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 was organized by Shanghai Media Group and supported by the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government, the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, and the Washington Chinese Community Alliance. As reported by Media OutReach Newswire, the event drew nearly 100 prominent figures from China and the United States across political, business, technology, cultural, and arts sectors, including Song Jiongming, President of Shanghai Media Group, Susan Lee, Secretary of State of Maryland, and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng.
The afternoon carnival transformed the National Mall into a "mini Shanghai," featuring 50 stalls with international cuisine, a "Shanghai Charm" exhibition, and displays of China's intangible cultural heritage. Visitors explored Shanghai's technological innovation through a model of the C919 passenger jet, experienced the city's latest trends via a model of the Oriental Pearl Tower, and took virtual journeys through Shanghai's past and present with VR headsets provided by the Shanghai Museum. Time-honored brands such as White Rabbit candy, Hero fountain pens, and Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry offered a taste of Shanghai's iconic homegrown products. An IP SHANGHAI lenticular art exhibition brought the city to life through dynamic images that changed as visitors moved around the displays.
The evening continued with the "Future Resonance" outdoor concert, set against the Capitol dome. Young performers from China and the United States, including the One Voice Children's Choir and the Manhattan Philharmonic, performed "We Are Together," a song created in Shanghai to celebrate friendship between the two countries. The program featured 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, the ShanghaiEye Night dialogue session, themed "Invest in China for a Win-Win Future," highlighted the China International Import Expo and Shanghai's development as an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and technological innovation center. It provided a platform for high-level dialogue and practical cooperation between Chinese and U.S. companies. The session also featured a "Shanghai Charm" city image reception area, displaying twenty historical photographs capturing key "Shanghai moments" in China-U.S. relations, such as 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.
The event brought Shanghai closer to American audiences and the international community through city promotion, cultural performances, interactive experiences, and high-level dialogue. It also provided a platform for people-to-people and cultural exchange between China and the United States, reinforcing the importance of cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. By showcasing Shanghai as an open, inclusive, and dynamic international metropolis, the event aimed to attract more international visitors and investors, fostering stronger ties across the Pacific.
