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20 Years Shanghai Accordion History

Changning Showcases Special Accordion Performance at Hongqiao Airport for Inbound Travelers and to Promote the 2026 “Shanghai Spring” Festival.

The Changning District Culture and Tourism Bureau staged a special themed performance on April 2 at the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, offering incoming passengers an unexpected musical welcome. The event served as an early promotion for the 2026 “Shanghai Spring” 8th International Accordion Culture and Art Week.

For travelers stepping off their flights, the first sound greeting them was the warm, distinctive tone of the accordion. The performance blended classic Shanghai folk melodies with contemporary and international pieces, turning the airport into an impromptu concert hall.

Positioning the show as a signature activity of the 2026 Accordion Arts Week, Changning Culture and Tourism highlighted its goal of deepening the integration of culture and tourism. Young accordionists from across China, joined by several international performers, brought their craft directly to the public, extending the reach of the art form beyond traditional venues.

“Strictly speaking, Terminal 2 of Hongqiao International Airport is not within Changning District. However, when it comes to developing inbound tourism, Shanghai functions as a unified whole,” said Ye Xiaoying, director of the Changning District Culture and Tourism Management Affairs Center. “This area attracts both domestic and international visitors.”

Ye added that the bureau hopes to use the “Shanghai Spring” festival as a cultural gateway. “Imagine tourists flying all the way to Shanghai and the first thing they hear is the melodious sound of an accordion — the city’s artistic atmosphere becomes immediately tangible.”

In addition to the musical performances, several representative inheritors of local intangible cultural heritage were on-site, offering demonstrations and hands-on explanations of their crafts. Visitors were able to experience the unique cultural charm of Changning up close.

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Many newly arrived passengers paused in the terminal, drawn in by the lively music as they stepped out of the arrival gates. The cultural showcase at Hongqiao International Airport—one of Shanghai’s key urban gateways—offered inbound travelers an immediate taste of the city’s artistic energy and human warmth.

The accordion performance highlighted the distinctive cultural identity of Changning District, defined by its “Hongqiao origin, international flair, digital innovation, and high-quality offerings.” It also vividly reflected the inclusive, open spirit long associated with Shanghai’s urban culture.

The event attracted strong media attention, amplifying its impact. As a themed performance designed to welcome inbound tourists, it served as a successful example of Changning’s ongoing efforts to deepen the integration of culture and tourism and innovate tourism services.

Festival Guiding Organization
Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), Member of the International Music Council (IMC), an official NGO partner of UNESCO
Festival Host Organizations
• Shanghai Musicians Association
• Shanghai Changning District Bureau of Culture and Tourism
• Shanghai Changning District Federation of Literary and Art Circles
Festival Organizers / Organized by
• Shanghai Changning District Cultural and Tourism Management Center
• Accordion Professional Committee, Shanghai Musicians Association