journey, Sorel masquerades as a devout Catholic and finds work as a tutor for the children of Monsieur de Rênal. Despite his pious demeanor, he begins a scandalous and ultimately disastrous affair with the wife of Monsieur de Rênal. The historical psychological tale, Le Rouge et le Noir, will be performed at Shanghai Culture Square this October.

Oct 3-4 & 6-7, 2pm & 7.30pm; RMB280-1,080. Shanghai Culture Square, see event listing. Purchase tickets here. 

Dec 26-Jan 5: The Blue Man Group

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That's right. Everybody's favorite blue men are coming to Shanghai this year. The Blue Man Group will be performing at 1862 Theatre from December 23 until January 5, 2020. So yes, you will have to wait a few more months to catch them, but we're guessing tickets will sell out fast so we highly suggest snagging some tickets while you still can! You never know what to expect when it comes to the Blue Man Group. Expect to laugh, rock out and have a blast as the bald, blue men entertain through music, art and comedy. You know a show is popular when over 35 million people of all ages, languages and cultures have seen it. It’s going to be a masterful and musical trip, led by three of the boldest, baldest and bluest guys on the planet. 

Dec 26-Jan 5, RMB80-1,080. 1862 Theatre, see event listing. Purchase tickets here. 

[Cover image via 247tickets]