On April 16, 2026, a symbolic new public green space — the Hamburg Garden — was officially opened to visitors in Shanghai’s bustling downtown Xintiandi neighborhood, Huangpu District. The launch of this installation, a featured attraction of the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show, marks a major celebration of the 40th anniversary of the sister city friendship between Shanghai, China and Hamburg, Germany.
Designed as a living tribute to the decades-long bond between the two major port cities, the garden masterfully blends the characteristic minimalist, natural aesthetic of northern German landscape design with distinct cultural markers tied to Hamburg. Every element of the space is intentionally crafted to reflect the deep connection between the two regions, turning a floral installation into a tangible symbol of cross-cultural partnership.
The opening ceremony drew a diverse group of high-level guests from both cities. Attendees included Ma Yinghui, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Gao Hongjian, Director of the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau; and a cross-party delegation of members from the Hamburg Parliament, led by Carola Veit, the parliament’s president.
Speaking at the ceremony, Veit highlighted the historic nature of the project, noting that this marks the first time a German city has been featured as a dedicated guest participant in the Shanghai International Flower Show. She emphasized that the garden’s design, which prominently features bridges and blooms, carries profound symbolic meaning for the relationship between the two cities. “The garden is a beautiful symbol for the partnership and friendship because there are bridges and flowers, and so there’s always hope,” Veit said.
The project represents more than a horticultural exhibition; it stands as a lasting public monument to people-to-people exchange and decades of collaborative friendship between the two port cities, inviting residents and visitors of Shanghai to engage with German culture and learn more about the longstanding bilateral connection.