a light show with the theme of “The East is Surging, Brightening the Future” was staged on the east bank of the Huangpu River

On April 18, 2025, Pudong ushered in the 35th anniversary of district development in Shanghai.

To celebrate this historic moment, a light show with the theme of “The East is Surging, Brightening the Future” was staged on the east bank of the Huangpu River from April 17 to 20. The Xiaolujiazui area was transformed into a light and shadow theater. Every half hour from 7 to 9 o’clock each night, the light show composed of four chapters represented the transformation of Pudong from farmland to a modern city through changes in colour such as platinum, orange-red and cold blue.

Over the past 35 years, Pudong has given birth to China’s first financial trade zone, the first free trade pilot zone, the first local bonded maintenance regulations and many other “firsts” for the country. As a “test field” for national reform, Pudong has made breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation, and institutional development.

The GDP of Pudong has jumped from RMB 6.024 billion in 1990 to RMB 1.78 trillion in 2024, with an average annual growth rate far exceeding the national average. With transparency at its core, Pudong has become home to 479 multinational companies’ regional headquarters. The “vote of confidence” given by these foreign-funded enterprises in Pudong further confirms its open advantages. Multinational companies such as Otis and BASF have settled their global R&D centers in Pudong, and local innovation results have fed back to the global market.

This celebration is not only a visual feast, but also a grandiose display of Pudong’s 35-year achievements. From a humble plot of farmland to a technological hub of the future, every step of Pudong’s growth has encourages the great power of China’s development. 

By 娄瀚锟 李姝徵