As a highlight event of the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Cultural Week officially kicked off in Shanghai on October 18. Guangdong, along with Hong Kong and Macao, has brought some of the region's finest cultural programs to the city, showcasing its creative vitality.
The Arts Festival, which opened on the evening of October 17, features more than 500 programs and 1,200 performances and exhibitions, attracting nearly 20,000 artists and art groups from over 80 countries and regions to Shanghai.
Since 2005, the festival has introduced the "Guest Province Cultural Week" to spotlight the cultural richness of various regions. Hong Kong has participated twice, in 2010 and 2019. This year, the focus expands to the entire GBA, engaging audiences through exhibitions, stage performances, art education, international showcases, and dialogue sessions that foster vibrant exchanges between Lingnan aesthetics and Shanghai-style culture.
Unlike previous editions, this year's week represents the collective cultural charm of the entire GBA. It will feature seven original productions and 14 performances from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao across Shanghai's major theaters, with four from Guangdong and three from Hong Kong and Macao. 
As the Cultural Week's centerpiece, the Reform Mission: Guangdong Art Centennial Exhibition opened at the Shanghai Art Museum from October 18, 2025, to January 18, 2026, featuring around 800 works by over 350 artists from the Lingnan region.
The Cultural Week also brings traditional Lingnan intangible heritage performances, including the Yingge Dance and Awakening Lion, into Shanghai's galleries, shopping districts, and public spaces. These performances offer the city a warm and vivid encounter with the living traditions of the GBA.
From the Pearl River to the Huangpu River, Guangdong and Shanghai share a deep historical bond. Both were among China's earliest modernized regions, pioneering trade, cultural openness, and artistic innovation. Following the reform and opening up, Guangdong and Shanghai have also become pioneers of culture in southern China.
In the future, cultural exchanges between the two regions will extend beyond performances and personnel interactions. The cultural collaboration between the GBA and Shanghai holds vast potential and boundless possibilities.
Program list of the GBA Cultural Week：
Related news:
Guangdong to take center stage at Shanghai International Arts Festival with GBA Cultural Week
Guangdong Art Centennial Exhibition to open in Shanghai on Oct. 18
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Nanfang Plus, Shanghai International Arts Festival
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
