The 2018 shopping and tourism festival kicked off in Jiading, Shanghai on Sept 21 to promote the area's economic and cultural development, as well as to expand its influence.

A total of 27 activities featuring culture, folk customs, performances, exhibitions and competitions allow visitors to have an interactive experience with Chinese traditional culture. The event will last until Oct 21.

The activities tend to focus on two main themes: one is the Nanxiang xiaolongbao, another is Shanghai's intangible cultural heritages.

Tourists taste the Nanxiang xiaolongbao at the Nanxiang Old Street in Jiading's Nanxiang town, Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat account: sh-jiading]

Nanxiang xiaolongbao, or Nanxiang steamed bun, is a traditional local snack in Jiading's Nanxiang town, featuring thin skin, tender meat and a juicy filling. It has a history of more than a century, originating during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

This year's Nanxiang xiaolongbao-themed activities, including xiaolongbao tasting and competitions of making xiaolongbao, will be held at the Nanxiang Old Street, Tanyuan Garden, and Yunxiang Temple, as well as in Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province from Sept 28 to Oct 28. First hosted in 2007, the activities are being held in places outside Jiading for the first time, with the aim of popularizing the Nanxiang xiaolongbao and its culture.

Foreigners try their hands on making Nanxiang xiaolongbao under the guidance of masters at Jiading's Nanxiang town, Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat account: sh-jiading]

Other activities will focus on the intangible cultural heritages in Shanghai, such as exhibitions of egg carving works, guzheng (Chinese zither) performances, and lectures of tea culture.

These activities, held in Guyi Garden from Sept 21 to Oct 21, aim to display the development of traditional Chinese culture on the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, and to celebrate the upcoming National Day.

The traditional clothing of the Han people are displayed at the Guyi Garden in Jiading, Shanghai from Sept 21 to Oct 21. [Photo/WeChat account: sh-jiading]