Shanghai’s iconic Bund Finance Center (BFC), a landmark in the city’s historic waterfront district, has joined forces with Chinese pop culture powerhouse Pop Mart to create a vibrant extension of the 2026 Yuyuan Lantern Festival. This collaboration, launched on February 1, 2026, transforms the financial hub into a playful wonderland of illuminated installations, blending traditional Chinese New Year elements with modern designer toy aesthetics.
Running until March 15, the Chinese New Year Garden Fair at BFC offers visitors an immersive experience that bridges Shanghai’s rich heritage with contemporary global trends, drawing crowds of locals and international tourists alike.
The Bund Finance Center, completed in 2017, is a 420,000-square-meter mixed-use development designed by Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio. Situated at the southern end of the Bund, it serves as a connector between the old town and the modern financial district, featuring offices, hotels, retail spaces, and cultural venues. Its architecture, inspired by theater curtains with rotating stainless steel layers, provides a dynamic backdrop for events like this festival.
Pop Mart, founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Wang Ning in Beijing, has grown into a global leader in character-based entertainment, specializing in blind box collectibles. The company, which went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020, reported a staggering 204.4% revenue increase to 13.88 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, driven by popular IPs like Labubu and Molly. With over 200 stores in 21 countries, Pop Mart has pioneered the designer toy culture, collaborating with artists to create surprise figurines that appeal to millennials and Gen Z consumers.
At the heart of the collaboration is the palace lantern carousel in BFC’s North Plaza, adorned with Pop Mart’s 12 classic intellectual properties (IPs), including the sharp-toothed, pointy-eared Labubu—created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung—and other fan favorites like Twinkle Twinkle, Skullpanda, Baby Molly, and Hirono. A smaller Labubu lantern installation stands nearby, while the Sky Garden hosts a dreamy Twinkle Twinkle setup that integrates seamlessly with the Huangpu River skyline. In the South Mall, a Molly figure at the entrance performs a drum dance symbolizing good fortune, with additional characters scattered across floors to create an interactive trail.
The event also features a Golden Gallop-themed pop-up store on the first floor, where visitors can purchase blind boxes and limited-edition items inspired by the Year of the Horse. Traditional street games like hopscotch and retro arcade machines add a nostalgic touch, enhancing the carnival atmosphere.
This partnership marks the first time the Yuyuan Lantern Festival, which began on January 26 and runs through March 3, extends beyond its traditional Yuyuan Garden Malls to six integrated zones, including Gucheng Park, Fangbang Road, Fuyou Road, and the Bund. While Yuyuan focuses on folk art and horse-themed displays celebrating freedom and courage, the BFC extension emphasizes modern vibrancy, appealing to a younger, global audience. Ticket holders enjoy perks worth about 600 yuan, such as parking, shopping vouchers, and dining discounts, making it a comprehensive holiday lifestyle platform.
Visitors have flocked to the site, praising the fusion of tradition and pop culture. Tian Shuyue, a 27-year-old marketing specialist from Henan Province, gushed over the Twinkle Twinkle figures: “Their eyes are tiny and lovely, and I do love them very much. T
hey are so popular now and it is often very hard to get one. So I’m very happy to get one here today!” International guests are equally enchanted. Frans-Jan van Meer, a 50-year-old supply chain manager from the Netherlands on his first trip to China, noted Pop Mart’s European presence: “My daughter has one (Labubu) at home. When I saw the pop-up store, I said I had to buy something for my kids… It is clean, modern and nicely decorated with lanterns, the skyline and everything.
It is really amazing.” Content creators Manuel Enrique and Gabriel Ruiz from Los Angeles highlighted the cultural exchange: “The whole Chinese culture or Asian culture is getting more popular and global as I see, in movies and everything. You can also see it more and more in Europe, and it’s a good thing.”
Culturally, the event underscores Shanghai’s role as a bridge between East and West, promoting Chinese pop culture on a global stage while revitalizing the Spring Festival with trendy twists. As Pop Mart’s Monsters brand, including Labubu, accounted for nearly 35% of its 2025 revenue with a 668% year-on-year growth, this collaboration amplifies the company’s international appeal. Amid Shanghai’s stunning skyline, the BFC-Pop Mart partnership not only lights up the financial center but also ignites a fresh wave of festive joy, proving that tradition thrives when infused with innovation.
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