On October 3, 2026, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., hosted "Future Resonance — ShanghaiEye Night," a cultural exchange event that brought a taste of Shanghai to the United States. Part of the "Shanghai Let's Meet" city promotion initiative, the event aimed to build bridges between people across the Pacific and highlight Shanghai as an open, inclusive, and dynamic international metropolis.
Organized by Shanghai Media Group, the event drew nearly 100 prominent figures from China and the United States across political, business, technology, cultural, and arts sectors. Song Jiongming, President of Shanghai Media Group, and Susan Lee, Secretary of State of Maryland, delivered remarks. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng also attended. The gathering underscored the importance of sustained cultural and economic engagement between the two nations, particularly at a time when global cooperation is essential.
During the afternoon, the National Mall was transformed into a "mini Shanghai" carnival featuring 50 stalls with international cuisine, a "Shanghai Charm" themed exhibition area, and displays of China's intangible cultural heritage. Visitors experienced Shanghai's technological innovation through a model of the C919 passenger jet and explored the city's latest trends via a model of the Oriental Pearl Tower and popular Chinese cultural and creative IPs. Virtual reality headsets provided by the Shanghai Museum offered a journey through Shanghai's past and present. Time-honored brands such as White Rabbit candy, Hero fountain pens, and Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry gave visitors a taste of Shanghai's iconic homegrown products. An IP SHANGHAI lenticular art exhibition brought the city to life with dynamic images that changed as visitors moved around the displays.
The immersive experience positioned Shanghai as a first stop for international visitors entering China, showcasing distinctive IPs spanning culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions. Many visitors expressed a desire to visit Shanghai in person and explore the city on foot through a "city walk." As the sun set, the "Future Resonance" outdoor concert began against the backdrop of the Capitol dome. Young performers from China and the United States took the stage alongside renowned artists. The One Voice Children's Choir from the United States and the Manhattan Philharmonic joined forces to perform "We Are Together," a song created in Shanghai to celebrate friendship between the two countries. The program featured a mix of symphonic works, traditional Chinese music, Chinese opera, and anime music, with footage from Shanghai's city image film "UP! SHANGHAI" playing on a large screen.
Later that evening, nearly 100 guests participated in the ShanghaiEye Night dialogue session, themed "Invest in China for a Win-Win Future." The dialogue highlighted the China International Import Expo and Shanghai's development as an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and technological innovation center. It showcased the city's world-class business environment and provided a platform for high-level dialogue and practical cooperation between Chinese and U.S. companies. A "Shanghai Charm" city image reception area displayed twenty historical photographs capturing key "Shanghai moments" in China-U.S. relations, including the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué, the launch of the first China-U.S. air route, the opening of Apple's first store in China, the Tesla Gigafactory, and the 10th anniversary of Shanghai Disney Resort. Another twenty photographs from the IP SHANGHAI platform, under the theme "Chasing Dreams in Shanghai," showcased Lujiazui Financial City, Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Shanghai Grand Opera House, the North Bund shipping hub, and the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek.
Supported by the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government and co-hosted by Shanghai Media Group, the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, and the Washington Chinese Community Alliance, the event brought together guests from various sectors. It brought Shanghai closer to American audiences and the international community through city promotion, cultural performances, interactive experiences, and high-level dialogue, providing a platform for people-to-people and cultural exchange between China and the United States. As reported by Media OutReach Newswire, the event exemplifies efforts to foster mutual understanding and cooperation across the Pacific.
