Almost half a century after Shanghai and San Francisco formally established their sister city relationship, a high-level delegation led by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie touched down in Shanghai on April 19, kicking off a two-day visit focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in culture, science and tourism across the Pacific.
This trip arrives as the latest milestone in the 46-year-long exchange between the two major global metropolises, building on decades of uninterrupted dialogue and people-to-people connection to open new chapters of partnership. The itinerary began with a stop at the 146-year-old Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, where delegation members gained firsthand insight into the century-long development and evolution of symphonic music in China.
Following the orchestra visit, the group toured three more iconic Shanghai institutions: the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Shanghai Natural History Museum (a subsidiary branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum), and the Shanghai Grand Opera House. By the end of the first day of the visit, three landmark memorandums of understanding (MOUs) had been signed to formalize new cooperative frameworks. The agreements pair the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum with the California Academy of Sciences, and the Shanghai Grand Opera House with San Francisco Opera, laying the groundwork for long-term exchange across art, science and education.
Speaking on the visit, Lurie emphasized the enduring strength of the two cities’ nearly 50-year partnership. “Our cities share a partnership that is nearly five decades strong. It is a dialogue that has never stopped,” he said. “We are building on that foundation and investing in a future where science, education and sustainability remain at the center of our partnership.”
David Stull, president of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, noted that both cities share a natural alignment in their forward-thinking, innovative identities. “When people are excited about new ideas, they gravitate to others who are excited about new ideas. San Francisco and Shanghai have always shared that spirit of imagination, innovation and the spirit of the future,” he explained.
Beyond institutional collaborations, the delegation also took part in a joint tourism promotion event held at Xintiandi, Shanghai’s bustling cultural and commercial hub in Huangpu District. The initiative, launched in partnership by United Airlines and San Francisco International Airport, is designed to drive two-way travel by highlighting the one-of-a-kind attractions and immersive cultural experiences that each city offers.
Mike Nakornkhet, director of San Francisco International Airport, framed the Chinese market as a core growth priority for the airport, pointing to strong existing travel volumes. “If you look at the numbers in 2025, we had 700,000 passengers travel between China and San Francisco — that’s 23 weekly flights to four destinations in China. So it’s a very important market for us,” he said. “We really see China as a growing market for us. There’s a lot of leisure and business travel demand.”
The first day of the visit wrapped up with a celebratory evening cruise along the Huangpu River, where delegates joined a special reception to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Shanghai-San Francisco sister city relationship. The delegation continued its schedule of meetings and tours in Shanghai on Monday, with additional discussions focused on expanding future collaborative projects across sectors.